The Do's and Don'ts of Cooking a Nice Dinner

The good lord blessed me with many strengths. I can catch a bottle mid-air, right before it hits the ground. I'm really good at picking the perfect emoji at the perfect time. I have nothing but sheer patience when I go shopping at Forever 21. I can parallel park. I'm really good at drinking beer. Like I said, many strengths. 
One strength I was not blessed with is cooking. It's not that I can't cook... well ok it's that I can't cook. I just don't know what to do. I was never taught the cooking ropes when I was a kid, mainly because I was either on the basketball court, or on the couch watching Saved by the Bell reruns. 
The grocery store is a scary place for me. I go to exactly 4 sections in the grocery store: 1. Bagged Navel Oranges 2. Wine (duh) 3. Breakfast Bars 4. Frozen Dinners
Sure there is the occasional time I get wild and crazy and hit up the canned soup aisle or venture over to get some fat free feta if it is on special for 2/$5, but it is usually just in-and-out grabbing all of the lean cuisines I can fit in my cart. 
All this buildup is just really to make it clear to you how big of a deal it is when I make a meal that doesn't involve a microwave. 
Yesterday, I made a meal that didn't involve a microwave... and here is my story. 

also: no judgey faces. I know there is a lot of crap on the table.  I just moved in and have been gone all of July, sheesh.  

I recommend this one for the steak. Because us newbie cooks need all the humor we can get! And I was one lucky duck because my girl Magen and her mom helped me with the recipe for the sides and dessert! 

 

 -- And by easy, I mean I set the fire alarm off.  --