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- Making sure you have all your ingredients in place (the highest quality you can afford)
- A sharp(ened) knife makes the whole process more enjoyable and safer. Take some time to learn how to dice onion, crush garlic with the side of your knife, basic techniques like this can help you with all of your cutting.
- When trying to learn to cook the same things apply as when trying to learn anything else _deliberate_ practice and nailing the basics while progressing.
- when trying to cook a dish spend some time with it, cook it multiple times, start with a basic version and then the next time add some additional ingredient or a new technique. You can move from basic -> advance with the same recipe.
Take for example a simple dish like Penne Arrabbiata.
This recipe has 6 ingredients: https://www.greatitalianchefs.com/recipes/penne-all-arrabbia...
This one has 12: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/user/522694/recipe/penne-allarra...
Think about the flavors and why each ingredient is included, why are the recipes different?
Think about if it's a regional ingredient and it was included because that's what they had to hand at the time, or if it's a later addition.
Yes, you will lose a few fingerprints, probably.