Amatuer cook: How do I get started?!
I'm a meat eater, so I shy away from veggie dishes (they leave me hungry). I love pastas, potatoes, chicken and beef. Mostly because I don't know how to cook pork! I've recently opened up the spicer dishes, but when I get home, I have no idea to replicate, so I fall back to the basics!
My diet has become very simple, I'd like to expand it, and I enjoy cooking, I just picked up a discounted betty crocker cookbook at Powells for some basics, help?
I need help with seasonings, marinades, and for some interesting but simple starting recipes. I don't have a full kitchen lineup of ingredients, so a lot of dishes I see when I pick up a cooking book are inaccessible to me.
Bear in mind, college student with a college budget! :) Thanks!
Answers: I've always liked to cook. My diet has been pretty limited, because I have been finicky for a long time. I have since traveled and expanded my diet a lot. (Mmmm..Greek...)
I'm a meat eater, so I shy away from veggie dishes (they leave me hungry). I love pastas, potatoes, chicken and beef. Mostly because I don't know how to cook pork! I've recently opened up the spicer dishes, but when I get home, I have no idea to replicate, so I fall back to the basics!
My diet has become very simple, I'd like to expand it, and I enjoy cooking, I just picked up a discounted betty crocker cookbook at Powells for some basics, help?
I need help with seasonings, marinades, and for some interesting but simple starting recipes. I don't have a full kitchen lineup of ingredients, so a lot of dishes I see when I pick up a cooking book are inaccessible to me.
Bear in mind, college student with a college budget! :) Thanks!
http://cooking.betterrecipes.com/page/Ho...
*This website gives you tips on what herbs or spices go well with different things. It's very helpful when you are looking to get familiar with the flavors. It is best to start simple, you don't want to add a whole bunch of a spice that you aren't even sure you like.
http://www.recipezaar.com/
*This is my favorite recipe website! Use the search engine to find recipes, it is very easy and very helpful. You can narrow down recipes based on the ingredients you have on hand, the dish you would like to make, the amount of time or equipment you have, cuisine, diet, etc. You can also sort the recipes you are looking through based on rating, time to make, alphabet, and even picture.
Hope this helps!
Look to the food network, google it.
there are lots of recipies and good programming for whatever style you like. Even shows to teach cooking on a budget.
Buy some basic dry spices that will keep like- Paprika, garlic powder, basil, thyme, rosemary, chives... the cookbook you bought has some marinating recipes, keep in mind if it calls for a tablespoon of a fresh herb, only use about a teaspoon of a dried herb... good luck!
You might want to start by catching some of the Food TV network shows, or going to their website and looking for recipes of dishes that interest you....the fact that you have always liked to cook should make 2 and 2 come together and you'll get the hang of it......watching people on TV will help you with any questions or techniques that interest you.....Enjoy!!!
Christopher
Alot of what youve talked about ( seasonings and spices ) come with practice and learning what herbs and spices pair best with what. After 24 years I can look at a recipe and know what I can do to change it up to suit the family's tastes. I would suggest the betterhomes and gardens cook book. Easy recipes to follow and pictures of all of them
Have a look on the BBC website there are lots of ideas which can be made within 1hr and if you type in what ingredients you have it will find dishes for you. Good sharp knives are a necessity.
I'd start with picking up garlic powder and onion powder, these are the two most common spices used in most cuisine. Cyanne pepper is also important, but mot in large quantities, if you put just a pinch into just about any dish you won't feel the heat but it will wake up you taste buds and you'll enjoy the tflavors more. If you have parsley flakes around, garlic onion and parsley are what make the great taste of "ranch". You could start with those three spices and expirement with them. You can use those with just about anything.
If you can make a good chilli con carne, you can make a whole host of other foods with it- sloppy joes, Tacos, Quesadillas, Sheppards pie etc and replace the meat in the recipe with your chilli con carne. The ingredients are very cheap as well- beans, tomatos and minced beef. Here's a good recipe:
I pack beef mince
1 onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, chopped
2 cans red kidney beans
2 cans diced tomato
1 heaped tbsp Cumin
hot sauce / chilli powder to taste
salt and pepper
oil
1. Put oil in pan. cook the onion, and garlic. Add the beef, and while it cooks break it apart as much as possible until its all grey. Add the tomatoes and the beans and the rest of the ingredients except the chilli and the salt. Cook for 45 min just simmering, Add the salt and the chilli to taste.
well, basically, just get in there and get your hands dirty and try some things! get recipe ideas from sites like foodnetwork.com and watch cooking shows for great ideas and techniques, and consult with others who have the same interests.
purchase some basic seasonings and ingredients like greek seasoning, oregano, italian seasoning, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, red and white wine, marsala wine, cracked black pepper and sea salt.
keep on hand, artichokes, asparagus, canned black olives, diced tomatoes, green beans, pepperoncini, kidney beans, great northern beans, variety of pasta, rice, orzo. buy meats as needed, check for whatever is on sale. smoked sausages are very good in recipes and reasonable. ground turkey instead of ground beef is cheaper and healthier.
i too have started cooking more and more and i LOVE it.
sites i really like are allrecipes.com - this site has a zillion of recipes! for instance...you don't know how to cook pork...you would just type in pork chops (or whatever) and you'll get a ton of stuff for pork. i first bought shake and bake for pork (i didn't know how to cook it either) to get a start on how long to cook it and at what temperature. now i just use my own seasoning and i can go without shake and bake!
culinarycafe.com is cool too.... i mostly have used this to understand different spices (if you scroll down you see a link for a spice index in the middle - i got a spice rack for xmas and this has helped a lot since i wasn't familiar with a lot of the spices)
unfortunately, you are going to have to splurge once to buy all the basic things to have in your cupboard! but after this, you'll be set to whip up anything you come across. it's so nice to prepare a meal without having to go to the store to pick this or that up!
and i would say the generic spices are just as good as the name brand, so get what's cheap or on sale....
Watch Food Newtork's "In the Kitchen" (cooking how-to shows) every day during the daytime.
Good job on the cheap BC Cookbook. It's a great place to start. You can read about meal planning, cuts of meat, and the general ways to cook meat. You still need veggies, though, for a balanced and healthy diet, so put some veggies alongside yoru meat and potatoes!
For the basics, I'd say start w/ a silicone spatula, a plastic flipping spatula safe for nonstick, whisk, measuring cups and spoons, nonstick skillet w/ oven-safe handle, and a saucepan or two w/ lids (maybe a steamer insert to one of the saucepans, too).
As far as spices, I'd say have in your cabinet: kosher salt, black pepper, garlic and onion powders, thyme, seasoned salt, and paprika. If you can expand the list, add bay leaves, Tabasco, oregano, rosemary, ginger powder, and boullion cubes (chicken & beef).
In the fridge/pantry, keep: mayo, dijon mustard, ketchup, canned tomaotes, cnd. pineapple, cider vinegar, olive oil, canola oil, and a couple of cream of whatever soups.
http://www.recipezaar.com/recipes/inexpe...
A llooong list of inexpensive main dishes.
Get a box of Betty Crocker scalloped potatos
make it as per directions
then
brown some hamburger half lb is plenty. with some onion flakes(fresh is best,tho) drain it and put it in a
large borrowed casserole dish.
add anything from peas to corn to zucchini( a tiny can or a whole one !) or all of them
add some cheese
the powder from the old macaroni box is ok
but you might like your own, pepper jack,American or cheeze wiz
add a bit of Lawry's seasoning salt. bake
taste.... what does it need? onion flakes? garlic salt? find it and put it in... stir...taste...
just right? cut into 4Th's
eat one freeze 3.
Return casserole dish to your friends mom.
and say thank-you ;)
Love mom