Add a pinch of dedication, a dash of time, a healthy dose of concentration and a large portion of energy. Stir vigorously and let mixture set for seven days. The end result should be a better cook in just one week.

Day 1: Inspire yourself.

“Cooking is my art. It’s how I express myself,” said Hailey Everton, a Culinary Arts major and sophomore from Portland, Ore.

Get creative and start looking for things that will give you confidence. Pick out your favorite music to cook to and find recipes that you’ll enjoy making. Watch the Food Network to give you ideas and tips on what to cook.

Day 2: Find a mentor

Find someone who is an experienced cook. This person can answer many of your questions and guide you along the way.

“Be dedicated. Follow a leader, someone who knows how to cook as an example,” said Roberto Larrea, kitchen leader at Johnny Carino’s in Idaho Falls.

Day 3: Learn the basics

Many recipes and TV shows use cooking jargon that needs to be decoded, like “sauté” and “caramelize.”

This is where a mentor will come in handy. Also, learn the basics of kitchen utensils, seasonings and food handling.

Day 4: Start simple

Crème brulèe and a turkey dinner shouldn’t be on the top of your recipe list. Find a recipe with a few ingredients and set forth to conquer.

Try something familiar like French toast or challenge yourself and try something new, but keep it simple.

”Don’t be afraid to try new things, whether that is a fruit or vegetable or a meat or anything,” said Jeff Hamblin, a culinary arts professor in the Home and Family Department.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes either. “Learn from your experiences, if you’re going to burn it, that’s fine. Just don’t say, ‘I’m the worst cook in the world, I’m never going to be able to do it,’” Hamblin said.

Day 5: Plan and prepare

Take a prep day. Find more recipes that look enjoyable. Plan your meals for the upcoming week. To save time, cut and store your food so it’s ready to go when you are.

“Take a free night and make meals in advance,” Everton said. ”Then freeze them, cook it when you’re ready and then you can eat the leftovers for the next few days.”

Day 6: Service

“Cooking is all about serving other people. Cook for someone else and see it as an opportunity for service,” Hamblin said.

Share the fruits of your labor with others. Give a roommate or friend a home-cooked meal and a break from the mundane.

When you cook to share, it becomes something so much more than ingredients.

Day 7: Take it to the next level.

“BAM! Kick it up a notch!” as Emeril would say. Find challenging recipes to create.

“Try something you don’t like in a new way. Try to cook something again that you failed,” Hamblin said.

Learning to cook doesn’t have to be just another life skill. Cooking can also be about challenging yourself.

“I like to show my skills and improve myself,” Larrea said.

Following these cooking guidelines won’t guarantee four-star meals for the rest of your life, but it will improve potential and skills you already have. It may even help you to find joy in creating better food and serving others.