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We can’t all be geniuses in the kitchen, even if we’ve watched the new season of The Bear. But people like cooking at home. In fact, 75% of Americans make something to eat themselves at least three times a week. Sadly, 28% also say they don’t know how to cook.

Luckily, it’s not something people are born with. It’s a skill we can all learn. To make it easier, we have some cool and simple picture-based guides for you here. They’re all about food and cooking, as shared by the good people of the Cool Guides subreddit. Feel like a beginner in the kitchen? Check these out, and let us know which ones were the most helpful!

#1

Not Sure If This Counts Because There Aren’t Actually Words, But I Just Think The Life Cycle Of A Strawberry Is Neat

Not Sure If This Counts Because There Aren’t Actually Words, But I Just Think The Life Cycle Of A Strawberry Is Neat

mexicaitlin Report

#2

How To Pick The Right Watermelon

How To Pick The Right Watermelon

Atomic_Panda95 Report

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Mimi La Souris
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

so orange, full of stretch marks, all round and not very green anymore, quite a summary of me :D

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There are many necessary life skills people complain that they're not taught in school. Doing your taxes is one people mention a lot in these types of discussions. I'd say that cooking is also a pretty necessary one. Yet, a survey in 2013 revealed that 28% of Americans say they can't cook. 

Granted, some schools around the world include cooking education and classes in their curriculum. The UK, for example, has The Cooking and Nutrition Curriculum. The purpose of these classes, as stated by them, is to teach children "how to cook and apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating." 


#4

When To Boil Water To Cook Vegetables

When To Boil Water To Cook Vegetables

tupacwolverine Report

#5

Apples On A Scale From Most Tart To Most Sweet

Apples On A Scale From Most Tart To Most Sweet

surfinmozart Report

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Panda-sized Potato
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Red Delicious doesn't belong on there because it is the most disgusting apple, forced on American school children for decades because of corporate deals. They are the reason I hated apples for so long.

LakotaWolf (she/her)
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I loved those when I was a little kid! <3 I swear they have become less flavorful and more mealy-fleshed since then, though. :(

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Vince Wales
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never had Snapdragon or Juici, but I've never had any of those other "sweeter" apples be as sweet as Honeycrisp, and I've had a ton of Fuji and Gala.

JammaCoast2Coast
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pink Lady from Pike Place Market in Seattle is/was the best apple I've ever had

David
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not on the list - but Cosmic Crisp has the crunch of Honeycrisp but is sweeter. It's probably my favorite apple - at least in terms of what I commonly find in the supermarket.

Mark Buxbaum
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a new apple in town! It's called Cosmic Crisp. Years in the making, it's designed to replace the Red Delicious, and it's a huge improvement. Tasty, not mealy at all. Look for it, you won't be disappointed.

StrangeOne
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me and my daughter bought one of every type of apple we could find at the grocery store to do a taste test throughout the week. It took a week and a half, or 2 weeks. The week old apples tasted the best and the ones we liked the best were the Gala, Fuji and I think one that's not on this chart, can't remember which one. The Envy and Empire were our least favourite.

MagicJacket
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honeycrisp all day. Sweet and tartness just on the edge of too much. Also good? Cosmic Crisp (not pictured,) which I think is a new breed.

Angela C
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Recently discovered snapdragons and those have become my favorite. Also honey crisp are good but not nearly good enough to justify costing twice as much as every other apple

Maim
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Red Delicious are NOT sweet, in my opinion. And they are mealy. Very overrated apple LOL but the one most of us grew up with.

Pamela Scott
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Best Tarr apple 🍎 is missing from this scale!!! The winesap apple is the best for cooking. They mellow just a tiny bit when you cook them but still has an amazing apple taste. I use them for apple butter and it has a bit of a tart sweet taste. When you have them to eat fresh they keep the lovely crispy crunch instead of becoming mushy the way so many apples will become to soon.

Robert Miller
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Red delicious is NOT sweeter than honey crisp - they have hardly ant flavor at all .

Zombiedoll
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Envy is my favorite and it's actually sweet apple with a wee bit of tartness.

R Dennis
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honeycrisp is my perfect combination of crispy, sweet, and juicy.

Macoyote
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What happened to my favorite, the Winesap? I can't find them anywhere.

Sheena Leversedge Wood
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my favourites aren't there. I love C*x. yeah I know that sounds like an innuendo, but they are sharp and sweet and small and crunchy and I love them. Golden delicious is an absolute lie. they are bland, pulpy, and the taste reminds me of the smell of plaque on someones breath.

Corinna Weisz
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate Red Delicious with a passion, because they look so mich like fairytale and juicy and red and shiny and you take a bite and it' just bland, floury nothing. At least the ones, I had. Golden Delicious already get dents and spots if you look at them sharply, but they are good anyways 😅

StellaTZH
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Braeburn is the sweetest I will eat. They're the perfect mix of tart and sweet. Granny Smith is great, too.

Happy Blue Panda
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My favorite is not even on here. They must not grow them anymore. Plus I can never find them at the store.

Ronald Robin
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought there were only two types of apples: Sweet Red ones and Sour Green ones.

Earthquake903
Community Member
Premium
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What about texture? I don't care for the apples that are mushy when I bite into them. Is there a way to tell or a list?

Roxy222uk
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still can't believe that Americans don't have cooking apples, such as Bramleys. Someone really needs to introduce them.

LakotaWolf (she/her)
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We do! You just have to really look around or go to a grocery store that isn't a part of a humongous sterile chain-store company. I worked at a farmer's market and we had several varieties of "cooking apple" and "baking apple", and even more varieties in the fall.

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Certainly not Dan
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a list of apples from the US at a guess. We do grow a few of those in the UK (hello Granny Smith) . My favourite here are Russets, or C*x’s Orange Pippin, gorgeous

Auntriarch
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh yes, Cøxes are the best! Especially when they get just a little bit wrinkly, the flavour concentrates

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CorgiGirl
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For most of these it comes down to whether they are really ripe or whether they are GMO. McIntosh haven't been tart since about 50 years back. The new McIntosh are mealy and awful

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#6

Burger Joint In Town

Burger Joint In Town

erikhenao32 Report

But cooking is not just about making something delicious for yourself. Food literacy includes being informed about nutrition and making healthy diet choices in general. According to Monique Tello, MD, MPH, cooking at home can improve diet quality, prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes, and help people lose weight in general.

In fact, there has been evidence that cooking classes can help patients with type 2 diabetes manage their condition just as well as medication can. When people learn to cook for themselves, they eat less highly processed food and lower their sodium intake. "Hard to believe it, but time in the kitchen can be as valuable as medication for some people with diabetes," Tello writes.


#8

Do You Want To Raise Your Cooking Game? Learning About Aromatics Will Help Massively

Do You Want To Raise Your Cooking Game? Learning About Aromatics Will Help Massively

pretty_miss99 Report

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#9

A Cool Guide To Japanese Gastronomy Prefixes And Suffixes

A Cool Guide To Japanese Gastronomy Prefixes And Suffixes

Mujer_Arania Report

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Evan not Hansen
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I ever go to Japan, it will be long after I have forgotten this information, but it was interesting to read at least.

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We all eat – that's true for everyone in one way or another. Food is literally the sustenance of life, yet it can also make us pretty sick if we don't eat the right way. But do people actually know how to eat healthy? People say they want to eat healthily, as they opt for products with labels such as "multigrain," "sugar-free," and "organic."

#11

A Restaurant Guide For How You Want Your Steak Cooked

A Restaurant Guide For How You Want Your Steak Cooked

madairman Report

#12

A Quick Guide To Tea!

A Quick Guide To Tea!

Relojero Report

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similarly
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have almost the same chart, but instead of different kinds of tea, it's just scotch. (I'm kidding. I no longer drink alcohol.)

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However, most people seriously overestimate the healthiness of their diet. A 2022 study found that the majority of people (85% of the participants) inaccurately assess the quality of their diet. " It's mostly those who perceive their diet as poor who are able to accurately assess their diet," the study's lead author Jessica Thomson, PhD, said.

#13

Cake

Cake

PuzzledLifeguard Report

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Mimi La Souris
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

and use real butter and real milk, not light, not reconstituted, which is coming from an animal :)

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#14

How To Open A Lime!

How To Open A Lime!

Longjumping-Ad-7241 Report

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Samarkand
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You will never get 100% of the juice, no matter how you cut it.

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#15

Know Your Coffee Bean

Know Your Coffee Bean

ssigea Report

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WindySwede
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

arabica beans taste horrendous also! (my taste buds, you do you 👍 )

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For years, the main point of reference for a healthy diet was the food pyramid. I'm a '90s baby, but even I grew up thinking grains were the building block of a healthy and nutritious diet. The USDA food pyramid has actually undergone quite a journey: created in 1992 and updated in 2005 to MyPyramid, now it seems to have disappeared completely.

#16

A Cool Guide About Eggs

A Cool Guide About Eggs

TealZoe Report

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Auntriarch
Community Member
3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At last, someone who knows about basting. Edit: these are my people!

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#18

Know Your Coffee

Know Your Coffee

khayalipulao Report

The problem with the original food pyramid was that it had little nuance. Yes, grains are an essential part of a well-rounded diet, but only if they are whole and unrefined. The same goes for fats; the original pyramid urged people to use it "sparingly" and ignored the benefits of plant-based fats, like eating avocado.

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#19

This Is How To Measure Rice (Asian Style)

This Is How To Measure Rice (Asian Style)

aespadax Report

#20

A Cool Guide To Spoons

A Cool Guide To Spoons

_Mr_Serious Report

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Auntriarch
Community Member
3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm afraid neither my ice cream spoons (pointy end flat bowl) nor my sugar spoon (square) look like this.

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The old food pyramid also didn't differentiate between healthy and unhealthy proteins. Fish, poultry, and beans were grouped together with red meat and processed meat. Dairy was also overemphasized as a healthy food group, whereas now we know it can contribute to heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

#22

A Cool Guide To Melons

A Cool Guide To Melons

Mofomania Report

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Carl Roberts
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Trivia: True melons are all varieties of the same species "cucumis melo". The horned melon is not a true melon , but a separate related species in the same genus. The bitter melon and watermelon, however, are not even in the same genus as melons. The cucumber (cucumis sativus), is far more closely related to true melons than the watermelon is.

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#23

A Cool Guide For Pumpkins/Squash Made By My Girlfriend In Preparation For Halloween, Hope You Enjoy!

A Cool Guide For Pumpkins/Squash Made By My Girlfriend In Preparation For Halloween, Hope You Enjoy!

alpevado Report

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Ava Lemar
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Did you know that butternut squash, if pealed with a vegetable pealer, oozes a clear sap that is a terrible skin irritant and can cause mild to moderate skin blistering? Ask me how I know.....

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#24

A Cool Guide To KFC's Secret Recipe?

A Cool Guide To KFC's Secret Recipe?

Substantial-Chef5102 Report

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought it was just chicken grease + salt. Any other Futurama fans out there?

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The pyramid's upgrade, the MyPyramid project, was too vague, according to Harvard's School of Public Health. They emphasized the importance of physical activity, veggies were almost as important as grains, but oils were still demonized and there were no explanations about wholegrains and dairy.

#25

Cook The Perfect Egg

Cook The Perfect Egg

girasoles_de_fuego Report

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Auntriarch
Community Member
3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not generally fond of one trick pony gadgets, but I like my egg boiler

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#26

A Cool Guide To Place Settings

A Cool Guide To Place Settings

ShadowMosesss Report

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Pandarosa
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The informal is my formal, normally it's on the couch with a fork and a movie.

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Today, the USDA food pyramid is actually a plate, similar to a pie chart. The biggest chunks are dedicated to vegetables and grains, with foods and protein taking second place. Dairy is off to the side, emphasizing that it has to be low-fat or fat-free.

Harvard University has its own version of the plate. It's similar to USDA's, but they stress the importance of wholegrains, healthy protein, healthy oils, water, and staying active.

#28

A Cool Guide To Dried Chilis From Cooks Country

A Cool Guide To Dried Chilis From Cooks Country

SlimKhakiCinema Report

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Guy-Incognito
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sadly mexican cooking ingredients are almost unavailable in Australia outside of capital cities. Even online I'd have to order restaurant quantities to get anything.

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#30

Cool Potato Guide For Beginners

Cool Potato Guide For Beginners

LesPaltaX Report

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Šimon Špaček
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is just three types of potatoes. Not all "red" potatoes are for salads. There are thousands registered potatoes. By "thousands" I mean that I can order over 4000 variants. Do you want them big, small, round, weird, yellow skin, red skin, white,... for quick consumption or for long storage?

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In the end, there's no ultimate guide about healthy eating, as health and science journalist Kristen V. Brown writes for Bloomberg. "The truth is that we are still learning about what makes people lose, gain and maintain weight. And as we learn, the guidelines will probably change, too."

#31

The Only Wine Chart You'll Ever Need

The Only Wine Chart You'll Ever Need

sarwhlr Report

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Mister Dave
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This may be typical, but not accurate. The vintner can make almost any wine dryer or sweeter.

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#32

Ok Now You Know

Ok Now You Know

nineinchrain Report

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VW Panda
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All those dairy farmers in DC are always clogging the streets with their stupid cows. 😐

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#34

A Cool Guide To How To Cook Different Kinds Of Rice

A Cool Guide To How To Cook Different Kinds Of Rice

abriechz Report

#35

A Cool Guide To Banana Types

A Cool Guide To Banana Types

Mofomania Report

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Zoe Vokes
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Shame there’s no taste guide. Which is the sweetest? Where are they grown?

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#38

How To Cook Bacons

How To Cook Bacons

AndyTDL Report

#39

A Cool Guide To Eggplant Varieties

A Cool Guide To Eggplant Varieties

Donghoon Report

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Tempest
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sichuan style eggplant recipe is heavenly! Just one of those Chinese eggplants is enough for one person for several days. One of the easiest foods for meal prepping when you can’t cook daily.

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#40

A Cool Guide Of What 1500 Calories Look Like At The Most Famous Fast Food Restaurants

A Cool Guide Of What 1500 Calories Look Like At The Most Famous Fast Food Restaurants

Mindless_Trick_8048 Report

#42

Donut & Wine Pairings

Donut & Wine Pairings

Lynris Report

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Daniela Lavanza
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Donuts and wine…American food horror stories I’m too European to get.

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#44

Salmon Cuts Guide From My Grocery Store

Salmon Cuts Guide From My Grocery Store

Mexicannut Report

#45

A Cool Guide To Sushi Etiquette

A Cool Guide To Sushi Etiquette

ThreeDrawersDown Report

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similarly
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've lived in Japan for over 25 years. Where I live, I never see signs like this. The only one you absolutely do not do is the last one. NEVER ever ever stick your chopsticks upright in your rice bowl (for the dead), don't pass food from chopsticks to chopsticks (that's how you pass the bones around after cremation at a Japanese funeral ... and yes, been there, done that). Death taboos are very strong. Although, it's not like Grandma's gonna beat you with a stick. They'll just say don't do it. As for mixing wasabi and soy sauce? That's how my inlaws always did it, and they were very traditional. Some of the others aren't really taboos. It's just easier to eat sushi if you do it the right way.

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#46

Fried Eggs By Fat Used, Pan Type, And How Fully Cooked!

Fried Eggs By Fat Used, Pan Type, And How Fully Cooked!

Ok-General-1544 Report

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Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My!
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mmmmm eggs medium easy in bacon fat, and the bacon wrapped in the toast to wipe up the yolk. Add coffee and fruit, and Bob's your uncle (unless you don't have an Uncle Bob).

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#47

A Cool Guide I Found About Cooking Steak In Landers

A Cool Guide I Found About Cooking Steak In Landers

Illustrious_Ear_1394 Report

#48

Guide To Types Of Fiddleheads For Cooking

Guide To Types Of Fiddleheads For Cooking

mister_record Report

#50

A Cool Guide To The Cooking Oils

A Cool Guide To The Cooking Oils

giuliomagnifico Report

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