Number 1: The Cooking Class

You'd think that an item I was so eager to put at the top of my list would have gotten accomplished much sooner! As much as I would love to report that I took some exciting cooking class and learned how to make a brilliant new dish or two, I have to say that it's just not true. Due to monetary constraints, I wasn't able to accomplish this item in the manner I had hoped. Instead of attending one (or even better, a series) of Publix's Aprons Cooking School classes, I ended up taking a free online cooking class from Rouxbe Cooking School (www.rouxbe.com). While the online cooking class was not very exciting, it was very practical and I did end up learning a thing or two! The class I took was a technique class about pan frying. I learned how to tell when the pan was exactly the right temperature to add the meat, and how to pan sear a piece of meat to perfection. Pan frying is not something I have a lot of experience with. When it comes to cooking meat, I prefer to bake it; however, after this 45 minute online lesson from Rouxbe, I feel confident that I can pan fry meat the right way. That is, if I get a set of stainless steel pans. The class taught exlcusively the pan frying method for stainless steel. The techniques I learned don't apply to the nonstick pans I use. Sounds like it's time for me to go shopping for some new pans!