Getting Creative in the Kitchen

Once you get the hang of reading recipes and mastering some meals, you can get creative in the kitchen! Let loose and:

• Try experimenting with different ingredients — substitute beans for meat, or crunchy green beans for carrots, for example.
• Learn to use herbs and spices.
• Bring out your artistic side by experimenting with different colors and textures in meals.
• Focus on one type of dish and learn lots of variations.
• Try recipes from cultures or ethnicities other than your own.
• Invent your own recipes and try them out on family members and friends.

Most of all, don't be afraid to fail a few times. Cooking is like anything else — it takes practice. So even if no one likes your banana tacos, just remember: delicious meals come out of creative (and adventurous) minds.