Congratulations all you clever first timers!!
I used a slow cooker for the first time recently 
I'd been meaning to buy one for ages as everyone keeps saying how amazing they are. I distinctly remember saying i was going to buy one during a conversation around the lunch table at my old work site we've only been in the new building nearly 8 years
Anyway, MIL gave me one a couple of years ago she used it once and FIL said it made the meat taste funny so it promptly loitered about in the cupboard.
Finally whipped it out when I decided to make pulled pork (another first!) nothing exciting! Huge pork shoulder was reduced to much cheapness & I had a free sachet of flavour It was amazing!
WHY didn't I use it sooner?
Of course, after 3 or 4 pulled pork cookfests, we ended up with rather a glut of it in the freezer and I'm running out of ideas for ways to incorporate it into meals that are different
Oh, I also made meringues the other week - they were ace & super easy! I always avoided trying them because everyone made it sound so complicated!!
For years I used to make DP deal with raw chickens - I hated the feel but now I'm a total pro : I even buy them in multiples via the supermarket 3 for £10 and butcher them to get the cuts I need.
If I'm roasting one whole I use those roasting bags (home bargains do a pack of 10 for about 89p and I add my own flavourings - cheaper than the individual sachets with a single bag & scoop of seasoning!)
I have NEVER made pastry, ever. I buy ready roll and justify it by telling myself and anyone who will listen that life's too short to waste time making pastry. I bake bread, biscuits and cakes, make pizza dough, all from scratch; but I've never made a dodd of short crust! as for attempting Puff? gives me The Fear
Oh and I'm 39, enjoy cooking at home and work in catering, so its not like I'm a young inexperienced cook; i have no excuse 