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The Art of Cooking
By: Nick Hansen - Columnist
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Ah… The sweet smell of success! This is not to be confused with the success of finishing your project on time or acing a test, but making a mouth watering dinner which is healthy and full of those nutrients that you need. This is Cooking 101 and every college student should learn it at some point in their time at school.
The first step is buying your food.
A key little piece of advice I can recommend to anyone is to plan your meal prior to going to the store, so that you have a list of what you are going to buy. The worst thing that you can do is to go to the store on an empty stomach or when you have the munchies and buying everything that looks good. Remember, if you buy vegetables and nonprepackaged goods you will spend less.
If you are like me, you like service when you buy your meat, however service does come with a price. Podesto’s Market on Pacific (across the street from Safeway) has a fine meat selection with a handful of old guys who are willing to help you with any questions you may have.
A filet of salmon sells for $7-8 a pound. Of course this is also fresh salmon that doesn’t smell like fish. If you find your fish smells fishy, it is bad. The price difference you pay is well worth it.
The next step is preparing to cook your meal.
Once you have brought back all your elements of your meal decide which is going to the take the longest to make from preparation to cooking to serving. Usually making mashed potatoes will be the longest part of your meal so start that first. This is assuming however that you’re using real potatoes; not that readi-make stuff.
Once you have planned out which goes first, start your cooking. Peal those potatoes, slice and dice your garlic and put a thin layer of olive oil in your pan. When the time comes to putting your salmon filets in the pan put them skin side down. Fill the rest of the pan with a white wine or a beer you have in your fridge. Put on the lid and watch it cook.
This is also a wonderful time to make a salad or other side dish to go along with your meal. If you’re a seafood lover, as I sort of am, you could have also gotten some large cooked shrimp and be having an appetizer for your meal. Usually a half a pound is plenty for a small gathering. You can make cocktail sauce by using ketchup and horseradish.
Once your main course is done prepare your plates and serve it up.
Enjoy your meal and remember to watch Food Network. It will provide you with great cooking ideas.
While this article was very random and “out there” I have realized I need ideas on what to write on. So send me an
with your ideas and hopefully I can be more … what’s the word… interesting next week. I can also “investigate” controversies on this campus if you provide me with details as a starting point. My days at Pacific are numbered and hopefully I can help you, help me, make the best of it.
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NOTICE
Next week's issue (Volume 100 issue 14) will be Pacifican's last issue for the Fall 2008 Semester!
Thank you for reading and have a wonderful holiday season.
Perspectives 
Ah… The sweet smell of success! This is not to be confused with the success of finishing your project on time or acing a test, but making a mouth watering dinner which is healthy and full of those nutrients that you need. This is Cooking 101 and every college student should learn it at some point in their time at school.
The first step is buying your food.
