ideas for easy, yummy homemade food?

Question

i've tried cooking, baking. but it never turns out right.

few days back as i tried preparing herbal tea for my bf, cause he's sick. i realised e process of making it is really enjoyable.

since he love homemade food n i enjoy it, i might as well start learning. so any easy steps for beginners?

Answer 1

have alot of recipes. Here's my families favorites.

Baked Potatoes

Large baked potato for each person
Sweet onion sliced
Butter

Wash baked potato. Split the baked potato lengthwise down the center. Place a pat of butter into the potato. I use about 2 tbls. Add a slice of onion on top of butter. Use more or less onion. I normally use ½ onion per potato. Place the potato halves together and wrap with foil. Wrap it again. Needs to be double wrapped. Place in pan or directly on grill. Cook at 350 for 1.5 to 2 hours. Knife should pierce all the way through foil and potato when done.


Oven Fried Potatoes

5 potatoes washed and cut into bite size pieces
1 onion chopped into large pieces
Garlic salt
Salt
Pepper

Preheat oven to 350* or cook on grill. Place potatoes and onion into large bowl. Add about ¼ cup vegetable oil. Mix until potato and onion pieces are coated. Season with garlic, salt and pepper. Mix well. Place in aluminum pan or pan lined with foil. Cover with foil and cook 1.5 hours. Potatoes and onions will be tender.


Squash Casserole

1 pkg Colby jack cheese shredded
1 yellow squash
1 zucchini squash
1 can corn drained
½ onion
1 can stewed tomatoes

In saucepan, slice both squash and onion into bite size slices and boil with salt and pepper. Boil until tender. Only use enough water to barely cover the squash. Add stewed tomatoes and corn. Simmer about 7 min. Remove from burner. Spread shredded cheese, more or less depending on taste buds and cover until cheese is melted.


Croutons

Day old bread
Parmesan Cheese

Slice bread into bite size cubes. Place into shallow baking pan. Add a little bit of oil to pan. Bake at 300* for 25 minutes. Stirring once. Remove from oven and sprinkle on cheese.



Yummy Beans
(can be cooked on grill)

4 cans Pork N Beans (DO NOT USE STORE BRAND)
1 onion
1 bell pepper
¾ cup Karo Syrup (light)
Brown Sugar
¾ jar BBQ Sauce (I prefer the Hickory Smoke Flavor)
Cheap Foil Pan

Chop up onion and bell pepper add to pan. Drain beans and add to pan. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add BBQ and Karo Syrup. Mix well. Add brown sugar ( I like to use @ 1 cup) Mix Well. Cook at 350* for 30-45 minutes or until bubbly. Stir often


Potato Salad

1 ¾ cups Cooked Diced potatoes
3 tbls chopped celery
1 tbls chopped onion
2 tbls mayo
½ tsp mustard
1/8 tsp salt
Dash of pepper

Mix potatoes, celery and onion. Set aside. Mix mayo, mustard, salt and pepper. I use more mayo and mustard for my family. Stir into potato mixture. Chill in fridge for 1 hr before serving.

Chicken Fried Steak

Steak
Egg
Milk
Flour

Salt and pepper steaks. Mix egg and milk into bowl. Soak steak on both sides. Pour flour into separate bowl. Put steak into flour coating both sides. Repeat. Heat oil to medium heat. Cook steaks until no longer pink. Flip steak often.

Lasagna

Box of Lasagna Noodles
2 lbs ground beef
2 lg cans tomato paste
2 pkgs spaghetti sauce mix
Lg carton cottage cheese
2 tbls parsley
1 egg
1 lg pkg mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350*F. Place noodles in boiling water. Boil 15 min, drain and let stand in cold water. Brown meat and drain. Add tomato paste, 1 can water (use paste can) and sauce mix to meat. Cover and simmer. Place cottage cheese in bowl, add parsley and egg. Grease a layer pan. Layer starting with meat sauce, noodles, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese. Repeat. Make sure meat sauce is on top. Bake 40 min.


Ranch Beef Skillet Supper

1 lb ground beef
1 pkg seasoned rice and black beans
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies (Ro-Tel)
1 pkg frozen corn kernels ( I use a can sometimes)
½ cup cilantro (sometimes I make without)
1 cup shredded cheese

Cook beef in large skillet. Drain. Stir in rice, beans, tomatoes, corn and 2 ½ cups water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 20 minor until water is absorbed. Sprinkle on cilantro and cheese. Eat with tortilla chips.


Easy Sugar Cookies

2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1 ½ cups white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat over to 375* F. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in dry ingredients. Roll dough into balls and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven or until golden brown. Let stand 2 min on cookie sheet before removing to cool on racks.


Banana Pudding

2 box vanilla pudding
1 box vanilla wafers
8oz sour crème
1 container of cool whip
5 bananas chopped
3 cups of milk

Mix pudding in milk. Add sour crème and mix. Fold in cool whip. Layer wafers, bananas and pudding mix in pan. Keep in fridge.

Chocolate Crème Pie

1 ¾ cups cold milk
1 lg package Chocolate instant pudding
1 container Cool Whip, thawed
1 prepared graham cracker crust, 9 inch

Pour cold milk into large mixing bowl. Add pudding mix. Beat with wire whisk until well mixed. (Mix will be thick) Gently stir in cool whip. Spoon into crust. Refrigerate the pie for 4 hours or until set.


Hobo Dinner
(can also be cooked on grill in Aluminum Pan)

1 pound ground beef
5 potatoes peeled and cut into steak fries
4 lg carrots peeled and sliced lengthwise
1 onion, peeled and sliced into rings ( I always do 2 or 3 onions)
Salt
Black pepper
Garlic Salt

Preheat oven to 400* F. Line a 9x13x2 inch pan with foil. Shape the ground beef into patties and place in pan. Layer the vegetables on top of the patties. Starting with potatoes, carrots and then onions. Season with salt, pepper and garlic salt. Cover with foil and seal the edges. Bake for 1 hr or till desired doneness.


Mexican Casserole

1 lb hamburger
1 small chopped onion
1 can crème of chicken soup
1 can crème of mushroom soup
1 can rotel, partially drained
1 can ranch style beans, drained
1 can corn, drained
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Crushed tortilla chips

Brown hamburger and onion. Drain. Mix together soups, rotel, beans and corn. In a casserole dish put down a layer of crushed tortilla chips. Make sure the bottom of the pan is covered with the crushed tortilla chips. Add the hamburger and onion mix. Add the cheese. Pour the soup mixture over meat. Cover with another layer of chips. Bake at 400*F until bubbling. Top with more cheese and bake until cheese melts.
Serve with tortilla chips or tortillas.

Poor Boy Enchiladas

8 Flour tortillas
2 cups shredded cheese
1 med onion chopped
1 can Wolf Brand Chili no beans

Preheat over to 350* F. Heat tortillas in microwave for 15 seconds. Mix onion and cheese together in bowl. Place a medium size amount of cheese onion mix into flour tortilla and roll. Place in a greased baking pan. Use a toothpick to hold tortilla together. Heat the chili for 2 min in microwave. Pour chili over enchiladas. Cook for 20 min.




Chili

1 ½ lbs ground beef
1 onion chopped
1 can kidney beans rinsed and drained
2 cans rotel
½ cup salsa
1 tbls chili powder
Salt
Pepper

Brown ground beef and onions. Drain meat. Place meat and onions into crock-pot. Add the remaining ingredients. Stir well. Cook on low for 5 hours. I add milk to the boys bowls since it is too spicy for them.

Mexican Cornbread

1 box corn bread mix
1 can creamed corn
1 egg
¼ cup milk
1 lb ground beef
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
1 small onion chopped (some people only use half)

Brown ground beef. Drain add taco seasoning and ½ cup of water. Simmer for 5 minutes. While meat is cooking mix cornbread mix, egg and milk. Spread half the mixture in casserole pan. Pour meat on top of cornbread mix. Spread corn, than onion, than cheese on top of meat. Top with remaining cornbread mix. Bake at 400*F for 30 min or until golden and set.

Tator Tot casserole

2 lbs ground beef
1 large onion chopped
Large can of Crème of Mushroom Soup
Shredded Cheddar cheese
Tator Tots

Preheat over according to tator tot instructions. Brown ground beef and onion. Drain and place in 9x13 baking pan. Mix soup with small amount of water. I use maybe 3 tbls. Pour soup over meat. Cover with cheese and add tator tots. Cook for time on tator tot instructions.


Taco Pie
1 can crescent rolls
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 lb hamburger
1 bag plain tortilla chips
1 small container of sour crème
1 ½ cups cheddar cheese
1 onion chopped (optional)

Brown meat and onion. Drain meat. Add taco seasoning and ¼ cup water. Simmer 5 minutes. Spray a lrg casserole dish with cooking spray. Line dish with rolls and add about 1 cup crushed chips. Top with meat mix. Spread sour crème and sprinkle cheese over all. Spread more crushed chips on top. Bake at 350*F for 25 minutes.


Breakfast Burritos

1 lb pork sausage
12 eggs
½ cups Cheese shredded
1 tsp butter
10- 12 flour tortillas

Brown the sausage and add eggs. Do not drain sausage!! Scramble eggs. When done remove from heat. Heat tortillas for 15 sec in the microwave. Spread butter onto tortillas, add 1 spoonful of cheese and egg mix in each tortilla. Roll tightly and wrap in plastic wrap. Keep refrigerated until ready to eat. Use within 5 days.
To reheat: Heat on high for 45 sec in microwave.


King Ranch Chicken

¼ cup butter
1 medium green bell pepper chopped
1 medium onion chopped
1 can crème of mushroom soup
1 can crème of chicken soup
2 cans diced tomatoes with green chilies (Ro-Tel)
2 cups cooked chicken cubed
12 corn tortillas
2 cups cheddar cheese shredded

Preheat oven to 325*
Tear corn tortillas into bite sized pieces and set aside. In a lg saucepan, cook bell pepper and onion in margarine until tender, about 5 minutes. Add soups, tomatoes and chicken stirring until well blended. Spray a 9x13 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray. Alternately layer tortillas, soup mix and cheese repeating for 3 layers. Bake 40 min or until hot and bubbly.


Lemon Chicken
(this is per 2 chicken breasts)

¼ tsp salt
¼ pepper
½ tsp poultry seasoning
Boneless skinless chicken breast, thawed
1 tbs lemon juice
1 tbs butter

Preheat oven to 350*F. Combine salt, pepper and poultry seasoning in a large bowl. Place chicken pieces into bowl and coat with mix. Place coated chicken into 13x9x2 inch baking dish. Sprinkle the chicken with lemon juice and add dot of butter to top of each piece. Bake for 20 minutes. Turn the chicken and cook another 20 minutes or until chicken is done.

Chicken Roll Ups

2 cups shredded cooked chicken
Biscuits ( I use the cheap store brand)
1 can crème of chicken
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Grease 8x8 pan. Tear biscuits into pieces and place pieces in bottom of pan. Place chicken on top of biscuits. Mix soup with 1 can of milk (use soup can). Pour soup mix over chicken. Cook for 350*F for 30 minutes. Add cheese and cook another 10 minutes.

Chicken to Go Biscuits

2 tbs butter
2 tbs all purpose flour
¼ tsp salt
Dash pepper
½ cup milk
2 cups cooked chicken
1 ¼ cups cheddar cheese shredded
1 can Grands biscuits
1 egg slightly beaten
3 cups crushed corn flakes ( I use the cheap brand)

Heat over to 375*F. In a medium saucepan melt butter, stir in flour, salt and pepper until well blended. Add milk. Cook about 1 min until thickened, stirring occasionally. Stir in chicken and cheese, set aside. Pat each biscuit into a circle. Place 1/3 cup chicken mix onto each biscuit. Wrap dough around mix. Press edges to seal. Dip rolls into egg and then into crushed cornflakes. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 30 min or until golden brown.


Fluffy Rice and Chicken

1 can crème of mushroom soup
1 can milk (use soup can)
¾ cup uncooked rice
1 envelope Onion soup mix
4 boneless skinless chicken pieces (I use breast)

Heat oven to 350*F Mix soup and milk. Reserve1/2 cup of mix. Mix remaining mixture, rice and half of onion soup mix. Pour into ungreased baking dish 13x9x2 inch. Place chicken on top of mix. Pour remained soup mix on top of chicken. Cover with foil and back 1 hr or until chicken is no longer pink.


Peach Cobbler

¼ cup plus 2 tbls butter
2 cups sugar, divided
¾ cup all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
Dash of salt
¾ cup milk
2 cups sliced peaches

Melt butter in 2qt. baking dish. Mix 1 cup of sugar, flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl. Add the milk. Mix well. Pour batter on top of butter in baking dish. DO NOT STIR!!! Combine peaches with other cup of sugar and gently spoon mixture over the batter. DO NOT STIR!!! Bake at 350* for 1 hr or until brown on top.


Banana Split Cake

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 stick of Butter
3 tbls sugar
2 eggs
2 sticks of butter soft or melted
2 cups of powdered sugar
3 bananas
1 medium size can of crushed pineapples drained
1 lg container of cool whip
1 jar of cherries drained
½ cup Chopped nuts more or less depending on taste
Chocolate chip morsels

Mix the first 3 ingredients together and spread into a 9x12 inch pan. Press down firmly. Beat the next 3 ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed about 10-15 min. Spread the mix evenly on top of graham cracker mix. Layer thinly sliced bananas, than a layer of drained pineapples, than cool whip. Spread the cool whip evenly. Add the nuts, chocolate piece and cherries. Refrigerate over night.

Chocolate Crispix

1 pkg semi sweet chocolate morsels
¼ cup peanut butter
6 cups Crispix Cereal
1 cup powdered sugar

In a lg microwave-safe bowl, melt morsels on high for 1 minute. Stir and heat 30 seconds longer. Repeat until melted. Stir in peanut butter Stir in cereal. Place powdered sugar in paper sack. Add cereal mix to sack and shake well. Shake until all pieces are coated with powdered sugar. Store in fridge.


Rice Krispy Treats

¼ cup butter
4 cups mini marshmallows
5 cups rice cereal

Butter 13x9x2 baking pan. Melt butter and marshmallow in large microwave safe bowl on high for 2 minutes. Stir at 1 minute. Repeat until melted. Quickly add cereal and stir until all coated. Press into pan and cool

Answer 2

I would say there are a handful of things that good cooks just 'know' like that it really matters that you pre-heat your oven before baking. Others would be to not add pasta to water until it comes to a complete boil, THEN add it. Also the difference between simmering, boiling and roiling boil. Never turn up the heat to get something done more quickly , it will just burn it on the outside and the inside still won't be done. Keeping a lid on holds in moisture and makes things like pork chops tender and juicy. Taking a lid off lets moisture escape and is useful when trying to reduce the amount of liquid. That an oven is dry heat and most meats need to be covered to keep from drying out. These are things that recipes just don't tell you, they are skills a cook should know already.

Answer 3

You'll hardly need any help at all after receiving the comprehensive answer from Irina C, but I find Martha Stewart's EVERYDAY FOOD magazine is always full of easy-to-prepare foods for family. Her recipes in this mag are generally uncomplicated and require only standard ingredients.
Remember - any home made food made with love is delicious to all.

Answer 4

This seems to go over good for me and its reasonable cheap. A package of party wienies Pop n fresh croissants cut each croissant into 3 or 4 pieces roll a wienie in each one just like you were rolling the croissant. bake the same as the package requires maybe cut off 2 or 3 min. This is really good with the garlic croissant too.

Answer 5

A plant is a plant or part of a herb used as food

Answer 6

Both are good for you, each fruit/vegetable has different vitamins. Therefore as more variety, as better. Vegetables have generally less sugar than fruits.

Answer 7

Go to Culinary Chef at http://www.culinarychef.com for recipes.

Answer 8

wat u could do is have pasta. and cook it. Then put it in a frying pan and mix it with minced beef. Add tomato sauce and then a bit of oregano. Then finished.
I know it's simple!!! My daughter can make it and she's 11

Answer 9

These are a few of my favorites!!

Crock Pot Enchiladas
Serves 6

1 lb Ground Beef, lean
1 (8.5 oz) White Onion, chopped
1 (4 oz can) Chopped Green Chilies
1 (14 oz can) Enchilada Sauce
1 (10-3/4 oz can) Golden Mushroom Soup
1 (10-3/4 oz can) Cheddar Cheese Soup
1 (10-3/4 oz can) Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 (10-3/4 oz can) Cream of Celery Soup

Instructions:
Brown hamburger and chopped onion and pour off grease.

Put all ingredients in crock pot. Mix and cook low 4-6 hours.
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Chicken Parmesan
Serves 6

1/3 Cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 Tsp Italian Seasoning, crushed
6 (4 oz) Chicken Breast, boneless, skinless
1 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
1/2 Cup White Onion, diced
1 Tbsp All-Purpose Flour
1/2 Cup 2% Milk
1 (1 oz packet) Ranch Flavored Salad Dressing Mix
6 Slices Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 (10 oz pkg.) Spinach, frozen, thawed, drained
1 Tbsp Pimiento, chopped

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350ºF

In a small mixing bowl combine cheese, ranch salad dressing mix, and Italian seasoning. Roll chicken pieces in cheese mixture to coat lightly; set remaining cheese mixture aside. Arrange the pieces in an 8x8x2-inch baking dish. In a small saucepan cook onion in hot margarine until tender.

Stir in flour; add milk all at once. Cook and stir till bubbly; stir in drained spinach and pimiento. Place a slice of cheese and spoon the spinach mixture over the chicken; sprinkle with remaining cheese mixture. Bake, uncovered, for 30-35 minutes or until tender.
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Chicken Pasta Alfredo
Serves 6

6 Qts Water
12 oz Fettuccine Pasta
2 Tbsp Peanut Oil
6 (4 oz) Chicken Breast, boneless, skinless
2 (10-3/4 oz can) Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 (20 oz bag) Frozen Broccoli Florets
3/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese, grated

Instructions:
Heat a large pot of water, over high heat. When water comes to a boil add the pasta and boil for 8-10 minutes. Drain; reserving 2 cups pasta water. Cut the chicken into strips (1/4''x1''); set aside.

In a large frying pan, over medium-high heat, add the oil and chicken pieces stirring frequently until golden brown.

In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, add the chicken pieces, sauce, 1/4 cup reserved pasta water, stirring frequently. Add the remaining pasta water into the saucepan and bring just to a boil, then add the broccoli. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat.

Divide the cooked pasta evenly between serving dishes and top with chicken and broccoli mixture.
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Spanish Meatloaf
Serves 6

1-1/2 lb Ground Beef, lean
1 (5.5 oz envelope) Wyler's ''Hearty Beef Stew'' Soup Starter
1 (8 oz bag) Mexican Style Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1 (4 oz can) Diced Green Chili Peppers
1 (14-1/2 oz can) Diced Tomatoes, drained
1 Cup BBQ Sauce (recommended: Kraft Carb Well)

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350ºF

In a large bowl add the soup starter, diced green chili peppers, and the diced tomatoes; mix until the liquid is absorbed. Add the ground beef and BBQ sauce and mix thoroughly until well combined.

Place 1/2 of the mixture in a loaf pan, making a well in the meat, top evenly with the cheese and place the remainder of the meat mixture on top to seal.

Bake for 45 minutes; drain any residual fat if necessary.

Place the meatloaf on a warmed serving platter and serve immediately. Serve with mixed vegetables or a salad.
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Crab Quiche
Serves 6

1 (8 oz pkg.) Louis Kemp Crab Delights, flaked
3/4 Cup Mexican Style Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1/2 (8 oz pkg.) Cream Cheese, cut into 1/4'' cubes
1/4 Cup Green Onions, sliced
1/2 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Basil
1/2 Cup Heart Healthy Bisquick
1 Cup 1% Milk ''Skim''
1/2 Cup Eggbeaters
3 SecondsNonstick Cooking Spray

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350ºF

Mix the crab delights, shredded cheese, cream cheese, onions, salt, and basil in a medium bowl.

Coat a 9-inch pie plate with nonstick cooking spray and spread the crab mixture into the bottom.

Beat the remaining ingredients until smooth. Pour over the crab mixture and bake for about 40-45 minutes.

Serve immediately.
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Strawberry Shake
Serves 2

1 Cup Frozen Strawberries, thawed
2 Tbsp Honey
1 Cup Cold 2%Milk
1 Cup Plain Yogurt
2 Tbsp Sugar Substitute (recommended: Splenda)
2 Whole Strawberries, garnish

Instructions:
Puree the strawberries and honey in a blender or food processor. Add milk, sweetener and yogurt; blend until smooth.

Pour into glasses; garnish each with a whole strawberry