Just getting started

I'm not sure how to explain being a challenged chef. I've purchased smoked beef and only as the oven is pre-heating realized smoked beef is beef jerky. I've cooked scallops for 15 minutes to create rubber bands. I made a green velvet cake because I was out of red food coloring and etcetera, etcetera. There are a variety of reasons for my continual kitchen failures. I have a toddler that sometimes distracts me when I am adding ingredients, I substitute ingredients capriciously and tend to take " shortcuts" when using recipes. Fortunately, my toddler is very supportive and is not a picky eater. Of course, if she was she'd starve, so perhaps her agreeable palette is self preservation. At any rate, one day she is going to become aware of my culinary shortcomings, so this is a way to record, review and hopefully, progress. I have been experimenting with scones, so if I figure out how to post the initial recipe, it will be my next post. I made a pretty funny error with a variation, so stay tuned.....