New to cooking, need ideas

[Katie E]

Hi, digitman. Welcome to DC. You've come to the right place for advice.

Yes, by all means, go to your local library and look at the cookbook selection. That's a great place to start. Especially look in the sections of the cookbook that have recipes for foods you are fond of.

Also, check out your grocery store for ideas. If you have a Wal-Mart in your area, you'll find they have free recipes. The meat, seafood and produce departments have little racks with recipe cards for foods in those sections. Not only will you get some good recipes, you'll also learn a little about the foods in those parts of the store. Some of our favorite dishes have come from those nice little recipe cards.

Another place to get information is your local university extension service. They have an agent who can assist you with food handling, choices, recipes. How do I know? I used to teach several food courses. Plus, they're free. What a deal!

[mcnerd]

You might want to try this cookbook found on Amazon. I've had my pocketbook edition since the 60's

Amazon.com: The Compleat I Hate to Cook Book: Peg Bracken: Books

[GotGarlic]

There are a lot of good ideas for simple dishes in this thread: How about 3-4 ingredient recipes?

HTH.

[Bilby]

As to the grill, yes you can use that as a grill for the steak but you would be better using a frypan on the top of the stove. The poster was referring to a grill where the flames/heat comes from below like a bbq grill. You won't get the same results from using the oven grill with a steak and you do risk stewing it if you don't know what you are doing.

Learn how to make savoury mince (beef mince, some water, seasonings like garlic, S&P, Worcestershire sauce and any vegetables that you do like all cooked together in a pot, mixing regularly until mince is cooked) cos then you can make tacos, spaghetti, mince on toast, put it in some puff pastry for a pie, top with mashed potato and bake for a Cottage Pie, top a jacket potato (prick washed potato all over, put in microwave for a couple of mins, then turn over and cook for a similar time until soft) with the mince, and top with some tomato sauce and cheese.

Get a fish fillet and put it in a freezer bag that you have put some flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder and dried tarragon. Shake the bag until the fillet is coated. Put a fry pan on low heat and put a good dob of butter in. When the butter has melted, put the fish fillet in. When the fish colour on its side has started to change to opaque, turn it over and continue to cook for a minute or so, depending on the thickness of the fillet. Remove from pan, remembering that the fish will continue cooking. If you want a sauce for the fish, deglaze the pan by pouring a splash of wine, sherry, verjuice or apple cider vinegar into the pan, turn up to high and mix the liquid with the pan juices and and crispy bits in the pan. Remove from heat and pour in a splash of cream, mixing well and pour over your fish. You can then serve the fish with chips/potato or anything else you desire.

HTH

[Jeekinz]

Pan on the stove, med-high heat.

Add Johnsonville Original brats and continue to cook until slightly brown on both sides.

Lower heat to medium.

Add 1 sliced onion and cook until slightly transparent.

Add 1 1/2 of your favorite beer. Down the other 1/2.

Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes. Then remove cover and continue to cook for 5-10 minutes.

Get some decent hotdog rolls. Spread on some spicy brown mustard, insert brat and top with some of the onions.

[Bilby]

what's a johnsonville original brat? Someone's kid you don't like??? ;-)

[Jeekinz]

Originally Posted by Bilby

what's a johnsonville original brat? Someone's kid you don't like??? ;-)

LOL. A brand name bratwurst. Home

[Bilby]

Thanks for the link Jeekinz!

[Andy M.]

Check out the COOKING LINKS near the top of this page. There are enough links to recipes there to keep you cooking for the rest of your life.

[Bigjim68]

IMO the best source of cooking ideas is the internet. I think that it is important to recognize quality indredients at the store, If they look good, buy some, then look for ideas on the internet. If it looks interesting, try it. If you think it might be better if slightly changed, do it. Don't be intimidated. The worst that can happen is that you have go out to eat. You would have done that if you had not tried, and, you will not have learned anything. It is also a good idea to make friends with the best food and wine purveyers in your area. They are in business to help you. Who knows, if you had fresh veggies, well prepared, you might decide that you like them. You are on the right track, a desire to learn, and checking out the cooking forums.