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Former Cowgirl
Citizen
Username: Formercowgirl
Post Number: 107
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 4:23 pm: | 
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So I don't love to cook (though I do like to bake). I have a few family dinner staples that I make pretty decently. I probably could be a good cook if I liked it, but the love just isn't there. I think a bigger kitchen, bigger fridge, and bigger budget would also help out...but those are not in the near future either.
So, other than getting recipes off the food network website (which I have done on occasion), do you have any recommendations for inspiration? I also have questions about food prep and food safety (like how many times can you reheat something before it's bad news; or how long can something defrost in the fridge before you shouldn't cook it; those sorts of things)
I'd like to become a more interested and better educated cook. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? It does make me happy when I make something that my family compliments me on so I CAN be inspired by praise! |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2104
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 5:37 pm: |
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Watch Food Network (aka the cooking channel). It doesn't matter what show really. I never liked to cook really either. But like you I get pleasure when I make others happy with a well cooked meal. TS watches and loves Food Network so I ended up watching lots of it too (at first begrudgingly and later I became a willing participant). You learn lots of normal, everyday things from each of the chefs plus I find that I often get inspired by cool food/flavor pairings.
My favorite show is Good Eats, but TS likes the Barefoot Contessa and Jamie Oliver because both of their styles are very straight-forward and less frou frou than many of the other chefs on the station. |
Strings
Supporter
Username: Blue_eyes
Post Number: 862
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 5:38 pm: |
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I love to cook and I've learned just about everything I know from watching the Food Network and experimenting with recipes on my own. I'd also suggest you visit epicurious.com which has proven to be an incredible resource. Also, Everyday Food Magazine (it's a Martha Stewart thing) is very good and extremely educational as well. Hope that helps a bit! |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1689
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 5:46 pm: |
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I agree - I used to be addicted to the Food Network -- still watch a few shows from time to time, but I think it is as close to immersion learning as you can get without actually being there. I also rarely make the same dish twice, so it helps me experiment more with different recipes. I admit - I usually just follow the recipe but I'm casual about the amounts (I tend to add more or less of certain things), but I'm able to just throw various things together a little more easily now. I like Everyday Italian, Bobby Flay's grilling shows(yes, that's cooking too), Barefoot Contessa and Michael Chiarella (sp?) - he's good for party ideas.
A lot of times, I'll just watch one of the shows - find something that looks good that they're making and then download the recipe and make it -- that way you see it being done and it gives you a little more confidence to move forward and try it out.
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Tom N
Citizen
Username: Tjn
Post Number: 116
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 10:54 pm: |
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Food TV is good inspiration but you might want to pick up a cookbook entitled, "How to Cook Everything" by Mark Bittman. It's pretty inclusive as the name suggests and while it is a rather thick book, it isn't going to drown you with too much unfamiliar cooking lingo. Chances are most of your questions are addressed in this book and after a while you'll probably find it a reliable resource to fall back on. Read more about on this link.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0028610105/102-3922793-9292968?v=glance&n=28315 5 |
Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 5614
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 11:47 pm: |
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subscribe to a cooking magazine...Cook's Illustrated or Bon Appetit or that one Martha Stewart puts out about relatively easy meals..or whatever catches your attention. Flip through it..promise to try to make 2-3 things from every issue that sounds appealing and not too difficult.
Get some good basic cookbooks (Joy of Cooking, Fanny Farmer, Ina Garten's cookbooks, Cooks Illustrated compilation, and so on...once again, whatever is appealing)...try some things there.
type in some food items or ingredients onto to epicurious.com or Food Network's website...scan the recipes that come up and see once again, what seems doable and appealing.
look at what is in your refrigerator...stock some staples in the fridge and cabinets...if you like mushrooms, buy some every week..sautee them...use them as a side dish, or in omelettes, or quesadillas, or mix them with some mushrooms. Think about how you can use what you have...a lot of ingredients from leftovers when combined with some of those staples make great easy meals like omelettes/fritattas, quesadillas, salads, rice or pasta dishes (hot, cold or room temp).
Buy whats in season or what reminds you of the season...Spring -- asparagus, strawberries, lamb, peas, some wild mushrooms, etc. You'll find more recipes around online, in magazines, in the newspapers that click what is seasonally available. When its summer, go nuts with the abundance of fresh produce available..make some super salads. When you get that crossover of late summer and early fall produce, really go for it.
Get the basics down..roast a roast beef or chicken or turkey (not that hard to do and you get a lot of meals out of it) and then spruce it up with a pan gravy or some fun seasonings, or side dishes, or salsas and so on. Think about what you like to eat out...and see what and how you can give it a try at home...you like stir fry? do it yourself..you love a good burger...try it at home. Love meatloaf? why not make it at home. Once you get basics down, then you realize you can make things that seem difficult but really arent because they are things that most people wont make at home, or dont think they can.
Invite friends over..its a good excuse to make a meal..and it doesnt have to be fancy..just enough for everyone..and theres nothing like socializing over a meal of any kind with friends (and a glass or two or three of wine).
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Rose1
Citizen
Username: Rose1
Post Number: 18
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 3:56 pm: |
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I love to cook and bake, and have pretty much taught myself from cookbooks and magazines. I have also watched an obsessive amount of Food TV, but I think a few good books and magazines is the best way to start.
If I had to choose the top three cookbooks I use the most, "Best Recipe", the Cook's Illustrated compilation, "How to Cook Eerything" by Mark Bittman, and (the new favorite) "Everyday Mexican" by Rick Bayless are the top of the list. The first two do a great job of explaining what to do and the reasons why for each recipe. They are fool proof. And seeing that you like to bake, the first one is perfect for you. It has THE BEST coffee chocolate chip muffins and molasses cookies and chocolate chip cookies. The Mexican cookbook is great because all of the recipes are quick (around 30 minutes to an hour), and you can get almost everything at the local grocery store. There are a bunch of slow cooker recipes in there, and they all have been delicious. Fifteen minutes of prep time in the morning, and incredible when you get home at night. Easy and always gets rave reviews. And Everyday Mexican has inspiring photos to boot!
For magazines, I think I have subscribed to them all at some point. Cooking Light is worth checking out, and as others have said before, Everyday Food and Cook's Illustrated are dependable. Everyday Food is probably the most user friendly because it has photos, and has some neat sections that explain a certian item in depth every month. For example, it will tell you all you need to know about lentils, and then give you five different recipes for them. It has minimal ads, which is nice, and everything is just one page long. It makes things simple.
Good luck!
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annabanana
Citizen
Username: Banana
Post Number: 27
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 8:25 pm: |
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I absolutely love the cooking light cookbooks! I have not used any other cookbook in years. Everything I make comes out great on the first try (and I'm not really that much of a natural talent  Plus there's a great range of styles in each one. They put out an annual cookbook so you don't have to get the magazines, although the magazines have a cooking class section that teaches you a specific technique each month. There's a Thai chicken barbeque recipe that I get begged to make on a regular basis. And an apple cake that actually resulted in licking of plates! ooh, and a potato leek soup that I must have made every week this winter. Check out barnes and noble bargain rack for previous year's annual recipe books- I'm still making things from my 1996 book
good luck!
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