I've been stuck in a kitchen rut for a long time. Every year or so I decide I'm going to learn to cook and give up after a few fails. Simple dishes with common ingredients. It seemed my grandmother always had a pot of "boiled dinner" on the stove. I suppose having ten children meant someone was always hungry! Fish, potatoes and peas were also a staple in her house. Although my mother is great at cooking the traditional meat and potato dishes she never invited me into the kitchen to participate. When inspired my mother makes great casseroles, seafood chowder, lasagne, turkey dinners, etc. but growing up dinner was mostly quick and easy meals eaten in front of the television -chicken fingers and fries, boxed chicken pot-pie, or perhaps pork chops and rice. Today, I'm learning to appreciate a variety of foods and teaching myself to cook the basics. I'm just getting started so every edible dish is a triumph to me. A few years back I tried to make a stew, but used way too many lentils and it turned out so thick I could have made burger patties out of it. I probably should have because it was inedible as a stew.