For some, cooking is a pain. For others, it's a joy. For many, it's a mystery. If you are someone that claims you can't cook, I encourage you to give it another go! You don't have to become a gourmet chef, but it's important to learn some basic cooking skills.

1. Salt boiling water for pasta or rice.

Adding salt to boiling water will flavor the water and ensure that your noodles or rice won't taste bland.

2. Know how to boil an egg.

Boiled eggs are perfect for a quick breakfast, plus there are many recipes that call for them! There are two ways to boil eggs. The first is to put uncooked eggs in a pan of cold water and bring them to a boil. The second is to bring the water to a boil and gently drop the uncooked eggs into the pan. If you use the second method, you can time the eggs according to the above picture. If you use the first method, you can time the eggs once they come to a boil.

3. Only use non-stick products when necessary.

Though recipes may call for non-stick spray or spread, make sure you are not already cooking with non-stick cookware. If you use non-stick products on pots, pans, and cookie sheets that are made to be non-stick, you'll ruin them.

4. A slow cooker is your best friend.

Recipes that use slow cookers are my life! They save time and cleanup hassle. You just throw some ingredients in, set the temperature and timer, and you're good to go!

5. There is no such thing as soaking.

This is not so much of a cooking tip as a cleanup tip. There is hardly ever a need to soak your pots, pans, dishes, etc. Unless you have baked-on-food on a dish that has been sitting out for a while you will be able to scrub it off. Soaking dishes is just an excuse to clean the kitchen later. It's gross. Don't do it.

Don't be afraid to cook! Be ambitious! You can do it, just follow the recipe's directions. As Chef Gusteau says in the Disney movie Ratatouille, "Anyone can cook!"