10 Dishes Every New Bride or Groom Must Know How to Make!

By: Joi Sigers

A while back, one of my young daughters (who I hope wasn't getting any ideas), asked me which 10 recipes I thought every newly married person should be able to make. After thinking, off and on, about it for a few days, I came up with what I believe are the top ones. Before we get to the recipes, I'd like to just share a few words that would have made life a lot easier on me had someone shared them with me when I first began cooking!

Cooking is an art. It isn't a chore to be endured or a duty to get out of the way. It truly can be one of the most rewarding and satisfying things you'll ever do. Just like most things, anyone who wants to become good at it can. Anyone who wants to become great at it can. There's an ancient Chinese Proverb that says, "The only difference between a good housekeeper and a bad one is an hour a day." I took the liberty to edit the proverb to tell you, "The only difference between a good cook and a bad one is an hour a day." If you make up your mind to become a great cook and dedicate even just one hour a day to honing your skills, you'll earn your apron's stripes!

A few things you should always remember:

Never leave the kitchen when you're baking cookies or biscuits. I wouldn't advise ever wandering away from the kitchen while cooking, but when it's something like cookies or biscuits, doing so is usually disasterous. They're just looking for a reason to burn and take your departure as the open door they need.

When getting cookbooks, go to the used bookstores - or check online auctions or Amazon.com. The cookbooks that were written in the 70s and 80s were some of the best. You'll find ingredients you've actually heard of, for one thing, plus they tend to have more of the basic recipes you'll need for starting out.

Watch Food TV! It is really addictive, and even more informative. I'd suggest you not ever, under any circumstances, miss an episode of Paula Deen's "Paula's Home Cooking", Rachel Ray's "30 Minute Meals" or Alton Brown's "Good Eats". They're the top, in my opinion. After you're more familiar with your way around the pots and pans, you'll be ready for Emeril, but you have to work up to him!

Now, to the top ten recipes you'll need. Either consult some of those cookbooks I told you about, or a website, such as http://www.foodtv.com or http://www.buttermilkpress.com, or ask various family members for their favorite recipes for each. They'll get a real kick out of that. Plus, if you happen to ask an inlaw for their favorite recipes, you'll get off on an especially agreeable note!

Breakfast/Brunch:

1. French Toast and Pancakes. Nothing will impress him or her quite like a tall, warm stack of delicious pancakes with butter melting off the sides.

2. Egg dishes: Scrambled, fried and poached. Note: When cooking eggs, remove them from the skillet before they actually look completely done. They continue cooking even after they're removed to the platter.

3. Buttermilk BIscuits. Buttermilk in a recipe makes everything instantly better. Whether it's biscuits, pancakes or cornbread, it's presence improves the flavor ten-fold.

4. Great coffee. You absolutely must be able to make a sensational pot of coffee. Do your research, try out different beans and always, always grind your own coffee. You can get a grinder for under $20.00, and it will be 20 of the wisest dollars you ever invest.

Lunch:

5. Hamburgers and their cousin, Cheeseburgers. I'll let you in on a family secret, a little garlic salt is the difference between, "Honey, this is good." and "Wow! My mom (dad) never made burgers like this!"

6. At least one really good homemade soup. I know, the little red and white cans are awfully convenient (and you'll find about 10 in my own pantry), but being able to make a sensational potato or vegetable soup is a great big feather in your culinary cap.

Supper/Etc:

7. Fried Chicken. Back to the Buttermilk for a minute, soaking your chicken in buttermilk (in the fridge) for about an hour before coating and frying makes for a juicier, more flavorful meat.

8. Mashed potatoes. Never. Under. Any. Circumstances. Use. Instant. Potatoes. Don't even look their way in the store. Peel, boil, and mash your potatoes with milk, butter and....pssst, another family secret, sour cream. It's worth the effort.

9. Yeast rolls. Okay, I'll admit it, these aren't as easy to make as the other 10 or so foods talked about here. That's because yeast is tempermental. It can be likened to Goldilocks, of all things. It gets angry if the liquid is too hot, it gets angry if the liquid is too cold. It wants it just right, and when the temperature isn't just right, whereas Goldie laid down, your bread will lie down. Flat rolls. Ugly rolls.

10. (3-way tie!) Chocolate Chip Cookies, Apple Pie and Your sweetheart's favorite cake. Master the desserts and even when the main meal isn't up to par it'll be okay. The last thing a person eats, after all, is the thing they'll most recall. You know the saying, all's well that end's well.

Cogratulations, good luck, and have fun. It may sound like something out of a 1940s cookbook, but that really is the biggest secret. To most things in life, actually.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

This article, and others, can be found at http://www.buttermilkpress.com , as can recipes, cooking tips, products, and more. Feel free to contact the author at joi@buttermilkpress.com

MORE RESOURCES :

Mother Nature Network

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The Guardian

Paula Deen's Diabetes Solution: 'Lighter' Gooey Butter Cake Recipe Reuters By Kimberly Potts at TheWrap She may not be able to find a way to make her famous burger on a bun of glazed donuts recipe healthy, but Paula Deen is following up her announcement about being a Type II diabetic by offering up some lighter versions of ... Paula Deen's most egregious recipesThe Guardian Which Paula Deen Recipe Tops Them All?New York Times (blog) Paula Deen's diabetes solution: lighter gooey butter cakeChicago Tribune Boston.com all 1,655 news articles »

Letters -- Published Feb. 9, 2012 Stockton Record ... Paula Deen was a complete waste of editorial space ("Deen a distraction from real diabetes crisis"). Apparently she is "marketing immorality" because she is overweight, has diabetes and shares her fat and sugar laden recipes with an adoring public.

ABC News (blog)

A new recipe for Deen's cuisine San Francisco Chronicle Anonymous / AP Paula Deen has a chance to set a good example with choices about her diet. "Might as well eat that cookie." So reads celebrity chef and out-of-the-closet diabetic Paula Deen's "six word memoir" in O, the Oprah magazine. Hey, Paula Deen, check out this successful recipe: Tigard man turns his ...OregonLive.com Paula Deen Caught Eating a CheeseburgerABC News (blog) The butter was Paula Deen's shtickFox News Florida Times-Union (blog) -USA TODAY -In-Forum all 456 news articles »

USA TODAY

Paula Deen pledges money to diabetes association USA TODAY Deen didn't specify how much money she planned to give to the ADA. The queen of Southern cooking and author of numerous cookbooks disclosed Tuesday that she's had Type 2 diabetes for three years while promoting high-fat, high-sugar recipes as usual on ... Paula Deen revelation could be recipe for fans' healthWBTV Paula Deen Pledges Money To American Diabetes AssociationHuffington Post SANCHEZ: Deen's diet recipe falls weigh shortSacramento Bee Indianapolis Star -Ventura County Star all 356 news articles »

Lexington Herald Leader

Paula Deen's not to blame for your waistline, y'all Bellingham Herald By JENEE OSTERHELDT - McClatchy Newspapers For years she's been inviting audiences into her kitchen, teaching them her Southern recipes. But more recently, it's Paula Deen's head that has been on a plate. Ever since Deen announced she's been living ... Why so fried over Paula Deen's diabetes?OCRegister Paula Deen's Dicey Dance as a Diabetes Drug SpokespersonTechnorati Prescription for health: Whatever Paula Deen does, do the oppositeNapa Valley Register Winnipeg Free Press -Anniston Star -Windsor Star all 49 news articles »

Quoted: Paula Deen on the defensive about fatty recipes, diabetes Washington Post (blog) By The Reliable Source “I've always encouraged moderation!. . . I've always eaten in moderation!. . . Honey, I'm your cook, not your doctor.” By The Reliable Source | 01:48 PM ET, 01/17/2012 SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, ... and more »

Happy belated National Carott Cake Day Herald Palladium (subscription) By Jane Ammeson - HP food columnist I must have missed the memo on this, but Paula Deen sure didn't. Feb. 3 was National Carrot Cake Day and Deen offered this wonderful recipe for those eagerly celebrating it. Now even though carrot cake day has gone ... and more »

Zap2it.com (blog)

Is Paula Deen a Victim Like the Rest of Us? Huffington Post (blog) The news that Paula Deen, the queen of the Southern-fried kitchen announcing that she has Type 2 diabetes got me to thinking. She has built her empire on deep-fried, buttery, sugar-laden foods that look like fun, but rob us of health. Paula Deen's diabetes drug: Should celebrities be endorsing pharmaceuticals?Zap2it.com (blog) all 14 news articles »

Access Hollywood

Access Hollywood - Celebrity News, Photos & Videos Access Hollywood Nutritionist Joy Bauer chats with Access Hollywood Live's Billy Bush and Kit Hoover about some of celebrity chef Paula Deen's more fatty, high calorie recipes. What alternatives does she suggest to make those tasty treats a bit healthier? and more »