The 50 Plus Cafe, Pub, All-Nite Greasy Spoon and Dive Bar

It is easy to cook. And you already know how, you just don't think you do.
Start simple. Just boil water. Then figure out how to deal with it safely. Next butter some bread and grate some cheese to put between the slices. Heat the pan lightly. Medium low. Do both sides so the butter gets wet and soaks into the bread evenly. Then up the heat and watch for the bread to toast and melt the cheese. From that learn/remember how the food interacted with the different heat levels.
After that shop for an instant read thermometer. That way as you try various meats you can be sure you have cooked it to a sustained minimum temperature as to kill anything that may harm you. If no thermometer, practice with an egg. You will know when it is done. And if you want to flip it you will get some practice on something delicate.
If you "really" don't know how to cook, I also suggest naked food at first. No salt pepper or anything. Use oil butter and broth as the base for vegetables. When doing meat start with no bones. Chicken, no skin. Watch how the meat cooks. Always start with a dry warm pan. Don't use a lot of heat at first. Ease up to higher temperatures and you will find the effect you want to have on what you are cooking.
Cooking often for one I find it is simplest to steam vegetables. And I prefer to cook on the grill. I enjoy making the different type fires that have a specific heat or duration for what I am trying for. Inside on the stove a wok shaped pan 13" at least 6" to 8" deep with a lid. I found a Korean one that is marble and ceramic surface and I am not sure the light metal. It distributes heat super even. I steam in it with a little basket. And I can cut almost any meat to chunks and create stir fried anything.
Which is your next lesson. What flavors do you like? Soy and terriyaki are easy to find. A little salty.
Once I figured out what Mom did to make stuff I branched out. I only use recipes if I am trying to make something I had and want to see if I can make it or if I am baking. The rest of the time trial and error or combining spices I think I liked. One of the best things I did to learn was use the internet. And now you have chatGPT. Go to the grocery store, preferably an Asian fresh market like Lottie or H-Mart. Each visit experiment with various vegetables you have never seen before. Figure out how to cook them or prepare them in a dish. OR simple things you already like. Cabbage or Brussels sprouts for example. Figure out how to get that hot and still crunchy. Test what kind of peppers you like with them...
I guess what I am trying to say is you obviously know how to eat. You can cook.
I still feel like I left something important out.
Maybe it is the pursuit of texture. Mind that tenderness and juiciness is the goal. Which is why I said start with naked food first. Spice you can use like an amplifier when you have some confidence.
 
My favorite pan is a little.saute pan that they use in restauraunts. It is not no stick... it just heats well and everything i cook in it turns our perfect. I want a set but i dont wven know where this one came from ??? Restaurant supply store???

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Photo? Those restaurant pans are great. I prefer not to use an aluminum cooking surface. Not sure if its true but not good for your brain. I have some calphilon that do not have the non-stick coating that are favorites as well. But... They don't seem to make them anymore. I suspect for the same reason. Non-stick is not great for you either. But that is more a concern with the manufacturing process than the cooking surface itself. Also if you cut through the non-stick the pan is often aluminum and should be disposed of.
These are my go to's now. I started with all stainless steel and still prefer it. But these light Korean jobbies are so forgiving. And nothing sticks the the unique ceramic. However it can be scratched. This one has a mark. But it has had a lot of use.
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One day I will learn how to post photos on here.
 

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I like the word unfuck.

It was used heavily in basic training by drill sergeants.

“now go unfuck yourself(selves)” (when you or your squad or platoon have fucked something up.)

“Don’t thank me, thank your recruiter. Hes the one who fucked you. My job is to unfuck you.”

“Get this godawful mess of shit unfucked.”

I always liked "de-pig," as in, clean this shithole up ASAP yesterday. I learned it from a former employer (aren't they all anymore?) a long time ago and made it part of my lexicon.
 
Dropped Will off to get his tail amputated … hate doing it but needs sorted ..
Hoping for a good recovery but it will be a long one. The update is he has come through fine but lost two thirds of his tail so hoping that will sort it out.


Poor small poodle.


The landlady pointed out that her Labs are Leavers, not Retievers.


Unless one of the fowls escapes into the yard . . . .
 
Busy day today. Cleaned up snow before dinner, there wasn't nearly as much as predicted. It was drifting pretty good, so hard to say. But I'm thinking less than a foot total. A couple hours south of here they got it. I'm OK with that, they need it more than we do.

After dinner the bed was looking awful nice, so took a few minute snooze. Now it's time to start decluttering (unfucking???) this place.
You ever look around, and think you have too much shit? Starting to think that way right now.
 
The cat went to pee, so it's great time to get up and go to read for a bit. The rainy windy shit is doing its thing outside. 60*F now and freezing in 9 hours. Go figure. Weather weasels are to blame. I can't be arsed with Monday any more.
 
Busy day today. Cleaned up snow before dinner, there wasn't nearly as much as predicted. It was drifting pretty good, so hard to say. But I'm thinking less than a foot total. A couple hours south of here they got it. I'm OK with that, they need it more than we do.

After dinner the bed was looking awful nice, so took a few minute snooze. Now it's time to start decluttering (unfucking???) this place.
You ever look around, and think you have too much shit? Starting to think that way right now.
I think when it snows enough to keep you inside shit multiplies.
I am guessing, but your apple quality is directly related to snow quantity? I always declared on heavy snow years everything grew better. Same as fall when it rained a lot. The leaf colors were that much more defined.
 
The cat went to pee, so it's great time to get up and go to read for a bit. The rainy windy shit is doing its thing outside. 60*F now and freezing in 9 hours. Go figure. Weather weasels are to blame. I can't be arsed with Monday any more.
Yea. This second round of rain is impressive compared to what we had earlier. This one has the wind they were talking about. Still so warm right now it is 75 inside the house. I'm not going to crack a window.
 
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