Dear living room chefs,

I know that you may think you are the next Rachel Ray or Gordon Ramsey when you are watching food network from the comfort of your coach. You watch Worst Cooks in America and Chopped so often you can say the appropriate resting time for certain proteins, you can explain the proper way to mince and know what cutting on the bias is. You start buying all the mystery box ingredients from the latest Chopped episode, even if you have no idea what they are.

You follow all kinds of food program pages on social media. You have bookmarked and attempted over fifty tasty recipes with semi-successful results. You capture your masterpiece so that it lasts longer than it will on your plate. Since these turned out so well you move on to recreating the recipes you see on your favorite cooking shows. Fail miserably than have every excuse as to why the recipe was flawed instead of yourself.

I realize that you may think that since you have engrossed yourself and in several cooking shows, you are the “best home cook in America”. But, your skills do not match up to the professional level you believe they do. Do not make you family for during the upcoming holiday season, in an outlandish attempt by you to show off your mastery of the culinary arts, eat your failed dishes. Do not turn Thanksgiving dinner into your own personal mystery box challenge. Stick to what you already know how to cook, be thankful that you can make these things. You do not need to impress your family. They will love whatever you are capable of making and enjoy it wholeheartedly.

Sincerely,

Your Kitchen

P.S. Please do not burn me down I am too young to die.