What are some things you wished you knew how to cook?

I am learning to make the fabulous, spongy, 90% lard tortillas and the tamales they have in South Texas before I move to the UK because I know I'll probably wont be able to get them.

I am also learning how to make some of the spice packs (TexMex, Montreal Steak Seasoning, Brisket Rub) I take for granted from their base ingredients.

I actually wish I were a more adventurous baker.  There are so many different cakes I haven't tried.  Treacle sponge is one.  I bet it's not even that hard, but I'm SCARED to try the recipe!!

We will be moving back to the US soon and I wish I could learn how to make "real gravy" as I like it here but never liked it in the US and also "real chips".  I'm sure they both aren't very hard but I will I know I will miss them the most when we leave.

I wish I was a good cake maker too.  I find making a cake (from scratch) quite a production so I tend not to experiment.  I'm alright with Betty Crocker box, add an egg, oil, mix, bake, frost, add candles and light them.

I like to bake a lot and I've been anxious to try to make steamed puddings; I feel like it's the sort of thing a proper British baker would know how to do  .  I particularly wanted to make a Christmas pudding, until I realized it had suet in it (I'm a vegetarian).  I now think it might be best to put off the steamed pudding experimentation until I actually get over there.  Apparently one can buy vegetarian suet in the UK (who knew?), so I'll feel a bit more equipped.

Before I left the US, I made an effort to learn how to make real biscuits from scratch.

When I got to the UK, I made an effort to learn how to make a proper toad in the hole from scratch.

I never entirely perfected either one 

I'm into pies and tarts at the moment. I'd like to learn how to make pies / tarts.

I cook and bake a lot, but I really wish I could make proper bagels (so then I could make blueberry ones!!). I took the plunge and tried a batch a few weekends ago and they were an abject failure - so flat they could fit in the toaster without slicing and the ugliest things you've ever seen! I think maybe it's just too cold right now for them to rise, even right next to the radiator...

Oh, I tried bagels once. Abject failure. They were as heavy as paving stones.

I tried lots of bagel recipes, but the only one I've ever found that wasn't awful was from Peter Reinhardt's Crust and Crumb.  It's complicated, and has lots of steps, and you have to be pretty experienced at baked bread already, and it would help a lot if you had a Kitchen Aid or similar.  BUT, if you like complicated bread recipes (I actually find them soothing), it does work.  They're a bit misshapen (but probably would be less so if I got better at shaping them. . .), but puffy and chewy and delicious.

Oh loads of stuff I would like to be able to cook. I can't bake worth a darn, so it would be nice to be better at making pastry so I could bake more pies, tarts, etc., and I would like to be able to bake and beautifully decorate a cake. I would also love to learn how to make some fancy lobster dishes like you would get in a restaurant - you know, lobster thermidor, lobster newburg, etc. I don't really have the time to bother, though. I wish I were better at filleting fish and chicken and things, too.

I'm not sure it's strictly cooking, but the "What I miss.." thread reminded me that I wish I could make tuna fish salad.

No matter what I do, mine tastes like tuna + mayo and the flavors for some reason never come together at all.

Mort, do you eat it immediately after it's mixed, or do you let it sit for a while? 

Mort, do you eat it immediately after it's mixed, or do you let it sit for a while? 

Usually right after. Would letting it sit help, you think?

I'm not sure it's strictly cooking, but the "What I miss.." thread reminded me that I wish I could make tuna fish salad.

No matter what I do, mine tastes like tuna + mayo and the flavors for some reason never come together at all.

Do you add anything else to it? I usually add some lemon juice, lemon pepper and nutmeg. Maybe yours just needs a little boost of something else?