I can now make 7 different standard vegetables, 3-4 sambhars, whatever whatever spice combos to make rasams, some 1-2 thohails. Now it's time to switch to the variety rices.. puliyodharai, tomato rice, fried rice, lemon rice and other stuff like upama and pongal, so on. Let's hope that clicks. :) I must recommend the book by Viji Varadarajan's Samayal its a wonderful book for one who does not have too much time to browse through detailed recipes. However you are sure to grow out of it, as I am starting to find out, but a good book to get u started.
For now, here is a sample of my cooking :)
It's Murungaka sambhar, potato mixed curry and kothavaranga karamadhu. It tasted pretty well too!
--Berhael
PS - THANK YOU MOM :)
Update : Viji's Site can be found at www.vijisamayal.org