I'm fairly new to cooking, self-taught, and having pretty good luck so far (at least my boyfriend says it's good, but his mom's food is bland, so who knows?) Dinner. I'm trying to be a little more healthy, but I LOVE cheesy, creamy, fried things. Not necessarily all at once! My mom never really cooked. But she NEVER used potato flakes for mashed potatoes, and neither do I. And, she tells me that my pot roast is like the one her mom used to make, and that makes me feel good. Fried chicken, fried egg, rum cake, pastichio, potato soup, umm..... Black rice (or was it purple?)--It never softened up.