Beginner Cook
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Anonymous
| Im a very beginner cook. My oldest just turned six and I'm realizing (a bit late I know) that my lack of being able to cook is impacting her greatly and unfairly. She is a very piky eater, as are my other two, but I know I'm not doing her any favors by not cooking her variety. I would love to get better and be able to make a variety of dinners for my family. Any suggestions on classes, books, etc.? Tia! |
Anonymous
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OP, I was so much the same way when I was a newlywed.
I got married knowing not much beyond the most basics -- how to prepare pre-made foods by boiling them in a pot, heating them up in a skillet/microwave/pan, or sticking them in an oven. My mom was the same way, so none of us ever learned anything beyond the basics. Fast forward many years and I'm actually a bit proud of my culinary skills -- nothing fancy, but very competent in the kitchen and can combine just about anything I happen to have on hand into a tasty meal. Start watching cooking shows. It doesn't really matter which one(s) unless you have a specific interest -- there are tons of them on the air today. They are all fascinating to me, watching the process from start to finish. And the end results always look so good that it is VERY motivating to try to reproduce them. Realize that if you can master some basic skills, you can be very versatile in planning menus. Pasta, rice, and eggs for starters can be combined with so very many different fillers and sauces that once you are confident with them you can branch out to your heart's content. Educate yourself on the basics of nutrition -- learn the language. Basic menus over a few days time should include whole grains, proteins, vegetables (especially leafy greens), fruits, sugars, fats, etc., in a balanced proportion. Once you view it as a challenge to be mastered rather than a task, you feel more motivated. |
Anonymous
| YouTube did it for me! Once I started searching for and watching instructional videos there, I was hooked and psyched to try everything I saw them demonstrating! |
Anonymous
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Totally agree about YouTube.
Believe it or not, Gordon Ramsay has a few instructional videos on YouTube that are really good. His scrambled eggs are easy to make and delicious. |
Anonymous
| Buy " Cooking Everything" by Mark Bittman and "Dinner A Love Story" by Jenny Rosenstrach. She also has a website. |
Anonymous
holy cow, you need a video to scramble eggs? Or a recipe? |
Anonymous
| I think you can hire personal chefs to come in and teach you (or tell them you want to watch while they cook). They're not super expensive...probably a few hundred bucks each month for 1 day of cooking. |
Anonymous
Well, I thought the same and have been doing it for years, but his on/off heat method makes the most amazing eggs ever. Watch it -- you might be surprised. There is a best technique for everything. |
Anonymous
Not the PP, but I am a pretty experienced cook and had no idea that cooking eggs over super low heat for 20-30 minutes made stellar eggs until Mark Bittman told me so. I recommend "How to Cook Everything" by Mark Bittman. |
Anonymous
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I'm a reasonably experienced cook (by now) but I enjoyed this recipe book: How to Boil Water [life beyond takeout].
It covers the basics, but has delicious recipes. It's from the Food Network. I second the YouTube recommendations. http://www.amazon.com/Boil-Water-Food-Network-Kitchens/dp/0696226863 |
Anonymous
Egg-cooking PP here. Yes, this is it exactly -- the low heat and technique make these amazing silky eggs that even now I am craving. Ramsay has you cook the eggs in a saucepan with just butter -- no milk. You stir constantly with a spatula over very low heat and remove the pan from the heat from time to time, continuously stirring. At the end a TB or so of creme fraiche. Oh my god. So good. |
Anonymous
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If I have half an hour, breakfast will be something besides scrambled eggs......
Melt butter in pan, add beaten eggs, move after they cook a bit so they don't turn into mush. Three minute process. If I wanted savory custard, I'd bake it. |
Anonymous
| Do you or your dd have a favor dish from a restaurant? Make that dish. Look it up online. Subscribe to a magazine like Savuer? What food do you like? |
Anonymous
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Look at foodnetwork.com -- if you search for a recipe or ingredient you'll find 2-3 minute videos that demonstrate technique. And most of the recipes are very doable.
I'm making Bobby Flay's fish tacos tonight. Easy peezy! |
Anonymous
| Check out L'academie de cuisine if you are near Mont. County. |