I don't know what to cook!!

colpol1

When me and my OH first started cooking we had no idea about it, so basically the only things we ate in the beginning of learning was things like pasta with sauces or a pasta bake, the sauces you can make yourself by using a jar of tomatoes and some herbs you like, plus some chopped veg ect..its actually really yummy! You can also buy pasta bakes which can be picked up pretty cheap, my OH pays about 70p I think from Morrisons! But be careful cos some are really unhealthy.

Also stir frys are very yummy, you can either make your own sauce depending on what you like, just look up a recipe online ( like sweet and sour ect.. ) or buy a packet! I prefer making my own though, use chicken/pork or turkey diced!

Also as people have suggested simple things like lasagne, spagetti bolonaise ( excuse my spelling! ) Shepard's pie, also things like baked potatoes with tuna and a portion of beans!

Also dont forget things like having lots of veg and fruit each day, you can make some really yummy filling salad, my OH mum makes an amazing salad with smoked chicken, pears and nuts..its really nice.

Me and my OH make a lot of healthy meals each month even though we struggle with money, I think about 50 pound is spent on food!

Over the 3 years I have been with him I have learnt so much about cooking! Just give it time and soon you will also be really good at it! I hope your IVF treatment works out the way you want and good luck on loosing weight, its quite a hard journey ( I piled on 3 stone in a year ) but have lost 2 stone of it, dont give up and stick to it!

kittycat204

stick with it and good luck. all i can say is mistakes will be made, but that is the best way to learn.

these are all the sites i search for recipes. i know there are a lot but hopefully not too daunting. some you can rate by difficulty.

read and watch as many things as you can, even if a program is just on in the background.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/
http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/
http://www.mydish.co.uk/
http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/
http://www.foodnetwork.com/
http://uktv.co.uk/goodfood/homepage/sid/566

i have more but won't bore you with them all, i use the top 3 the most.

spike7451

You may find this useful,its JSP 404-Manual of Kitchen Catering.It's the manual used by the British Forces in their kitchens,the kitchen bible so to speak.
Now a lot of the recipy's are for large portions but they will give you the insight into how to make various food items.
Each chapter is a PDF & you could save each one to your pc.I highly recommend the Gurkah Curry sections...

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/MicroSite/DES/OurPublications/CateringPublications/Jsp404ManualOfCateringServices.htm

The pages are NOT restricted & the files are openly posted on the internet.

Stephen_Leak

kittycat204 wrote: »

<snip> mistakes will be made, but that is the best way to learn. <snip>

True. And you can usually eat the evidence.

Stephen_Leak

JesusFreak wrote: »

yes please if you dont mind!

Of course, I don't mind. It's what I (and all the others) come on here for. Here's my recipe for Lasagne. I've left in my recipe for Bolognese sauce - you can try it or stick with your own. Cannelloni is the same, but you just use big pasta tubes, stuff the meat sauce into them and then pour the white sauce over them.

LASAGNE

Serves 2

1. BOLOGNESE PASTA SAUCE

Enough for pasta for 2

INGREDIENTS

2 cloves of garlic
2 onions
1 tablespoon of olive oil
500g of minced meat
400g tin of plum tomatoes
140g tin of tomato puree
1 beef stock cube
2 teaspoons of mixed herbs

METHOD

Peel the garlic and chop it into tiny pieces. Peel the onions and chop them into tiny pieces.

Put the oil into a frying pan on a medium heat. Add the garlic and onion. Fry the garlic and onion for about 2 minutes. Stir frequently to stop it sticking.

Put the meat into the pan and fry for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring all the time. By this time, it should have broken up and be an even colour, with no pink bits.

Open the tin of tomatoes. Pour the juice into the pan. Chop the tomatoes while they are still in the can (it’s easier than chasing them around the pan). Pour the chopped tomatoes into the pan.

Crumble the stock cube into the pan. Add the tomato puree and herbs. Mix thoroughly. Continue to cook, stirring as the mixture boils, until the sauce has reduced.

ADDITIONS & ALTERNATIVES

Use minced beef, lamb, pork or turkey. If the pack is a bit less than required, add some finely chopped mushrooms and/or grated carrot at the same time as the meat.

Use 1 teaspoon of oregano and 1 teaspoon of rosemary instead of the mixed herbs.

Add a glass of wine and cook for a bit longer. Or drink the glass of wine and cook for the same time.

TIPS

Plum tomatoes can be used either whole or chopped. It is difficult to stick chopped tomatoes back together again if you need to use them whole.

2. WHITE SAUCE

Makes 250ml

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons of flour
250ml of milk

METHOD

Put the butter into a saucepan on a medium heat. Melt the butter. Add the flour and cook for a minute, stirring all the time.

Take off the heat. Add the milk a bit at a time. Stir each time to make sure it is smooth.

When all the milk has been added, put the pan back on the heat. Bring to the boil. Keep stirring.

Turn down the heat until it is just boiling (simmering). Cook for 2 minutes, stirring all the time.

ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS

If the sauce is too thin, add a little bit more flour. If the sauce is too thick, add a little bit more milk.

TIPS

The trick is to keep stirring.

3. LASAGNE

INGREDIENTS

1 quantity of Bolognese sauce
1 quantity of white sauce
125g (½ a 250g packet) of pre-cooked lasagne pasta sheets
1 tablespoon of grated cheese

METHOD

Put a thin layer of the Bolognese sauce in an ovenproof dish. Cover with a layer of the pasta sheets. Then another layer of Bolognese sauce. Then a layer of cheese sauce. Then pasta, then Bolognese sauce, then cheese sauce.

However many layers you end up with, they must finish with a layer of cheese sauce on top. Sprinkle the grated cheese over the top.

Cook in a preheated oven at 180°C, 350°F, gas mark 4 for about 30 minutes. The top should be golden brown.

ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS

Use grated Parmesan cheese for preference, but grated cheddar will do.

kittycat204

might be a bit of a faff, what about inviting friends family members round for a cuppa and a cooking session. tell them to bring round the ingredients, split the cost and cook along side them. you'll both get a meal out of it and learn. i'd love to help somebody out that way. could even asl for it as a present for your birthday. i think it's great when people give time as a present, esp when there is something to eat at the end.

Rebob

I too was going to suggest pitta pizzas. I made some yesterday for ds and hubby. The other thing is to borrow some cookbooks from the library. That way you dont waste any money buying a book you find you dont like. Ask at your local Connects Office about cooking sessions as round here there are health trainers that bring excercise and healthy eating to you if you cannot get to the classes in the local community. x

Sunflower1227

http://www.beyondbakedbeans.org/

Hi try this site, it's for students but will give you some basic ideas . HTHs

building_with_lego

freyasmum wrote: »

You don't know what to cook? Or how to cook?

The best place to start is to tell us what you like to eat, what kind of meals you enjoy.

This is the best lasagne I've ever tasted and the all in one white sauce is incredibly easy! It seems like a lot of ingredients, but it makes around 10 portions. You can use the mince base sauce as bolognese over spaghetti or layered in the lasagne. You could also add in chopped mushrooms, grated carrots, cubed courgettes, sliced peppers, whatever else you fancy - it's a great way of getting more veg into you as well



Student cookbooks are a brilliant idea - they generally contain mega easy recipes due to their demographic.

You may also like to have a look at the GoodFood website how to cook section. And the delicious. magazine version. The GF website has lots of handy little videos that take you through each step.


Plus there's always loads of us on here all the time - just ask away!

The bit in bold sold it to me and I've just managed to make proper white sauce for the first time in my 33 years! :j :T . It's never worked before. No more Dolmio jars for me! Thank you so very much, I'd never have realised it was possible to make it like that but it is so simple. Yay!

kittycat204

thats so great you have had a success. stick with it, learn any from mistakes, just keep going. well done, :T