I used to think that being a decent chef was a given until I went to a dinner party and after a half hour in the kitchen, the host served us crackers topped with a chunk of cheese, smothered in honey. Then we got to talking and I realized that cooking doesn't come easy at all. As someone who went from knowing nothing to receiving compliments on my dishes from moms and grandmas, I'll give you my 5 ways to improve your cooking skills

1. Get Creative

You'll never be a good chef if you don't enjoy cooking. To be honest, things could get dull. Go-to's like pasta and chicken have pretty much killed our collective imagination in the kitchen. If you want to improve, you've got to try new things.

Go for this cannabis cooking oil recipe or experiment with vegetables you've never seen, like yuca, bok choy, and napa cabbage.

Shake things up and choose a day of the week where you eat only foods you've never seen before. Experimentation is the road to success.

If this intimidates you, then simply add one new vegetable or fruit to your cooking arsenal per week.

2. Simplify Things

What deters many people from cooking is the idea that it's some super complicated process. Sometimes, yes. If you're following a 30+ step recipe from Julia Child, you'll struggle as a newbie.

image via Dana Tentis

The truth is though, that cooking can be extremely simple. Just gather all foods you like which seem like they'd go together - for example, mushrooms, spinach, onion, and chicken thighs, throw them in a stirfry pan, add olive oil and turn up the heat.

As long as you remember to stir occasionally, you'll be fine.

3. Spice it Up

Not using spices is a major mistake. Using only salt and pepper is really dull. Go explore different flavors.

I'm a huge fan of saffron, turmeric, cumin, curry, sweet pepper, cayenne pepper, and ginger. All of these will give an exotic and hearty taste to your meal.

image via Pixabay

The trick here is to balance your spice use - don't go nuts on the saffron. Usually, one tablespoon is fine for one portion. Go slowly until you feel familiar and comfortable with the spices.

Bonus points: having artisanal spices looks super badass in the kitchen. Your friends will be impressed.

4. Host Dinner Parties

Cooking for others is always a major inspiration to get you in the kitchen. I invite friends and family over and show off my vegan stir-fries.

This will give you an excellent opportunity to work both on quirky appetizers and on main courses. If you're a vegetarian or a vegan, you will finally be able to demonstrate to your crew that these types of diets include some amazing dishes far beyond "grass and leaves."

5. Approach Cooking as a Game

My favorite part of cooking is picking the raw vegetables from the store and playing with the food while I cook.

image via rawpixel

Pick out some shiitake mushrooms and see how fun it is to squeeze them. Watch kale sizzle, and slice creamy avocado.

Shift your thinking. Cooking isn't a mundane process we have to go through in order to survive; it's a chance to have some fun, get creative, and stay healthy.