Melinda Hinson-Neely - Eat In, Not Out: The Learn-How-to-Cook Book Without the Recipes

Copyright 2011 Melinda Hinson Neely

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Cover Design: Robert Neely

Photographer: Barb Bergeson (http://bbsgphotography.com/)

Print ISBN 978-1-935961-41-3

EPUB ISBN 978-1-62015-045-0

DISCOUNTS OR CUSTOMIZED EDITIONS MAY BE AVAILABLE FOR EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER GROUPS BASED ON BULK PURCHASE.

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2011919040

Booktrope Publishing, Seattle, WA

Copyrighted Material

Table of Contents

Preface

The first chapter of my first book, Finding Life's Secret Sauce, is entitled Learn How to Cook. My rationale in making this suggestion was, in addition to exercise and other important life factors, cooking is one of the best ways to manage your health and well-being. How can you accurately count calories or grams of fat if you always eat out or grab something to go? You never really know what you are eating unless you prepare the dish yourself.

Even if good health and weight management aren't your primary motivators, learning how to cook has other advantages. You can manage the amount of butter or sugar you add to recipes and control the number of organic, natural, and/or gluten-free foods you are consuming. You can also buy and prepare the amount of food that suits your familys appetite, thus saving money and reducing waste.

Eat In, Not Out is not your typical cookbook, because it's filled with real-life stories to bring the relevance of cooking to life. Since I'm often asked my secrets for preparing healthy, good food, I decided to share what I've learned and how I learned it. Rather than recipes with instructions, the book includes background on what you might want to know before you start slicing and dicing and sauting. It also contains ideas for making the cooking experience simpler, more fun, and less stressful.

Learning how to cook may seem like an overwhelming proposition, especially if your days are as hectic as mine. Eat In, Not Out is common sense and approachable, not intimidating and overwhelming. It's broken down into bite-sized nuggets that are easy to swallow. Without choking.

And don't worry if you experience a few flops along the way. Even the best of chefs make mistakesLord knows, I have! Like everything in life, cooking gets easier with practice. Things will come more naturally after you have created a few masterpieces and endured a few cooking catastrophes. So relax and enjoy the imperfections rather than stressing out about them.

Interspersed throughout Eat In, Not Out, food experts provide their input on the topics at hand, bringing new meaning to the term how to. So don't just take my word for ithear great suggestions from others, too!

By reading Eat In, Not Out, I hope you develop some helpful and healthy cooking habits that last a lifetime. More importantly, I hope your kitchen becomes your favorite room in the house, one that becomes the centerpiece for delicious meals and lasting memories for friends and family.

How to Read Eat In, Not Out

Eat in, Not Out is a learn-how-to-cook-book, without the recipes. The book is for the cooking neophyte. Or even a more experienced cook who needs some helpful reminders or fresh ideas. After all, who doesn't want to shake up the same old, boring routine?

The book begins by sharing information on the basics of nutrition, kitchen essentials, and the cooking language, as well as other topics to consider before the cooking process even begins. Then it delves more deeply into planning and preparing easy, healthy, and delicious meals. From simple pick-me-ups to savoring meal-time, Eat In, Not Out has a little something for everyone. Background knowledge, some hand-holding, and a little encouragement can go a long way when you are trying to learn anything new.

The book is broken down into topics you can pick and choose based on what you need or want to learn. The content flows along a chronological learning timeline so you can jump in right where your skill level or interest fits.

: Learning the Basics of NutritionContributor Georgie Fear

: Prepping the KitchenContributor Shaina Olmanson

: The Left Brain of CookingContributor Karen Evans

: Teaching My Child the BasicsContributor Shaina Olmanson

: Keeping It SimpleContributor Lynne Viera

: The Right Brain of CookingContributor Dani Spies

: Tips for the Sous ChefContributors Alex and Sonja Overhiser

: Grand FinaleContributor Aime Wimbush-Bourque

Start on page 1 or skip to section 4, so you can cook things up according to your interests or demands. Just turn the pages for many enjoyable cooking days ahead...

About the Eat In, Not Out Contributors

I am deeply appreciative for the gracious contributions of women who continue to inspire me with their professional accomplishments, cooking advice, and healthy habits.

Georgie Fear

Georgie Fear is a registered dietitian and Lean Eating coach at Precision Nutrition. She received her undergraduate degree in nutritional sciences from Rutgers University and completed her dietetics internship and clinical training at Cornell University. A lifelong athlete, Georgie is a marathon runner, triathlete, and avid rock climber. Her educational style is science-based, informative, and full of practical tips that work in the real world. She specializes in nutrition for sports performance, weight management, chronic disease prevention, and healthy cooking. She is the author of a blog, Ask Georgie, and a book, Fuel Up.

Shaina Olmanson

Shaina Olmanson is a freelance writer and photographer and also the home cook behind Food for My Family. She is the food channel editor at Lifetime Moms. Shaina fell in love with the art of cooking while spending countless hours hanging on her grandmother's apron strings, and, as a native Minnesotan, growing up surrounded by farms served as a daily reminder of the importance of local and seasonal food. Raising her four young children with her husband, she strives to teach them the importance of growing, preparing, eating, and enjoying real food.

Karen Evans

Karen Evans is the author of the inspiring and informative blog, Fitness: A Journey Not a Destination. Karen majored in public administration/community service, but at the age of thirty-seven was inspired to start a career in the field of health and wellness. That is what led her to attend massage therapy school and become licensed to practice. She is a wife and mother of two on a journey to lead the healthiest life possible through exercise and nutrition. She firmly believes we can all lead healthier lives if we have the desire to do so.

Lynne Viera

Lynne Viera is the founder of how2heroes, the premiere how-to video cooking Web site. Lynne combined her expertise in marketing major brands like Safeway and National Geographic Channel (as the founder/chief executive officer of Rival Marketing) and her passion for food to create this world-class Web site destination for people who really want to learn how to cook. Every video is original and carefully shot so viewers can easily replicate the recipes and techniques being demonstrated. The site features a combination of master chefs such as Ming Tsai, Angelo Sosa (