10 things I've learned from watching cooking shows

10.  Trust my sense of smell when it comes to figuring out when certain things are done.

9.  Bring all meats down to room temperature before cooking, and let them rest for at least 5-10 minutes before carving or slicing.

8.  If you add a little lemon zest or salt to certain dishes just before serving, they taste even fresher.

7.  Fresh herbs are worth the extra expense.

6.  Roasting vegetables makes them taste better than steaming.

5.  Garlic can burn really quickly.

4.  Make sure the pan is hot enough before you throw stuff in it.

3.  The better and fresher the ingredients, the less you have to add to them to have a great meal.

2.  Taste everything before you serve it.

1.  Don't be afraid to add salt while you are cooking, and in layers (meat, sauce etc..).  The food doesn't end up tasting more salty, just more flavorful.