I'm 23 and moving out on my own finally after finishing college! I can not cook!?

Question

Any suggestions on how to learn and what would be some meals that I could work up? Maybe any great cookbook selections or anything? Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

I will tell ya some great dishes to start with - basic ones that if you know how to cook them, you can make them for yourself, you and a date, or a family get together! Lasagna, A great tomato sauce, Alfredo sauce, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and roasted chicken...all pretty easy, but worth learning right out of the gate! The web is a great place to get recipes...here are some great sites...
www.foodnetwork.com
www.allrecipes.com
www.recipezaar.com
and when you are feeling a little more adventurous...
www.epicurious.com

Your local library is a great place to start with cookbooks, then if you don't like them, you're not paying for them! My greatest go-to cookbook is The New Basics Cookbook - it has great ideas, roasting charts and timetables, wine suggestions, a section on cooking with herbs, etc..very helpful.

Broiling chicken and fish is pretty easy, and you will use less oil (fat) than you will by pan frying...always a good way to go. And learn how to steam veggies to your liking..an inch or so of water, veggies, and a tight fitting lid is all you really need to steam them.

Try to keep a well stocked pantry with garlic, beans, pastas, rices, etc...you will find you can make a lot of dishes with these items!

I hope this all helps! Most importantly - don't take it too seriously...have fun and be adventurous...you know what you like, you just have to learn how to cook it!

Answer 2

Hi you could go down to your local library and in the 641.5 section of your library there should be some reciepe books. You can find them in the non fiction childrens or adult section. I'm suggesting the children's section because they usually have some realy easy recepies. also try the video section of your library. I'm suggesting this because you can stop the video or dvd if you need more time to cook stuff or get things together. Your probably tiered or ramen noodles and frozen food but here's a really easy meal idea that will shock and amaize your family.

Do you like chicken?

Well buy some boneles chicken breast. Put them in a bowl plate what ever with some olive oil, salt, peper, italian seasoning (if you want) let them sit while you do some rice

2 cups of water or chiken stock for 1 cup of rice
put the two cups of water in a soup pan and boil it.
when it boils add one table spoon of oil or margerine or butter.
That's so the rice does not stick.

Now add the rice.

Reduce the heat to medium and cover for 15 min. after 15 turn it off and let set for 5 more minutes without uncovering the pan.
If you want to make it fancy add frozen vegetables or canned vegetables like corn or mixed vegetables around the 10 minute mark.
Back to your chiken

Put some of the chiken breast you marinated in a flat pan non stick pan and cook over medium-hi heat.
They take just as long as the rice to cook so its preaty easy. You know the chicken is done because its white and not pink any more and since you put some oil on it it might even look golden.
If you want more recepies like this that are easy let me know I was there once.

Good luck with evrything and congratulations on your graduation.

Answer 3

How about a simple pasta recipe?

Ingrediants:
I pkg angel hair pasta
roma tomatos about 5
olive oil
minced garlic (jarred if fine for a new cook)
fresh basil leaves (about 5 but to taste)
salt

Put a large pot of water on to boil. Add a palm full of salt (about a tablespoon). While water is boiling chop tomatoes.

Cut tomatoes around the 'equator' and gently squeeze over the trash to get rid of seeds. Then cut in to small cubes (or any other size you like!) Then take 5 or 6 basil leaves and stack them on top of each other, roll into a little cigar and finely cut from one end. This will make nice little thin strips.

Once the water is at a rolling boil add the pasta. I never cook as long as the package says. Way too mooshy for me. After a few minutes fish a piece out and taste. If tender enough for you then drain into a collinder (sp?). Place pasta into a large pasta bowl or any large bowl will do.

Put tomatoes, basil, a splash of olive oil (couple of tablespoons if your timid about splashing) in bowl and toss all together with pasta. Give a good salting and toss again. Serve piping hot with some lovely Italian bread. This is a great meal. Even better with a simple green salad!

(These portions call all be adjusted to how much you want. Just for you or for company!) You can do it. Go forth and cook!

Answer 4

Start off with a cookbook that has recipes for simple meals such as this one:
Four Ingredient Cookbook: Three Cookbooks in One
by Linda Coffee, Emily Cale

Then, as you get comfortable, you can start experimenting with the recipes and adding more ingredients.

Answer 5

I have a great easy recipe for you. First set your oven to 350 degrees.
What you need: Cookie Sheet, Alum. Foil, Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, Instant Rice & Frozen Veggie of Choice. Plus Fav. Spices.

Get the cookie sheet, pull a alum foil sheet about 36" long and place it on the cookie sheet. With a little bowl pour a cup of instant rice in it and pour enough water in the bowl to lightly soak the rice, also salt pepper and season rice. Then put the wet rice in the middle of the foil. Seaon chicken with seasoning salt or whatever you perfer then place on top of chicken. then surround the chicken with your veggies of choice. Then cover fully with the excess foil.Cook for about an hour (if chicken is frozen) 35 mins (If chicken is defrosted).
Open up the foil cut chicken make sure there's no pink than enjoy. It's a great very easy dinner. Good luck!

Answer 6

The hardest thing about cooking for one is shopping, so you have what you need without buying too much and letting food spoil. Look at what staples your mother keeps (salt, pepper, canned goods etc)and make a list. Learn to make several of your favorite dished from her, the simple ones (roasts, spaghetti, meatloaf). Two items that are particular useful for beginners is Mrs Dashes seasoning and non lumping gravy flour. If you can't fry/boil eggs or make a salad learn. Plan to eat carryout or TV dinners several times a week to start with. Once you have got the hang of it, try new things. A good source of recipes is
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/

Answer 7

Anyone that can finish college can follow directions. I'll never be a chef, but I can follow a recipe. Look for a simple cook book at the grocery store, and you can download 1000's on the Internet. Meanwhile, check out the skillet dishes in the frozen food section. Congratulations!!

Answer 8

cooking should first of all be fun for you, if you look at it as a hindrance you will fail at first. take the simple foods you like. chicken, steak, spaghetti, pork chops, hamburgers. with chicken a quick way to make is take tin foil wrap your chicken and some fresh vegetables in it and put a bit of Italian season and salt and pepper on it with some poultry season and you will have chicken and vegetables. you can also add rice to this and will cook in the tin foil and the moisture will be there and you can leave it in the oven for about 40 Min's and all will be tasty. you can buy tin foil bags at the store.
spaghetti is quick and simple just a jar of good sauce of your choice, put the noodles in another pan and boil until the ends are almost white. turn off heat and let set for about 3 Min's and you will have perfect noodles. drain noodles and to keep them from sticking to each other rinse a bit with cool water. remember you sauce will heat your noodles back to temperature that is desired.
steak is a bit trickier but you can handle this too put in oven on 350 and loosely wrap in foil. cook for about 15 Min's or so and you will have medium steak. put potato in microwave for 20 Min's and got a baked potato, and veg. out of a can and you have a nice meal.

Answer 9

judging by your name is assume that you are a girl but there is a great book out there called "A Man, A Can, and A Microwave". it has all sorts of yummy recipes that are made from canned products and made in the microwave. i also recently moved out of my parent's house after graduating and i learned a lot from watching the Food Network. it really helps to actually watch others do the cooking

Answer 10

I love the website www.allrecipes.com. You can search specifically for "fast" or "easy" recipes. You can also search by ingredient.

There is also a show on the Food Network called Good Deal. The show features inexpensive, yet delicious, meals. You can look up recipes featured on the show on www.foodnetwork.com.

Bon appetit!