When you finally get the courage to live life your own way, you might come to find that it's not as simple as it seems. You never thought that having to plan your own meals everyday would be so hard. It's tempting to go buy a cookbook filled with amazing-looking dishes, although you'll come to find that you need some basic cooking knowledge before you can move on to the complicated stuff, but not to worry. We have outlined 4 basic recipes that you should know before you turn 30 that will help you make those complex meals.

Grilled Chicken

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon dried basil, cilantro, or parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine all dry seasoning and season both sides of the chicken
2. Heat grill pan for about 2-3 minutes on high, then lower the heat to medium and coat pan with olive oil
3. Add chicken breasts and cook for 5-6 minutes on one side, then flip to other side for 5-6 minutes. Cook until both sides have dark grill markings.
4. Turn off heat and let chicken rest in pan for 5 minutes before serving.

Check out another grilled chicken recipe.

Roasted Veggies

Ingredients:

• Baby red potatoes
• Baby carrots
• 2 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 1/2 teaspoon Fresh thyme
• Green beans
• Garlic
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 40 degrees
2. In bowl, add potatoes, carrots, olive oil, thyme, salt and pepper. Mix together to coat veggies.
3. Once mixed, spread on 18inx13in baking sheet. Roast for 20 minutes.
4. Put green beans in bowl with remaining spices/oil and mix. Then add to baking sheet with other veggies.
5. Add garlic to sheet and spread everything into an even layer.
6. Roast for 20 more minutes, or until veggies are slightly browned.

Check out a different roasted veggie recipe.

Omelet

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 2-3 tablespoons shredded cheese
• 2 teaspoons butter
• Parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Whisk the eggs into a mixing bowl and season with salt and pepper.
2. Warm a skillet on medium heat and melt the butter. Make sure to tilt the skillet so the butter coats the bottom. Once the butter stops sizzling, it's ready.
3. Pour the eggs into the skillet and tilt pan so eggs coat the bottom.
4. Use a spatula to drag and push the cooked part of the egg away from the edges. Let the uncooked eggs fill the open space.
5. In 1-2 minutes the bottom of the omelet will be done cooking. The edges will look crisp while the top may look wet and uncooked. There should be no uncooked eggs sliding around, but it should not be dry. 
6. Sprinkle the cheese on the top of the omelet and fold the omelet in half.
7. Let it finish cooking (about 1 minute) and then gently slide the omelet onto a plate and garnish with parsley.

Check out another way to make an omelet.

Crockpot Chili

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp. Remove and put over paper  towel to get rid of excess grease.
2. With the bacon grease left on skillet, add red pepper, green pepper, celery, onion, and jalapeno peppers. Sauté until tender then add to crockpot.
3. Add three cans of chili beans (undrained), petite tomatoes, and tomato paste to crockpot.
4. In skillet used for bacon and veggies, cook ground beef and Italian sausage until no longer pink. Drain fat into crockpot.
5. Crumble bacon and add to crockpot along with the rest of the seasonings.
6. Cover crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Serve with cilantro, sour cream, and cheddar cheese.

Here's another recipe for crockpot chili.

Hopefully these recipes give you a hand in the kitchen. If you're looking for more recipes, check out this article.

Wondering where to get the delicious ingredients you need? Check out a local farmer's market and read our 10 Tips For Shopping at a Farmers Market.