Attention all that can cook!

Alright, So Im 22, and I have 2 year old, and a DH, and a roomate who is our best friend.

And I do not know how to cook anything. Im just terrible. And I really have to start cooking so My kid can eat right, and my DH is happy, and our friend doesnt have to eat frozen dinners everyday.

So tonight I've decided to make tacos. Thank gosh they have "taco kits" in the store, otherwise I would have asked an associate to help me pick out what's needed. And yes, I remembered the meat, it said I needed that on the box.

So, what should I do to learn how to cook? Get some cookbooks? But even then, it's like I always burn something, or mix in the wrong amount of stuff, or just plain screw up the whole thing up.

Am I just a cooking mishap? Or is it something that can easily be caught on like bike riding?

Oh sheesh...Hopefully tacos are easy for me to hold them over for one night untill my TCS support comes through with some help. lol. Otherwise it's Tacos everynight from here on out.

Anyone have any tips? Good easy recipes? All help would make me and 3 others very happy.

i would look in your community to see if they offer cooking classes to offer. cook books are a good way to start the foodnetwork website too they have easy recipies.

OK, define not being able to cook Can you do the basic things?

Originally Posted by AbbysMom

OK, define not being able to cook

Can you do the basic things?

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I can do the basics. It's just the "how long do I cook it for" and "what kind of pan is THIS?" Looking in my pan cabinet is like looking in a toolbox to me.

So, really, I can DO anything, it's just Im so afraid Im going to mess it up, because I usually do. And I dont know anything about spices. I dont even HAVE any spices.

I dont know what vegetable goes with what dinner, or what dressing do I put on different things.

There are some really simple cookbooks out there for people like you, with pictures and everything in easy steps. Go to any bookstore and have a look, or ask the clerk. Get a book of easy pasta resipes too - they are healthy and very easy. It is almost impossible to mess up pasta as long as you don't boil it too long! And now that summer is coming experiment with interesting salads - you can mix almost any vegetables and greens together to get good flavours that look pretty too. Add a can of tuna, some chopped up chicken or cheese, or a bag of unsalted nuts and you have a good meal. Use wholemeal bread instead of white, and serve it slightly warm, it makes all the difference with salad.

Try allrecipes.com for easy recipes, they have a 'quick and easy' section with more basic recipes

Is your mom around to help? The way I started to cook was by getting my mother to give me some recipes for the things I remembered her cooking regularly for dinner. From there, I branched out. Do a search on the net for easy recipes involving chicken, for example. So many times it's more a matter of time - as in throwing something in the oven and letting it bake for an hour or so. As to veggies? Anything goes with anything IMO.

Do you own a crockpot?

I used to overcook meat all the time until I bought a meat thermometer.

Originally Posted by jennyranson

There are some really simple cookbooks out there for people like you, with pictures and everything in easy steps. Go to any bookstore and have a look, or ask the clerk. Get a book of easy pasta resipes too - they are healthy and very easy. It is almost impossible to mess up pasta as long as you don't boil it too long! And now that summer is coming experiment with interesting salads - you can mix almost any vegetables and greens together to get good flavours that look pretty too. Add a can of tuna, some chopped up chicken or cheese, or a bag of unsalted nuts and you have a good meal. Use wholemeal bread instead of white, and serve it slightly warm, it makes all the difference with salad.

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Wow, those are good tips. Im actually writing this all down. DH is going to think this is halarious. But Thank you for them little tips.

Is your mom around to help? The way I started to cook was by getting my mother to give me some recipes for the things I remembered her cooking regularly for dinner. From there, I branched out. Do a search on the net for easy recipes involving chicken, for example. So many times it's more a matter of time - as in throwing something in the oven and letting it bake for an hour or so. As to veggies? Anything goes with anything IMO.

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My mother has pretty much givin up on me cooking. She's tried to teach me a few things. But she makes it so difficult. But I'm sure my grandmother would love to teach me a few things. She's much easier to work with.
And see, time is a thing with me too. I think that you do all of this prep to make something that take you a half-hour to eat. If everything was all prepped for me, It would be way easier. But that's the laziness talking from me.

Do you own a crockpot?

I used to overcook meat all the time until I bought a meat thermometer.

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Nope I dont. Should I get one? Are they helpful? What can you make in a crockpot? Anytime I hear the work crockpot, all I can think of is Beef Stew.

The crockpot is wonderful. I've used mine for roasts (beef and pork), chili, beans 'n ham and chili verde. Most crockpots come with a cookbook, too.

Meat loaf is easy:

1 lb ground beef
1/2 lb of ground pork or Italian sausage
1 cup of saltine cracker crumbs (some people use oatmeal)
1 egg
1 small can of tomato sauce (I use Mexican tomato sauce)
salt, pepper, garlic, oregano, sage, basil, Worcestershire sauce, thyme and rosemary, to taste

Mix meat, cracker crumbs, egg, spices and 1/2 the tomato sauce (the best way to do this, is with your hands). Place mixture into a 9-inch square pan, spread evenly. Top with the rest of the tomato sauce.
Bake at 350 degrees, for approx. 1 hr or until center of loaf is 160 degrees (use a meat thermometer)

I've been making meat loaf this way, since I was 10 years old and its never turned out badly.

I was in the same situation as you when my boyfriend and I first moved in together. Basically, neither of us could cook to save our lives. So I started to buy easy cookbooks, and every time I cooked I tried a different recipe. If the recipe called for some spice I didn't have, I would go and buy it. Now I have two shelves full of spices and even though I'm no expert I can certainly cook something edible.

Just read the directions in the recipe and you'll get the hang of it..I know you can do it!! If I can you certainly can.

There's a great cookbook out called "Fix It & Forget It Cookbook". It has TONS of great recipes for your crockpot. Get it!!

Also, look on the web for TONS of easy recipes and cooking sites.

Stephanie

Tacos are a good start.. I was doing those a few years ago, and then kinda lost interest, so I ended up with a bunch of kits that went stale! I like to buy the pad thai kits and cook up a bunch of stuff- usually shrimp onions and whatever veggies are around. I'm not that good myself- i eat a frozen dinner every day for lunch and dinner is either go out, spaghetti, eat a bunch of snacks, or hubby makes something. I do like to make salad.
Last night I had to look up in a recipe book how to make corn on the cob- I had no clue how long to cook it. Basics are sometimes the hardest part!

Some tips I have found useful.

1) Use internet search engines to find out what type of pan etc. Find information out about what ingredients or any other question about cooking. When I learned to bake bread, this was and is helpful.

The next two tips are from a cooking class my husband and I took.

2) Read the recipe throroughly at least two times to make sure you understand what the recipe requires.

3) it is officially called mis en place. Basically, it is get all of your ingredients together first. Measure them out into small dishes. Group them according to when they are needed for the recipe. This way you can verify you have the right quantities of the right ingredients; they are ready to go when you need them. I find it can be a pain at first but when it comes to putting the recipe together, I'm not forgetting ingredients or burning something while I chop up a veggie that is required.

Originally Posted by stephanietx

There's a great cookbook out called "Fix It & Forget It Cookbook". It has TONS of great recipes for your crockpot. Get it!!

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That really is a good cookbook.

You could be one of the people who was born a good cook and just don't know it yet! As for pans and pots, you really only need a couple. Get a little non-stick skillet, and a big non-stick skillet, and a medium-sized saucepan. A big spoon, and a spatula. That's really it, unless you're doing really weird recipes.

If you have cable, watch the Food Network for a while. It's amazing what you'll learn without trying very hard. And start with the basic stuff, and don't get upset when it doesn't turn out. I mean, you can probably scramble an egg and make macaroni and cheese, right?

Oh, and my favorite appliance of all time is the toaster oven. I use it more often than I use my stove and my microwave combined. I would strongly recommend one to anyone. It's even good for reheating leftover pizza.

And I love allrecipes.com!!!!

Get a crockpot! I can email you a document with something like 100 recipes in it.

What are your favorite things to eat? If you tell us, we can share our recipes for them!

At the end of the day experimentation is the key to good cooking!

If something is a 'bit' burnt, add some herbs and spices and all is good! There are some cook books for blokes and it gives some cheeky hints and tricks for making delicious meals (I use this when I am being lazy or uninspired! )

Other than that, taste, taste and taste everything!! The more you learn about taste and smell, the more you can solve a cooking issue!

If you ever need any simple - yet tasty (and impressive - if I may say so myself) recipes give me a shout!

Originally Posted by katachtig

3) it is officially called mis en place. Basically, it is get all of your ingredients together first. Measure them out into small dishes. Group them according to when they are needed for the recipe. This way you can verify you have the right quantities of the right ingredients; they are ready to go when you need them. I find it can be a pain at first but when it comes to putting the recipe together, I'm not forgetting ingredients or burning something while I chop up a veggie that is required.

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Love this! Sounds like a great IDEA! Thank you!

Ok soo...taco day went well for me and my daughter. The DH isnt home from work yet but hopefully he likes them. I had to call my mom to ask what I do with the grease. lol.
The roomate is out still with friends. He BETTER not be eating elsewhere, I bought 2 pounds of meat so that I could feed him too.
My daugher liked it. She thought it was the coolest thing. Messy, but great fun. AND I cut my finger...cutting onions. Yes, onions and cut finger=Not good. I learned that today at least!

If something is a 'bit' burnt, add some herbs and spices and all is good! There are some cook books for blokes and it gives some cheeky hints and tricks for making delicious meals (I use this when I am being lazy or uninspired! )

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Thank you for that tip! That totally makes sense. I will FOR SURE try that next time I burn something.

What are your favorite things to eat? If you tell us, we can share our recipes for them!

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I like burgers, and spaghetti, and caseroles *sp?*, But I do not like mushrooms. yuck. I like pizza stuff, and lots of italian food. I like macaroni and cheese type stuff, and certain stews.
And hey...Shannon..didnt you say you were at that pet walk-a-thon thing? I just seen that on TV...looked like a blast! Wish I knew if you were on that segment or not.

Meat loaf is easy

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I am going to try that one. My DH LOVES meatloaf. I forgot all about that. What goes good with meatloaf? Any types of bread or certain veggies?

There's a great cookbook out called "Fix It & Forget It Cookbook". It has TONS of great recipes for your crockpot. Get it!!

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Alright on my paper of stuff Im learning from you wonderful folks I have made in bold print that I need a crockpot, and "fix it & forget it cookbook".
And to check allrecipies.com tonight. HOORAY! This should be fun! You know...everyday, you guys should give me a recipe, and I'll cook it! Depending on whether or not I work that night. Love you all!

Thank you all!