Growing up, my mom cooked for us often. She had a lot of inspiration from my Granny who was a wonderful cook as well. We always had southern staples like meatloaf, hamburger steak, spaghetti, BBQ chicken pintos and cornbread. I didn’t become as interested in cooking until I got married and realized those meals don’t appear out of nowhere! Lots of trial and error, a Food Network obsession and many Pinterest boards have gotten me into my own style of cooking/cuisine.
Look at a recipe as a guide. It doesn’t have to be exact. Make it your own. Use what you have. Read your food labels. Consider making it yourself. You’d be surprised how easy it can be and much money you’ll save, even if it’s not something you do every single time. Cooking is just like anything else – it takes time and practice to get good at it. Don’t give up, just try again. Don’t let anyone discourage you! Nobody is the best at everything, but with practice you’ll sure be better than when you first started.