I’ve decided I must learn to cook. You’re probably thinking some hip kitten like myself already knows how to cook, I mean with me being so together and all. And if we define “cooking” as browning some hamburger, tossing in something from a box or a jar and putting that and some kind of starchy side dish on the table, you’d be right.

Maybe I’m not being terribly fair to myself here. I can make a fierce grilled cheese sandwich. Fierce, I tell you. And my mashed potatoes are pretty good, and no, they don’t come from a box, thank you very much. Okay, sometimes, if I’m feeling super-lazy they do, but let’s not talk about that.

I’ve even been known to make a pretty good pork chop or two in my time, and what Southern woman worth her salt can’t whip up fried chicken that brings grown men to weepy puddles of love and adoration and joy? (And don’t hate on Paula Deen. Who else will deep-fry lasagna? God love her.)

But the stuff I’m good at making isn’t necessarily stuff that’s all that healthy or, as Rachel Ray so frequently says, “figure friendly.” I mean, we all love Paula Deen and all, but let’s be honest, cooking the Paula way isn’t going to make you a skinny bitch. (This doesn’t stop me from wishing that Paula was my mama, however. Sorry, Mom, but do you blame me? Paula deep-fries chocolate cake!)

I’ve mentioned this to some of my foodie-type friends, along with making sure I explain the crippling limitations on food imposed by my uber-picky family and my own lack of experience with anything that doesn’t involve opening a can or jar. (Hello, I don’t even have slutty olive oil, much less that extra virgin stuff.)

I didn’t realize that when you ask foodies for help, you will get help. A lot of it. I have recipes coming out the wazoo here, and most of them are things I think I could actually make and even eat once it was made. (Okay, so maybe Bill and the kids aren’t the only picky ones here, but don’t tell.) Plus, I’ve gotten tips on what needs to be in my pantry, what kinds of kitchen gadgets are must haves, what kinds of pots & pans are the best…I mean, seriously. Even if I couldn’t boil water (which I can. I think.), I’d be hooked up here.

So, I’m going to take y’all on my adventures into the world of grownup cooking. I’m going to try a new recipe for dinner every night…well, until I run out of new recipes anyway and report back on the actual ease of preparing this dish (sometimes, cooks don’t realize how hard their stuff actually is for us non-cook-types to make), the tastiness of the dish, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

First up is Missy’s Creamy Chicken Bake. Wish me luck.