beginner

There comes a day in most people's lives when they decide to start cooking or baking. Some people pick up a cookbook or experiment with a technique they watched on the Food Network. Others, like myself, call a parent. I asked my father, "Dad, how do you make pasta carbonara?" I distinctly recall that day when I first cooked a real meal all by myself. The experience was so rewarding that I've been hooked ever since! I'm sure I'm not the only one who remembers their initial successes in the kitchen, so do tell: what was your first dish?

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With their crisp, crunchy skin and flaky, hot flesh, fish tacos are sublimely delicious. I always order fish tacos out but rarely make them in. To encourage both you and I to experiment with fish tacos at home, I've found two recipes.

One is quite simple and the other is quite complicated. Because deep frying fish fillets is not for everyone, the first recipe uses premade crunchy fish tenders. Feel free to take components of each recipe to make your own appetizing variation. For both recipes, read more

If you're not normally a runner but have decided to take it up once the weather turns, congrats, just be sure to be careful.

This is because new runners are more likely to ignore foot and ankle pain and are at higher risk of injury since beginners or average runners take nearly twice as long to finish the same distance and also tend to weigh more than experienced runners, leading to more stress on feet and ankles.

This is not meant to discourage new runners but to serve as a friendly reminder: If you're thinking about taking up running this Spring, wonderful, just be sure to listen to your body and pay attention to any aches and pains. You may need to start with shorter runs, give your body a rest, and/or see a doctor so you can avoid injury and keep with it in the long run, pun intended.

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If you love to camp, you'll love backpacking. Basically instead of packing all your stuff in your car and driving to your campsite, and enjoying nature with people all around you, you pack all your gear into a backpack and hike to a remote and way more private location. No neighboring campers playing acoustic versions of their favorite Metallica tunes until the wee hours of the morning.

I would start off slowly and just do an overnight trip. There is a lot less food and water to pack if you are only going for an overnight. I tell you though, chances are high you are going to love it and start planning longer and longer trips. Serious backpackers go for weeks at a time.

Before heading out, it's a good idea to get a book on the basics of backpacking like Backpacking: One Step at a Time ($18.05). It'll give you life-saving tips on how to enjoy yourself in the wilderness, and how to have the least impact on the environment.

Having good gear is essential and you'll need lightweight hiking boots (sneakers are not sturdy enough when you're carrying extra weight on your back), and a good sized backpack. Since you're carrying all your stuff, you want to carry only what you NEED, and you want to get lightweight versions of everything. You'll need a lightweight tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. You'll also need enough food for your trip as well as layers of clothes - warm stuff because it can get cold at night.

Want to see what I pack? Then read more

When checking out the yoga class schedule at your local gym or studio, your brain can get all twisted up trying to figure out which class to take, and you haven't even stepped on a mat yet. Allow me to explain.

Vinyasa or Flow - Usually a fast paced class, the instructor plays music and makes up the sequence, like a choreographed dance.

Beginner - This is a perfect class for someone who's just starting out. It's usually an hour or less and paced much slower.

Power - This is fast-paced, difficult, and based on Ashtanga Yoga.

Mixed - This could either mean "mixed levels," for both beginners and experts, or it could mean a mix of different postures taken from different styles of Yoga. I'd call and ask just to make sure.

Hatha - Literally means "sun moon" and is usually slower and more gentle.