Ok, I got the hang of smithing, alchemy, enchanting, but I can't figure out cooking.

Well I can walk up to a cooking pot and I have some recipes. But where do I get new ones?
Trial and error? Merchants? Trainer?
And what is the best place to get some of the most needed ingredients (salt..)

Thanks for your help.

All cooking recipes are unlocked at the start of the game. As for Salt Piles most merchants carry it and they are also found in three locations: College of Winterhold(Midden) [Amount: 7], Fellglow Keep [Amount: 5], Fort Dunstad [Amount:5].

svcks that there aren't recopies for all cooked food, like grilled leeks and baked potatos. I've found plenty of salt in dungeons etc, check all the searchable barrels. I've also found garlic and honeycomb recently too. Anyone know what the respawn timer is?

I've read it's about 4wks in-game. Salt is everywhere. Bandits seems to love to collect food ingredients more than gold in this game. Just find some bandits and you'll find all the food you need. Plus farms always have plenty of produce.