I need to learn to cook !!!

StrawberryYogurt

Does anyone have a basic lasagne recipe? I have tried searching but can not seem to pinpoint one. I do not have passata, but do have lots of tin toms and tomato puree.

Sorry to be a pain I am so new to this cooking lark! Loving it though!

LivingintheSun

I can't cook - I mean I really can't. My knowledge extends to the toaster - dinner tonight was a cup of tea and a slice of buttered toast. I couldn't even make beans to go on it (not that I like beans anyway, but you get the point..).

Anyway, I married a man who enjoys cooking, so all was well. However, hubby's job has changed and he's going to be travelling a lot more, which means I'd better learn something to keep me going.

Where do I start? I looked at a cookbook in the library which was supposedly for beginners - but assumed you knew, for example, what 'browning' and 'sauteing' was and how to do it - I haven't a clue. So what I'm looking for is recommendations for cookbooks or websites for absolute beginners, that assumes zero prior knowledge. There aren't any classes or anything near me I could do, so that's not an option.

I'm also wondering what kind of recipes are good for beginners to start with - I'm vaguely thinking things like soups or stews might be a good bet, or am I barking up the wrong tree? I should also add I am not a big foodie, I like fairly simple things and generally don't have preferences about what I eat normally, I tend to see food as something to sustain you rather than something to make a big deal over.

I'll stop rambling now- any pointers?

Thanks

Vaila

one name.....DELIA SMITH !

Shysarah

http://www.studentcook.co.uk/

I am wide awake so i thought i would have a look and i found the above site. It describes terms and techniques in a simple, non threatening nor condescending manner. Has guidance on budgeting, recipes and even meal ideas.
A book I would recommend is The Dairy Book of Home Cookery, has lots of info in the front on what fish are which, where different cuts of meat come from and alsorts of bits of information.

Good luck.. and do not be afraid... start simple and you will soon be making meals to rival your hubby xx

Pitlanepiglet

Delia would be a good start, keep reading the posts here and most importantly watch hubby when he is cooking and ask him to explain what he's doing. I suspect he'll be glad to think that cooking won't always be his problem!

It's also worth checking out charity book shops and second hand shops for cookery books.

Penelope_Penguin

LivingintheSun wrote: »

Where do I start? I looked at a cookbook in the library which was supposedly for beginners - but assumed you knew, for example, what 'browning' and 'sauteing' was and how to do it - I haven't a clue. So what I'm looking for is recommendations for cookbooks or websites for absolute beginners, that assumes zero prior knowledge. There aren't any classes or anything near me I could do, so that's not an option.

I learnt to cook with Delia, but when DD's BF went to uni, we bought him Jamie's MoF book - great for beginners :T

I'm sure there are threads on this, so I'll have a look ........

ceridwen

I would imagine a book with a title something like "Man in the Kitchen" would be what you want - as cookbooks designed for men who know nothing would be more likely to spell it out.....:cool:

Penelope_Penguin

There are lots of tips on learning to cook in this older thread :T I'll merge this later to keep ideas together.

valk_scot

Another vote for the Jamie Oliver Ministry of Food book. My 14 year old cooks from it and very good he is too. As to difficult words like "saute" well, Google them! There are lots of good How To videos on YouTube that demonstrate techniques.

Also you could ask your OH to show you how to make three or four of your simpler favorites. My OH is a reluctant cook too but sometimes he had to look after the kids for a weekend or whatever so he had to cook then, because I refuse to allow them to eat carry out pizza three days running. I taught him four simple, quick, healthy recipes and he never cooks anything else, but that's okay. Of course now he gets the 14 year old DS to do the cooking when I'm not there but that's okay too, lol.

Penelope_Penguin

ceridwen wrote: »

I would imagine a book with a title something like "Man in the Kitchen" would be what you want - as cookbooks designed for men who know nothing would be more likely to spell it out.....:cool:

Why do you assume it's men who know nothing? The OP is a woman, after all Would a comment on a DIY book aimed at "women who know nothing" be acceptable?

Gender equality in the Learning to Cook field :T