You really need very little to start cooking. If you have a set of pots and pans, a whisk, a set of measuring cups and spoons, a wooden spoon and a large bowl you can make a lot of basic recipes. I have dedicated an entire chapter to stocking ingredients and another chapter to stocking equipment . Stress and time constraints limit the time we can afford in cooking. We are all so busy living that we forget to nurture both our bodies and souls.
Cooking is very therapeutic and also brings friends and family together.
There is a magical bond when people start to share their cooking secrets with one another. It is a magical gift when you receive a friend's favorite recipe . Somehow friends and family are cooking with you in spirit even though they can not always come over for dinner. While fast food promises instant gratification, it can never replace the memories of a slow-cooked roast or the aroma of a freshly baked cake. From the time I first took a cookbook writing class until the time my book was completely written was about three years.