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