Cooking isn't difficult; it just takes some practice and careful reading of the recipe. If you are new to cooking, get a large, general-purpose cookbook and read through it, looking especially for word definitions.

One of the best ways to use convenience foods is to use more than one in any recipe. For instance, you can make Tuna Turnovers using canned tuna and refrigerated pie crust — both convenience products.

Read the recipe through before you begin to make sure you have all the ingredients on hand and that you understand the directions. Then gather all the foods, preheat the oven or grill, and get started.

If you clean up as you go, you'll have less mess at the end of the preparation time, which makes cooking less daunting. Follow the directions, especially those for doneness tests, and take your time.

As you get more experienced, you'll be able to cook more foods at the same time. To make sure the recipes are all done at once, set a time for eating and work back from there. Staggered start times not only help you stay organized, they let you pay attention to each recipe as you're working on it.

Now let's get started using convenience foods to make delicious, healthy, and easy meals!