Teach me to cook!!!

[Harmony83]

Well I have finally decided to 'attempt' to teach my self to cook, at the moment all I can master is meat and vege... I was wondering if anyone had any simplish, 'beginner' recipes for yummy things like, casseroles, stews, lasagna, shephards pie etc etc... Thanks heaps guys! :D

[Rockett]

Step 1 : Go to supermarket
Step 2 : locate Maggi,Continental recipe base mixes for casseroles,stews and shepherds pie etc
Step 3 : Follow the pack instructions for ingredients required
Step 4 : Go home,throw everything into a pot,set timer and then forget about it
Step 5 : Go back to bubhub

Hey,it works for me!;) :p

[Baby Girl]

Hey butterfly I was going to say the exact same thing!!

If you feel really adventurous you can add a couple of different vegies and maybe a bit of garlic. Maybe a bit of gravox for thickener or curry powder for a bit of extra tang!!

I am cooking lamb casserole at the moment - can you tell ;)

[aardvark]

I'd recommend any of the Australian Women's Weekly Cookbooks, especially if you can get your hands on the old white hard cover one which was first published in the 1970's. Ebay is a good place to look for that one. I bought a copy for my teenage daughter so she has her own, and doesn't take off with mine.

Any publications by the CWA have great recipes, too.

[giggles]

Step 1 : Go to supermarket
Step 2 : locate Maggi,Continental recipe base mixes for casseroles,stews and shepherds pie etc
Step 3 : Follow the pack instructions for ingredients required
Step 4 : Go home,throw everything into a pot,set timer and then forget about it
Step 5 : Go back to bubhub

Hey,it works for me!;) :p

I agree, the Honey Mustard Chicken and Tusan Meatballs in the Masterfoods range are THE BEST.....just add osme pantry essentials and job is done!

A slow cooker is another option. Bang it in the pot, set and forget. Kitchen should be smelling lovely by the time DH arrives home :p

[tyler's mum]

i get told im a pretty good cook:D .... here ones of my fav's potatoe bake,,,yum

you need.... potatoes x4big ones, died bacon [2 cups], small can of corn, i med onion, 4-5 mushrooms,, 250g crated cheese, karft seeded may

step one.... in a bowl, mix the diced bacon, corn, 2 cups of cheese, diced onion thinly, diced mushrooms,,,

then cut potatoes thin,, cover the base of a baking dish,,, then cover with half the mix,,, then cover with the mayo,,, then cover another layer of potatoes,,, then the rest of the mix, then the mayo,,, then cover the time with crated cheese,, cook for about 45mins,,, you can have in on its own or as a side dish its yummy with chicken....

hope you like it:D

[wattle]

Good on you for trying Harmony. (Wish my hubby would :mad: )

Try watching a few cooking shows, it's so much easier if you can watch people cooking first.

Jamie Oliver does pretty easy meals, Ian Hewie does easy ones too. Oh, and Fresh should start back soon with Jeff Jansz - that's a good one too. maybe just tape them if you're at work or out.

Sometimes fresh food is just as easy as a jar or can, it's just a matter of knowing how. It usually tastes better too.

[Baby Girl]

I always find the people on cooking shows use too many ingredients that I have to search 5 different shops for.

I am also the queen of left overs. I make a wicked stew from left over BBQ'd steak or any left over meat really.

It is really easy.

Cut up the meat, cut up some vegies - potato, sweet potato, carrot, beans, peas, corn etc. Chuck it all in a pot with any kind of stock and bring it to the boil then let simmer for about 30-40 minutes (until vegies and meat are tender), add a little bit of gravox (any flavour) and curry powder, salt and pepper to taste, let simmer for a little while more (about 5 - 10 minutes) and then eat!! Great with crusty bread or I toast big crusty bread rolls in the oven then hollow them out, keep the insides to dunk in the stew and put the stew in the hollow roll and eat it with the bread and then the crusty bit is great to eat at the end as it soaks up the soup and tastes great!!

[LilShenanigans]

I think the easiest meal I have ever made and love is basically either a breast of chicken or schnitzel, cooked.. layer of a tomato based sauce, cheese and grill...
Yup, Chicken parmigana (or however you spell it?).. side of precut chips you bake in the oven and viola...

Thats the only one I can think of, my family have taught me from day one to cook from scratch -I had to learn the basics of quick meals for after school and after moving out! lol

[cwsmum]

How bout fried rice? This is a really basic recipe my mum uses coz I have fussy siblings :rolleyes:

Cook some rice, I usually use about 1cup of uncooked rice. If you think of it, the rice is best cooked the day before and left spread on a tray in the fridge til needed, but it doesn't matter if you cook it while you are cooking the rest.

Brown 1 onion and 500g beef mince. Sprinkle some Chinese Five Spice, (Masterfoods brand jar), and some soy sauce over the meat and stir thru.

Add some thin carrot sticks, the thinner they are the faster they will cook, and some peas, cover and cook gently til peas and carrot are almost cooked.

Add rice, a bit at a time is easier than all at once, and mix thru.

You might need to add more soy sauce, depending on who is eating it.

Told you it was basic, nothing exciting like egg or prawns, like the chinese shop. But my DS has eaten this since he was about 9mths old and loves it :)

I would also recomend the packets, I usually get them for the fancy sounding ones like butter chicken & honey mustard chicken, DS has always liked those too.

Good luck teaching yourself to cook :D

[Jaileth]

Hi Harmony,

It's great that you're teaching yourself how to cook. The best advice I can give you is keep trying! And experiment!

I'm putting together a family cook book at the moment from dad's recipies (he's the cook in the family. Mum burns water)

Here's a recipe for Nacho's. If you'd like any more, pm me and tell me your fav kinds of food and I'll see what I can do :)

Nachos
Preparation Time: 2 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 4 – 6

Ingredients:
1kg lean Mince
2 jars Salsa (Doritos - usually near the corn chips in the supermarket)
125g Red Kidney Beans/4 Bean Mix
Tasty Cheese - Grated
1 large bag corn chips
1 small tub Sour Cream

Directions:
 Cook mince in large fry pan
 Drain excess juices from mince
 Add salsa and beans. Mix thoroughly
 Serve with Corn Chips & Sour Cream

Tips:
Can also be served with guacamole (spicy avocado dip)
Beans and Sour Cream are not a necessity, but they add to the flavour.
Cook the night before to allow the flavours to mature.

Hope this helps. Enjoy!

[reAllytee]

Oh yum Shaelia !!!!
That reminds me of my sisters recipe but she also does layers heheh & grills or melts the cheese over each layer so its got spicy tangy flavours with melted gooey cheese goodness all the way through ......
Now i want some hrmmmmz luckily we dont have the ingredients atm :rolleyes:

[Snugglepot]

The yummiest and easiest recipe I know is for Chicken Legs,

8-10 chicken legs
Equal parts of (approx 1 tablespoon of each)
- Seeded Mustard
- Curry Paste
- Honey

Mix all together, lay out in a tray with sides or a casserole dish and bake for 45 minutes uncovered. (180 degree oven)
This is a super easy and super yummy recipe!

You can also use pork, just cook it for less time (usually pork butterflies take about 20 minutes)

Happy Cooking!

[Jaileth]

Mmmmm, sounds good allyoo - have to try that next time. :)

Harmony, another easy recipie is -

Stuffed Mushroom

1 large cap mushroom
Tasty Cheese
½ medium Capsicum
1 small Tomato
(any other veges you like)
Salt, pepper and herbs to taste

Directions:
 Cut stalk from mushroom and dice
 Dice capsicum and tomato. Drain off excess juices.
 Mix mushroom stalk and other veges with cheese, salt, pepper and herbs.
 Spoon vege mix into mushroom cap.
 Put under grill until cheese is melted and cap is cooked.

(Thick mushroom caps take about 5 minutes, thinner ones take less time. It just depends how crispy you like it. You can also put the cap under while you are chopping up the other veges to speed the whole thing up a bit.)

[moonblossom]

Grab a packet of Continental Chow Mein, follow the instructions, only one pan cooking YEAHHH...and walllahhhh....easy, yummy and simple

[Moorish]

If you'd like any more, pm me and tell me your fav kinds of food and I'll see what I can do :)

I was going to suggest the same!
Why don't we do a READY STEADY COOK type thing?

Harmony - why don't you list some of your favourite ingredients and we can all have a go at creating a yummy recipe for you?!
I just LURVE cooking!

[perrywinkle]

I would recommend the 'Super Food Ideas' magazine. One has come out today and they come out every month (second wednesday of each month). They have simple & cheap recipes which is great for a family.

[dormouse]

I have found that if you want a nice easy home cooked meal, a steak or pork chop, or even a chicken breast grilled with a side salad is great for summer.
I think the continental pasta & sauce & rices are great.
Tonight, for example, we had pork chops, savoury tomato & onion pasta & sauce, peas & a corn cob. Took me about 10 mins. Really easy!

[reAllytee]

For a quick pasta sauce use :

Can of tinned crushed tomatoes ( you can even get these with herbs added already now)
Herbs depends on what you like but you can get a dried italian mix which we use & its great !
A few dashes of ether tomato paste or tomato sauce ( adds oomph ! )
You can add mushrooms or the likes depending on your taste & if you make it early afternoon & it only takes minutes trust me the longer you let it simmer the richer the flavours ! Otherwise it only takes a good 15mins or so just add more tomato paste or herbs to your taste as you go.
Then you can add mince to it later if you want or other veggies if your vegetarian or even if you want a change then choose your pasta !
I love it with spaghetti & gnocchi !!!!
Not forgetting a nice glass of red wine ;)
Yum !!!

[M O P]

The packet recipes are so easy! But here's a recipe that may look daunting but it's really simple and yummy- everyone I cook it for asks for the recipe. It was given to me by an Indian woman, it's meant for goat (we have them feral here but I haven't been game enough), I use mutton (we're on a sheep station) and lamb or beef would be fine.

1kg meat- for stewing so in chunks
some natural yoghurt
garam marsala

marinade the meat in the yoghurt, sprinkled with the garam marsala and some salt for 2 hours

6 pieces of garlic= 6 teaspoons from a jar & same amount of ginger
4 medium brown onions, chopped
1/2 tin of tomato puree- sometimes hard to find (can use can of crushed tomatoes and a spoon of tomatoe paste instead)
1 cinnamon stick- find with herbs in supermarket-wash and dry afterwards to be used in this dish again later
1 can of coconut cream
fresh corriander (I omit this myself)

Heat some oil in a pan, add cinnamon and onion, brown up. Add tomato, fry then add in the ginger and garlic pastes, fry some more.
Add in the meat and some water, to keep it moist and not sticking to pot. Cook until tender- this may take an hour or more. At the end stir in the coconut cream, take out the cinnamon stick, put the corriander on top and serve with some rice and vegeis.

[Harmony83]

Guys, these sound so yummy!!! I'm gonna have to try them all!! Might take awhile to get through them all though!
Sheila and Annabanana - Hmmm fave foods to use are probably, chicken, rice, pasta, tomato, onion - hmmm not sure I guess I like to try a bit of everything...
Thanks guys!!

[Jaileth]

Know that this may be silly, but have you tried a roast chook yet?

Get a whole chicken from the butcher.

You don't have to stuff it (I never do), you just cut off the string that ties it's les together.

Sprinkle on herbs and salt and pepper if you want (just on the out side) - lemon zest (grated lemon skin) is also nice and put it in the oven.

A good rule is on 180C and an hour for every kilo. (so if it's 1.5KG, 1 1/2 hours) If you don't think that that is enough, put it back in for another half hour.

Usually you can tell if its cooked or not by poking a drumstick or the breast area with a knife. If the juices run clear, then it should be done. (doesn't always work though - didn't for me last time :()

The good thing about roasts is that you can use it for a whole heap of things after wards. Sandwichs, meat to go with salads, soups - almost anything! :)

Have fun trying everything out! :)

[M O P]

Another thing I used to use a lot and still do sometimes is my Family Circle Junior Cooks book. It has some great recipes and basic stuff with really easy instructions and illustrations. They stock them at newsagencies

[the_queen]

I love doing a Corned beef!
Buy one at the butcher/supermarket (they call them corned silverside - same thing though I think!).
Stick it in a pot of cold water, make sure the water covers the meat completely.
Add a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar, and the same amount of vinegar.
Bring to a bubbling simmer (not boiling) and let it bubble slowly for about an hour (it will say on the meat wrapping how long per KG)
Take it out, let it drain on a rack thingy for a couple of minutes (cover with foil to keep it warm)
Slice - et voila!!

I serve it with cabbage, carrots, and potato bake.

Recipe courtesy of my darling old Irish Granny (RIP) :)



ETA: This also provides yummy YUMMY cold meat for sandwiches the next day

[Shazbutt]

Yup, corn meats always a winner in our house too, great for sandwiches...and my fave is to heat it up first and have it on fresh white bread with proper butter...naughty but oh so yummy!

A fave recipe of mine is to buy the continental brand cheesy bacon carbonara, and make it up, and before its quite finished add some preboiled/steamed chopped carrots, some beans, peas, zucchini whatever you like really and add them to it. Cook some chicken breats and cut them in chunks (or cook diced chicken), and add them at the end and wala!, you have a meal with all the vegies included. It also works well with the curry? one.....can't remember the exact name, as we haven't had that one for a while.


Good on you for learning to cook, i'm a meat and veg girl most of the time too, much to DH dismay....must vow to do something about it.....one day. :D