The world doesn’t need more cookbooks, although that’s a moot point because every chef has their own style and methods for creating delicious things to eat and drink. There are endless recipes that can (and should!) be written down. Perhaps a more accurate blanket statement is that the world does need more home chefs who can competently boil water for pasta, pull the correct spatula out of the drawer to serve a piece of cake, and not panic when it’s time to set the table for a few dinner guests. Let’s face it, everyone has to eat, so we might as well learn some skills to support that necessity.

As a mid-millennial, I am well aware of the struggles that my generation and the one that follows (Gen-Z) have when it comes to the kitchen. There is more available video content and recipe posts than ever before telling us what to feed ourselves. Yet, there is a disconnect between the all-encompassing power of the Internet at our fingertips and actually knowing how to use our hands to make dinner.

For example: I’ve seen wedding registries with obscure kitchen tools—things I know are only there as “you may also like” default choices of the happy couple—plus three sets of mixing bowls, yet no 9×13 baking pans or can openers. Tik Tok, Pinterest and the general black hole of the Internet constantly show me circle-lit influencers eating chopped salads out of enormous serving dishes they can barely lift to show the camera. These always seem simple and full of ingredients I maybe have in my pantry. But, with 15 seconds of high-speed video footage to show me how to construct a salad that feeds 20 people, the inspiration comes and goes in equal measures of swiftness. The full recipe is usually typed out in the comments (as indicated by ubiquitous emojis), but let’s be honest for a moment. It is unlikely that any of us finds that random Reel delivered to us by an algorithm next time we go grocery shopping. It is even more unlikely that many of the Gen-Z population have a large salad bowl or have any idea how to effectively cut the necessary vegetables. Let’s not forget how young-Millennial, Kendall Jenner perfectly demonstrated how NOT to slice a cucumber on a recent season of Kardashians. All of us mini-adults need some help!

That isn’t to say that the kids are all hopeless (or that it’s not ok to occasionally get a little unconventional in our culinary methods). But from what I’ve seen, society’s youngest batch of homeowners, college graduates, newly-minted professionals, etc. need some training to be proficient in the kitchen. One problem is that they (we) don’t necessarily want anyone else to know about their (our) deficiencies.

Spaghetti on Fire is for anyone who needs some casual kitchen instruction in a way that makes it feel like it was your idea in the first place. There will be some recipes along the way, but this is not a food blog. The primary goal of this series is to provide a crash course in culinary essentials. While this content is hopefully helpful for anyone & everyone, it is directed at Gen-Z and Millennial-aged people who are lacking kitchen confidence.

• The 19-year-old girl who wants to avoid setting off the fire alarm in her first apartment, but can’t figure out how to make pasta without setting the spaghetti on fire.
• The 23-year-old guy who is trying not to live into the bachelor stereotypes but is unsure if he really needs a can opener (yes!).
• The 26-year-old lady who finally moved out of her parents’ home who loves to eat skillets at the local diner, but has no idea what a skillet pan looks like, let alone how to “season” or store it.
• The 31-year-old couple creating their wedding registry and wondering if they really need a whisk, a hand-held electric mixer, AND a countertop stand mixer (depends).
• The 37-year-old man who just got divorced and has no clue where to start since his husband used to do all the cooking.
• The 43-year-old woman who is kitchen-curious and wistfully yearns to stop eating fast food all the time, but doesn’t quite feel up for the task.

These friends may all need guidance on kitchen basics, but probably want to do it with a certain level of aesthetic vibes. Speaking from experience, I avoid celebrity cookbooks (even the ones already on my shelves). The recipes often feel fussy and complicated. I am also weary of influencers, because at this point, there are so many “experts” in the digital space that the amount of options of who to model their habits after is overwhelming. I know that when I was trying to get comfortable in the kitchen, I really just wanted my mom (or grandma or uncle or cousin) to give me some basic knowledge of how to function in the kitchen. I wanted clear, concise directions and richly delicious food to feed my belly, mind, heart and soul (ok that last one is a bit of a stretch).

So, consider Spaghetti on Fire to be your non-flashy online kitchen guide, encyclopedia and family recipe book combined into one blog series. For the record, I am not an expert (nor, to be honest, have I had professional training). But, I operated a cottage food bakery and hosted elaborate Book & Dinner Clubs for 3.5 years as facets of a small business I ran with my best friend. I grew up in a family full of fabulous home chefs and probably relied on them too much for too long. When it was time to fend for myself, I panicked, and I really don’t want that for you! My goal is not to demonstrate some sort of aspirational perfection in the kitchen, but rather, to inspire some confidence so you can shop, prep, cook, bake and, most importantly, eat with less confusion and more joy!

SDG

LMB #14