| Okay, you've either gotten married or are | | | | agreeable note!Breakfast/Brunch:1. French |
| planning to pretty soon. Congratulations! I'm | | | | Toast and Pancakes. Nothing will impress him |
| sure you're aware that this means you will be | | | | or her quite like a tall, warm stack of |
| responsible for at least half the meals you | | | | delicious pancakes with butter melting off |
| and your loved one will eat from here on out! | | | | the sides.2. Egg dishes: Scrambled, fried and |
| Not to mention future children, your visiting | | | | poached. Note: When cooking eggs, remove them |
| family members and - of course - inlaws.A | | | | from the skillet before they actually look |
| while back, one of my young daughters (who I | | | | completely done. They continue cooking even |
| hope wasn't getting any ideas), asked me | | | | after they're removed to the platter.3. |
| which 10 recipes I thought every newly | | | | Buttermilk BIscuits. Buttermilk in a recipe |
| married person should be able to make. After | | | | makes everything instantly better. Whether |
| thinking, off and on, about it for a few | | | | it's biscuits, pancakes or cornbread, it's |
| days, I came up with what I believe are the | | | | presence improves the flavor ten-fold.4. |
| top ones. Before we get to the recipes, I'd | | | | Great coffee. You absolutely must be able to |
| like to just share a few words that would | | | | make a sensational pot of coffee. Do your |
| have made life a lot easier on me had someone | | | | research, try out different beans and always, |
| shared them with me when I first began | | | | always grind your own coffee. You can get a |
| cooking!Cooking is an art. It isn't a chore | | | | grinder for under $20.00, and it will be 20 |
| to be endured or a duty to get out of the | | | | of the wisest dollars you ever |
| way. It truly can be one of the most | | | | invest.Lunch:5. Hamburgers and their cousin, |
| rewarding and satisfying things you'll ever | | | | Cheeseburgers. I'll let you in on a family |
| do. Just like most things, anyone who wants | | | | secret, a little garlic salt is the |
| to become good at it can. Anyone who wants to | | | | difference between, "Honey, this is good." |
| become great at it can. There's an ancient | | | | and "Wow! My mom (dad) never made burgers |
| Chinese Proverb that says, "The only | | | | like this!"6. At least one really good |
| difference between a good housekeeper and a | | | | homemade soup. I know, the little red and |
| bad one is an hour a day." I took the liberty | | | | white cans are awfully convenient (and you'll |
| to edit the proverb to tell you, "The only | | | | find about 10 in my own pantry), but being |
| difference between a good cook and a bad one | | | | able to make a sensational potato or |
| is an hour a day." If you make up your mind | | | | vegetable soup is a great big feather in your |
| to become a great cook and dedicate even just | | | | culinary cap.Supper/Etc:7. Fried Chicken. |
| one hour a day to honing your skills, you'll | | | | Back to the Buttermilk for a minute, soaking |
| earn your apron's stripes!A few things you | | | | your chicken in buttermilk (in the fridge) |
| should always remember:Never leave the | | | | for about an hour before coating and frying |
| kitchen when you're baking cookies or | | | | makes for a juicier, more flavorful meat.8. |
| biscuits. I wouldn't advise ever wandering | | | | Mashed potatoes. Never. Under. Any. |
| away from the kitchen while cooking, but when | | | | Circumstances. Use. Instant. Potatoes. Don't |
| it's something like cookies or biscuits, | | | | even look their way in the store. Peel, boil, |
| doing so is usually disasterous. They're just | | | | and mash your potatoes with milk, butter |
| looking for a reason to burn and take your | | | | and....pssst, another family secret, sour |
| departure as the open door they need.When | | | | cream. It's worth the effort.9. Yeast rolls. |
| getting cookbooks, go to the used bookstores | | | | Okay, I'll admit it, these aren't as easy to |
| - or check online auctions or The cookbooks | | | | make as the other 10 or so foods talked about |
| that were written in the 70s and 80s were | | | | here. That's because yeast is tempermental. |
| some of the best. You'll find ingredients | | | | It can be likened to Goldilocks, of all |
| you've actually heard of, for one thing, plus | | | | things. It gets angry if the liquid is too |
| they tend to have more of the basic recipes | | | | hot, it gets angry if the liquid is too cold. |
| you'll need for starting out.Watch Food TV! | | | | It wants it just right, and when the |
| It is really addictive, and even more | | | | temperature isn't just right, whereas Goldie |
| informative. I'd suggest you not ever, under | | | | laid down, your bread will lie down. Flat |
| any circumstances, miss an episode of Paula | | | | rolls. Ugly rolls.10. (3-way tie!) Chocolate |
| Deen's "Paula's Home Cooking", Rachel Ray's | | | | Chip Cookies, Apple Pie and Your sweetheart's |
| "30 Minute Meals" or Alton Brown's "Good | | | | favorite cake. Master the desserts and even |
| Eats". They're the top, in my opinion. After | | | | when the main meal isn't up to par it'll be |
| you're more familiar with your way around the | | | | okay. The last thing a person eats, after |
| pots and pans, you'll be ready for Emeril, | | | | all, is the thing they'll most recall. You |
| but you have to work up to him!Now, to the | | | | know the saying, all's well that end's |
| top ten recipes you'll need. Either consult | | | | well.Congratulations, good luck, and have |
| some of those cookbooks I told you about, or | | | | fun. It may sound like something out of a |
| a website, such as or or ask various family | | | | 1940s cookbook, but that really is the |
| members for their favorite recipes for each. | | | | biggest secret. To most things in life, |
| They'll get a real kick out of that. Plus, if | | | | actually.Visit Buttermilk Press for more |
| you happen to ask an inlaw for their favorite | | | | articles, cooking tips, food facts, |
| recipes, you'll get off on an especially | | | | resources, and more. |