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How Cooking Mama Taught Me All About Cooking

Who says video games aren't useful in the real world?

Alex Michalski

Dec 05, 2018

University of Dayton

446

How Cooking Mama Taught Me All About Cooking

Alexandra Michalski

This year Friendsgiving was hosted in my apartment, which meant several people were preparing different parts of the meal in my kitchen. To my surprise, one of my friends admitted she had no idea how to cut an onion and asked me to do it for her. I was shocked. I thought it was common knowledge all because of one video game, Cooking Mama. For those of you who aren't familiar, Cooking Mama was a game for the Nintendo DS back in the early 2000s where you were tasked with making meals and ultimately be judged by your "Mama." I'm not ashamed to admit that a large part of my kitchen knowledge comes from my "Mama," and I think it truly makes a difference in the kitchen.

Cut Onions Properly

At least these onions never made me cry.

Alexandra Michalski

If you cut an onion in half and then follow the above method you can get diced onions in seconds!

Presentation is Important

Oh God... Burn it!

Alexandra Michalski

The most important thing about cooking is how the final product tastes. Less important is how good it looks, but let's be real no one likes eating food that looks like sludge.

You Really Should Wash That Rice

Make sure you get as much starch off as you can.

Alexandra Michalski

I used to think skipping this step was optional. It's not. If you want perfect, fluffy, delicious white rice you need to rinse the excess starch off of it first!

Not Everyone Belongs on Chopped

Retweet if your cutting board looks like this too.

Alexandra Michalski

Kudos to the professional chefs that can make every piece of diced potato the exact same size and shape. For the rest of us, it's okay to come out with nonuniform pieces, it'll still taste great!

You Don't Need Fancy Tools To Succeed

Sometimes a fork is all you need.

Alexandra Michalski

While some people swear by expensive gadgets, you don't always need them! Cooking Mama shows us that sometimes all you need is a fork to take your dumpling game to the next level!

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Student Life

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10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

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How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.

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Recommended for you

How Cooking Mama Taught Me All About Cooking

Who says video games aren't useful in the real world?

Cut Onions Properly

Presentation is Important

You Really Should Wash That Rice

Not Everyone Belongs on Chopped

You Don't Need Fancy Tools To Succeed

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10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

Who knows where we would be without them.

1. Thank you for laughing at my jokes, even when they really aren’t funny.

2. Thank you for singing unbearably loud with me all the time.

3. Thank you for letting me vent to you for hours about anything and basically being my personal therapist.

4. Thank you for ordering pizza with me at 2 in the morning.

5. Thank you for all the movie days when we don’t feel like moving.

6. Thank you for being my workout buddy everyday.

7. Thank you for sharing your closets with me.

8. Thank you for taking naps with me at random hours during the day.

9. Thank you for cleaning our home with me when we absolutely need to.

10. Thank you for all the rides when it’s late and you don’t want me to walk home alone in the dark.

11. Thank you for studying with me in our kitchen when we didn't want to go the library.

12. Thank you for making dinner with me.

13. Thank you for helping with my hair, makeup and outfit every time we go out.

14. Thank you for taking countless ugly pictures with me.

15. Thank you for not judging me when I go too long without showering.

16. Thank you for making our apartment feel like a second home.

17. Thank you for being there through all of our boy troubles.

18. Thank you for giving me a hug when I feel homesick.

19. Thank you for getting excited with me when one of us gets a good grade on an exam.

20. Thank you for still being my friend and not judging me when I say or do dumb things.

21. Thank you for telling me what I should do when I am sick.

22. Thank you for dancing horribly with me everywhere we go.

23. Thank you for staying up super late with me when we aren’t tired or can’t sleep.

24. Thank you for being super weird with me.

25. Thank you for all the unforgettable college memories.

26. And most of all, thank you for being the best friends a girl could have.

I may or may not be stressing right now.

1. "What do I have to study for?"

2. "What class do I need to study for the most?"

3. "I’m going to ace this."

4. "Focus!"

5."I have no idea what I'm reading."

6. "I should call my smart friend about this."

7. "I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail."

8. "I’m dropping out of school."

9. "What grade do I have to get on the final to pass the class?"

10. "Oh, no, I have to do good."

11. "I shouldn’t have procrastinated all semester."

12. "I wanna go to bed."

13. "We did not learn this!"

14. "I should go get food."

15. "Why do we even have finals?"

16. "I don’t want to be at the library."

17. "Get off your phone."

18. "I can watch Netflix for like 20 minutes and then go back to studying."

19. "I shouldn’t have watched Netflix."

20. "You have to study now!"

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine. — Snow White

The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. — Rafiki

You don't have time to be timid. You must be bold and daring. — Lumière

If watching is all you're gonna do, then you're gonna watch your life go by without ya. — Laverne

Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one. — Grandmother Willow

Always let your conscience be your guide. — Jiminy Cricket

To infinity and beyond. — Buzz Lightyear

Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved. — Pooh

Let it go. — Elsa

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all. — Thumper

Today's special moments are tomorrow's memories. — Genie

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

Money

Socks

Blankets

Gift Cards

Hoodies and Sweatpants

Pajamas

Candles

A Fish

CDs

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