Cooking with Courage — A Lesson from Julia Child

What flavors would go in your pan?

Julia Child famously said, “The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking, you’ve got to have a what-the-hell attitude.”

And honestly, that’s true far beyond the kitchen.

One of the biggest things I see in home cooks — whether they’re making salad dressing, roasting a chicken, or baking bread — is hesitation. They worry about messing up or not having the right ingredients. But here’s the truth: the best dishes often come from a little experimentation, a little improvisation, and a whole lot of trust in your taste buds.

Flavor of the Week tip:

Instead of following a recipe to the letter, make it your own — even in a small way. Add a different herb. Swap in a new spice. Use what’s in your fridge instead of running to the store. Pay attention to the flavors as you go, and let them guide you.

And if you “mess up”? Well… you just learned something for next time. Julia would approve — and so would I. I just call it flavor research. Because every “oops” teaches you something you can use again — and sometimes, those happy accidents turn into signature dishes..

So here’s your challenge:Pick one dish this week and change one thing about it. Add a different herb. Try a new spice. Use what’s in your fridge instead of running to the store. Play with it. Taste as you go.

Because the more you cook this way, the more you’ll build confidence — and before you know it, you’ll be cooking with your own “what-the-hell” attitude, just like Julia.

💬 Tried it? Tell me in the comments — I want to hear about your flavor research!

With Flavor Love,

Kerstin