Learning To Cook

So I'm not sure how I missed out on learning how to cook. I helped my mom in the kitchen (probably not as often as she liked but still!). I haven't lived with someone who makes me dinner for YEARS now. But it wasn't until I moved to Australia that I realised I don't really know how to cook. You know - just look in the fridge and make something.

Sure, my dad taught me how to boil eggs (and the come out PERFECT - no green film between the york and the white - cooked all the way through without cracking the shell - perfect). I picked up how to make Mac and Cheese all by myself (once I learned how to read the directions on the package). I even progressed to not needing to measure out the ingredients to add to the Kraft package just winging it on what looked/tasted right. But I never learned that 'art' that is cooking. I still go to the store and try to think of a whole entire meal and then buy each ingredient.

I've watched my friends here in Oz...they're pretty decent at just buying some stuff and then having different meals for a few days. And I wonder, where do people learn to cook? Well, I found out - everyone here is required to take one course of the American equivalent of home economics. With that basic cooking out of the way, they can experient and just sort of get it...why didn't I think to do that way back in Junior High?