I need a little cooking help please.

[Dirk Legume]

I didn't want to jack either Thanksgiving thread so I'll start a new one.

With the house empty of children now, I have been having some real trouble with "empty nest". I am just not handling it very well, so I thought i would take up a new hobby. I have been watching some stuff on the Food Network and doing a little reading but all the stuff that looks so delicious also looks so hard to cook.

Can anyone suggest either a good starter book or website? I know there are some chefs on this board. Everytime Three Bags talks about what he's been cooking I always come away impressed. And who could forget 21 and her poopies inducing macaroni and cheese ;D And Rosie and her barbecued turkey. There are things I think I would like to eat and share with others, but not if I suck at it.

The point is that I basically just wander around the house after work and I have decided enough is enough.

I'm gonna learn to cook. Maybe. With a little help please.

Thanks all.

 

[imjustagirl2]

I bought that book earlier this year. Some really good stuff in there for those of us who can barely boil water. It could be a good start.

 

[BYH]

Oh IJAG. I bet you can mess up at least 297 of those recipes.

 

[sportschick]

I subscribe to Eating Well. It's healthier fare, but gives really great step-by-step instructions and tells you tricks to making really difficult stuff.

You can also probably find cooking lessons. I know an appliance store that offers them here. I've taken a couple and learned oodles.

 

[Dirk Legume]

IJAG,

That looks to be right up my alley. Thanks very much.

And BYH, if not IJAG, I am sure I can mess up a few.

I tried to make something that involved boiling potatoes recently and no one mentioned that the water goes away and then you are just ruining a pan.

So yeah, I got that going for me

 

[imjustagirl2]

Oh IJAG. I bet you can mess up at least 297 of those recipes.

I've only screwed up 82 so far. Next up: Hard-boiling an egg!

 

[alleyallen]

Dirk, the tried and trusted red-and-white checkerboard Betty Crocker cookbook is a good way to start.

 

[imjustagirl2]

Dirk:

I learned how to make a great apricot chicken from that. All you need: russian dressing, dry onion soup mix and apricot jam, plus chicken breasts. That's it!

Soooo good.

 

[sportschick]

Ok, if that's where you're at now, may I suggest the "A man, A Can, A (plan, grill, etc)" series. I bought some for my brother when he started college. He's a damned good cook now.

 

[mike311gd]

Just follow the directions on the back, and you'll feel like a champ in no time.

 

[slappy4428]

When in doubt, bake chicken breasts at 400 degrees for 25 minutes in the oven and turn once; Season or marinade how you want (try putting in a ziploc bag of apple cider overnight)


But the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook is always a staple. You wont use 95 percent of the recipes; you'll goose the five percent you do use but use them all the time;

 

[Dirk Legume]

I got the Betty Crocker book years ago from my mom when I moved out. Never cracked 'cause I figured I couldn't cook so why try (yes I have been that pathetic at times). Then I got married and my funny little honey likes to cook and is very good at it. But you guys, as always have been very helpful.

This is a great group. As long as I don't want to go to Denver. ;D

 

[GB-Hack]

Here are two I'd recommend, from Jamie Oliver.

Always liked the way he makes things so simple that taste so good.

And here's an amazon link for the first.

http://www.amazon.com/Naked-Chef-Jamie-Oliver/dp/B000ESSSKC/ref=pd_bbs_3/102-8414901-1731344?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194400672&sr=8-3

 

[imjustagirl2]

Shake n' Bake is also a life-saver. I bought some of their parmesan crusted garlic, and the chicken was divine. Crunchy on the outside, moist on the inside. Yummy.

 

[amraeder]

I have the A Man, A Can, A Plan book. It's pretty good and everything's hella simple.

 

[Dirk Legume]

I have done the "helpers" and the shake and bake and they come out fine.

But I think I want to learn how to cook

With my daughter gone, it's not like I got anything else to do. :-\

 

[sportschick]

I have the A Man, A Can, A Plan book. It's pretty good and everything's hella simple.

http://www.amazon.com/Man-Can-Plan-Great-Meals/dp/1579546072/ref=pd_bbs_2/103-1203027-2753413?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194401437&sr=8-2

 

[Rosie]

My male Rosebud has one of the "A Man, A Can.." cookbooks and is always looking for an excuse to make something from it.

My biggest cooking advice is don't be afraid to experiment.

 

[21]

And who could forget 21 and her poopies inducing macaroni and cheese ;D

Look, the kid had the poopies before she got here, she eats nothing but cream cheese and grapes.

 

[jgmacg]

The only cookbook you'll ever need. You'll want others eventually, but this is the one that will lead you to them.