TIMING IS EVERYTHING !!

That's right, timing. What I mean by that is, when you're cooking a meal the most important thing after the taste of the various things you serve is whether the different dishes are done at about the same time. You don't want to eat your vegetables cold because they were ready ten minutes before the meat portion, do you? No need to answer that, I know the answer.
   So to avoid  any half cold-half warm dinners, this is what you do. Before starting any of it, just estimate how long each part of the meal will take. Say, 12 minutes for the meat, 8 minutes for the vegetable, 20 minutes for the rice, and so on and so forth.
   Then, start the item that takes the longest, in this example, rice, first. You'll know how long it should take either from experience of cooking rice before, or the directions on the package. (Or you could call your mom and ask her how long rice takes to cook. Whatever works for you ) And, I recommend buying a rice cooker. Easiest thing in the world to use, and you have PERFECT rice everytime.
   Anyway, after you start the rice, for our imaginary meal, wait eight minutes and start the meat, and then start the vegetables 12 minutes after you started the rice.
     Voila!! A perfectly timed meal. And everybody, including you, will be happy with the result. Cooking 101 is now in session. Enjoy.