The best things about cooking are that you can be creative, experiment, and share what you make. Like any activity that involves experiments, there are tools, terms, and things to know so that the only surprise in your kitchen is how easy cooking can be. The next few sections aren't as exciting as making Cereal Necklaces or Chocolate-Peanut Butter Pudding, but they are pretty important. Otherwise, how will you know whether to bake or boil? Slice or mash?

Read this chapter with your parents or the adult who will be helping you in the kitchen. The recipes are written for you, but it's important for all the cooks to know what's going on.