My mum didn't actually teach me to cook but I did spend a lot of time in the kitchen with either her or my nan observing.
The reason I learnt how to cook or create a meal is because I didn't eat the same food as the rest of the family.
Eccles - I used to have a weekend job in a hotel kitchen as a kitchen hand. One very quiet night the chef was bored and taught me how to make Steak Diane. It still remains one of my favs.
when my brother left home to go to uni..I wrote him a wee recipe book..stuff for students to scoff.....spag bol...lasagne..shepherds pie..chilli...sausage casserole..tuna bake...tuna pasta.. garlic bread....it kept him well fed for 5 years...chilli is still one of his signature dishes !!
Everything you can make out of mince.
A decent burger, a shepherd's pie and a chilli for starters.
If they can cook these things already they can work the rest out for themselves.
It's not a low standard of cooking to do these things well.
wow factor : satay - chicken skewer grilled. Sauce crunchy peanut butter, brown sugar, garlic & lemon. served on rice bed (cup rice in jug, cover with boiling water half inch above rice, pinch salt, cover with cling film & nuke 5mins).