is there a seemingly simple recipe you can't get right?

[mickeyminnie]

Okay I will admit to mine.

I can't make rice krispie bars. They never come out, usually too dry, if I try and add peanut butter it just gets worse. I always use the brand name stuff too, no generics/store brands. I don't know what I do wrong. I really like the nice gooey evenly marshmellowed rice krispie bars, but sadly I cannot produce them, sigh.

 

[MouseWorshipin]

I gave a very-non-domestic friend of mine the recipe for Rice Krispie bars, and - I swear to God this is not a joke - she called me and told me I'd forgotten to put the temperature and time to bake them on it!

Everyone likes them different. Keep making them and you'll get some you like!

For me, it is French Toast. Mine always comes out too soggy.

 

[Virgo10]

Baked Chicken. I can cook a 6 course turkey dinner to perfection but I always undercook whole chickens. Drives me nuts!

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

Shortbread cookies. No one has never shown me the hang of making them. So, I buy them instead. My DMIL makes wonderful shortbread but I don't like to ask her how, in case she'd rather keep her family recipe private.

 

[Marseeya]

For me, it is French Toast. Mine always comes out too soggy.

That's mine too! My mom is a lousy cook, but I always loved her French toast. The edges were just a little bit crispy and the center was nice and firm. I've tried making them just like her, but I can't get those crispy edges! I know she cooks with a lot of Crisco and fries everything on high heat, but I just can't get it right.

ETA, and poached eggs! She does really good poached eggs, but mine fall apart and don't cook properly.

 

[Octoberbeauty]

Fried Chicken and I don't mix!! That's the only thing I've EVER had to throw out the door. Other than that, I'm a great cook if I do say so myself.

 

[soccerchick]

I've given up on making instant rice. Usually it's too crunchy and if I try to add a touch more water, it's soupy. After getting tired of tossing crunchy rice, DH now has rice duty.

 

[diznygirl]

I've given up on making instant rice. Usually it's too crunchy and if I try to add a touch more water, it's soupy. After getting tired of tossing crunchy rice, DH now has rice duty.

You aren't alone. I can't make rice without a rice cooker. It's either that or boil-in-a-bag.

I also can't make pancakes or french toast. I was practicing pancakes this weekend - I think I'm getting closer to the secret.

 

[MAKmom]

Brown Rice never comes out right for me.

 

[liamandcaili]

My mom makes these eggplant sticks that are simply dredged in flour, dipped in egg, then dredged in breadcrumbs. Then she bakes them. No matter how many times I have watched her make them...even helped her make them!...mine still come out dry, bland and tasteless. It's like the eggplant completely evaporated.

 

[marybet]

Meat loaf. Just can't get it right. There was an Oven Classic Meat Loaf from hamburger helper that was really good, so of course they stopped making it.

 

[doxdogy]

Grilled cheese sandwiches. They are either soggy and inedible or dry and inedible. DH makes great grilled cheese sandwiches. Fried chicken use to pretty bad too. Bought a deep fryer and good fried chicken.

 

[OhMari]

German Potato Salad

My mil makes the best German Potato Salad. She will probably die with the recipe. You have to use the correct amount of bacon, flour, sugar and vinegar for the amount of potatoe's you use. My mom makes it, but it taste no where close to my mil. After 25 yrs, there is no hope.

 

[MinnieM3]

I can't get that "fake" toffee.....with like saltines on the bottom and brown sugar, butter and chocolate chips.... mine's always swimming in goo. Tasty goo, but it never hardens up. I try every holiday season, to no avail. sigh.

 

[THE HAT]

this is so sad to admit......let me tell you first though that i am a great cook and baker. i can cook just about anything recipe or not except for this one simple (and maybe that is the problem it is to simple) thing...........ok here goes ............i can't make jell-o. there i said it. laugh at me if you will but, let me tell you this. i can buy those pre made jell-o cups like no one else!! pick them off the shelf at the store, and right into my cart no problem!!!.....i feel so much better having told the truth!! tks

 

[MrsKreamer]

I always have to make extra pancakes, the first batch never comes out right and I always burn the second batch. The third is finally eatable!

 

[RadioFanatic]

potato salad - I can NEVER cook the potatos to the right consistency - they're either too hard or too soft- darn potatos.

 

[mrssmh]

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who is French Toast Impaired. Mine comes out like fried eggs attached to a piece of bread. I have been told that I either don't beat the eggs enough or I don't soak the bread long enough. I don't know what it is, but I just can't do it! My DH has to make it if the kids want some (which is not necessarily a BAD thing).

 

[thelionqueen]

FLOUR TORTILLAS!!
There are only 4 ingredients, and I've tried to make them my entire life (grandmother was Spanish and made them every single day)
Grandma even held my hands (literally) and they turned out terrible, like biscuits or worse.
I'm still gonna try though!

 

[sweet angel]

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who is French Toast Impaired. Mine comes out like fried eggs attached to a piece of bread. I have been told that I either don't beat the eggs enough or I don't soak the bread long enough. I don't know what it is, but I just can't do it! My DH has to make it if the kids want some (which is not necessarily a BAD thing).

That's EXACTLY what happens to my french toast too!

I also can't make meatloaf (comes out tasting like White Caste hamburgers) or brownies (from a mix -- never bake right).