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Learning how to cook can be a challenge, especially when teaching yourself. Raj Thandhi, also known as @pinkchai on social media, can relate as she shares her journey to becoming a home chef. Read this interview for some delicious tips and advice to help build your confidence in the kitchen.
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Who is PinkChai?
I’m a marketing professional, food lover, and a mom. I've lived in Surrey, on the west coast of BC my whole life, and I'm a food person. I love cooking, trying new restaurants, learning about food culture and all things food are a big part of my life.
Some people might say I’m a social media influencer, but I like to call myself a recipe developer and food content creator. My big goal when it comes to sharing food recipes is to make cooking accessible to people.
Have you always loved food and cooking or is it a passion that developed over time?
So, the funny thing is, I really didn't have a lot of interest in food growing up, or even as a young adult. I learned to cook later in life, when my kids were toddlers. I sort of had to learn to cook to feed them. That’s how I discovered how much I actually really love it.
When you started cooking, did you find it hard?
It was hard for me to get started because I wasn’t a natural in the kitchen. You hear stories of people learning to cook in their mom or grandma’s kitchen, but that wasn’t my case. I was starting from scratch and trying to replicate traditional family recipes. It was tough because those recipes weren't even available on the Internet. It definitely wasn’t easy in the beginning.
What did you do to make it easier?
I practiced cooking every day, tried different recipes, and watched a lot of YouTube videos. I started hosting friends a lot, having them over to test new recipes, and getting lots of feedback!
Would you say that upgrading your appliances has also made cooking easier or improved the way your food turned out?
Yes! From the smallest appliance, like having the right spice grinder so that you can actually grind ingredients properly, to the bigger ones, like having an oven that doesn't have weird hot spots. I remember using my old oven for the longest time, thinking I couldn't make certain meals or just didn’t have great baking skills. Then I realized my oven had all these hot pockets. So, I do think having the right appliances and equipment makes cooking so much more joyful because the food tends to turn out well. You're less stressed out and anxious because you have the things you need.
But I will say this; in the beginning it's really just about getting started. Sometimes, we make ourselves nervous when we think, “I don't have these gadgets” or “once I get these things, I can cook this and that”. Just start with whatever you have.
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What is your favourite dish to cook?
I have two very conflicting favourites. Both are my favourite things to cook and eat. I love making a proper curry chicken and I also love a really cheesy macaroni and cheese. They’re two sides of my personality. Curry chicken is like my favourite for when friends and family come over. They’re always asking, “are you gonna make curry chicken?”. So that's kind of my go to. Macaroni and cheese are great for my kids, they love it and it's quick, easy, and perfect for busy days.
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What is one tool in the kitchen you cannot live without?
My immersion blender. It is my lifeline! I use it for everything, I couldn't live without my immersion blender because I make a lot of sauces and gravies. The other really close second is my spice grinder because I cook a lot of foods that are heavily spiced.
What advice would you give to those trying to start cooking home-made meals?
Keep it simple. Anybody who's trying to start to cook more at home, whether it’s just to be healthy and eat out less to save more, my advice is to start with simple recipes. In the beginning, I think we get really excited, and we try to make really intricate recipes, but keep it simple.
Don’t be afraid to season your food. I feel like when you're new in the kitchen, you're really scared of seasoning. When you don't season your food enough, it doesn't taste good and then you think I'm not a good cook. When recipes are written, the recipe developers can be compelled by their editors to simplify them. So, they're constantly cutting out ingredients. I don't think that the traditional recipe model really teaches people to season their food. So, if you are reading a recipe and the recipe says you'll need a teaspoon of salt but you're thinking “no this is not enough”, trust your taste buds.
Master a few easy recipes. Have a couple of dishes you’re really comfortable with cooking. Have a couple back pocket recipes that you can make at any time. I know when I started to learn how to cook, I was like “if I could just master five things, that'd be good”. Everyone should have at least five solid recipes they can cook.
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That’s great advice, especially about having a couple of recipes that you can confidently make at any time. How can we build that confidence in our cooking?
It's really just practice. Try easy recipes to start and don't pressure yourself by cooking for a dinner party when you start.
Cook for yourself. Don't cook because it has to look Instagram worthy, or you have to post it or someone else has to like it. Cook the food for yourself and remember that the only thing that matters is that you like it. I think that’s how you can build confidence in the kitchen and in your cooking; by enjoying the meals you prepare.
I want people to not be scared of cooking. I know that there was a time when I was really afraid of cooking, and I also assumed that I couldn't cook. But as I started to do it more, my skills in the kitchen improved and I became more confident in my cooking abilities.
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, you don’t need to cook a five-course meal every day. Putting that level of stress on yourself is what makes cooking at home intimidating. It’s funny because I work in social media, but it can make you feel like everybody is feeding their kids exceptional meals every day. I am a full-time recipe developer, food content creator, and I’ve ordered pizza for my kids plenty of times.
Build Confidence in the Kitchen with Trail Appliances
If you find cooking intimidating, you’re not alone. Like Raj, you can develop a love and passion for cooking and we’re here to help you gain that confidence in the kitchen. In addition to her helpful tips, watch Raj’s social media cooking series, in partnership with Trail Appliances, called “Rollover Meals”, for recipes that you can cook once and eat twice. Be sure to follow Raj (@pinkchai) and Trail Appliances on Instagram for tips and recipes that will help you in your cooking journey.
