Help I don't like to cook!!?

Question

I don't like to cook (hubby was well aware of this before we tied the knot) but he always complains he has to do ALL the cooking. Does anyone have any great simple recipes that I can try on him and the kids?? Please!!!

Answer 1

I completely understand...when my husband and I got married, I honestly could not cook...and most cookbooks were like a foriegn language! Here are a couple that I make for my family!

Lemon Chicken Pasta Toss
Recipe


8 ounces uncooked radiatore pasta
1 medium onion, chopped
1 small carrot, peeled
3 garlic cloves, pressed
1 small red bell pepper
2 cups small broccoli florets
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups diced, cooked chicken breasts
1 cup prepared Alfredo sauce
1/2 cup hot water
1 lemon, cut in half crosswise
1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated fresh Parmesan cheese
Snipped parsley and coarsely ground black pepper (optional)



Cook pasta in (4-qt.) Casserole for 2 minutes less than package directions; drain. Meanwhile, chop onion using Food Chopper. Slice carrot using Crinkle Cutter. Lightly spray Stir-Fry Skillet with oil using Kitchen Spritzer. Cook and stir onion, carrot and garlic pressed with Garlic Press over medium heat 4-5 minutes or until carrots are crisp-tender. Meanwhile, slice bell pepper into strips; cut strips in half. Combine bell pepper, broccoli and salt in Large Micro-Cooker®. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 1-2 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender.


Add pasta, steamed vegetables, chicken, Alfredo sauce and water to skillet. Squeeze lemon halves over pasta using Citrus Press; cook and stir until heated through. Grate Parmesan cheese over pasta using Deluxe Cheese Grater; sprinkle with parsley and black pepper, if desired.



Yield: 6 servings


Nutrients per serving: Light: Calories 340, Total Fat 11 g, Saturated Fat 6 g, Cholesterol 80 mg, Carbohydrate 35 g, Protein 27 g, Sodium 530 mg, Fiber 3 g


Family-Size Baked Burrito
Recipe


2 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
3 cups diced cooked chicken
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 lime
3/4 cup thick and chunky salsa
1 tablespoon Pantry Southwestern Seasoning Mix
1 garlic clove, pressed
1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded Colby & Monterey Jack cheese blend, divided
4 burrito-size flour tortillas (11-11 1/2 inches)
1 can (9 ounces) bean dip
Assorted toppings such as shredded lettuce, sliced pitted ripe olives, snipped fresh cilantro and Avocado Lime Sauce (see below, optional)



Preheat oven to 425°F. Using Ultimate Slice & Grate fitted with adjustable thin slicing blade, thinly slice tomatoes; set aside. Dice chicken using Chef's Knife. Chop onion using Food Chopper. Juice lime half into Classic Batter Bowl using Citrus Press. Add chicken, onion, salsa, seasoning mix and garlic pressed with Garlic Press. Microwave chicken mixture 3-4 minutes or until hot, stirring occasionally using Mix ‘N Scraper®. Stir in 1/2 cup of the cheese.


Arrange tortillas in an overlapping circular pattern on Large Round Stone, covering entire surface of baking stone. (Tortillas will extend off edge of baking stone by 5 inches). Starting in center, spread bean dip over tortillas using Large Spreader, forming a 10 x 10-inch square. Spoon chicken mixture evenly over bean dip. Fold edges of tortillas up over chicken mixture in an envelope pattern.


Arrange 16 tomato slices in rows over top of burrito. Sprinkle remaining cheese over burrito, covering completely. Bake 18-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and edges are browned. Cut into rectangles using Utility Knife; serve with assorted toppings and Avocado Lime Sauce, if desired.



Yield: 8 servings or 16 sample servings


Nutrients per serving: Calories 330, Total Fat 11 g, Saturated Fat 6 g, Cholesterol 60 mg, Carbohydrate 25 g, Protein 24 g, Sodium 840 mg, Fiber 1 g


Cook's Tip: To make Avocado Lime Sauce, mash 1 ripe avocado in Classic Batter Bowl using Nylon Masher. Stir in 1/4 cup sour cream, 1 tablespoon lime juice and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Drizzle over burrito.

Answer 2

My goodness, there are so many easy, delicious recipes to try. You can look at Allrecipes.com for all kinds of ideas. Some really easy ones to try might be:
Shepherds pie:
brown ground beef 1 1/2 lbs and a chopped small onion. Add 1 can tomato sauce. Pour into a 2 qt casserole dish and pour 1 or two can of green beans, drained over top.(You could use a mix veg or a can of corn--I prefer green beans with this) then a generous dusting of grated cheddar cheese. Top with mashed potatoes and again top with cheese. Bake until cheese melted and warm throughout.
A Potato Bar with topping everyone likes: chili, sour cream, bacon, cheese, olives, whatever...
Lots of slow cooking easy dinner recipes like pour a whole bag of mini carrots in the bottom of the slow cooker. Top with chopped onion inside of a whole chicken. Season with melted butter and spices. Cover and bake until done. Low 6 hrs. You can also do this in a roasting pan in the oven, just cover with tin foil and bake 2 hrs on 350.
Good Eating.

Answer 3

Mac & Cheese

5 C Lrg. Elbow Macaroni
1/2 lb. Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated
1/2 lb. Longhorn Cheddar Cheese, grated
1/2 lb. Mexican Ranchero Cheese, crumbled
1 C Milk
1 1/2 C Crumbled Cheeto’s

Cook the Mac al dente, not quite done
Combine all the Cheeses
Layer Cheese and Mac
Pour in the Milk
Top with Cheeto’s
Bake 45 min. @ 350

Answer 4

Banquet makes some awesome boxed dinners, like chicken and dumplings or Pizza pasta (which is SO good) that come with all the stuff and take about 5 minutes. Tyson has a chicken fajita kit that is delicious, but get 2 packs and get some grated cheese and sour cream to go with. Another old secret is use canned chicken instead of tuna in Tuna Helper. Bagged cesar salad kits. Garlic toast comes pre made but is easy too, put butter and salt and garlic powder and maybe parmesan cheese on bread and broil with the oven door cracked, watch it carefully to see when it is done, it broils fast.

Answer 5

I don't have any specific recipes to share, but have a suggestion for a great cookbook that could help you get started. It's called "The Four-Ingredient Cookbook," by Linda Coffee & Emily Cale. All of the recipes use a maximum of 4 ingredients, are very simple to prepare, & all that I have tried so far were very good. I'm sure you could find it at Amazon or other online book sellers, and no, I'm not getting a commission on sales!

Answer 6

Kraft Food & Family Magazine has some great, simple recipes. They have an online version or you can request to receive the magazine in the mail (comes each season).

Here's one of their recipes that my family and I love:

Country Salisbury Steak

1-1/2 lb. extra lean ground beef
1 pkg. (6 oz.) Stuffing Mix for Chicken
1-1/2 cups water, divided
3/4 cup chopped onions
1 pkg. (8 oz.) fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup Barbecue Sauce

PREHEAT oven to 375°F. Mix meat, stuffing mix, 1-1/4 cups of the water and the onions until well blended. Shape into six 1/2-inch-thick oval patties. Place on 15x10x1-inch baking pan.
BAKE 25 min. or until cooked through (160°F).
MEANWHILE, spray large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Add mushrooms; cook on medium-high heat 5 min. or until lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Add barbecue sauce and remaining 1/4 cup water. Reduce heat to low. Cook 1 to 2 min. or until sauce is heated through. Serve over the patties.

Answer 7

Baked Ziti is a delicious meal and very easy to make.

All you have to do is brown a lb. of chop meat, add seasonings to taste. Boil a box of ziti noodles. Then when those are both done, then mix the noodles, chop meat, 2 jars of sauce,a 12 oz bag of mozzarella cheese and a 16oz.container of ricotta cheese, put it in a foil pan and bake on 350 covered with foil for 1 hour. Its really easy and really good.

Answer 8

Try tuna noodle soup. It's easy too and most kids like it. And most of the time it takes 30 min.

2 cans of tuna
2 packs of noodles ( doesn't matter what kind.)
2 cans of Cream of Mushroom soup
milk
1.) boil a pot of water (you can add salt if you like)
2.) add noodles
3.) get another pot and add the cream of mushroom soup and tuna.
4.) after the noodles are cooked, drain them. Keep cold water running on them so they will stay soft and not stick.
5.) Fill each can full of milk
6.) stir occasionally
7.) once the soup has no lumps in exception to the mushrooms and tuna, add soup to the noodles and stir then serve.

Answer 9

Tuna Casserole

2 cup seashell noodles
6 cups water
1 tsp. salt
1 can tuna. Drain water or oil
1 can cream of celery soup
1/2 cup frozen peas & carrots
1 Tbsp. dried minced onion
1/2 cup corn flakes

Mix water and salt in saucepan and bring to boil. Add noodles. Boil noodles in water until cooked, stirring occasionally. Drain noodles. In saucepan, stir noodles, tuna, soup, and peas/carrots together. Heat contents in the saucepan on medium heat while stirring.
Move mixture to a casserole dish and sprinkle the top with corn flakes. Put casserole in the oven on "Broil" for 1 minute.
Serve.

Answer 10

Get a copy of The Joy of Cooking

Answer 11

Yes I am a good cook. Love to cook