Foolproof cookery text books - help needed

Swampmonster

I'm back!!

Many apologies, came down with a sickness bug last night that knocked me for six so couldn't come back on here if i wanted to. Oh well at least I didn't have to cook! :rotfl:

Thanks ever so much everyone for all your ideas. I'll print them off and go through all of them them one by one. I will also go shopping for the ingredients and have a go at some of the recipes mentioned over the next week or so.

I have ordered the practical cookery text book that was recommended and will go and see if a dvd of ministry of food exists as I think I need to see basic cooking techniques visually as it will be easier for me.

What I am really after is a very very basic evening meal ideas for under £5 (because I really can't afford a penny more) to serve 4 people, but I really do need the most basic of instructions.

:T Many thanks again to all of you. :T

EDIT - Meals need to be healthy too!!

angeltreats

Swampmonster, have you watched any cookery shows on TV? Jamie's 30 Minute Meals is repeated quite regularly (I think at night but you could record them). You could watch Nigella Kitchen on BBC iPlayer, and I'm sure there are lots of others on too. Just thinking that you could watch how they do things, it might help you.

Swampmonster

I've watched both of those but they are more intermediate level and I need basic I'm afraid but i have gleened little bits here and there.

I just find it such a shame that the NHS sent my daughter on the fabulous MEND programme to help here lose weight and help her with her medical problems ( she has been on beta blockers for high blood pressure for a year , has pre-indicators for diabetes and is only 13, which really frightens me) and it was brilliant in that we now know in minute detail nutritionally what she should be eating but its achilles heal is that despite me asking for help, there is no section in the course on actually cooking the food.

I find it really frustrating!

minerva_windsong

For the cheap meals, maybe try the Sainsburys website - they did a 'Feed your family for a fiver' campaign a couple of years back which might be useful.

BitterAndTwisted

Even more useful might be Weezl's site cheap-family-recipes:

http://www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk

None of the recipes I've checked out on there seem particularly challenging

lostinrates

Swampmonster wrote: »

I've watched both of those but they are more intermediate level and I need basic I'm afraid but i have gleened little bits here and there.

I just find it such a shame that the NHS sent my daughter on the fabulous MEND programme to help here lose weight and help her with her medical problems ( she has been on beta blockers for high blood pressure for a year , has pre-indicators for diabetes and is only 13, which really frightens me) and it was brilliant in that we now know in minute detail nutritionally what she should be eating but its achilles heal is that despite me asking for help, there is no section in the course on actually cooking the food.

I find it really frustrating!

I nthere may be an easier and cheaper way to solve this..

can you tell us something you'd like to cook we coud break it into easy steps?

What is it you are finding hard....knowing what things in the books mean or how to do things it takes for granted e.g. chop/dice?

Cooking at home WILL be cheaper! I'm amazed you could feed the two of you for £5 a day on takeaways tbh!

BitterAndTwisted

I should send you the recipe book I snaffled up in the charity shop over Christmas for two quid: Claudia Roden's "Invitation to Mediterranean Cooking". It's absolutely chock-full of really simple vegetarian and seafood recipes and I'm sure even a real novice could master most of them in a trice: there isn't a technique or a bit of equipment needed that a five year old child couldn't manage. Veggie meals made from fresh veg and olive oil sounds like just the ticket for someone with your daughter's dietary requirements.

patchwork_cat

Tell us what you want to make and we will talk you through it. Cooking is not hard or scary and you will soon get good home cooked food sorted.

Blackhill

Hi, this is the first time i've posted but just wanted to suggest that you and your daughter pick a very easy recipe together, and try making it together. You could experiment and learn together, this will also give her the skills she will use later in life. I always found when my boys were younger and going through a fussy eating stage that if they picked it and helped cook it they would always eat it.

babyshoes

Just thought of another basic, easy meal I do for a lazy supper - grilled chops or sausages with a microwaved 'baked' potato and microwaved veg. Very very simple to make.

Do you have a grill? Put 2-3 sausages, a couple of lamb or one large pork chop per person under the grill, and turn the grill on to medium (if you can change the setting - mine is gas and only has on or off!) Keep an eye on the meat and turn it over when it starts to get brown. Sausages want to be brown all round and cooked inside when you cut one open, pork wants to have no pink or red left in the middle, and lamb can be eaten as rare or as well done as you like. (Value/basics lamb and pork chops are a funny shape but fairly cheap and can be cooked from frozen!).

To cook a potato in the microwave, wash it well and stab it a few times with a sharp knife or a fork. Put it on a plate with some kitchen paper over the top of it, and microwave it for about 3 minutes on high, then carefully feel if it is getting soft underneath (it will be hot!). If it is, then turn it over and do another 3 minutes. If not, don't turn it over, and nuke it for another 2 minutes and check again - repeat until it is starting to get soft underneath, then turn it over and do 3 minutes, check if it is soft at the bottom, if not repeat at 2 minute intervals until it is soft.

The veggies are easy. You can use fresh or frozen for this. I like things like broccoli, courgette, cauliflower, sprouts, baby carrots etc, but most types of veg work like this. Wash and cut up your veg if using fresh. Put it in a microwave proof bowl with about 2-3 tablespoons of water. Cover with cling film, then make a small hole in it with the tip of a knife to let the steam out. Microwave it on high for 5 minutes, then CAREFULLY peel back the clingfilm (do this so the opening is away from you to avoid steam burns) and test the veg with a fork. If it is soft enough (some people like it a bit crunchy, some like it very soft, do it to your taste) then you are ready to serve, if not then stir it and replace the clingfilm (you may need a new piece if the previous bit tore) and microwave it in 2 or 3 minute intervals until it is soft enough.

Once you get confident with your microwave and the quantities you normally do, you can cook things for longer all at once rather than checking constantly as you will know approximately how long they will take.

To serve put it all on your plate, then add a little butter or spread to the veg plus salt and/or pepper to taste. Cut open the potato and put some butter/spread/low fat cream cheese/mayonnaise in it. Chops are nice with a bought sauce - mint for lamb and apple for pork. Later you can learn how to make apple sauce, it is easy!

You can substitute the baked potato for frozen mash if you like - it is quite cheap, very very easy and almost as good as home made!