Calling All Cooks!!

[Rora]

Ok, all you cooks... I need to know: how did you get into cooking? My poor DH is forced to eat frozen chicken breasts and pasta pretty much every night of his life because that's all I cook.

I have plenty of cookbooks (Paula Deen, Better Homes and Gardens, Betty Crocker, etc) but just can't bring myself to make a meal from one of them-- either I'm scared it will turn out disastrous (I have a mild case of OCD that makes me positively terrified that things aren't perfect, that I missed an ingredient, that it "looks wrong", etc) or I don't have the ingredients at home and can't justify going to the store to buy something I'll only ever use for this one meal.

All this being said, I'm a fantastic baker. I'd serve DH cake every night for dinner if he'd let me. In addition, DH cooks but by the time he gets home at night, we're both starving. I need to step up to the plate.

I guess this thread is a vent and a cry for help! Any helpful tips or easy, quick recipes would be appreciated! Thank you, Chefs de DIS!

 

[worm761]

We cook because we like to eat! LOL. seriously, that is why. I have many easy recipes on my blog: http://disneytravelingfamily.blogspot.com/ Not a ton as it is a new blog but it is growing.
You can go to allrecipes.com and enter the ingredients you have on hand and it will give you recipes based on what you have.
When we try a new recipe I always always have a back up plan. I am not an adventurous eater but I am learning to be.

 

[NMAmy]

I'm a competent cook--I don't enjoy it but I enjoy the results. In other words, I like to eat so I cook.

Both of my parents were fabulous cooks so I was very spoiled in that way. Even when I was a young adult, if I stopped by my parents' house, my dad would drop everything to cook me a meal. He really missed cooking for a group when we moved out.

I moved to Germany when I was 22 and could no longer stop by Daddy's for dinner. I had my parents write down a bunch of easy recipes for me, learned to adjust for an oven in Celsius, and learned through trial and error.

One reason I didn't learn from my dad was because he was very picky about everything being perfect--onions all had to be chopped precisely the same size, meatballs all perfectly round, etc. I took after my mom in that good enough is good enough for me. If I'm missing an item, I improvise. If something doesn't work, then we have scrambled eggs instead.

 

[pixiewings71]

I cook because I like it, I hardly ever follow a recipe exactly. I like to change everything up a bit and make it mine. I started cooking at age 12 or so, helping Mom in the kitchen, when I started my own family I had to feed them so I jumped right in. I had some basics and built off of that.

 

[liamsaunt]

I love to cook. It is one of my favorite hobbies. Here are a couple of tips to help you get started.

Take the time to read your recipe all the way through--even read it twice. Make sure you understand all of the steps you are going to have to take before you start. You don't want to get halfway through and realize it's time to add the onions that you forgot to chop.

It is really helpful if you prep all of your ingredients before you start to cook. Chop up all your veggies, clean and cut your meat, measure out your spices, etc. Line up everything next to the stove before you begin cooking, and you will find it's so much easier to make your dish. In restaurants this is called "mise en place."

Finally, tell yourself it's OK to make a mistake. If I mess up dinner, I just make something easy to replace it--an omelet, usually.

Have fun!

 

[golfgal]

Cooking, like everything, takes practice. Get some easy recipes from your mom, his mom or whomever and start there. I have an EASY roast beef recipe I can share:

-Start with a chuck roast (we usually use 5 lbs because our kids LOVE this) but most 2-3 lbs is plenty for 2 people
-Season with McCormack's Steakhouse Seasoning (found in the spice aisle a the store-it is one of their grinders)-coat well.
-Place in oven in covered pan for 4-6 hours at 250 degrees. It will fall apart as you remove it from the pan so be aware of that. It is VERY tender and OH so good.

Can you make mashed potatoes and gravy? Gravy is tricky so if you don't usually make that just make baked potatoes with this to start. You do need to get some good beef so ask the butcher at the store or go to a meat market if you can. Not all beef can be slow cooked like this and I find chuck roasts work the best for this.

 

[gdulaney]

My mom's kitchen was her kitchen....so when I got married I could make spaghetti and that was about it. Here is one of my quick and easy stand-by recipes..... If this is what you're looking for, let me know... I have a couple more. Also, check out Sandra Lee's cookbooks. She uses alot of pantry items and then jazzes them up. Most are very straightforward. Good luck!!


Easy Ham and Cheesy Potato Casserole
easily doubled for next day lunches

ingredients --
1 box of Betty Crocker (or your favorite brand) of au grautin potatoes
all of the ingredients used to make the potatoes (milk, water, butter, etc)
diced ham (can be deli ham, sliced lunch meat, etc)
optional: broccoli or any other veggie
optional: shredded cheese (we like sharp cheddar)

directions --
1. Prepare the potatoes according the instructions on the box.
2. Before placing in the oven, add the diced lunch meat and any veggies
3. Cook according to instructions on the box.
4. About 15 minutes before the dish is done, check to see if you need to stir it.
5. If using optional cheese -- about 5 minute before the dish is done, sprinkle on cheese.

You might have to leave it in a little longer if it's still too juicy.

 

[kimblebee]

Easy spaghetti sauce

1 C ketchup
1/2 C water
2T vinegar
2T brown sugar
2T mustard

combine all ingredients in bowl and mix with 1lb of ground beef. Serve over your favorite pasta.

 

[fraggle551]

I love the recipes on thepioneerwoman.com. They are always easy to follow and delicious. She has pictures of each step so you can see how its supposed to look. That, along with LiamsAunt's advice, and you'll be fine! Just take a breath and enjoy it.

 

[java]

Start simple. Easy quick recipes will provide you with the fastest success. Check out websites(I like epicurious.com but it's advanced- allrecipes.com might be a good place to start)

There are great videos out there. This is a great one - and dh loves this so much.
http://www.kqed.org/w/morefastfoodmyway/episode204.html

Jacques is amazing imho- puts the other "celebrity" chefs to shame. Watch the video and he'll walk you through it.

Roast chicken in 30 minutes!! Can't beat that.

Green beans- just throw Herricot Verts(the thin green beans) in olive oil- single file on a cookie sheet- Salt Pepper Garlic- more olive oil- roast at 450 for 10 minutes- mmmm delicious!

Build up your confidence on the weekend. When you are not under a time constraint.

 

[maslex]

I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE Taste of Home cookbooks.

Most (if not all) recipes have very few ingredients (usually under 10). They are easy to follow and come out very tasty.

 

[DVCDan36]

Look at local community colleges for cook classes, this may boost you confidence in cooking.
Take your time, prepare all the ingredients and measurements before you start cooking. Read the directions a few times to become acquainted the preparations. Watch and check as you cook, adjust temperatures and cooking times .
Just know that not everything is going to come out like the pictures and for good reason, these are professionally done, and not necessarily the actual product, but camera tricks to look better than the final product.

 

[ilovejack02]

DH and I were talking about this just the other night. When first married all I cooked were hamburger patties , mashed potatoes (instant ) and green beans from can

14 years later, I have gotten really good. It takes practice , practice , practice. I watched alot of food tv, which helped me pick up tips to improve the basics I already know.

Great little book I got this year for Christmas is http://www.amazon.com/Tips-Cooks-Lo...=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283287717&sr=1-7. It is kinda basic for me, but still got some good ideas, but it would be a help for you.

I read cookbooks and food magazines for fun. Try to relax and know that your hubby will appreciate the effort !

I am jealous of the fact you can bake, that is not a skill I have, but I am trying . Bought myself a Kitchen aid stand mixer for xmas last year. ; )

 

[Thumper_Man's Wife]

Before we got married, DH and I would sit and talk about things like what we wanted in a home and blah blah blah, and my mom used to laugh at me because I was so spoiled that I didn't even have to cook for myself at home, she would do it for me. So when we finally got married, my mom was always telling my DH that he would have to do all the cooking because she didn't think I knew how...i told them all I needed was Help...Hamburger HELPer, Chicken HELPer, Tuna HELPer...there is plenty of help out there. ;-)

Anyway, to make a long story seem longer, I was addicted to the food channel since college and loved to experiment with food just to see what I could do. I am a huge baker but never knew if I could actually do anything other than just bake, so I started off simple, Spaghetti is the easiest meal to make and experiment with, take a simple jar sauce and add herbs and flavors to it to make it stand out and takes better. or Alfredo sauce in a jar, add chicken or shrimp and frozen veggies. As you start to do this, it makes the other meals seem like an adventure. What can I do with this chicken tonight? How about putting the cheese inside the hamburger meat before I grill it...?

I agree with another poster who mentioned Sandra Lee's books or shows. She does things that are wonderful, but takes a short cut to stamp out the hours and hours it normally could take.

Think of next Monday as adventure Monday and see what you can come up with next?!

 

[marlynnp]

You said he cooks. On his days off why don't you get him to teach you a few other easy meals while you can take your time learning AND enjoy some time spent together.

Learning a few more easy things may be all you need to boost your confidence enough to try one of those cookbook recipes!

 

[doxdogy]

I have always loved to cook and think that is half of the battle. You really have to enjoy it. Go Publix website and look for Apron meals, there are great recipes and they have a simple meal section. Don't be afraid to experiment when cooking. If you find a recipe and don't like all the components, change them up. I have a great chili recipe that as soon as I find it on my computer I will come back and post.

 

[lovemygoofy]

There is a show on food network called 5 ingredients or less. I think you should check that out. It's a little less intimidating and not so many steps.


Why not start slow and go with maybe Saturday night or Sunday dinners where you and your husband cook together? It would be a nice couple thing to do and honestly I think it helps build the bond thing by working together.

I dont know if you like or have a crockpot but I love love the slow cooker bible. It starts with very basics like cuts of meat and how to layer meats and veggies and has real receipes without cream of junk in it.

Think about it in contrast to your baking. How do you decide what to bake? Baking takes alot of steps and sometimes alot of products. Just reverse that thoughts for your cooking meals.

 

[ilovejack02]

I have always loved to cook and think that is half of the battle. You really have to enjoy it. Go Publix website and look for Apron meals, there are great recipes and they have a simple meal section. Don't be afraid to experiment when cooking. If you find a recipe and don't like all the components, change them up. I have a great chili recipe that as soon as I find it on my computer I will come back and post.

Good Idea, I love the Publix recipes . My favorite is Pork chops with blackberry sauce. So easy and gets a big thumbs up from family and friends.

 

[of the seas]

There is a show on food network called 5 ingredients or less. I think you should check that out. It's a little less intimidating and not so many steps.

This is a good starter show. I think it comes on Saturday mornings. You could just put on the Food Network or the Cooking Channel and just sit and watch some shows, or have it on in the background while you are doing other stuff. You'll pick up some tricks and ideas.

 

[SandrA9810]

When I was a kid (middle school), I had to learn to cook for myself if I wanted to eat. Dinner was usually prepared by my sister or cousin, but not always. In high school I ate like crazy, especially at midnight, so I did a lot of experimenting at this time too.

I have my old fall backs like pasta. But I love throwing things together and seeing how they turn out. I used to make this awful pasta sauce in high school that no one but the cook could like. I guess it wasn't half bad, but didn't taste like pasta sauce should.

One of the things I love about allrecipes.com is the ability to select your ingredients. You can tell it what you have and what you don't have.