Log in

View Full Version : Who can't cook? (The driving thread inspired me)



Pages : 1 [2]

Alaska
01-29-2008, 06:41 PM
I know, it was a shame and a disgrace on my bff Amy! I'm Ketchup Krazy.


OOooh speaking of homeade things and ketchup....my boyfriend/ex-boyfriend's family are German farmers in Arkansas....HOMEMADE KETCHUP. Never had anything so divine! His parents make it every year.

Alaska
02-03-2008, 02:06 AM
I would like to report that I just messed up oatmeal.


Apparently I thought all oatmeal was instant! This is still a shock.

The weird texture was achieved by simply pouring boiling water into a cup of whole oats.

I guess I was too good to read the back and realize you have to boil them in the pot for 5-6 minutes. :laughing:

TheTempest
02-03-2008, 09:43 AM
^^I've actually set off the smoke alarm while boiling water. LOL

aussiebelle
02-11-2008, 07:04 AM
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj139/aussiebelle1/n8110958_31232583_3103.jpg

Alaska
02-11-2008, 09:27 AM
^haha nice!

CinammonGirl
02-12-2008, 04:35 PM
Omg..brilliant!:P

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj139/aussiebelle1/n8110958_31232583_3103.jpg

RebeccaSolidarity
02-13-2008, 12:28 PM
I can cook, extremely well actually.

I absolutely love having friends who cannot cook at all. Like my ex-girlfriend who somehow managed to light spaghetti and marinara on fire. I still have no idea how that happened but sure enough there was smoke in the kitchen and she was swatting at the pasta with a dish towel.

So I will just say that each and every person who cannot cook is a godsend to those who can. No defensive battles over the kitchen, no arguments over measurements or use of flavor, and always a pleasure to cook for. But if you do want to learn to cook well pretty much all of the suggestions above are real good ways to do it. Another good way - if you have a friend who is good and enjoys cooking - is to ask if you can help out sometime. Just easy stuff, like choppin veggies or whatever. That way you can pay attention and since you are part of the process you will have a better understanding of what is going on and soon enough you will have the basics figured out.

Then just experiment, experiment, experiment.

Though I also recommend fully eating your experiments even if they do not taste good. One bite is not enough to figure out issues like flavor and texture and smell and presentation and all of that. If you actually eat the gross experiment you will have an overall better idea of how to fix it than if you just take one bite.

It is how I learned, anyhow.

:)

Alaska
02-13-2008, 04:15 PM
Just easy stuff, like choppin veggies or whatever. .

:)

Hmm, I'm wondering if this is an activity I can one day complete in less than 45 minutes!

RebeccaSolidarity
02-13-2008, 04:30 PM
Haha.

The secret is to NOT attempt the super fast choppie method that professional chefs use when they want to impress women. I tried that once and although I did not cut myself badly I did get a combination of ginger and onion and garlic juice right inside the cut. Worst pain evar. Though honestly blenders and food processors are best for any recipe where the cut of the veggie does not matter. Just throw them all in with a small amount of water, give it just a few pulses so its ripped up but not a paste, and its ready to be used.

PuertoRicanPinup
02-15-2008, 03:37 AM
I would like to report that I just messed up oatmeal.


Apparently I thought all oatmeal was instant! This is still a shock.

The weird texture was achieved by simply pouring boiling water into a cup of whole oats.

I guess I was too good to read the back and realize you have to boil them in the pot for 5-6 minutes. :laughing:

hehe, dont feel bad, I burned instant oatmeal when I moved into my very first apartment. right in front of one of my roommates.

High_Heel_Lover
02-15-2008, 10:11 AM
Want to share recipes I did yesterday as a Valentines dinner :)

Cajun Roasted Potatoes

INGREDIENTS:

* 2 pounds cut up potatoes
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
* 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
* 3/4 teaspoon paprika
* 1/2 teaspoon finely minced garlic
* 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
* 1/4 teaspoon thyme

PREPARATION:
Combine potatoes and olive oil in a 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Sprinkle with seasoning's and toss to coat well. Roast at 450° for about 35 minutes, stirring 2 to 3 times.


Asparagus with Lemon Vinaigrette

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil (can use hazelnut or walnut oil)
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
Pinch freshly cracked black peppercorns
2 pounds asparagus stalks, washed and trimmed

In a jar or bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, thyme, garlic, salt, and pepper. Store, covered, in the refrigerator. Serve at room temperature.

Blanch the asparagus in lightly salted boiling water for about 3 minutes or until crisp-tender; do not overcook. Remove from heat and refresh under cold water; drain well. Toss asparagus with enough lemon vinaigrette to lightly coat. Arrange asparagus on serving platter or individual serving plates.



They are delicious!

cameron_keys
02-15-2008, 10:54 AM
I made one of the small handful of dishes I actually CAN cook from scratch last night for V-day. Fettucini alfredo with spinach and tomatoes(I like it with artichokes too, but hubby doesnt like them) Fattening..but DAMN so good. And whatever..its a holiday right? Hubby only got me one candy bar because I told him not to get me lots of chocolate..but its my fav..Goldenburgs peanut chew. Ate half of that too AND a small piece of the coconut cake he brought home(also my fav). AND drank a bottle of wine he got me. I PIGGED OUT!!! So of course I have a shoot today I didnt know about...oh well...

RebeccaSolidarity
02-15-2008, 01:15 PM
Cajun Roasted Potatoes

INGREDIENTS:

* 2 pounds cut up potatoes
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
* 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
* 3/4 teaspoon paprika
* 1/2 teaspoon finely minced garlic
* 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
* 1/4 teaspoon thyme

PREPARATION:
Combine potatoes and olive oil in a 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Sprinkle with seasoning's and toss to coat well. Roast at 450° for about 35 minutes, stirring 2 to 3 times.

Umm... um... um....

Um...

Now I am really... really... hungry... that sounds... amazing...

Perry
02-15-2008, 03:39 PM
My only redeeming quality as a girlfriend is that I can cook. I never bother cutting the boyfriend off from sex, just food. He can have bacon smothered steak with twice baked potatos for dinner when he's a sweetie, or he can make himself a dish of cold cereal if he pisses me off. I swear by this site (http://www.epicurious.com/) definantly search by fork rating. Even being a vegetarian doesn't stop me from cooking great for a meat eater. Needless to say, he's a perfect angel 98% of the time.

And maybe a bit flubby around the middle. ;)

greggy
02-15-2008, 04:35 PM
oh, i'm so glad to see this thread. I can't cook for my life, and my ex's mom used to blame me for him losing weight (not that it was much).

my boss and her husband are gourmet chefs on the side, so she gives me really simple recipes and what not, though i still manage to mess them up. But at least i'm willing to learn. And once I get it, Babrbie better watch out cuz i'll be the perfect b*tch j/k

High_Heel_Lover
02-15-2008, 06:58 PM
Rebecca it was delicious, seriously. Super easy gals, seriously, super easy, I have kids, can't be in the kitchen for long periods of time cause I swear it's like they do it on purpose! as soon as mommy goes to cook someone needs something, they fight, someone gets hurt, ugh, anyway this was a few chopped potatoes, olive oil and add the seasoning's, put in oven, every once n a while take a peek and stir them up and damn! they were good.

StellarGirl5792
02-15-2008, 07:35 PM
I can know how to cook everyday stuff (burgers, baked chicken, casseroles) but I constantly burn stuff. Especially pizzas. Short attention span and forgetfulness. I just wrote down steps my mom did and timing. Everything else is easy.

Ps. Food network's website is good for simple and fancy recipes.

holiday
02-16-2008, 05:29 PM
I burnt rice the other day :( . My boyfriend does all the cooking around here.

I did get a slow cooker a while back and I enjoy that. I just throw the stuff in and turn it on!

High_Heel_Lover
02-17-2008, 07:23 PM
I invented a recipe today, easy and yummy, and healthy!

Wheat Tortillas
1 Can of white beans
1 container of cubed extra firm tofu
1/2 a sweet onion
2 Cherry tomatoes
Lettuce
McCormick Black Pepper Corn Grinder
McCormick Steakhouse Seasoning Grinder
McCormick Sea Salt Grinder
1 tbls of Olive Oil
2 Cloves of Garlic

In a large frying pan place oil on med low. Add the onions and garlic, once kinda caramelized (this means they are a bit see through) add the tofu (remember to drain it first) stir for a few mins. Add can of white beans (also remember to drain the beans before adding) cook and stir occasionally for about 15 mins. Chop the tomato and once the remaining water of the tofu and beans seems almost gone add them to the pan.

Take a few tortillas and place on plate, microwave for 15 seconds, check and if not warm do again for 10 seconds. Place lettuce on tortilla and scoop some of the tofu, white beans and tomato on to the tortilla and tada. It is good and good for you :)


Oh duh! I forgot to say, sprinkle seasoning's on while the onion, garlic and tofu are cooking. Not much but go once around with the grinder :)

High_Heel_Lover
02-17-2008, 07:41 PM
Ok and just in case these are the McCormick grinders, they should be in your baking isle, usually that is where the spices are kept if not you can ask :)

http://www.mccormick.com/content.cfm?id=7068

CinammonGirl
03-11-2008, 02:49 PM
Honestly..these detailed recipes look like Chinese to me. :(

Can anyone post simple recipes, if it's not a problem?

I haven't been keeping up with this too seriously..I need to start! I'm going to go and boil some eggs right now, lol.

vivianbear
03-11-2008, 05:47 PM
For those who are hestitant to get in the kitchen, I recomend the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book. Its a reissued cookbook with recipies that have been around since the 1930's. For the most part, just good, old-fashioned American food but it has so many good tips for easy meals, 20 min or less meals and really explains the super basic priciples of cooking homemade meals. Its easy to spot because it's always red and white plaid. You can pick it up for under $20 at any Wal-Mart or discount store (they put out a breast cancer benefit edition every year that's pink!) This thing was invented for housewives, really. Its amazing.
I love cooking, personally. Every once in a while, I love a challenging meal. Right now, I'm really trying to learn more about Latin/ South American cooking. I found a great Latin American cookbook at a Goodwill a while back, actually. But when I don't want to put a lot of energy in an exotic meal that's time-consuming to make, I turn to my Better Homes book every time.
Here's a great recipe for Beef Stroganoff.

Start to Finish: 30mins. (fast) Makes: 4 servings

12 ounces boneless beef sirloin steak
1 8oz. carton dairy sour cream
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup water
2 teaspoons instant beef bouillon granules
1/4 teaspoons pepper
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped onion (medium)
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 cups hot cooked noodles

1) If desired, partially freeze beef for easier slicing. Trim fat from meat. Thinly slice meat into bite-size strips. In a small bowl stir together sour cream and flour. Stir in water, bouillon granules, and pepper. Set aside.

2) In a large skillet cook and stir the meat, mushrooms, onion, and garlic in hot butter over medium-high heat about 5min or until desired doneness (less time if you like it more medium-rare). Drain off fat.

3) Stir sour cream mixture into meat mixture in skillet. Cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1min. more. Serve over noodles.

There you go. Super simple and with ingredients that most everyone should have in her fridge no matter how little you cook! I love trading recipes, by the way. Good luck!:D

vivianbear
03-11-2008, 05:53 PM
For those who are hestitant to get in the kitchen, I recomend the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book. Its a reissued cookbook with recipies that have been around since the 1930's. For the most part, just good, old-fashioned American food but it has so many good tips for easy meals, 20 min or less meals and really explains the super basic priciples of cooking homemade meals. Its easy to spot because it's always red and white plaid. You can pick it up for under $20 at any Wal-Mart or discount store (they put out a breast cancer benefit edition every year that's pink!) This thing was invented for housewives, really. Its amazing.
I love cooking, personally. Every once in a while, I love a challenging meal. Right now, I'm really trying to learn more about Latin/ South American cooking. I found a great Latin American cookbook at a Goodwill a while back, actually. But when I don't want to put a lot of energy in an exotic meal that's time-consuming to make, I turn to my Better Homes book every time.
Here's a great recipe for Beef Stroganoff.

Start to Finish: 30mins. (fast) Makes: 4 servings

12 ounces boneless beef sirloin steak
1 8oz. carton dairy sour cream
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup water
2 teaspoons instant beef bouillon granules
1/4 teaspoons pepper
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped onion (medium)
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 cups hot cooked noodles

1) If desired, partially freeze beef for easier slicing. Trim fat from meat. Thinly slice meat into bite-size strips. In a small bowl stir together sour cream and flour. Stir in water, bouillon granules, and pepper. Set aside.

2) In a large skillet cook and stir the meat, mushrooms, onion, and garlic in hot butter over medium-high heat about 5min or until desired doneness (less time if you like it more medium-rare). Drain off fat.

3) Stir siur cream mixture into meat mixture in skillet. Cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1min. more. Serve over noodles.

There you go. Super simple and with ingredients that most everyone should have in her fridge no matter how little you cook! I love trading recipes, by the way. Good luck!:D

CinammonGirl
03-11-2008, 06:08 PM
^Thanks, but I'm not too familiar with the cooking vocabulary like "minced, sautee", etc..What do these words mean exactly? Maybe if I reread the recipes a few times, I can get it.

Brendita
03-11-2008, 06:08 PM
I cant cook and I dont care. I like fast food.

vivianbear
03-11-2008, 06:52 PM
^Thanks, but I'm not too familiar with the cooking vocabulary like "minced, sautee", etc..What do these words mean exactly? Maybe if I reread the recipes a few times, I can get it.

I consulted my BHG book's glossary of cooking terms.

Minced: To chop food into tiny, irregular pieces.
* Sometimes garlic cloves are small and difficult to cut finely with a knife. I like to run them across a fine cheese grater to mince them. Veggies like onions are easily to cut up and mince, on the other hand.
Saute: From the French word sauter, meaning "to jump". Sauteed food is cooked and stirred in a small amount of fat (or often butter) over fairly high heat in an open, shallow pan. Food cut into uniform size sautes best.
* Just remember to watch the food carefully. When things like onions or celery are sauted all the way through, they useually turn transparent. Meat is mostly just browned on all sides.

When you shop for a cook book, good ones will have full glossaries of cooking terms in the back or front so you don't get too confused going through the recipes.
Oh, and sorry I posted the recipe twice. I'm a dork.

Zinaida
03-11-2008, 07:53 PM
I fuck up pop tarts. :(

CinammonGirl
07-18-2008, 09:32 PM
Here are two REALLY easy recipes for beginners, and you can even serve a group of people with it. Got these two from my first cooking class, lol.

1 ) Chilled peach soup (if you like cinammon and peaches)

2 cups sliced, peeled ripe peaches
¾ cup orange juice
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice (optional)
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 8-ounce container vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup honey

1. Place the peach slices, orange juice, lemon juice, allspice and cinnamon in a blender container or a food processor bowl. Cover and blend till smooth.
2. In large mixing bowl, stir together the yogurt, honey and pureed peach mixture. Cover and chill 2 to 24 hours.
3. To serve, stir soup. Spoon it into serving dishes. Garnish with some fresh mint sprigs, rapsberries and/or blueberries. Makes 4 servings.

2 ) BLACK BEAN SUMMER SALAD
1 can (16 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained
4 oz. Monterey jack cheese, cut into ¼-inch cubes
1 can (8 oz.) whole kernel corn, drained (or 1 c. cooked fresh corn)
¾ c. sliced green onions with tops
¾ c. thinly sliced celery
1 small red bell pepper, diced
¾ c. picante sauce
2 T. olive oil
2 T. lemon juice
1 t. ground cumin
1 clove garlic, minced
about 1 c. chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
Combine beans, cheese, corn, green onions, celery and red pepper in large bowl. Combine picante sauce, oil, lemon juice, cumin and garlic; mix well. Toss with bean mixture. Chill, if desired. Add cilantro near serving time if possible. You can make salad up to 24 hours in advance of serving. Makes 8 servings, about 5 cups salad.

cinammonkisses
07-19-2008, 01:14 AM
^Congrats on your cooking class!

CinammonGirl
07-19-2008, 01:23 AM
^Congrats on your cooking class!


Thanks, but I was the only one who didn't know how to properly peel and chop vegetables..I had to literally say "I don't know jack about this."

The class was filled with moms and grandmas...literally a 30-something pregnant woman bought her 80 year old grandma with her.

Alaska
07-19-2008, 01:34 AM
Omg it's great see this thread again, lol!! I'm eating a peach right now, yayyy. I feel inspired by you cuz that would totally be me in a cooking class %100. So you are completely awesome for taking a cooking class, congrats!!

CinammonGirl
07-19-2008, 12:26 PM
Omg it's great see this thread again, lol!! I'm eating a peach right now, yayyy. I feel inspired by you cuz that would totally be me in a cooking class %100. So you are completely awesome for taking a cooking class, congrats!!


Hehe, my pleasure. ;)
Someone told me it was a waste of time months ago..but I was so bored on summer vacation.I thought "why not?"

It's easier than it sounds, really....Wikihow has easy recipes like how to cook pasta or omelettes