If you’re just getting started in the kitchen, you may feel overwhelmed or intimidated, but remember that cooking is like anything else: The more you practice, the better you will become. Anyone can cook, but there is more to cooking than simply throwing ingredients together and hoping for the best. You have to understand basic cooking terms and techniques. Knowing how to prepare different components of a meal, and in what order, can help you get the timing just right, and prevent things from cooling too quickly. Once you have the basics down, you can improve the flavor and texture of your meals with various sauces, herbs, and other seasonings.