If you know how to cook at least 3 meals or dishes, raise your hand now. Although many of us could be home alone for a few days, we probably wouldn't be eating very well. Don't get me wrong. I love canned soup and frozen meals. But why eat it all the time when there are so many other tastier, and sometimes healthier options?

Depending on how old you are, many of us are allowed to use the stove and the oven, but now many of us do. I for one love to cook and bake, but many of my friends would end up burning anything they tried, because they simply have no idea what they're doing. Hopefully, I'll be able to help you make delicious foods that you can be proud to share with your friends and family.

I'll start with something very simple, and lots of people love making it. Cupcakes! Not just cupcakes, chocolate cupcakes!

Here is the cooking equiptment you will need:

1 medium sized bowl
Measuring cup*
Electric mixer, or fork
Paper muffin cups
Muffin pan
Oven
Teaspoon
Tablespoon
Ice cream scoop or spoon

* Either a large measuring cup with the measurements on the side, or a set of measuring cups

And the ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup oil (vegetable or canola oil)
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. If you don't know how to do this, or are not allowed to use your oven, you will need to ask your mom, dad, legal guardian, or older sibling to help you. Also, if you do not usually bake things, you may want to begin making the mix, and then turn on the oven so it preheats at the time you are done mixing to avoid over heating your house.

As I said earlier, this is a very simple recipe. Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl! Make sure it is all mixed together well. Line the muffin tin with the paper muffin cups, and use the ice cream scoop or spoon to fill them 3/4 of the way full, to leave room for them to puff up. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Make sure youre wearing oven mitts when you take them out of the oven, because it will be very very hot. To test if they are done, insert a toothpick into the center of the cupcake. It should come out with only a few crumbs on it.

Let the cup cakes cool, and frost with your favorite frosting. I'm not including a frosting because there are so many different kinds out there, and you may prefer a sweet frosting, or a cream cheese frosting. There are also various frostings available at the grocery store. It is very important that you let your cupcakes cool before you frost them or the frosting will just melt right off and you'll just have a big chocolate mess. Okay maybe that isn't such a bad thing . . . if you'd like, you can also top with chocolate chips, gummy worms, or jelly beans! Experiment with what you think would taste good.

Now, for a bit of interesting information. Do you know where vanilla extract comes from? It comes from a vanilla bean, which comes from an orchid. The little seeds on the inside of the bean are put into an alcohol/water mixture and the liquid takes on the flavor of the vanilla bean.

I hope you enjoy this tasty dessert, and come back next time for more delicous recipes!