What can I make that will impress family when they know I am not a cook?

Question

and I am not! I am just learning. What is an easy thing to make and take to a family gathering that most people will like and look at me like....I didn't know you knew how to cook?

Answer 1

They weren't born to cook either. This is easy dessert, no cooking and everyone loves it:
Go to the freezer case at the store and buy frozen strawberries, you need about 6 cups for a family size dessert or take to a dinner. While your at the freezer case grab a large tub of cool whip (generic works too) go around to the baked goods and grab either a pound cake or angel food cake. Now that's it. Go home find a large clear bowl or casserole dish (clear so it looks pretty, I use my punch bowl) break 1/3 cake into large bite size pieces, spoon 1/3 cool whip, 2 cups strawberries. Do that 2 more times. get it cold, at least 1 hour and you have a beautiful dessert thats easy and everyone will love it. I make it all the time and it always gets eaten up.

Answer 2

In my opinion, if you start cooking now, they will never let you quit. I understand you want to make an impression on these people, but this is not therapy! Go to the store and buy the 5 lb bag of Armour frozen meatballs. Go to the nearest bread store. They have the best gravy mixes I have ever had and they are only $1. Get one large beef and one large peppered white. If you don't have a bread store where you are, you can find something similar at your local store. Make the gravy as directed. Get out your large crock pot. Dump meatballs in; pour gravy on top; stir occasionally. Serve warm. Grab a large loaf of Italian bread or something to accompany it.

Or, get a 9x11x2 Pyrex dish. Spray with Pam. Put frozen ravioli's in dish. Spread favorite spaghetti sauce (or homemade) a top and put in oven at 350 for 35-40 min. Take out and uncover and top with mozzarella and or parma. until melted. Serve with garlic toast or bread. Both are very good and easy. Good Luck

Answer 3

If you're looking for a side dish, try a green bean casserole -- they're very easy. Here's a recipe: http://www.campbellkitchen.com/recipedetail.aspx?recipeID=24099

Or you can make an Italian pasta dish. Such as Mostaccioli -- here's a pretty basic recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/classic-baked-mostaccioli/Detail.aspx It will be good as is, but even better if you either substitute ground Italian sausage for the ground beef or add an Italian seasoning blend to the ground beef. I'd also suggested adding some pepperoni.

Good Luck and Happy Cooking!

Answer 4

Very easy to make!

Hurry-Up Mini Meat Loaves

1 1/2 lb ground chuck or lean ground beef
1 cup Italian dry breadcrumbs
2 TBSP either dry minced onions or chopped minced onions
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 (5 ounce) can of evaporated milk
1/2 cup tomato sauce
3/4 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce or ketchup

Combine first 7 ingredients, use your hands to mix up the mixture into shape your mixture into small loaves...6-9 loaves you can make. Place it on rack of a greased broiler pan( Why? so the grease drain to the bottom but not around your loaves) Spoon barbecue or ketchup sauce over the loaves.
Bake at 450 degrees for 25-30 minutes and serve immediately!
Enjoy! =)

Answer 5

Original recipe yield:
3 servings

PREP TIME 10 Min
COOK TIME 15 Min
READY IN 25 Min
INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 (1 pound) halibut steak
DIRECTIONS
Preheat grill for medium-high heat.
Place butter, brown sugar, garlic, lemon juice, soy sauce, and pepper in a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is completely dissolved.
Lightly oil grill grate. Brush fish with brown sugar sauce, and place on grill. Cook for 5 minutes per side, or until fish can be easily flaked with a fork, basting with sauce. Discard remaining basting sauce.

Answer 6

I have a wonderful recipe for chicken marsala that is very simple and elegant. This resturant quality dish is perfect for entertaining as it is very impressive in both flavor and presentation. Plus, your kitchen will smell wonderful afterward:

4 boneless, skinless chicken brest haves, trimmed of most fat
1 8 oz. package sliced button mushrooms
1/2-1 cup marsala wine (drinking quality)
1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon basil, dried
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoon olive oil

Pound out the chicken breasts individually in between two sheets of wax paper. Combine flour, salt, and basil. Heat oil and butter in a heavy non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Dredge chicken in seasoned flour (this process simple means putting the chicken in the bowl, covering it completley with flour on all surfaces, and shaking off excess, so as to create a light coating of flour) Cook chicken in the skillet until lightly brown (2-4 minutes) Turn chicken and add the mushrooms, cook for 2-4 more minutes. Add wine to the pan, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve with hot pasta or rice.

Enjoy, and good luck.
I would love to here is this works out for you.

Answer 7

Well, no better way to learn then to actually go ahead and go for it. Maybe you should make whatever dish you want, and try to get it right, have friends come over to sample it and be your guinea pigs, get their input. If its good make it for your family. If you cook period they'll be impressed so you can try a pasta or meat of some sort. Knocks em' dead everytime

Answer 8

i would suggest a spiral cut ham. they usually come with a glaze packet, just grab a can of sliced pineapple to put on the top the last hour. all you need to do with a ham is heat it up in the oven. try 350 or 325 the package should have directions. while the ham is in the oven place idaho potatoes, wrapped in foil, rubbed with a little olive oil and seasoned with salt, along the side of the pan in the oven. you can steam any fresh vegetable to go with this. make sure you have plenty of butter and sour cream and fresh chives for the potatoes. good luck.

Answer 9

Ziti Bake
l-lb ziti
jar pasta sauce
pint of ricotta cheese
8oz. mozzarella cheese
parmasean cheese

Cook pasta
mix cheeses with an egg, salt and pepper

Mix pasta, sauce and cheeses in a casserole dish, sprinkle with a little more mozzarella and parm. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes, make a salad and some crusty bread and...voila!!!