When I was in elementary school, I put a metal teapot in the microwave. That was a bad idea.

There was also that time I attempted to make my mom breakfast in bed for Mother’s Day… and covered her burned toast in butter-flavored powder instead of actual butter. So, so gross.

And when I moved into an apartment (and off of the dining plan) my senior year in college, I really only knew how to (over)boil pasta or microwave things.

I have gotten a bit better since then — through trial and error, reading a lot of recipes and calling my mom and grandmother several dozen (hundred?) times. I still set things on fire from time to time (see above photo for evidence), and I’m no gourmet chef or pastry wizard, but I can (usually) follow a recipe or make something edible for dinner. I also know that cooking can be intimidating, and many of my friends avoid it like I avoid mushrooms.

On my previous blog, I posted a lot of complicated or time-intensive recipes. I will still attempt some of those things from time to time — when they’re fun and worth it — but my bigger goal here is to post more things that are reasonable, time- and effort-wise, and to provide recipes and photos that are easy to follow even if you’re not entirely sure what it means to saute, braise or dice. I hope you’ll let me know how I’m doing.

And, of course, there will definitely be dessert.