"Cooking for Dummies"

[Wifezilla]

I would get good knives before a kitchenaide.

 

[FarmerChick]

hubby Tony loves to cook---but I won't eat it

he makes the weirdest flavor combinations and throws A-1 sauce or Heinz 57 sauce into everything---OMG He eats it haha

Simple dishes-----start out simple

Anyone (and this includes you haha) can make mac n cheese in the oven! Twice baked potatoes are delish and easy.

Just experiment with foods you love. If you love broccoli like me, I pour alfredo sauce over brocc. and sautee chicken. Super easy to make. No noodles, just chicken, brocc, alfredo sauce and tons of good parm cheese...along wtih a piece of crusty garlic bread and you are eating fine !


Are you alone? Are you cooking for one? Cooking for one is a little harder but of course leftovers are a good thing for lunch the next day!



now, baking---ugh I am not a baker at all. Baking to me is hard, why, I don't know lol I guess first is I don't enjoy it cause I don't eat hardly any bakery type stuff....so I guess I figure why bother haha

 

[lorihadams]

What I recommend is going to the library, check out some different cookbooks, sit down with a cup of coffee and read.

If you find something that really sounds good then go for it. If you like it then make a copy of the recipe and keep in in a file.

I try to keep things on hand that will work for multiple recipes.

I always have spices like basil, oregano, thyme, poultry seasoning, sage, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder (for when I run out of fresh), dried onions, celery seed, cinnamon, nutmeg, good vanilla flavoring.

Good olive oil, butter, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, GF flours.

Balsamic vinegar, flavored vinegars you like (for salads), GF soy sauce, molasses, honey, brown sugar (although I'm trying to reduce our sugar intake).

Cook what you like. If you like Mexican, look for a variety of those recipes and keep ingredients on hand for it. Chinese, same thing.

I make it a point to try one new food every time I go to the grocery store. Whether it is a new vegetable or fruit or a new seasoning, I always try something new.

www.allrecipes.com is great. Just type in an ingredient and voila. The good thing is that there are reviews and tips from people that have tried the recipes before and that can help you decide how to do things.

My other piece of advice is this.....don't be afraid of failure....the chickens will always eat your mistakes

 

[moolie]

We're building and collecting items for "hope chests" for our two teenage daughters for when they leave home--practical things they will need in everyday life. Perhaps our list of kitchen supplies will help?

I've copied and pasted the whole thing below, minus the household linens--I hope it is useful!


4 dinner plates, 4 salad plates, 4 bowls, 4 mugs
4 water glasses, 4 goblets
4 forks, 4 knives, 4 teaspoons, 4 soup spoons, 4 dessert forks
4 steak knives

salt & pepper shakers
butter dish
sugar bowl
creamer
gravy boat
gravy ladle
kettle
teapot
juice jug

2 2L sauce pans with lids
frying pan with lid
pasta/stock pot
9" round pyrex casserole
9x13" rectangular pyrex baking pan
8x8" square pyrex baking pan
9" pyrex pie plate
muffin tin
2 cookie tins
colander

chefs knife
paring knife
veggie knife
cutting board
box grater

mixing bowls
measuring cups
measuring spoons
ladle
spatula
spoon
fork
whisk
peeler
can opener
pasta server
rolling pin
tongs
ice cream scoop

tea towels
oven mitts
hot pads
storage containers

 

[abifae]

My other piece of advice is this.....don't be afraid of failure....the chickens will always eat your mistakes

I've ruined so many meals in my life... LOL!!! I've also discovered some amazing food combinations. Win some lose some!!!

The library is wonderful for cook books... just get an index card box and copy the faves! And then add them all to an amazon wishlist....

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

One of my favorite sites for new cooks is Cooking for Engineers.

I like that he goes into detail about things and gives very complete clear instructions for non-cooks. Worth trying.

AnnaR - i LOVE this guy! isnt he great?

here is a funny... i found this guy when i looked everywhere for a recipe for corn fritters from E&O trading co in San Jose. if you havent been - run right over for lunch..and then go and make these at home
;-)

ps get a pomegranate margarita ...or 3... for me. and their lettuce wraps
;-)

 

[Up-the-Creek]

First and formost I must say that you my gal are no dummy about cooking,,....I seen those doughnuts!
I will say, in my experience,...I was never "taught" to cook. My mother was/is a wonderful cook, but she never took the time to teach me to boil water. I married young and basically floundered,..we ate at his "momma's" house all the time,...but in time I left ALL of that behind to start a new life with someone else,...and he LIKES TO EAT. SO,....I asked questions from my mother,...I watched a whole lot of TV cooking shows,..and I have went through a ton of cookbooks,...BUT, it all comes with time and much practice. I have been officially cooking for over 15yrs,...I ain't too bad at it now,..or at least I am told... Depending on your taste,.gravitate towards those type of cookbooks and cooking shows,..in time you will build up your supplies. I too thought I had to have this and that,.and in time they all were pretty much donated to our local thrift store. I have the basics now,..I highly recomend cast iron skillets though,...they last forever and they are easy to take care of. Now,..you have anymore of those doughnuts?????

 

[Wannabefree]

Nothing tops cast iron skillets and dutch ovens. I cook almost exclusively with these. My other pots are stainless steel. You need a few good wooden spoons and a sturdy spatula and PYREX bakeware. The rest can be gotten a few pieces at a time.

Bacon or bacon grease makes everything taste better. ALWAYS have some on hand. Spices are a must have. You can have the worst cut of meat around as long as you know how to spice it properly and tenderize it while cooking it(ACV or hot sauce) it'll turn out fine, maybe even great.

I have been cooking since I was 5. My grandmother just let me do whatever I wanted for the most part so long as I ate it. I learned pretty quick what tasted like crap and what was really good. It's all about the experience, and the tastes YOU prefer. I don't think for the most part cooking can be "taught" it has to be learned. Recipes are just guides, as are cooking instructions. Experimenting is the way to go. Don't be afraid to veer away from specifics in a recipe to customize it to your taste buds.

 

[abifae]

It's all about the experience, and the tastes YOU prefer. I don't think for the most part cooking can be "taught" it has to be learned. Recipes are just guides, as are cooking instructions. Experimenting is the way to go. Don't be afraid to veer away from specifics in a recipe to customize it to your taste buds.

Everyone likes different flavors. My roommate puts turmeric in his marinara. This makes me twitch on several levels LOL. But he likes it, so there you go.

Experimentation is the way to go

 

[patandchickens]

I once (in a big hurry) grabbed a frozen ziploc of what looked like meatballs, dumped it into the pot of spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove, and walked away.

When I came back and looked, I discovered they were actually frozen ice-cubes of coriander chutney.

I fished out the worst of it but they'd long since totally melted and a lot of the coriander had irreversably gone into the spaghetti sauce.

It was actually really really GOOD

(In contrast to the time back in college when I figured that if the recipe said grated lemon zest I could substitute grated lime zest. This was in a sauteed chicken breast dish. I also put in extra b/c of not wanting to waste the remainder of the zest of the lime. Ever had chicken that tasted exactly like a green lollipop? Well believe me, you don't want to. That is one of the FEW things I've tossed in the trash without eating, in the past 25 yrs or so of cooking every day. So don't feel bad if you have some green-lollipop-flavored-chicken events as you go along )

Pat