Sooo...ummmm....

[Goliath]

I'm going to need to learn how to actually cook something that's at a higher quality level than "It'll leave you alive."

Any suggestions?

[Petra]

Ice cream.

You can't go wrong with ice cream. :)


Hi, Goliath. Welcome. :)

[LadyShea]

Hi Goliath! I am not a cook myself, but have to feed me and hubby. I broil a lot of meat, and steam a lot of veggies then try to find creative sauces/seasonings so it's not totally boring. One thing I learned to make very well is gravy.

What kinds of foods do you like, perhaps I can post some tricks or things I have found?

[viscousmemories]

You'll be needing to learn two words, Goliath: George Foreman. Buy yourself a George Foreman grill and you can take a boneless, skinless chicken breast out of the freezer, throw it in the GF, and 8-10 minutes later you'll have a grilled chicken breast. There are many things you can do with a grilled chicken breast. Of course GF works on steak, hamburgers, and other things as well.

I've only started to learn how to cook this past year, so the "intro" level stuff is all fresh in my mind. I'll be posting in this forum a lot, both to share what little I've learned and to prod our experts for more. :)

[Dingfod]

You'll be needing to learn two words, Goliath: George Foreman. Buy yourself a George Foreman grill and you can take a boneless, skinless chicken breast out of the freezer, throw it in the GF, and 8-10 minutes later you'll have a grilled chicken breast. There are many things you can do with a grilled chicken breast. Of course GF works on steak, hamburgers, and other things as well. The GF Grill is great for steaks, hamburgers, and chicken, but I also grill catfish filets on it, with lemon-pepper or cajun seasonings. I also have grilled salmon steaks on it. Mmmm!

Another useful kitchen implement is a crockpot or slow-cooker. You put raw food in it in the morning and you come home in the evening to a nice hot dinner. I make a fairly decent beef stew and turkey chili in the crockpot. Now I've got one with a divided crock so I can make both at the same time. :D


Warren

[Roland98]

You'll be needing to learn two words, Goliath: George Foreman. Buy yourself a George Foreman grill and you can take a boneless, skinless chicken breast out of the freezer, throw it in the GF, and 8-10 minutes later you'll have a grilled chicken breast. There are many things you can do with a grilled chicken breast. Of course GF works on steak, hamburgers, and other things as well.

And if you think ahead a bit, you can marinate the chicken in just some Italian dressing, or the steak in some steak sauce, or pork chops in some BBQ sauce in the fridge overnight, and then throw them on the Foreman, throw some rice or potatoes on the stove, cook the veggie of your choice, and actually have a decent meal pretty quickly.

[Goliath]

Thanks for the replies.

I'll eat damn near anything that's edible...I'm generally not a picky kind of guy. I love meat of all kinds (probably a bit too much), but I think I'll try to move to more fruits and vegetables.

And thanks for the tip on the Foreman grill and slow cooker. I bought myself a lil outdoor grill (I've got a small balcony), but the GF grill may be a good alternative during the winter, and the slow cooker will come in handy the next time I inevitably decide to commit an atrocity by trying to throw together stuff into a stew (I do this on a semi regular basis...usually with at least mildly horrific results).

Sincerely,

Goliath

[pescifish]

One thing I use my George Foreman grill for is vegetables. All kinds. Slice zucchini, toss on some soy sauce, grill on GF. Eggplant, asparagus, green beans, etc.. The best is grilled chili peppers such as a mild anaheim or some nice fat jalapenos. If it's a slow cooking veggie (like carrots), I nuke it a bit in the microwave and then grill it up.

I like my food to be branded by the little black grilling lines.

Tofu does really well on the George Foreman. Also, if you live alone, get the smallest grill -- it's small enough to leave on the counter next to the sink and easy to use and clean up.

No cooking skills required.

(Another kick ass tv cooking appliance I highly recommend is the Ron Popeil Rotisserie Grill -- I don't use it for anything but roasting whole chickens, but it does that to perfection!)

[RevDahlia]

I only started cooking seriously about a year and a half ago, and if I can do it anyone can.

What I've learned:

You need one friendly cookbook. I recommend any of the first three I namechecked in the cookbooks thread.

You need one knife you like, as big as you can handle. It's worth investing some money in this. Also one large pot, and one largish deep-sided saute pan. A colander is useful. You do not need a lot of little fiddly doohickeys that only do one thing.

Find a recipe that you can make reliably well every time. This will build your confidence. For me it was chili. Chili is a no-brainer and everyone likes it. Saute some meat, garlic and onions and maybe a green pepper until the meat is done, dump in a huge can of diced tomatoes with juice and a smaller can of drained black or kidney beans, add salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin and cayenne until it tastes good to you, and allow to simmer for about an hour until it composes itself. Eat with grated cheese and chips. Voila.

Second the recommendation on the George Foreman grill. I'd also get a rice cooker, if you're going to be eating lots of rice. Rice is actually pretty tricky to make.

Vegetables aren't easy to cook. Always err on the underdone side of things.

Don't feel like everything has to be a huge production. Spaghetti with garlic and olive oil and lots of grated Parmesan is every bit as delicious as some kitchen-sink affair, and it takes fifteen minutes. (Just be careful not to burn the garlic.)

Don't even think about attempting baked goods until you're feeling extremely confident.

Bags of mixed greens from the supermarket are a godsend. A box of croutons, some decent dressing, and voila -- salad.

A roast chicken will be your very best friend. Hot or cold, you can pick at it for days, and you can turn the carcass into soup. Here is how you roast a chicken:
Remove giblets from chicken cavity and throw them away
Rinse chicken inside and out and dry it well
Soften a big lump of butter and mix it up with salt, pepper and some paprika, and rub it all over the bird
Stuff a few garlic cloves and half a lemon inside the chicken
Place it breast-up in a roasting pan (those foil ones are fine, but a pan with a rack is also useful)
Preheat oven to 425f
Pop chicken in there
After 20 minutes, reduce heat to 375
Cook for an hour and fifteen minutes or thereabouts. If you can stab the part between the thigh and the breast and the juices run clear, not pink, it is done.

That's it. No basting, no trussing, always delicious. A loaf of bread, some salad-in-a-bag, maybe some good cheese, and you're set.

Trust yourself and what you want to eat. If what you want for dinner is a load of sauteed spinach and a fried egg, or baguette and Brie and salami, then that's what you're having. Do not feel bound by what cooking and eating is "supposed" to be.

[Goliath]

Wow, thanks for the detailed recepie, RevDhalia!

And thanks for the tip on the rotisserie grill, pescifish..if the rotisserie grill isn't too expensive, I might try the chicken recepie on that.

Oh, I did neglect to mention that I managed to get two boxes of 16 bacon-wrapped filet mignons for $64, so it'll probably be beef for awhile instead of chicken. But I'll keep the chicken recipie in mind nonetheless. =)

Phew...no one noticed that edit.

[Goliath]

Ice cream.

You can't go wrong with ice cream. :)

Yeah, but I need to get into a shape other than round.

I do like ice cream, though...


Hi, Goliath. Welcome. :)

Thanks. =)

[Goliath]

Okay, I got the GF grill (the big ass one was on sale for only $8 more than the small one...Pamida can kick ass at times), and a 2.5 quart slow cooker. I'll give the grill a try tomorrow on one of those steaks.

[viscousmemories]

Okay, I got the GF grill (the big ass one was on sale for only $8 more than the small one...Pamida can kick ass at times), and a 2.5 quart slow cooker. I'll give the grill a try tomorrow on one of those steaks.
:woohoo:

This may well be the first time someone has taken my advice on anything. You rock, dude. Thanks for that.

By the way I found that by far the easiest and safest way to clean the grill (without scraping off the teflon) is to bunch up a couple paper towels and rub it clean while it's still hot. And the GF is also good for making grilled sandwiches, so don't forget you can use it for that. :)

[livius drusus]

I'm a pretty good cook, and I still love my GF grill. It really makes outstanding melty sandwiches with no need for butter or oil.

Just for variety's sake, here's a really easy recipe to make which also happens to be delicious and healthy. Oh, and it keeps well for several days and makes great take to work lunches. :)

Fusilli with Smoked Turkey, Broccoli and Peppers

1 lb fusilli, cooked al dente
1 lb smoked turkey, diced
1 bunch broccoli, florets only, cooked al dente (I use frozen broccoli and steam them until they're a bright green)
1 6 oz. jar roasted red peppers, drained and diced
1/2 cup Parmesan, grated
red pepper flakes

Dressing:
3/4 cup olive oil
3/4 cup cider vinegar
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced

In a large salad bowl, toss pasta, turkey, broccoli and peppers. Chill. Put all dressing ingredients in a jar and shake. Drizzle salad with dressing and sprinkle with parmesan. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes to taste.

[Goliath]

That sounds great, liv, but....what the hell is fusilli? It sounds like something that an Italian parent would say when complaining about his/her child. :P

[Roland98]

Corkscrew pasta.

[Goliath]

Ahhhh...okay. Thanks. =)

Yes, that recipie does look good. Thanks, liv!

[viscousmemories]

I can vouch for its goodness. I've made it quite a few times since liv told me about it last year. And it got high praise from my bosses friend, a local restauranteur. :)

[pescifish]

By the way I found that by far the easiest and safest way to clean the grill (without scraping off the teflon) is to bunch up a couple paper towels and rub it clean while it's still hot.
Get the paper towels wet, or have some water nearby to spray the grill while it's still hot.

As I am a wild woman living on the edge at all times, my small GF grill is right next to the sink. When I take the stuff off of it, I actually hold the grill over the sink, spray it with water on the bottom and wipe it off, then turn it over and spray with water on the top. The insides get wet but I let it all dry out before I plug it back in.

[livius drusus]

:rofl: You're funny, Goliath. You could probably use any pasta of that size: penne, shells, maybe even bowties. Fusilli are great though, cause yummy things get stuck in that corkscrew shape.

http://italianfood.about.com/library/pics/fusstret.jpg

[RevDahlia]

Wow, thanks for the detailed recepie, RevDhalia!

And thanks for the tip on the rotisserie grill, pescifish..if the rotisserie grill isn't too expensive, I might try the chicken recepie on that.

Oh, I did neglect to mention that I managed to get two boxes of 16 bacon-wrapped filet mignons for $64, so it'll probably be beef for awhile instead of chicken. But I'll keep the chicken recipie in mind nonetheless. =)

Phew...no one noticed that edit.
Actually, I did... but no matter. :P

If you get a rotisserie, you don't need to muck around with all the temperature-changing and stuff. You just divest Mr. Chicken of his innards, rinse him, dry him, cover him with fat of some sort, and then put him on the spike and around and around he goes. Half a lemon and some garlic would still be great to put in the chicken, though. Rotisseries are awesome... but you can still roast a chicken without one.

[Goliath]

Actually, I did... but no matter. :P

Well, that's what I get for reading things too quickly...

I also saw the brand of rotisserie that you mentioned...but it was $200...a bit more than I wanna spend on a kitcheny thing right now.

[RevDahlia]

Well, that's what I get for reading things too quickly...

I also saw the brand of rotisserie that you mentioned...but it was $200...a bit more than I wanna spend on a kitcheny thing right now.
Rotisserie? I didn't recommend any rotisserie. :wink:

(laying off now)

[Dingfod]

And the GF is also good for making grilled sandwiches, so don't forget you can use it for that. :)The GF Grill is also amazing for reheating a slice of pizza. The crust stays crispy, or rather, gets all crispy again, the toppings melt. Good stuff. Beats the shit out of the microwave. I hate rubbery pizza.


Warren

[Goliath]

Rotisserie? I didn't recommend any rotisserie. :wink:

(laying off now)

Ahh, mother pusbucket... I dunno what's wrong with me today. It must be the heat.

:doh:

[viscousmemories]

The GF Grill is also amazing for reheating a slice of pizza. The crust stays crispy, or rather, gets all crispy again, the toppings melt. Good stuff. Beats the shit out of the microwave. I hate rubbery pizza.
Ohhh... good tip. Thanks. :)

[pescifish]

The GF Grill is also amazing for reheating a slice of pizza. The crust stays crispy, or rather, gets all crispy again, the toppings melt.
Wait a minute... how do you do a pizza in the GF grill? Don't all the toppings just get stuck to the top grill? Do you leave the top grill flipped up and just use it like a griddle?

Yeah, the rotissierie is a bit pricey and a nice rack in a roaster pan works very well. Listen to the good Rev, she knows of what she speaks.

[RevDahlia]

Yeah, the rotissierie is a bit pricey and a nice rack in a roaster pan works very well. Listen to the good Rev, she knows of what she speaks.
:woohoo:
Aw yeah, I got the ups from the piscine priestess! Go me!

I got my roasting pan, with rack, from Crate and Barrel for fourteen bucks. Roasting pans have a great advantage over rotisseries in that you can make delicious gravy from the leavings in a roasting pan, whereas with a rotisserie those wonderful caramelized crusty bits are lost forever.

If you are on a diet, a rotisserie is a better bet.

[Dingfod]

Wait a minute... how do you do a pizza in the GF grill? Don't all the toppings just get stuck to the top grill? Do you leave the top grill flipped up and just use it like a griddle?Try it. The cheese stuck a little bit, but overall it worked quite well. Besides the GF Grill will only go so far closed anyway, it certainly didn't smash any of the pizza I've reheated on it. I didn't invent this use for the grill, that honor, unless she says different, goes to a coworker of mine who used to come in and use mine. Yes, I have a small GF Grill at work too.


Warren

[livius drusus]

Okay, I got the GF grill (the big ass one was on sale for only $8 more than the small one...Pamida can kick ass at times), and a 2.5 quart slow cooker. I'll give the grill a try tomorrow on one of those steaks.
So how did the steak turn out in the GF, Goliath? Did you make a veggie or salad or anything on the side?

[freemonkey]

The GF Grill is also amazing for reheating a slice of pizza. The crust stays crispy, or rather, gets all crispy again, the toppings melt. Good stuff. Beats the shit out of the microwave. I hate rubbery pizza.


Warren

Tried this today, because a) I never use the microwave for this sort of thing (its blasphemy!); b) it is too fucking hot to turn the oven on; and c) Warren said so. *

Yummy! It got grill lines on it, top & bottom. The pepperoni got all crispy. The crust got and stayed crunchy.

* disclaimer: Its not actually a GF grill, but another brand and worked just dandy!

[viscousmemories]

* disclaimer: Its not actually a GF grill, but another brand and worked just dandy!
And you're worried about microwave pizza blasphemy? :1thumbdown:

[freemonkey]

And you're worried about microwave pizza blasphemy? :1thumbdown:
Does your George Foreman grill have removable grill inserts? Removable grill inserts that you can put in the dishwasher?
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:hrm:
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I'll wait while you go check
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Didn't think so. :hmph:

[livius drusus]

Oooooo! Now that's a burn. :fried:

[viscousmemories]

Does your George Foreman grill have removable grill inserts? Removable grill inserts that you can put in the dishwasher?
Why... yes! Yes it does! In fact... in fact the inserts are in the dishwasher right now. Yes that's right. They're in the dishwasher where my wife put them. My wife... my wife... Morgan Fairchild. Yeah! Yeah, that's the ticket. :sweaty:

[pescifish]

I'm tellin' ya, just shoot the damn grills with water in the sink and then let the thing dry out. I've been doing it to mine 2-3 times a week for several years now with no ill effect.

/me ponders her own celebrity choice for fantasy wife...

[seebs]

Man, everyone is recommending that George Foreman grill. I've been assuming it was hype, but... Okay, I'll look at it.

Food... Build up a selection of staple foods. For me, it's cheapo frozen pizzas and garlic pasta. Learn to make a few interesting things that keep well. I rely on my wife's most excellent red sauce, and meatloaf. Egg rolls can be pretty good; a big batch of egg roll mix will make a lot of meals. If you don't have much freezer space, get a small freezer and use it.

Start with "easy" recipes, like meatloaf. Favor things that you can make a batch of and then have decent leftovers for a while; one of the best motivators for cooking is not having to do it again for a bit. ;)

[freemonkey]

my mom gave it to me for xmas last year. (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004SPE0/103-0598538-8791011?v=glance)

[RevDahlia]

* pescifish ponders her own celebrity choice for fantasy wife...

I don't even need to ponder. My choice is Angelina Jolie. I already know how to cook and clean and Run a Household, so all she'd have to do is hang around and make me and hubby happy.

Hurrah for fantasy celebrity wives!

[Goliath]

Thinking back on my childhood a bit, I actually did some cooking as a child. However, it was mostly baked stuff, and only under the supervision of my mom.

I specifically remember trying to make coffee cake. The recipie called for a half cup of coffee (or something like that). So, being the idiot child that I was, I carefully measured out a half cup of coffee grounds.....needless to say, the cake was a bit grainy.

Also, when I was a kid, there were always a lot of cakes and cookies on hand (between my mom and grandma, who both baked like crazy). I guess that explains why the only shape that I was in as a kid was round... =/

Anyways, for some reason, I thought that the recipie was really calling for coffee grounds.....needless to say, the cake was a bit grainy.

Also, I remember waking up one morning before my parents. There was a cake that was made fresh the night before, and I was hungry. So, after grabbing a knife and a chair (to stand on so that I could see the top of the stove), I started cutting myself a "piece" of cake. My mom came down to see me trying to unload 2/3 of the cake onto a plate.

:D

[viscousmemories]

* pescifish ponders her own celebrity choice for fantasy wife...
As I said, Morgan Fairchild (http://snltranscripts.jt.org/85/85bliar.phtml). :didi: