I need to learn to cook - Recipes

ladybug04 · 08-23-2009, 12:51 AM

I really do. Boiling water and browning hamburger are about the extent of my cooking skills. Does anyone have any suggestions of easy stuff that is pretty idiot-proof? Many thanks in advance.

jennypage · 08-23-2009, 12:59 AM

Casseroles or "one dish" dinners are an easy way to start. One that I find VERY easy is get a box of rice a roni, spray a casserole or baking pan with pam or swish some vegetable oil in it, spread the rice around, Place two boneless, skinless chicken breasts on top of the rice. Put a couple of pats of butter on the rice around the chicken. Dump the seasoning packet for the rice around the chicken and then put the amt of water it tells you on the box all over the entire thing. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper on the chicken breast and cover the pan with tin foil. Bake in the oven at 375 for like 40 minutes (for two chicken breasts). After 20 minutes, take the foil off and mix the rice around a little. Cut the chicken open at the thickest part after 40 min and make sure it's done all the way through. And.... serve! It's really easy, and good!

And if you want you can marinate the chicken in like italian dressing before hand and use like parmesan rice a roni? Or make up combinations of stuff!

Hope that works for you.

Wicked · 08-23-2009, 01:04 AM

Do you have a crock pot? Get one and a crock pot recipe book. Crock pots are SO easy to use and you can make some great meals. Just throw the ingredients in and forget about it til it's done!

Steff Bo Beff · 08-23-2009, 01:11 AM

Cookbook.

When DH and I first moved in, all I knew how to cook was cabbage & noodles. Then he surprised me with a cookbook. Go to Walmart and look through cookbooks, some have basic meals, and others are more advanced. I'm still learning how to cook basic things, but I'm trying to learn how to work with what I've got available in my fridge and cabinets. I recommend investing in a George Foreman grill, it opens so many doors in the cooking world, I'm not kidding either lol. I love grilling chicken, because each time I use different spices and marinades.

ladybug04 · 08-23-2009, 01:35 AM

I'll give that casserole a try. Thanks.
We might have a crock pot. I don't really pay attention to what's in the kitchen since I don't really use it. But put the stuff in and forget it sounds like my kind of cooking!
I tried the cookbook thing. Most of the stuff I made ended up being inedible. I just may really be unable to cook. I need Cooking for Dummies. I wonder if that exists...

Steff Bo Beff · 08-23-2009, 01:39 AM

Try making spaghetti. The noodles come with directions on the package. As for the sauce, buy the jar, then add stuff like more chopped garlic, onion, etc. And since you know how to brown hamburger meat, you got that part down.

ladybug04 · 08-23-2009, 01:46 AM

Lol. How do you think I survived in college?

I'm hoping to perfect something enough so that I can cook dinner just once for DB when he gets home. They actually make a cooking for dummies so I may go buy that.

jennypage · 08-23-2009, 01:55 AM

Look up something he likes on the internet, find a recipe, and make it a few times and perfect it before he gets home! He'll be so impressed!

Charity · 08-23-2009, 01:58 AM

I'm like that too - not a huge cook. I saw Julie and Julia and wish I could do what Julie did!

I keep thinking I need to invest in a great cookbook.

jennypage · 08-23-2009, 02:00 AM

"Joy of Cooking" is really the best cookbook out there. It's amazing. It's like 30 bucks or more, but it covers EVERYTHING.

It's a must have in my book.

08-23-2009, 12:51 AM	#1 (permalink)
ladybug04 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 430 Blog Entries: 2 Classifieds: (3) Activity: 19% Longevity: 5%	I need to learn to cook I really do. Boiling water and browning hamburger are about the extent of my cooking skills. Does anyone have any suggestions of easy stuff that is pretty idiot-proof? Many thanks in advance.

08-23-2009, 01:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
Wicked BOHICA Join Date: May 2007 Location: Goodyear, Arizona Posts: 21,425 Classifieds: (1) Activity: 87% Longevity: 42%	Do you have a crock pot? Get one and a crock pot recipe book. Crock pots are SO easy to use and you can make some great meals. Just throw the ingredients in and forget about it til it's done! __________________ Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence. ~ Albert Einstein

08-23-2009, 01:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
Steff Bo Beff Cali girl at heart Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 7,496 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 0% Longevity: 13%	Cookbook. When DH and I first moved in, all I knew how to cook was cabbage & noodles. Then he surprised me with a cookbook. Go to Walmart and look through cookbooks, some have basic meals, and others are more advanced. I'm still learning how to cook basic things, but I'm trying to learn how to work with what I've got available in my fridge and cabinets. I recommend investing in a George Foreman grill, it opens so many doors in the cooking world, I'm not kidding either lol. I love grilling chicken, because each time I use different spices and marinades. __________________ My wifey Britt Shea

08-23-2009, 01:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
Steff Bo Beff Cali girl at heart Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 7,496 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 0% Longevity: 13%	Try making spaghetti. The noodles come with directions on the package. As for the sauce, buy the jar, then add stuff like more chopped garlic, onion, etc. And since you know how to brown hamburger meat, you got that part down. __________________ My wifey Britt Shea

08-23-2009, 01:58 AM	#9 (permalink)
Charity Surviving Deployment #2 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Me: St. Louis/Him: Afghanistan Posts: 6,322 Blog Entries: 2 Classifieds: (5) Activity: 47% Longevity: 16%	I'm like that too - not a huge cook. I saw Julie and Julia and wish I could do what Julie did! I keep thinking I need to invest in a great cookbook. __________________ "There is always a way. When things look like there is no way, there is a way to do the impossible, to survive the impossible. There is always a way. If I can offer one piece of advice; today, if you become frightened, instead, become inspired." -Grey's Anatomy I my wifeys Solstice and Mrs. Ninkumpoop!

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08-23-2009, 12:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
jennypage Hating the world one asshole at a time.... Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: ME: Roy, Washington HIM: iraqistack Posts: 19,694 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 72% Longevity: 33%	Casseroles or "one dish" dinners are an easy way to start. One that I find VERY easy is get a box of rice a roni, spray a casserole or baking pan with pam or swish some vegetable oil in it, spread the rice around, Place two boneless, skinless chicken breasts on top of the rice. Put a couple of pats of butter on the rice around the chicken. Dump the seasoning packet for the rice around the chicken and then put the amt of water it tells you on the box all over the entire thing. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper on the chicken breast and cover the pan with tin foil. Bake in the oven at 375 for like 40 minutes (for two chicken breasts). After 20 minutes, take the foil off and mix the rice around a little. Cut the chicken open at the thickest part after 40 min and make sure it's done all the way through. And.... serve! It's really easy, and good! And if you want you can marinate the chicken in like italian dressing before hand and use like parmesan rice a roni? Or make up combinations of stuff! Hope that works for you.

08-23-2009, 01:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
ladybug04 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 430 Blog Entries: 2 Classifieds: (3) Activity: 19% Longevity: 5%	I'll give that casserole a try. Thanks. We might have a crock pot. I don't really pay attention to what's in the kitchen since I don't really use it. But put the stuff in and forget it sounds like my kind of cooking! I tried the cookbook thing. Most of the stuff I made ended up being inedible. I just may really be unable to cook. I need Cooking for Dummies. I wonder if that exists...

08-23-2009, 01:46 AM	#7 (permalink)
ladybug04 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 430 Blog Entries: 2 Classifieds: (3) Activity: 19% Longevity: 5%	Lol. How do you think I survived in college? I'm hoping to perfect something enough so that I can cook dinner just once for DB when he gets home. They actually make a cooking for dummies so I may go buy that.

08-23-2009, 01:55 AM	#8 (permalink)
jennypage Hating the world one asshole at a time.... Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: ME: Roy, Washington HIM: iraqistack Posts: 19,694 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 72% Longevity: 33%	Look up something he likes on the internet, find a recipe, and make it a few times and perfect it before he gets home! He'll be so impressed!

08-23-2009, 02:00 AM	#10 (permalink)
jennypage Hating the world one asshole at a time.... Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: ME: Roy, Washington HIM: iraqistack Posts: 19,694 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 72% Longevity: 33%	"Joy of Cooking" is really the best cookbook out there. It's amazing. It's like 30 bucks or more, but it covers EVERYTHING. It's a must have in my book.