Chop, Fry, Boil: Eating for One, or 6 Billion

[elleng]

A cooking repertoire of three basic recipes can get anyone into the kitchen and beyond the realm of takeout food, microwaved popcorn and bologna sandwiches in a few days.

One could set off a heated argument with a question like, “What are the three best basic recipes?” but I stand behind these: a stir-fry, a chopped salad, and the basic combination of rice and lentils, all of which are easy enough to learn in one lesson.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/02/weekinreview/02bittman.html?ref=dining

Bittman