Thanks everyone for the tips!

To answer an early question, I'm going back to school with the intent of
becoming a Registered Nurse. If I'm highly motivated at the end of this
trip, I might go all the way to a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.

So yeah... I'm a guy who likes to cook, has seven pairs of shoes and
wants to be a nurse. Make of that what you will.


To answer to another point, here's the equipment I own thusfar:

slow cooker
8qt stock pot
stand mixer
blender
microwave

which coincides nicely with what many people have mentioned to do.
(soups, leftovers, etc)

Thanks again.

-J