A few beef tips
Beef is a lot more revered in the United states than anywhere else on the planet. If one were to total the steaks and burgers consumed in the whole world, you may well be amazed to find that the 'u.s.' is responsible for almost 25% of the total.
In most circumstances you will be better off visiting a specialised butcher rather than a supermarket. A specialised butcher will usually serve a wider range of beef cuts than the general food store, he will know the full history of his beef, will probably have looked after it in the right manner, and he will probably be happy to advise you on the best way to prepare it.
Cook safely
If the deep fat fryer oil starts to smoke don't put the food in. Turn off the heat and leave it to cool.
If you're called away from the cooker - by the phone, say, or by someone at the door - take pans off the heat. It's the easiest thing in the world to forget about them.