How would you rate your cooking skills? Are you a gourmet chef? A total cooking newbie? Or do you fall some where in between? I would like to think that I’m an “OK” cook, but I know there is a huge area for improvement. We tend to eat the same things week after week. I admit I’m almost fearful of trying something new. Not only because I know how picky my family can be but also I am afraid to mess things up and waste ingredients and money. I’m sure others can relate to that.
I have a kitchen full of gadget too that I honestly have no idea how to utilize them to their fullest potential. I have things in the drawers that I don’t even know what they are, let alone how to use them. My junk drawer is filled with things like that. They are mysterious kitchen things that were gifted to me that I am totally clueless about.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a real chef come to your home and teach you how to cook? I have seen shows like that on TV. I forgot what show it was but a chef would go home with random people he meets at a grocery store and teach them how to cook a meal. Ahh… wouldn’t that be nice.
I have also seen shows where people come to your home and look through your fridge and pantry and critque everythign they find. I don’t think what we have lurking in our fridge and pantry are “cringe worthy”, but I do admit I have plenty of ingredients that I don’t utilize as often as I should. I suppose the Reece’s Peanut Butter cups, Devil Dogs and Hershey’s Air Delight Kisses in the fridge are not exactly ideal. 🙂
Imagine if someone could come to your home and take stock of what you have available to you and teach you how to create delicious gourmet quality meals for your family? Would you like to learn how to use that mystery kitchen gadget your friend gave you? Would you like to make friend with your kitchen and all it’s contents and learn how to cook healthy and nutrious meals for your family? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions then you might want to consider picking up a copy of Kitchen Counter Cooking School.
Here is a brief synopsis of the book.
Kitchen Counter Cooking School is essentially “What Not to Wear” meets Michael Pollan. Inspired by a supermarket encounter with a woman loading up on processed foods, Le Cordon Blue graduate, and author of The Sharper Your Knife the Less You Cry, Kathleen Flinn decided to use her recent culinary training to help a group of nine culinary novitiates find their inner cook. These students invited Kathleen into their kitchens where she took inventory of each person’s refrigerator, cabinets and eating habits. After kitchen “makeovers” and a series of basic lessons where they learned to wield knives, trust their taste and improve their food choices, the women found a common missing ingredient—confidence. In this new book, Flinn follows these women’s journeys and includes practical, healthy tips to boost readers’ culinary confidence, strategies to get the most from their grocery dollar and simple recipes to get readers cooking.
Wow! Why couldn’t I be one of the lucky volunteers? I would have loved to have had Kathleen come to my home and teach me a few things too. Since that is not possible I can still learn from the women who volunteered and who are featured in the book.
The idea for the book came when Kathleen was at a local grocery store and noticed a woman stocking her cart with cans and boxes of pre-made foods. Kathleen approached the woman and offered to show her how she can save money and prepare healthy foods. She took her around the store and showed her what she should and should not buy. This encounter sparked the idea of doing the same thing for other people.
Kathleen took nine volunteers and went into their homes and learned about their cooking style and habits. She then went on to show them how to use basic equipment, like a knife. She also shared with them tips and techniques that had them cooking in no time.
The whole idea is NOT to rely on pre-made foods which most of usto. I am also guilty of doing that, sad to say. For example, if you have a roasting pan you can easily roast a chicken for dinner rather then pop open a can and nuke it in the microwave. Not only is is a healthier option (pre-made foods are high in sodium and artificial garbage), but it is also less expensive. A roaster chicken is cheaper to purchase then a family size frozen lasagna. I think most people would opt for the roasted chicken if only they knew how to properly cook one. I think many people, myself included, are intimidated by cooking. Instead of facing our “fears” head on and learning to do things we opt for the easy way out and buy our familes pre-packaged meals instead.
What I like about this book is that it’s REAL. What I mean by that is that the women in the book who are helped by Kathleen are average people like you and I. They come from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds and range in age. Anyone of them could be a lot like you, or someone you know personally. I also like that these women didn’t go on to become master chefs overnight. This book is based truth life experiences. Everything takes time. Some women were only able to make small changes where as other went on to make much more changes in the way they cook and work in the kitchen. These women had ordinary kitchens too. They didn’t have the latest and greatest appliances and gadgets. They are just ordinary, average people which I appreciate because I can relate to them because I’m an ordinary, average person too. The characters also seemed like able enough. I could easily have coffee and cake with anyone of these ladies featured in the book.
Throughout the book you will learn various techniques and tips. Each chapter also features a recipe you can try. Some are easy, some are not so easy. I think most are sort of inbetween. Most of them feature easy to find ingredients too.
What I learned from the book is that cooking doesn’t have to be a foreign concept. There is really nothing to be afraid of in the kitchen, including those mystery gadgets with the sharp pieces. 🙂 Cooking your own food is also A LOT healthier for you and your family. You don’t have to rely on pre-made foods. Cooking foods from scratch is not that hard (even if it seems that way for a novice cook).
Kitchen Counter Cooking School is available where most books are sold.
Here is the books trailer.
You can also get shopping tips and watch demos such as Learn Knife Skills, Vinaigrette Lesson, and how to make Pasta Pomodoro on Kathleen’s YouTube Channel. If you would like more recipes by the author and bios on the volunteers visit Kathleen’s website, KathleenFinn.com.
I have a copy of the book Kitchen Counter Cookin School to give to a lucky reader.
To enter please tell me about your cooking skills or habits. Do you rely on pre-packaged foods all the time? Are you a great chef? Tell me about your cooking skills.
For extra entries you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done. Extra entries are optional.
– Subscribe to She Scribes and/or Connect with Google Friend Connect. Both options are found on the right side bar.
– “Like” Kathleen on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/KatFlinn.
– “Like” She Scribes on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/SheScribes.
– Follow Kathleen on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/KathFlinn.
– Follow She Scribes on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/She_Scribes and tweet about this giveaway. Please include @She_Scribes in the tweet so I can see it too. This is limited to three tweets per day.
– Share this giveaway with others on Facebook, Digg, Technorati and so forth. Be sure to tell me what you did and please provide a name and/or URL so I can verify.
– Leave a thoughtful comment on a non-giveaway post on She Scribes and tell me which post you commented on. There is a limit of one comment per post, but you can comment on as many posts as you want for an unlimited extra entry option.
– Post about this giveaway on your site and please link back to this post. Please provide the URL.
This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on October 17, 2011 at 11:59 PM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have three days to reply with a name and mailing address (no PO Box). Failure to do so will result in a new winner will be chosen in their place.
Other awesome giveaways can be found on the right side bar under “Win It.
Kimberly
*I received a free product sample in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own.
Claire says
I’m good when I stick to a recipe and pay attention.
Claire says
1. Follow my blog using Google Friend Connect
Amber says
I’m a horrible chef so I could really use this book!
Amber says
I follow your blog publicly with google friend connet
Amber says
I like She Scribes on Facebook – my FB name is Amanda Moore
spring chicken says
I am a cook out of necessity instead of love of the craft. My teen daughter on the other hand, gets cook books at the library and practices new recipes weekly.
spring chicken says
I subscribe to your emails.
spring chicken says
I follow via GFC.
Simone says
I only cook when I can’t get other people to cook for me. It’s usually something that doesn’t take a long time. Scrambled eggs and toast, spaghetti with sauce, fries, something along those lines.
alycep says
I am a professionally trained chef but do not make my living as such. I cook from scratch for myself and occasionally for others but I have arthritis so it is tough for me to chop etc.
Shannon says
I like to cook but don’t do it much.
renee walters says
I follow your blog on GFC, subscribe to your email and like you on Facebook! I would love to win this because I have difficulty coming up with ideas of things to make! I am okay following a recipe, but not creative at all! Thanks so much for the fantastic giveaway!
Renee Walters
bored2quickly@hotmail.com
Michelle Hayden says
I love to cook…it’s my escape. I especially like baking. My next hurdle is to learn to make yeast breads. Thanks for the great giveaway!
lambeaugal at charter.net
Michelle Hayden says
I subscribe via email and follow on GFC as lambeaugal.
lambeaugal at charter.net
Michelle Hayden says
I “Like” Kathleen on Facebook (FB name is Marie Penny)
lambeaugal at charter.net
Michelle Hayden says
I “Like” She Scribes on Facebook (FB name is Marie Penny)
lambeaugal at charter.net
Miranda Ward says
I use pre packaged foods and add my own spin to them!!
freebiegoddess03@aol.com
valerie mabrey says
I am a good but find that I do not cook very often.
vmkids3 at msn dot com
jr911 says
I don’t do much prepackaged foods, but other than my old stand by dishes, I must have a recipe because I don’t have the knowledge to just wing it.
jr911 says
i get your emails
jr911 says
i follow with gfc
jr911 says
i like you on fb
debbie says
I will use everything. Yes, I do use package mixes, but I often add things to them. I make alot of things from scratch.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
debbie says
I am a email subscriber.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
debbie says
I am a gfc follower
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
rebecca williams says
We eat out twice a week, cook homemade meals three times a week, and pre-packeage (hamburger helper and such) twice a week.
rebeccaw2005 at gmail dot com
rebecca williams says
I follow your blog via google friend-rebecca williams
rebeccaw2005 at gmail dot com
rebecca williams says
I like you on facebook @rebeccaw2005
rebeccaw2005 at gmail dot com
crystle tellerday says
i can cook a little bit but i mostly rely on prepackaged food
MEG says
If I have the time, I love to cook from scratch. Dang job gets in the way!
Catie says
In the past year or two I have taught myself to cook and bake. No more box mixes in our house!
Catie says
I subscribe via Google Reader.
Catie says
I like She Scribes on Facebook.
Catie says
I tried to follow Kathleen on Twitter but it says that page does not exist.
GrandmaAllen says
I’ve been married longer than most of your followers are old, so I prefer to cook from scratch most of the time but I do use a cake mixes as I never had much luck with “scratch” cakes. We like basic foods, not fancy.
GrandmaAllen says
I subscribe to Shescribes emails.
GrandmaAllen says
I like Shescribes on facebook.
Gianna says
I’ve been told by a lot of people that I should open up a restaurant. I would say very good 🙂
Gianna says
I’m a GFC follower.
Gianna says
I’m an email subscriber.
♡♥♬ Raven In A Blue Room ♡♥♬ says
I am a mediocre cook, when I have the time I like to cook more elabrate things
Thank you for hosting this giveaway
Louis
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
♡♥♬ Raven In A Blue Room ♡♥♬ says
I am an email subscriber
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
♡♥♬ Raven In A Blue Room ♡♥♬ says
Google Friends Connect – following you publicly as (Louis)
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
♡♥♬ Raven In A Blue Room ♡♥♬ says
I like your blog on facebook (Louis Here)
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
♡♥♬ Raven In A Blue Room ♡♥♬ says
I like Kathleen Flinn on facebook (Louis Here)
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
♡♥♬ Raven In A Blue Room ♡♥♬ says
following you on twitter @left_the_stars
I tweeted your giveaway
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
♡♥♬ Raven In A Blue Room ♡♥♬ says
I shared on my Face Book
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
chris says
I’m a cook from stratch girl
Karen says
I had a chef for a roommate, so my cooking skills are pretty good. Thanks for the giveaway.
denise says
I am not a very exciting cook, I can make the simple things, I should of paid attention to my grandmas cooking, she was a great cook, anything that would help me would be greatly appreciated.
Ellen C. says
I’m a pretty good chef. I try to learn alot and try new recipes to expand my knowledge. Thanks for the chance.
Ellen C. says
I’m a subscriber.
Aisling says
I’m not a “great” cook, but I’ve learned that cooking from scratch is almost as easy and tastes much better than using boxes, cans and frozen meals. I can always use new information and recipes to improve.
Aisling says
I subscribe to She Scribes and Connect with Google Friend Connect.
Jackie says
I cook purely from scratch. The only thing that I use out of the can is tomato sauce if tomatoes aren’t in season or aren’t cheap. I learned all my recipes and techniques from my mom’s side.
Jackie says
I am a subscriber
Jackie says
I am a subscriber
Ericka says
I don’t think I am a good cook, my kids love my cooking though so i guess that is all that counts right..? lol I usually cook non packaged food, if I am feeling lazy then I will get pre-cooked stuff.
ericka082 at gmail dot com
Ericka says
GFC follower
Ericka
ericka082 at gmail dot com
Ericka says
I like Kathleen Flinn on fb
Ericka K
ericka082 at gmail dot com
Ericka says
I like you on fb
Ericka K
ericka082 at gmail dot com
Kerrie Mayans says
I am a bad cook. I rely on pre-packaged food and frozen meals.
kerrie@mayansfamily.com
Kerrie Mayans says
I follow you on gfc as degood.
kerrie@mayansfamily.com
Kerrie Mayans says
I subscribe to your rss feed in google reader.
kerrie@mayansfamily.com
Kerrie Mayans says
I like you on facebook as kerrie mayans.
kerrie@mayansfamily.com
Yidi T says
I’m a good cook, and I don’t like pre-packed food.
yidijia(at)gmail(dot)com
Yidi T says
email subscriber yidijia(at)gmail(dot)com
Yidi T says
“I follow this blog publicly via google friend connect
Yidi Turman yidijia(at)gmail(dot)com”
Yidi T says
Facebook Like, Yidi Turman, yidijia(at)gmail(dot)com
Yidi T says
“Following on twitter @YidiTurman
yidijia(at)gmail(dot)com”
Yidi T says
http://twitter.com/#!/YidiTurman/status/125972110077214721
Kat Emerick says
I love to cook… I sometimes love to add or change ingredients to my food, experimenting on different spices.
Kat Emerick says
Already Subscribe to She Scribes
Kat Emerick says
Already follow gfc
Ed Nemmers says
I am a decent baker/chef/cook.
Erin T. says
I taught myself how to cook but learned to love cooking.
susan smoaks says
i am not a great chef
Sand says
I cook and bake everything from scratch. Everyone loves my desserts, especially my cookies.
Yidi T says
http://twitter.com/#!/YidiTurman/status/126302050131775488