Simple recipes for someone who can't really cook!

Lalaladybird

emilyx78 wrote: »

can I ask how many people you have to cook for ?

Just me, a fussy OH and a toddler

competitionscafe

*~*Pinky*~* wrote: »

Another thumbs up for the Easy Cook magazine.

There is a trial offer on this magazine at the moment - 3 issues for £1.
https://www.subscribeonline.co.uk/bbc-magazines/subscription.cfm?mag=EASC&cmp=JANE09D&ctry=GBR

Just cancel the direct debit after the £1 is taken if you don't want to continue the sub.
Had a look at the sample pages online [have a peek inside button] and it looks good (I downloaded most of the pages to a pdf and printed out the recipes).

The BBC Good Food / Olive website also has some good easy recipes - you can filter the search to show the results you want by using the links on the right (difficulty level, time to prepare, course, vegetarian, etc)

So for example here is a search for easy recipes, main course, time to prepare 10 to 30 minutes: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/search.do?filterItem=course12&orderFilter=hrated&searchType=recipes&keywords=&showFilter=tested&filters=time2&filters=difficultyEasy

Try this really easy chicken recipe:
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4251/chicken-cacciatore
(Use creme fraiche instead of mascarpone if you prefer and ordinary chopped tinned tomatoes will do, don't have to be cherry)

Rikki

*~*Pinky*~* wrote: »

Another thumbs up for the Easy Cook magazine.

I love cooking but my talents (!) are wasted on the children, they love basic straightforward meals, one of our favourite recipes is,

2 x chopped onions cooked in a little oil, add chopped chicken breasts (enough to feed the number of people you are cooking for), when the chicken is lightly browned, add one or two tins of chopped tomatoes, garlic, herbs, tomato puree. Simmer until cooked and the sauce has thickened. Add cooked pasta (enough for the number of people you are cooking for), stir until coated with the sauce. Serve with grated cheese. Yum!

I make this with chopped bacon instead of the chicken and your right yum! :drool:

Reverbe

Have faith Jay!!! I don't believe there is such a thing as can't cook. Anyone can cut veg and knock up a stirfry for example.You have to have the nerve to try. I am not the greatest cook in the world. Like you my mum couldn't cook, I wasn't taught at school etc but I am a good cook in my opinion.It is pretty easy to follow most recipes and there are a lot of good books out there to help. Aside from a few specialist techniques I would like to think that I can at least try most things.Don't do gravy but no need cos I don't like it

You might even surprise yourselflike I have often. I started to make soups last winter or the winter before and they always turn out fab now I am making up my own ones.Ok so I haven't mastered a smooth one as we dont have a food processor. I started to make biscuits and someone at my old job suggested I sell them And for this Christmas I tried making a Cranberry and Orange preserve for gifts and it turned out perfectly first time and was loved by the people I gave it to.


Best of luck. xxx

Reverbe

mggirl wrote: »

I downloaded this for a friend who was looking for some basic recipes to get started and have tried some myself.

http://publications.teachernet.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=DCSF-00685-2008

It's the book that's going or recently went into schools and covers things like stir fry, spag bol, apple crumble, veg curry and savoury rice.

Excellent Idea. I was about to recommend it. I told a girl at work who was getting married and wanted to learn how to cook and she found it very useful/

Changingme

This was from a weight watcher mag,not much to do;
Thinly slice potatos and place in bottom of casserole dish.
Place lamb chops on top.I buy frozen chomp ones £2.00 Morrisons.
Pour over can of Heinz big veg soup.
Place in oven gas mark 4/180cfor an hour.
Defrost chops first.
You could do rice pudding at same time.
Mix 250ml milk ,a tablespoon of sweetener,2 drops of vanilla essence.
Place in oven proof dish with 40g of pudding rice.
Bake in oven for 50 mins with the lamb.:T

moggylover

owens3116 wrote: »

good one is corned beef hash

cube a can or corned beef chop onions and add to frying pan with a dollop of tom puree and a few splashes of wocster sauce

cook for a few min then put in a lasagne dish then on top add mash pots with cheese bake in oven for 30 mins i serve this with baked beans lol

My mum always used to do this without the tomatoes and the cheese, but in a pastry case (as a pie) and it remains a firm favourite with my family now:D

moggylover

Another nice easy one: put some chicken wings or drumsticks in a meat pan, drizzle with a little olive oil, and roast. To vary this you can add garlic (and if you really want to cheat you can use the Lea and Perrins Cook's Helper Sauce) or chilli (again Lea and Perrins have a helper one) or just rough cracked black pepper.

Lovely served with a salad and french bread in the summer, but goes down well with jackets and roasted veg in the winter.

Also, for pork, either belly pork strips (leanish ones) or loin steaks. Just pour a packet of cheap sage and onion stuffing mix on a plate, press the pork into it one side at a time until liberally coated and then place in a pan in a hot (220) oven for about 30/35 mins. Can also be done with bread crumbs with a little garlic powder mixed in well.

Or lamb parcels: cut pieces of kitchen foil for the number of lamb chops, place chop in middle, drizzle with a very little olive oil, sprinkle with crushed black pepper and add sliced peppers, sliced mushrooms, and slices of tomato. Pop in the oven on 200 for about 30 mins!

Sausage casserole: brown sausages in a covered meat pan or casserole, pour off any excess fat, then add chopped celery, leeks, carrots and peppers and cover with boiling water, add a couple of stock cubes (I like the Knorr veggie ones best) and pop in the oven at 200 for about half an hour.

I could go on all night:D