Learning 2 Cook I

As you have probably already figured out from the title of the post I am not a seasoned cook by far. I like to bake things but cant cook to save my life. If there is no recipe in front of me (and that doesn't always help) than I'm a lost cause. I have always admired a person who can walk to the pantry grab some crazy ingredients, whip it together and VOILA! its the greatest thing you ever tasted. Me, that will probably never be likely. So, when I found out that I was pregnant in Oct. of 08' one of my fears was how my child would survive without food. Seriously I was nervous. I didn't want everything they ate to come from the freezer section of the grocery store and the hardest part to cooking it was setting the oven to right temperature. Plus, I want to teach my child how to cook, share those moments together. It was while I was pregnant that I decided I needed to teach myself a few things. I was very used to my Fiance cooking when on the weekends but during the week due to work its just not feasible. I then kicked him out of the kitchen and was adamant that I would take over cooking until the things I was making were somewhat edible. The first few things were a disaster, I have gotten better, but PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. I still have major screw ups, Like the other night I tried to make Shrimp and Angel Hair Pasta. Ugh, I added to much lemon or something-it tasted sour and no one would eat it.
On top of wanting to enhance my cooking skills, I am watching my weight. HAHA. Im pretty much been watching my weight for years but have only seen it go up! I want my meals to be healthy and want some type of variety. Tonight I went to best buy to pick up some DVD-RW for my video camera and found myself wondering to the book section. I seen a recipe book that looked interesting. "Hungry Girl 1-2-3 The Easiest, Most Delicious, Guilt Free Recipes on the Planet". I thought to myself- This is exactly what I want! Easy because I cant cook to save my life, delicious because I refuse to eat cardboard tasting diet food, and Guilt free because-well- who likes feeling guilty? They have chapters on one person meals, two person, crock pot, blended stuff...I was in heaven reading some of the recipes!
So tonight I got home and filled my crock pot up with what im hoping will turn out to be "Slow Cookin Mexican Chicken"- I didnt have every ingredient so I kind of tweaked the recipe a bit- Which has failed me many times.  By tomorrow evening I should know whether its two thumbs up or poured down the drain. Good Luck to me!