You Can Cook: Mashed Potatoes

Difficulty: *

Ingredients:
4 potatoes
milk or buttermilk

1. Using a potato peeler, remove the skin from the potatoes.
2. Cut peeled potatoes into quarters to allow faster cooking.
3. Place potatoes in a 2 quart saucepan and cover with water. Add a touch of salt.
4. Turn burner onto high until potatoes boil, then turn down to medium low.
5. Cook for approximately 20-30 minutes. Watch carefully so the pan does not boil dry or potatoes stick to the bottom.
6. Test with a fork. If the fork slides in very easily, potatoes are done. Test several spots.
7. Drain water off. Dump potatoes into a bowl.
8. Use a potato masher to mash to potatoes until there are no chunks.
9. Add 3-4 tablespoons of milk and mash some more until smooth.

Tips:
1. To make whipped potatoes: Use a mixer and beat potatoes on low until smooth. Add milk to improve consistency if necessary.
2. You can add other ingredients to potatoes to spice them up: 1/2 cup cheddar cheese makes cheesey potatoes, 1 teaspoon garlic salt and 2 tsps butter makes garlic potatoes. Use your imagination.

You Can Cook: Sweet Tea

Difficulty: *

Ingredients:
5-6 qts of Water
2 cups of Sugar (or to taste)
3 teabags - flavor of choice
ice

1. Fill a 6 qt. stockpot with water.
2. Add sugar and 3 teabags.
3. Bring pot to a boil. Boil continuously for 5-7 minutes.
4. Taste test the mixture for sweetness. Add more sugar if needed and boil for 1-2 minutes longer to dissolve the sugar.
5. Turn off burner and let the mixture cool.
6. When cooled, pour into a gallon jug and place into refrigerator to chill.
7. Serve over ice.

Tips: In a hurry? You can pour the hot tea mixture over ice to rapidly cool. Be aware this does dilute the tea strength, though.

You Can Cook: Toasted Cheese Sandwiches

Difficulty: *

Ingredients to make two sandwiches:
4 slices bread
2 slices American cheese
butter

1. Place a flat skillet or frying pan on the stove and spray with cooking spray.
2. Turn burner on medium.
3. Butter both sides of one piece of bread and place on pan.
4. Remove cheese from wrapper and place on bread.
5. Butter both sides of other piece of bread.
6. Let each side cook on the skillet until it has turned golden brown. Watch carefully. Don't let them burn.
7. Remove from heat and enjoy.

Tips:
For more cheesy sandwish, use two slices of cheese.
For added flavor, use Campbell's Tomato Soup. Follow directions on can, except mix with 1 cup milk. When hot, dunk your sandwiches in soup. Ah, nice meal!

You Can Cook: Garlic Bread

Difficulty: *

Ingredients:
Loaf of French Bread from any grocery store or bakery
4 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon garlic salt

1. Slice french bread into small portions.
2. Melt butter and add 1 teaspoon of garlic salt.
3. Brush over both sides of bread.
4. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
5. Take out an appropriate length of reynolds wrap to match the length of your loaf of bread.
6. Place the buttered, sliced bread on the foil - together as if putting it back into a loaf. Fold the edges of the foil around the bread.
7. Place wrapped bread onto a cookie sheet and place in over for 8-10 minutes.
8. Serve hot.

You Can Cook: Sugar Cookies

Technically, this post should be called "You Can Bake," but after a week where you've mastered two new main dishes and two yummy sides, it's time to reward yourself with a little baking. And there is no cookie easier to bake than sugar cookies!

Difficulty: *

Ingredients:

• 1 c. butter
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 3/4 c. flour

Method:

1. Using either a brisk stirring motion or a hand blender set to medium, cream butter and sugar.
2. Using a spatula, gradually add in egg, vanilla, baking powder and flower. Fold until smooth.
3. Using a method below, prepare cookie and then bake for 8 to 10 minutes at 400.
   

Cookie Options:

• Roll out dough on a floured surface. Use cookie cutters to cut desired shapes.
• Instead of rolling, simply pull off small pieces and form into a ball.

You Can Cook: Crunchy Mashed Potatoes

You're getting the hang of this cooking thing, aren't you? So far, we have two entrees, but only one side dish. Time to expand your repertoire!

Difficulty: *

Ingredients:

• 3 cups water
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tsp garlic salt
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 3 cups instant mashed potatoes
• 1 cup French fried onions, crushed
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded

Method:

1. Use cooking spray to coat an 8 x 8 casserole pan.
2. Boil water and remove from heat, adding milk, garlic salt, and sour cream; stir.
3. Add instant mashed potatoes and stir briskly.
4. Preheat oven to 450.
5. Place potatoes into casserole pan and spread evenly. Top with crushed onions and cheese.
6. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes, or until top browns.

Serves: 6-8.

You Can Cook: Fried Chicken

So you think you can't cook? Really, now. You've already made hamburgers and baked potatoes - now is not the time to stop - it's on to learning your next main dish: chicken.

Difficulty: *

Ingredients:

• 4 Boneless, skinless chicken breast filets (about 1 pound)
• 2 cups breadcrumbs, plain or Italian seasoning
  
• 1 egg, beaten
  

Method:

1. Thoroughly clean chicken breasts, cutting off any fat.
   
2. Dip in egg and then in breadcrumbs

Cooking Options:

• Bake at 350 for 30 minutes if using a regular oven; flip at halfway mark.
  
• Bake at 325 for 30 minutes if using a convection oven; flip at halfway mark.
  
• Fry in a frying pan at medium high heat for 7-9 minutes on each side.
  

How to know if it's done:

• It is VERY easy to overcook chicken, so watch very carefully during the last 25% of cooking time. Chicken, when fully cooked, should have no pink inside, but should still ooze juice when compressed.

You Can Cook: Baked Potatoes

So you think you can't cook? Still? Didn't you make hamburgers yesterday? Now you need something to go along with them! Try these easy directions for delicious potatoes that will compliment any meal.

Difficulty: *

Ingredients:

• Idaho baking potatoes
• Salt
• Pepper

Method:

1. Thoroughly rinse potatoes under cold water.
2. Push a fork into the potato to the hilt 5-7 times at regular intervals across ONLY the top of the potato. This allows it to NOT blow up while cooking.
3. Wrap in tin foil UNLESS following microwave directions below; if using microwave, simply place on a plate.
   

Cooking Options:

• Bake at 350 for 60 minutes if using a regular oven.
• Bake at 325 for 60 minutes if using a convection oven.
• Bake at 100% power for 10 minutes if using a microwave; flip upside down at halfway mark.
  

How to know if it's done:

• When a baked potato is thoroghly cooked, you'll be able to pierce a fork or a knife directly to the center from any side without any resistance; this tenderness is a sign that it is cooked to perfection.

Enjoy! Top with butter, sour cream, bacon crumbles, or chives for a yummy side dish anyone can cook!

You Can Cook: Hamburgers

So You Think You Can't Cook...

Well, you're wrong! This week, we'll explore simple recipes to feed your family in style, even if your cooking experience only includes calling the pizza place!

Difficulty: *

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 tbsp. A1 or other steak sauce
• 1 tsp. Pepper or mixed steak seasoning
  

Method:

1. Place ground beef in a bowl. Using your hands, knead it for a few minutes to soften and warm slightly. This will make it easier to mix in steak sauce and seasoning. If you're grossed out by using your hands, use a fork to thoroughly work ground meat.
2. Mix in steak sauce and seasoning.
3. Split meat into 3 or 4 equal portions and form into patties.
   

Cooking Options:

• Place patties in a saute pan and cook on medium high heat for 3 to 5 minutes on each side.
  
• Place patties on an electric grill and monitor carefully until done. No need to flip.
  
• Place patties in a foil pan under the broiler and cook for 3 to 5 minutes on each side.
• Place patties on tinfoil on a charcoal or gas grill and cook for 3 to 5 minutes on each side.

How to tell if it's done:

• Make a small slit in the center of the patty and look inside. Bright red means it's rare...and the lighter the pink, the more done it is.

Enjoy! Top with onions, tomatoes, lettuce, or steak sauce for a yummy dinner anyone can cook!