Dinner possibilities?!
Dinner possibilities?
So I'm a college student and I like to cook. Thing is I'm not the best cook in the world so I need fairly simple dishes to make. I cook pasta alot, as well as baked goods, but I want to learn how to cook other things. I think its important to eat real meals instead of always eating out of the freezer. I'm typically horrible with fish and I can't grill worth a damn. Anybody have any suggestions?
Answers:
i found a great recipe in a weight watchers cookbook the other day. It's a paste you rub onto fish before grilling, i've tried a few versions and it's gorgeous and really easy. I've tried it on mackerel, salmon and cod. It goes like this - for each piece of fish get about 6 leaves of fresh mint, one clove of garlic, some finely grated lemon rind (about a quarter of the lemon), a splosh of olive oil and a splosh of lemon juice. Crush these on a board (chop them finely first then lay a big heavy knife on its side and "wipe" the garlic and mint from side to side til it crushes). Spread this paste on your fish about 30 mins before cooking and put it in the fridge in tupperware. This allows the flavours to soak in. Preheat your grill to medium, then put in your fish on a piece of tinfoil. Keep an eye on it, especially if the fish is thin, as it doesn't take long. About 5 mins per side for thicker fish. As soon as it starts to look crispy, turn it over, when the second side crisps, you're done! Hope it helps, bon appetit. I'm quite sure it would be lovely on meat too, and you could substitute orange rind and juice for lemon for a change.
Buy a toaster oven, and a really good cookie sheet. You should cover the cookie sheet prior to using it , SO you dont have to wash it when you're done. Oven food is the way to go. Anyone can put meat on a grill, BUT not everyone can cook steak in the oven. It's a skill like anything else.
blasted chicken:
preheat oven to 425
spray 9x13 pan with no-stick spray
wash and pat dry whole chicken. season with mccormick's montreal chicken seasoning.
place breast side down in the middle of the pan. place inthe oven and bake for exactly one hour and 15 minutes. DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN DOOR WHILE IT'S COOKING! this is very important!
after the time is up, remove chicken from oven and let stand for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
will bake golden brown and delicious, and is SO juicy!!
use leftovers for salad, soup, enchiladas, etc
good luck
Tater Tot Casserole
This is simple and very good.
Brown 1lb hamburger and drain (cook it with a little onion and garlic, salt and pepper)
Mix the hamburger meat w/ a can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
Put in a casserole dish
Top w/ lots of Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Then take the Tater Tots and place them all over the top of the cheese, I usually take the time to lay the tots down in neat little rows.
Bake according to the Tater Tot Baking Directions
It is really good w/ some corn
Boneless ginger chicken on bean sprout
1. Cut up the chicken into small pieces.
2. Put in a plastic baggie, toss in some chopper ginger, lemon and salt.
3. Marinade for an hour
4. Heat up olive oil in a skillet
5. Throw in the chicken, also add the chopped ginger that was in the baggie (some people throw the gingers away)
6. Cook for 30 minutes or till the chicken is done.
7. Add soy sauce and tabasco sause
8. Turn up the heat to max
9. Add the bean sprout, mix and cook for 3 mints
10. Turn down heat, you may add some lemon and pepper if you like
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Shrimp curry
1. 1 onion, stir fry till brown
2. Add shrimps
3. Cook for 5 minutes
4. Add abut half a cup of coconut milk
5. Add red chili powder if you like
6. Add sliced potatoes
7. Add tomatoes, ginger, garlic
8. Cook till the potatoes are done
9. Add cilantro and basil
10. Enjoy
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Potato chip pasta salad
1. Slice potatoes (about a mm thin)
2. Deep fry them (don’t make them too crispy so fry them for about 2 minutes)
3. Put on a kitchen towel to soak up excess oil
4. Boil some pasta
5. Add salt and pasta sauce.
6. Add the potato chips to the pasta and add Italian dressing. (for about a cup pasta add two cups of potato chips)
7. Add some carrots, boiled peas and baby corn.
8. A great side dish is prepared
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Buy some cookbooks, Betty Crocker with the checked cover is great, and practice practice practice!!! As long as you enjoy cooking, you will get better every time. Feel free to experiment, too! You don't always have to be perfect.
As far as grilling goes, just keep trying. Just don't give up - you will get it!
http://www.amazon.com/simple-1-2-3-dish-...
got that book two weeks ago from costco. I am a good cook... when I have the time, but I have a 4 year old, 8 month old 3 cats and a husband, and I just went back to work. This book is awesome, and really easy. No recipe in there takes more than 3 steps. You do have to use some stuff that is ready-made, but it makes it so easy!
try this web site has great recipes quick and simple
http://tastefullysimple.com/web/dgoodacr... hope this helps