You Can Do That!

   Could you read the title of that headline? Than you've just uncovered a truth. And with that truth you can wow your friends, improve any potluck, and bring smiles to your family.

   My name is Laura J Slea (once upon a time, Partlow), and I am a foodie. But I'm no Food Network zombie. I like to cook things people could eat any time. No special runs to the grocery store in the middke of the week; I'm far too lazy for that. 

   But in that same vein, I am within a year and a half away from an Associate's in Culinary Arts at Tri-C. I'll be concentrating in baking. I've got plenty of hobbies, with sculpting, hiking and writing in the top three. Or five. Whatever. I have been married for seven years to my high-school sweetheart, a patient fellow by the name of Dave. Dave doesn't mind eating mysterious casseroles, so long as no eggplants are involved.

   I've found that lots of people, especially folks my age, get intimidated by cooking. "I don't have all kinds of fancy equipment, and I'm afraid of knives". Baloney. You need some measuring tools, a thermometer, a bowl, a sharp knife, and something that would pass for a cutting board. If you've got those things, your excuse just got burned. And don't be afraid of that knife.

   "I don't have the money for all that fancy stuff they make on TV!" Me neither! "I could burn water!" Well, set the timer early. 

   Want to make your own pepperoni bread? How about sugar cookies people will think you paid for? Barbeque hamburgers, not hockey pucks? And how about French Silk pie? Well, like I said before, you can do that! But before we charge into that tastiest of rooms, I'm going to tell you to cut out the end of this article and try not to lose it. This chart will help you keep track of all those abbreviations, and a few measurements too. These are all the measurements you'll need for now. Poor Dave mixed up the 't' with the 'T' one time, and the poor chili about gave up on itself. So then, until the next time we meet, try to remember to set the timer. You can do that!

T= Tablespoon

t= Teaspoon

3 teaspoons= 1 Tablespoon

C= Cup

1/4 Cup= 4 Tablespoons

1 Cup= 8 Ounces 

16 Ounces= 1 Pound