Ok, here I go - I'm almost 28 years old and am a horrible cook/baker/house cleaner. I've lived on my own for many years now and am now married and a soon to be home owner (hopefully close mid june). Just being in the kitchen makes me nervous, I have no idea how to cook, what to buy at the supermarket, etc. I've tried simple recipes, which I'm okay at but I still can't get over my kitchen fright. I work long hours so I never feel like cooking when I get home, so it's a lot of take out, which is expensive and not good for you. DH cooks when he can but he has a crazy schedule, too. How did you guys who are good in the kitchen get that way, especially if you were a late starter? I'm not looking to be a gourmet but just want to be comfortable. Feel like I don't even know what basic cooking terms mean.
I also hate to clean, feel like I don't know how to do it right and wind up living on the verge of an unhealthy disgusting mess!!! DH has allergies, we have two cats and there's always fur balls on the floor. The only thing I seem to be decent at is dishwashing which I feel like I do a million times a day. I clean (like today) when it gets to be too much but its so tiring and looks just as bad the next day. And who has time for cleaning every weekend? I used the wedding as an excuse for a long time, but now we've been married for a month.... So this was long and rambling but if anyone has tips, advice or whatever (even if its a tongue lashing on my laziness) feel free to help me out!! Thanks.
Sasha96
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Re: This is embarrassing, need some motivation...
You can do it, it's not that hard to do but getting started can be overwhelming. I learned to cook when I was a teenager (that is when I became vegetarian) so over the past 10 years I've learned. It was a lot of trial and error at first and I had some support from my mother. Once you get the basics you can build from there. My suggestion is to look to family members for some good starter recipes or basic meals. Then build from there. I enjoy cooking though I didn't think I'd ever be good at it when I first started! Cleaning was almost genetic for me. I come from a family of neat freaks and my DH has a mother who cleans just as much. I need to keep the place clean though it can be a chore at times. Its almost like my thinking gets cloudy and I get irritable when the place isn't clean. When DH and I moved into our first home I started off with both of us doing equal housework (he's tried cooking and it's best that it is left up to me for now). We both work so we both clean! Good luck!
WithThisRing
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Re: This is embarrassing, need some motivation...
smooch
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Re: This is embarrassing, need some motivation...
I have a cleaning disorder - I can't take it when things are messy. FH leaves things out a lot, and I follow him around putting them back. I think what works best for me is my golden rule that I tell students when teaching them programming too: 'If you open it, close it. If you take it out, put it away. If you make a mess, clean it up.' I find if I follow through right away, then the only real cleaning I have to do is dusting, vacuuming, etc., which take little to no time if I don't have to put stuff away first.
As for the kitchen, buy yourself a Betty Crocker or Joy of Cooking cookbook. They usually have good hints in them. And just try things out. Ask DH to get involved too, so you can both learn together. And ask your family to compile their favorite recipes for you!
butterfly20
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Re: This is embarrassing, need some motivation...
one quick dinner sugestion.. There is a chicken 'shortcuts', the chicken is already cooked, skinned, and cut into pieces... all you do is heat it up.. my fiance loves it with salsa or tomato sauce thrown on it..
Its also easy to boil a big pot of pasta..(or storebought ravioli) In the store they have cream sauces.. There are plenty of shortcut things in the supermarket that are cooked and only need heating up.
Also make enough food for more than one nights dinner so you dont have to cook each night
Karen H
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Re: This is embarrassing, need some motivation...
Cleaning - as soon as you finish reading this, go straight to Flylady . It's geared alot to stay at home mom's but they acknowledge the special challenges of working woman and the cleaning principals are the same. Some of it's a bit overwhelming, with the weekly cycles of what gets cleaned, but you start slow and add to it. One good piece of advice is the Fire Drill - where you identify the hot spots where messes get bad - that spot next to your chair, the coffee table, the counter next to the entry into the kitchen where you always drop the maill, etc. In a Fire Drill, you spend 15 minutes running around clearing the clutter - it helps those areas from getting out of hand. They also have great tips and routines for reducing clutter to begin with.
Also, analyze your habits then build your home to accomodate them. For instance, we were looking at new coffee tables today - hubby kept pointing out those that had 4 legs and a top (because they were the least expensive!) until I pointed out that something with a drawer would allow us to keep things neat by putting pens, TV guide, remotes, coasters in the drawer instead of on the table. If the top is clear, it's easy to dust! and if it had a shelf, magazines & books could neatly stack there, instead of on top. I know that we're going to have those things in the family room, so I might as well plan for a good place to keep them looking organized.
As for cooking - they have some cooking advice too. Some of my tips would be:
Get a George Forman grill - good for quick burgers, Italian Sausage or grilled chicken. Remember too, that chicken can be used for multiple meals - I'll often have baked chicken breasts for dinner one night but cook extra, then use the left overs for chicken sandwiches for the next day. I'll make granny's marinara sauce, then have it for linguini, baked ziti, chicken or veal parm, etc. A little more advanced, but having the sauce offers some quick options, especially if I've made meatballs and tossed some in the freezer for later.
Good luck - also, look for cook books that are have quick and easy recipes or one hour meals - those will help.
starhead
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Re: This is embarrassing, need some motivation...
Thanks - definitely good advice. I made some progress today, actually cleaned the floors and did some food shopping. I had gotten the floormate hoover floor cleaner as a shower gift and I put it together myself and cleaned both our hardwood floors and the kitchen floor. I'm exhausted!! I'm going to make dinner, too.
I'm also just plain lazy about a lot of stuff. I don't know why and it aggravates me. I try to do stuff but sometimes I feel too tired. Lately, it's been so hard to get out of bed in the morning, wind up rushing to get ready and then don't have time to make my lunch....arrggh!!!
Thanks for the support guys.
cluelessbride
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Re: This is embarrassing, need some motivation...
I grew up in an Irish family - bad cooks! I taught myself through trial and error. Have patience with yourself.
Two friends of mine took cooking classes at the New School and they LOVED it. I think the title of the class was 'How to Boil Water'. They really needed help and they had a blast learning the basics with a class of other clueless cooks.
As for housecleaning - don't try to be perfect, and again, the more you do it, the better you'll get. If you really hate it hire a housecleaner to do the big stuff (floors, windows, oven). It's not that expensive - about $30-40 an hour. If you have someone come for 2-3 hours a month at least your home won't ever get that bad.
I have a book called Home Comforts, the Art and Science of Keeping a Home that has some really good tips. But I recommend just taking it slow and don't take on too much at a time.
Kris
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Re: This is embarrassing, need some motivation...
There are great shows on the Food Network- 'how to boil water' and '30 minute meals' which are pretty basic meals. nothing too fancy- just the basics. One episode of 'boil' was about how to clean and roast a chicken. Very easy to follow. check out their website.
MayDay16
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Re: This is embarrassing, need some motivation...
Don't overwhelm yourself. Think of cooking as following directions. As long as you can read and gather the recipes you can do it.
Why not take a cooking class? There is this great place in Lynbrook called 'A la Carte' - 516-599-2922. It's a great place to learn how to do the basics. I took a couple of classes, from knife cutting to italian cooking. It really helps and makes you comfortable in the kitchen.
As for cleaning, make a schedule. For each day do a chore. Post it on the fridge and just stick to it.
Good luck!
butterfly20
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Re: This is embarrassing, need some motivation...
George forman grill is really a great product... and its easy to clean if you clean it while its still hot.
violetfairy
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Re: This is embarrassing, need some motivation...
Starhead, no good advice from me, but I wanted to tell you I'm in the *exact* same situation. 27 years old, been a homeowner for 3 years, and still don't know how to cook and am a lousy housekeeper. I, too, am trying to get better at all this! Just wanted to give you a hug of cameraderie.
starhead
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Re: This is embarrassing, need some motivation...
Wow, thanks so much for all the help!! Definitely going to check out some beginner cooking classes and food tv. I wish I could hire someone to clean the house! I think I would feel too guilty knowing that we're house poor right now. violet, nice to know I'm not the only one around here that's in this situation!!!
LizD
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Re: This is embarrassing, need some motivation...
A friend of mine was the same way a few years ago. She used to call me and ask me how to boil an egg. I got her for x-mas 1 year 'Cooking for Dummies' which was basically a joke, but I have to tell ya, she learned a lot from it. That was 3 years ago, now she cooks really good, makes her own sauce and everything.
Thrilled
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Re: This is embarrassing, need some motivation...
I am in the exact same situation. I am a terrible housekeeper and a fairly mediocre cook. It's ironic because my father was a gourmet whiz who could whip up the most amazing meals with random crap from the fridge. Maybe because he was such a great cook I never had to learn how!
Anyway, FH is from a very traditional home where his mother stayed home and cooked full blown sit down dinner every night...this is what he is used to. Sometimes I feel as though I'm failing him because I'm not the cook she is. He even tells me I need to go to 'Mom's Bootcamp' to learn to make some of his favorite dishes- which I'm happy to do, but it's still overwhelming!
And I mainly hate to clean the house because it always falls on a Sat or Sun when I have just gotten my nails done. Isn't that awful?
teresa518
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Re: This is embarrassing, need some motivation...
I received the greatest cookbook as a shower gift 'How to Cook Everything'. It really helps you understand how to do the things described. Some of the recipes are difficult, but some are very easy. I've made a ton of the dishes in it and haven't had one that I didn't like.
As for cleaning, I always cleaned when I lived at home (one of my chores growing up) so I learned most of that from my mother. To me, if it looks clean, it is. I wouldn't worry about cleaning things 'right'. Everyone cleans differently so do whatever works for you. I do dusting and vacuuming as well as the bathroom and kitchen almost every week. Then, periodically, I try to do heavy cleaning one room at a time.
We are incredibly busy too, but you should find a few key quick recipes for things you can make during the week. Also, try to keep up with the clutter. It makes cleaning so much easier.
By the way, I bought this great bathroom cleaner and used it this weekend - It's the Clorox spray with Teflon. It's Awesome!!!!
Mary
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Re: This is embarrassing, need some motivation...
First, relax; you are not alone. No-one is born a natural chef, housecleaner, etc. Also, don't overwhelm yourself, I too work long hours and the last thing I want to do when I get home is cook an elaborate meal.
My suggestion is to practice on the weekends. Make a tray of baked ziti or lasagna and make enough so you have leftovers for the week. Once you build some confidence in your cooking, you'll be a chef extraordinairre!!!
About cleaning, my suggestion: get a cleaning lady, which is what I do. Since I work so much, the last thing I want to do all weekend is clean the apartment. My cleaning lady comes once a month for $40 and it is so worth it!!! I do minor cleaning on the weekend for about 1 hour, so my apartment is always clean.
starhead
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Re: This is embarrassing, need some motivation...
Aaah, you don't know how happy I am that others are just like me!! Definitely going to check out the 'how to cook everything' and 'cooking for dummies.'
I wish i was one of those neat freaks like Monica on friends!!!
tobey
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Re: This is embarrassing, need some motivation...
I am Monica from friends- everyone thinks I'm crazy! But anyway- greatest product ever invented as far as I am concerned: CLOROX WIPES!!!!
I use them to clean the kitchen after I cook- on the stove, the counter, the sink- you name it!! It's great for everyday quick cleaning your bathroom- it cleans, it disinfects and it doesn't smell like bleach- it smells clean
Also- the wet and dry swiffers and swiffer wipes are great for wood tables and floors, kitchen floors- you just use and toss it.
Lastly- for heavy duty cleaning in the bathroom without scrubbing the tile grout until your arm falls off- TILEX. It says to spray it and leave it for ten minutes and when you come back, all the dirt, mold, etc has already cleaned itself- all you have to do is give it a once over and rinse. I kid you not- this really works and works well!! (the only thing is it smells really strong at first)
Just do a little of these every day and try to put away your clothes or in the hamper daily, put your shoes and coats away daily and try to do a load of wash every 2 days. This should prevent daily clutter from turning into a month's worth leading into a nightmare of cleaning for hours and hours:)
