For Newlyweds Only - SUCH a NW question...

jenny11.9 Posted: Jan 14, 2003 02:51 AM

SUCH a NW question...

i need to learn how to cook. and i don't know where to start.

i know how to make a few things - roasts, Sunday gravy (meatballs, bracciole, pork, etc.) but i just **** at the everyday stuff. I mean REALLY **** -like the food comes out bad.

I get cookbooks and somehow i just go all wrong. any advice? anybody else have this problem? also - how do you fit it in after work? I get to work at 8 and get home around 7...It's almost impossible I think - but we cannot eat out so much! We cook together on Sundays and eat that for a couple of days - then it's ordering in chinese, out for sushi , and out for dinners on weekends. I need to start making meals for during the week!

Don't know where to begin......

JennRenee Posted: Jan 14, 2003 07:21 AM

Re: SUCH a NW question...

When we first got married, I could cook 3 really great meals, which we got tired of eating REALLY fast. I started branching out ~ using cookbooks and internet recipes, and 3/4 of the time the entire meal went in the garbage. After a while, I started to get a 'feel' for things, and I'm beginning to have some sort of instinct about what and what NOT to do, so the only advice I have for you is, hang in there! It gets better with a little time and a LOT of trial and error!

As for time, I know exactly how you feel, but I used to feel the same way. You need one of those '30 Minute Meal' cookbooks. Becky recommended a Weight Watchers one (which I bought on Sunday, thanks Becky! ), but there a lot of quick meal cookbooks that aren't WW. Go browse around Barnes and Noble.

Good luck, and I promise, it will get easier!!

Suzanne Posted: Jan 14, 2003 08:58 AM

Re: SUCH a NW question...

During the week its pretty much chicken any which way you can think.. marinated in Lemon pepper ( they have great marinades at the supermarket.. I also but the skilet creations, this week i bought some thing i forgot the name but its roasted potatoes, veggies and roasted garlic frozen in this foil pan, and you just grill chicken and then put it in the oven and 25 minutes later its done!! on the weekend i cook bigger..i go to cooking.com and try to follow the directions as best as possible.. sometimes it comes out great and others not so much.. have you ever thought of taking a cooking class? I think i may do that this summer, i heard they were fun!

ss2002 Posted: Jan 14, 2003 09:13 AM

Re: SUCH a NW question...

Hi Jenny,

I like to cook, and think that I'm ok at it...but I can totally relate to struggling to get dinner together during the week.

Since you're good at the Sunday stuff, why not start some of your weekday cooking then. If you make a great roast, cook a bigger one and have leftovers for hot sandwiches or pot pies during the week. Make some extra pasta sauce and use it in a chicken dish during the week. I try to throw an oven stuffer into the oven each Sunday, and then have chicken for two or three meals during the week (plus soup!).

By the way, cooking a Sunday roast and gravy with the works is no easy task...you should be proud!

shamma Posted: Jan 14, 2003 09:28 AM

Re: SUCH a NW question...

Trial and error my dear, trial and error. Do you know if there are any cooking classes in any of your neighborhood colleges being offered?? You should look in to that. Don't give up now, there is a chef in all of us. Maybe not gourmet or chef boyardee, but we all started somewhere. I only recently started cooking, and I call my mother all the time. It will happen for you. My GF who does not cook got 2 great cook books recently I am going to see what the titles are maybe you can get them from the library. She said even a non-cooker like her will be able to cook now.

shamma Posted: Jan 14, 2003 09:32 AM

Re: SUCH a NW question...

I missed answering your question of how you do it. What we do is we cook 2 meats on Sunday and then during the week we either make some spaghetti or rice or ground provisions to go with the meat that is there. Do you grill, or bake?? I find those to be easiest. Pre-seasoning your meat once you purchase it is also a great idea, so when you are ready to cook it, it is all ready to go.

Niecey Posted: Jan 14, 2003 09:48 AM

Re: SUCH a NW question...

Practice, practice and experimentation...that is what I can recommend to learning how to cook. It eventually come to ya.

As far as during the week, yes it is tough but I think you will eventually get into a routine and adjust. I have been living on my own for over 6 years so I guess I am use to it. I usually do not get hom euntil 7-ish either and DH at 9 so I usually cook for that time. Honestly, I do not cook gourmet meals on the weekdays...just too much. My quick meals include baked boneless chicken breasts, steaks, lamb chops, pork cutlets, stir fry's, baked fish (salmon, scallops) and various marinated chicken cutlets. Most of which you stick in the oven and let cook on their own. I also look for recipes that are quick and different on sites like allrecipes.com. Also, cooking big meals and the weekends and then re-heating during the week can be helpful as well!

stacedz Posted: Jan 14, 2003 09:53 AM

Re: SUCH a NW question...

I enjoy cooking and am pretty OK at it. Do you LIKE to cook? I think that is a big thing as well, you kind of have to enjoy it. And I think practice makes perfect and it will boost your confidence each time. I like to make 2 big meals on the weekend and use those leftovers twice during the week. I don't get home till 6 but luckily Gary gets home earlier than me and will start dinner but we cook easy things during the week. Sauce is sooo easy since all you have to do is boil the water for the spaghetti (we have that at least once a week), we will make boneless pork chops or chicken or steak (marinate them for the day) and make a side dish of rice or noodle roni or couscous. I sympathize with you though since 7:00 is late to get home to just start dinner then but definitely plan for the week, this way you know what you are making when you walk in the door instead of giving in and just eating out. Good Luck!

ChristineC68 Posted: Jan 14, 2003 10:03 AM

Re: SUCH a NW question...

During the week we make quick and easy type things that cook in less then 30 mintues since I get home at 6.30ish.

We mostly have chicken, steak, burgers and pork chops during the week. An occasional omelette if we have good stuff to put in it.

Knorr and McCormack make some great 15-30 minute marinades and sauces.

We use those salads in a bag - so that takes all of 3 mintes to open rinse & serve. Frozen veggies takes about 10 minutes to cook. Rice or potatoes about the same.

Every other month or so I make a batch of sauce and freeze it into smaller portions so we can have that with pasta or meat.

Sometimes we make a big dish over the weekend that will result in leftovers for other dinners or lunches.

shamma Posted: Jan 14, 2003 10:06 AM

Re: SUCH a NW question...

Here are the titles of the books

Better Homes and Garden Cookbook and 'Cook's
Essentials

jenny11.9 Posted: Jan 14, 2003 10:30 AM

Re: SUCH a NW question...

thanks guys! I feel re-juvenated! Maybe I will try something tonight!

Diane Posted: Jan 14, 2003 10:40 AM

Re: SUCH a NW question...

Sometimes I feel like Im cooking th esame thing every week, but I try to vary my chicken, or marinade, etc.

I need to invest in those 30 min. meal cookbooks

michele31 Posted: Jan 14, 2003 10:52 AM

Re: SUCH a NW question...

I LOVE to cook. The secret is to plan ahead (or try to anyway), and not be afraid to try your own stuff. For instance last night I thought I had a ham steak left (I buy them at Costco in a 3pk) but when I got home- nothing. So I defrosted Chicken in the microwave and prepared Rice a Roni's Angel Hair Pasta in Tomatoe Parma (you know in a box, near the lipton's noodle and sauces). I cut the ckn into strips and put it in a pan with a touch of olive oil and garlic, then just added the ckn to the pasta. It was great.
Try to learn to mix-n-match meal ideas too and freeze things for the week. Get new recipes on www.foodtv.com or another site, borrow cook books from the library or you can even take a cooking class at Suffolk Community College for pretty cheap.
Also, when you cook, you can make some stuff in 2 batches and freeze 1 for another time. I try to make 2 meatloafs at once so I have dinner another night the following week, or left overs.
A slow cooker is also a great help. Stew, pot roast, chicken- all cook in one pot with minimal effort and taste great.

NovemberSue Posted: Jan 14, 2003 11:29 AM

Re: SUCH a NW question...

I cook skirt steaks,flank steaks,grilled chicken,meatloaf,etc.They are all very easy to make. I am getting bored of making the same things all the time so I will be trying a new recipe every couple of weeks.
Pork tenderloin is another easy one.You pick it up in the supermarket and its already flavored.We like the pork tenderloin terriaki.The directions are on it.You just put it on the broiler.(Just use the meat thermometer to make sure its cooked enought if you aren't sure)Its delicious.
Steaks are really easy.Just salt and pepper for flavor & don't overcook.Chicken is really great if you soak it in warm water with a little bit of kosher salt for a half hour or so before you grill.It makes a big difference in flavor.
Ask friends for good recipes.

Annie02 Posted: Jan 14, 2003 12:01 PM

Re: SUCH a NW question...

I love to cook, and I have found a lot of ideas on www.meals.com. I know what your saying about the time, I get home after 6 too, so I am not always in the mood for a big cooking project. Try one new thing a week, even on boxes of pasta, there are some great easy recipes. On the weekend, cook something you can freeze for another day.

dkga1026 Posted: Jan 14, 2003 12:08 PM

Re: SUCH a NW question...

jenny, i agree with everyone's advice...also, know that it's not always your fault!! sometimes recipes are just not so good....when you use recipe websites like allrecipes.com or epicurious.com, you can look at other cooks' reviews of the recipes....try only the ones that get good results and high ratings and adjust according to people's comments....i do pretty well in the kitchen and i have come across some really bad recipes that only an expert could see through...but it takes practice!

ILT1221 Posted: Jan 14, 2003 12:23 PM

Re: SUCH a NW question...

thanks for asking the qustion jenny...i was beginning to think I was the only one who couldn't cook. My husband gets tired of rice and beans! lol! He loves my porkchops but I get tired of making them.

You guys mentioned grills? Are you talking about the George Foreman grill or something else? Just wondering.