I need to learn to cook !!!

rockie4

Here's my risotto recipe: -

Butternut squash risotto

1 onion, chopped
150g Arborio rice
500ml hot vegetable stock (I use Marigold, saves on seasoning)
6oz butternut squash cut into small pieces (nicer if you have time to roast it first)
2tbsp frozen peas (optional but add colour)
Garlic and herb cream cheese (I use low fat)
Seasoning

Soften onion in a little olive oil, then rice and stir.
Add stock a ladle at a time and simmer for 10 mins.
Add squash and courgette, keep adding stock, cook for a further 5 mins, add peas.
When all stock absorbed and rice is tender and creamy, remove from heat and add cream cheese, top with a little veggie parmesan if liked.

Can be varied with almost any veg, i.e. asparagus, tomato, courgette

Penelope_Penguin

want2bmortgage3 wrote: »

any replies appreciated... i used to be excited about learning to cook but now i'm just seeing it as a necesary evil.

Try Mr Bad Example's Cooking Index. There are several recipes there that he's made from scratch, with the help of Old Stylers, with pictures

Penny. x

PasturesNew

Since I've been watching a few online videos and TV programmes, I've heard things I'd have never guessed mattered.

e.g. when you add flour into a sauce, you have to "cook it out" - I thought the flour thickened it, but apparently you have to cook it out or it'd taste rank; the horrible bit of kneading bread is the bit that makes it bread because the kneading actually does chemical stuff to the ingredients... I'd have skimped on that if I'd not known. Sometimes some ingredients (that you would leave out as you don't like them) are important for some chemical reaction/cooking reason. Admittedly, there are actually few and far between of these "rules" but it's interesting when you do hear them, to find out that something is in there, or you do something for a good reason (and not just because they tell you to).

pennystretcher

Have a look in Nigella's vegetarian recipes - I made Nigella's lazy loaf the other week - very easy and it tasted lovely...

http://www.nigella.com/recipe/recipe_result.aspx?keywords=vegetarian

I started with casseroles and soups - you can't really go wrong with them..and now I'm trying different dishes from Jamie Oliver, Gary Rhodes etc...you'll get the confidence after a while and learn what herbs you can replace (if you don't have something in your cupboard, try something similar..)

PasturesNew

Delia Smith recipes I find have few ingredients (ideal if you're cooking for one) and are straight forward and "simply work".

Vegetarian section: http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/selections-gallery/cold-weather-vegetarian-food,1511,RS.html

hermoine_2

My OH is an EHO in Bristol and they have a lady who runs free "cooking from scratch" courses - many of the recipes are vegetarian or can be adapted to veggie. Try your local council or college for free cooking courses. The government has pledged that all should be able to cook so they may well be doing something in your area.

H

Gingham_Ribbon

Try Rose Elliot's 'Cheap and Easy' or 'The Bean Book'. They're veggie cook books and I learned to cook using them. They're easy to follow, simple, cheap, tasty and filling.

LeeSouthEast

Cooking isn't difficult - don't be put off by any bad outcomes. Try, try again and practice makes perfect. You only have to watch Jamie Oliver at work to know measuring is irrelevant for the majority of dishes.

want2bmortgage3

This is an example of a recipe with a lot of ingredients.. it's a Delia shepherds pie with goats cheese mash:

Ingredients

4 oz (110 g) dried black-eyed beans, pre-soaked and drained
3 oz (75 g) green split peas (no need to soak), rinsed
3 oz (75 g) green lentils (no need to soak), rinsed
2 oz (50 g) peeled carrots
2 oz (50 g) peeled swede
2 oz (50 g) peeled celeriac
1 large onion, peeled
1 small green pepper, deseeded
2 oz (50 g) butter, plus a little extra for greasing
8 oz (225 g) tomatoes
1 heaped tablespoon chopped mixed fresh herbs, such as sage, rosemary, thyme and parsley
¼ level teaspoon ground mace
¼ level teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
salt and freshly milled black pepper
For the topping:
4 oz (110 g) soft goats’ cheese
1 lb 8 oz (700 g) potatoes, peeled
2 oz (50 g) butter
2 tablespoons milk
1 oz (25 g) Pecorino cheese, grated
salt and freshly milled black pepper
You will also need a steamer; and a round baking dish with a diameter of 9 inches (23 cm), 2 inches (5 cm) deep, buttered.

I wonder how much this recipe would cost to make?

Pink.

want2bmortgage3 wrote: »

This is an example of a recipe with a lot of ingredients.. it's a Delia shepherds pie with goats cheese mash:

Ingredients

4 oz (110 g) dried black-eyed beans, pre-soaked and drained
3 oz (75 g) green split peas (no need to soak), rinsed
3 oz (75 g) green lentils (no need to soak), rinsed
2 oz (50 g) peeled carrots
2 oz (50 g) peeled swede
2 oz (50 g) peeled celeriac
1 large onion, peeled
1 small green pepper, deseeded
2 oz (50 g) butter, plus a little extra for greasing
8 oz (225 g) tomatoes
1 heaped tablespoon chopped mixed fresh herbs, such as sage, rosemary, thyme and parsley
¼ level teaspoon ground mace
¼ level teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
salt and freshly milled black pepper
For the topping:
4 oz (110 g) soft goats’ cheese
1 lb 8 oz (700 g) potatoes, peeled
2 oz (50 g) butter
2 tablespoons milk
1 oz (25 g) Pecorino cheese, grated
salt and freshly milled black pepper
You will also need a steamer; and a round baking dish with a diameter of 9 inches (23 cm), 2 inches (5 cm) deep, buttered.

I wonder how much this recipe would cost to make?

I haven't costed it out but I think most of the ingredients in this recipe would be standard fayre for a vegetarian....and even a carnivore like I am. Certainly all of the dried ingredients can be stored for using again so wouldn't go to waste. Extra fresh veg can usually be frozen for using another time and the goats cheese and pecorino would be things I would need to buy specially so it would depend on how keen I was on the recipe, whether or not I bought them or substituted them with cheaper options.

I certainly wouldn't buiy a steamer or particular size of dish but would adapt the recipe to suit the equipment that I do have.

If you have leftover ingredients from making a particular recipe it's worth searching the Old Style board and even google for other ways to use them up. You might be surprised by the inspiration and ideas you'll find. I know that I have. With a little imagination it's amazing what you can turn into a delicious meal.

It will take practice and time but if you're determined to cook healthy, varied vegetarian meals, I'm sure that you'll get there in the end.

Pink