first post in here...want to cook for my mum

littlepinkstars44

ok so this is my first ever post on the OS board

My mum and brother are away on holiday and come back on Thursday.
I really want to suprise them and make dinner for the family for that night...but my dilema is i've NEVER cooked before :eek:

I mean i can make myself tuna pasta...lol But it's all mostly just frozen stuff my mum buys for us all, that can go in the micro or oven.

I dont really have any spare cash, so i can't go out and buy loads of expensive food for them.

And something preferably without any fruit or veg (i have a phobia..and my brother just wont eat any)...or even just something i can throw some veg into half of it for my mum and step dad to eat??

Anyone have any ideas what i can make for them...something fairly simple?

ifonlyitwaseasier

how about spag bol? will you eat that if it has tinned tomatoes in?
can do a basic one with just mince, italian herbs and tinned tom's and a bit of stock, i'd like to say add chopped onions too but that depends on if you can stand them

i'd cook off the onions (if using), add the mince (for 4 with no veg prob need a 400g pack) and let it brown off, add the tinned toms (chopped are best as they cook down into just sauce)and a little bit of tomato puree, about a teaspoon.
if you don't want tinned toms about a tablespoon of tomato puree, stir it together add some herbs, add about half a pint of stock stir and leave to slowly simmer, serve with with spaghetti or whichever pasta you like, plus garlic bread & maybe a salad for your mum?

hth & Good Luck!!

ioiwe x

Cat72

Do you have a casserole pot ? If so its easy just to pop some meat and gravy in and cook it all together.
If you have a casserole pot or even better access to a slow cooker it will be a doddle and I -and am sure the others- could post some reciepes easily.

Apart form that you could try pasta bake- just some pasta, either ham or mince with some pasata and topped with cheese cooked in the oven.
I always find oven cooked food is easier and tastes great.

Gigervamp

Let us know what food you have available in the cupboards and fridge/freezer, then we'll have a better idea of what to suggest.

Rummer

Roasting a chicken and having it with veg would be impressive and very easy.

miss_independent

I have to agree a roast chicken or a spaghetti bolognese is pretty simple and ideal for a first meal! If you let us know what ingredients you have and what kind of food your family likes then we could help you more.

littlepinkstars44

thanks for the ideas everyone. No we don't have a slow cooker

Erm we usually just have pasta that my mum makes, i think she puts single cream, cheese and ham through it. Or like chicken and chips...ready meals easy things really.

Just had a wee rummage in the kitchen, in the fridge theres fresh pasta, butter, cheese, milk, some cold meat.
And in the freezers (we have 2) theres chicken breasts, some ready meals, chips, fish, ice cream, roast potatos, potato fritters

and in cupoards theres pasta, noodles, cup a soups, spices (my mum makes currys alot), beans, chopped tomatos, sugar, flour...etc

ifonlyitwaseasier

littlepinkstars44 wrote: »

Erm we usually just have pasta that my mum makes, i think she puts single cream, cheese and ham through it.
Just had a wee rummage in the kitchen, in the fridge theres fresh pasta, butter, cheese, milk, some cold meat.
And in the freezers (we have 2) theres chicken breasts, some ready meals, chips, fish, ice cream, roast potatos, potato fritters
and in cupoards theres pasta, noodles, cup a soups, spices (my mum makes currys alot), beans, chopped tomatos, sugar, flour...etc

ok sounds like she makes a carbonara style sauce, which is basically a creamy bacony sauce how about sthg similar with chicken? could do a simple white sauce and add cooked chicken and maybe cheese and serve as a pasta bake?
how about fish pie as an option, just need white sauce fish and mash for a basic one,

if you want a white sauce recipe just ask

and we can all help you out with step by step instructions,

littlepinkstars44

thanks i think i like the idea of the pasta and chicken.

yes please white sauce resipe would be amazing!!

Ladywhisper

ifonlyitwaseasier wrote: »

ok sounds like she makes a carbonara style sauce, which is basically a creamy bacony sauce how about sthg similar with chicken? could do a simple white sauce and add cooked chicken and maybe cheese and serve as a pasta bake?
how about fish pie as an option, just need white sauce fish and mash for a basic one,

if you want a white sauce recipe just ask

and we can all help you out with step by step instructions,

The horror! There is no cream in a proper italian carbonara! Heh, of course i know there are loads of variations, i'd just never put it in. All you need is spaghetti, Pancetta (substitute with bacon), and eggs! Top with parmesan. Easy! And addictive, the number of these we have every month ^^ A healthier without cream too.
Cook the spaghetti, cook the bacon, whisk eggs & season, drain spaghetti & stir in eggs & bacon into spaghetti. The hot spaghetti cooks the egg & the parmesan tops it lovely!
The quantities will vary on the richness you want it.


And for a very unhealthy but lovely pasta dish is Chicken Alfredo. Parmesan melted into cream with chicken and pasta. Soo rich and filling.

ifonlyitwaseasier

littlepinkstars44 wrote: »

thanks i think i like the idea of the pasta and chicken.
yes please white sauce resipe would be amazing!!

ok, for a basic white sauce, i take butter, normally a big lump (can you tell i don't measure!!) melt it in a pan, take it off the heat and then add about 4 times as much flour (plain or Self raising makes no difference) stir in in so it all comes together and looks like a ball of playdoh (bear with me) add a small amount of milk, about the same as you'd put in a cup of tea, and mix it in thoroughly til it's all gone into the mix, add a little bit more and do the same, repeat until it's very loose and then add about half a pint of milk and whisk it all together, put it back on the heat and whisk til it becomes thick, think how a cheese sauce is in texture, season it and then you can add whatever you need, cheese maybe a bit of parmesan, herbs, etc. or try ladywhispers idea for the alfredo, and if you need anything else just ask

Ladywhisper wrote: »

The horror! There is no cream in a proper italian carbonara! Heh, of course i know there are loads of variations, i'd just never put it in. All you need is spaghetti, Pancetta (substitute with bacon), and eggs! Top with parmesan. Easy! And addictive, the number of these we have every month ^^ A healthier without cream too.
Cook the spaghetti, cook the bacon, whisk eggs & season, drain spaghetti & stir in eggs & bacon into spaghetti. The hot spaghetti cooks the egg & the parmesan tops it lovely!
The quantities will vary on the richness you want it.
And for a very unhealthy but lovely pasta dish is Chicken Alfredo. Parmesan melted into cream with chicken and pasta. Soo rich and filling.

lol i know thats the proper way, but i know too many people who are far too squeamish to do that!