Unfortunately, there’s no substitute for knowing how to cook things properly. Have you ever considered taking a cooking class? If there aren’t any nearby, you could always sign up for an online class! And there’s always the cooking forum where you could seek advice on everything from how to boil water to frost a cake to how to prepare a standing rib roast and everything in between. The folks over there are always willing and eager to help. :)

P.S. Here’s the link to the cooking forum: Cooking

The over-the-range Advantium is only worthwhile if you get the the 240V version. The weaker 120V version is not powerful enough, and you will still be left with undercooked or cold-in-the-middle foods. Having said that, no microwave or OTR oven--even with the Advantium technology--will taste as good, and come out as well, as cooking something properly in a pan or in the oven.

From your OP, it appears that making a meal that is "tasty" is a problem. That issue will not be helped by cooking in the Advantium. Are you perhaps being too ambitious in your meals for your guests? Perhaps start with simpler plainer foods, or casseroles. Take a cooking class as Sammy mentioned above. Some places like Whole Foods and Sur La Table, or local schools, offer them for free, or for low cost.

Dilemma ("Emma is in a dilemma" is how my teacher helped us remember!)

I don't have much to add, will just echo what's already been said. A cooking appliance is not going to enhance your cooking skills and ability to turn out a tasty meal. And, cooking a meal in a microwave isn't going to help either. Start with a basics cooking class - which you might be able to find at a local community college or cooking school as Shannon mentioned above. If you are over and/or under cooking things a basics course would be a good place to start. Or find a cookbook with simple meals, pick one or two recipes and spend some time mastering those. Once you have mastered those, pick one or two more and repeat. Cooking a good meal takes time, patience, attention and experience.

You may want to head over to the cooking forum and ask there. Plllog has an Adventium and she is a fantastic cook.

If I were you, I would consider the Miele ovens that come with loads of programs. I have their CSO and have been mightily impressed with the MasterChef options (my expectations were very low, mind you.)

tackykat, thank you for the spelling correction. How embarrassing...I didn't think it looked right, but didn't take the time to look it up. But now, I will remember!

Sammy and Shannon, thank you both for your comments. You confirmed what I suspected...it's up to the cook, not the appliance, to create good food. I don't enjoy cooking particularly but hope to find ways to make it more fun.