Help! Question from the worst cook on the planet

iodine

Slow is they way to go for really juicy, tender meat.

NoH8

But does tender meat mean stringy meat? I just had some of the stew and the meat was a bit pink inside so it doesn't seem like I overcooked it. Maybe it was the type of meat I bought.

iodine

Tender is NOT stringy and I agree that the cut of the meat has a LOT to do with your results.

Different cuts not only have different flavors but have different ways to be prepared in order to get the most from each cut.

Talking to your butcher, even in big grocery stores will be a big help in learning how to prepare different cuts.

The Joy Of Cooking is a wonderful cook book that explains more than you ever wanted to know about choosing and preparing meats and every thing else edible.  It can be bought on CD, as well as in hard back form.

NoH8

I actually have the joy of cooking (the one with the pink ribbon), though I can't say I've ever used it . This cooking thing is complicated!

iodine

I've always treated it like my chemistry experiments--follow directions, and if it turns out awful, it's not my fault.  LOL

As with any new thing, it looks complicated, and feels the same way in the beginning, but after you do the same thing a few times, it is WAY easy.

My dh looks at what I do (after 39 years, and I'm NO gormet cook)and says it's easy.  I tell him to give it a try himself and see how much difference experience MAKES it look easy.

My dd is learning to make microwave peanut brittle for her dad's christmas gift: she's been making 2 batches a night for 4 nights---changing a little here and there, only 2 batches have turned out good, according to her co-workers, but she keeps up with her "experiments".  After all, it's not life or death and the stuff is cheap, besides,it's fun to see what will happen!!

Try to have FUN with it Amy, it really isn't all that important to have everything turn out great.  We all learned from our mistakes--raw, burned, over salted, just lousy taste.  Whatever. 

NoH8

Thanks dotti. I was looking at it as if I was the only one cooking barely edible food and everyone else could do it easily.

Anonymous

Amy, I've been cooking since my teens.  And I've burned many foods.

After my family bragged about my mac and cheese to my SIL guess what?  I burned it!  We still joke about that today.

I have screwed up many recipes over the years.  And then there are those that you don't follow the recipe to the tee.  You can add and subtract ingredients.

My daughter loves my mashed potatoes.  All I do is boil'em, put butter, milk, salt and pepper in them and then cream them with an electric beater. There's absolutely NOTHING special about them.  She calls it "comfort" food. LOL

The worse part of cooking is clean up afterwards!

Shirley

NoH8

Shirley--I can never decide if the worst part of cooking is cleaning up or actually eating what I've made  LOL.

I treated myself to some prepared food from Trader Joe's the other day and it's amazing how much better things takes when someone else has made them.

I took one or two cooking classes in home ec in high school, but was never allowed to cook much at home. My mother wasn't a very good cook either. One of my grandmothers was a pretty good cook, but I didn't see her that often and her english wasn't very good so she never taught me. I know if I REALLY wanted to do it, I could do it well, I just don't have that burning (pun intended) desire.

2up

i am a pretty (really) good cook ......... i can't however, bake to save my life.

my daughter has absolutely no interest in cooking which is ok with me, but who will i pass my famous spaghetti sauce recipe to???? lol!

i found early on that part of my cooking 'prowess' was based on the fact that i don't really follow any recipe to the letter and i love to create my own dishes based very loosely on a certain ingredient or a recipe that had components that interested me.

i don't cook so much since all this cancer business, but i still love to create a spectacular meal once in a while.  i think you either love to cook or hate it.

my daughter thinks she's all that and a bag of chips because she 'invented' a 10 minute meal that was only 5 points on her weight watchers plan, yet very filling and 'tasty'......... it consists of rice, broccoli,canned mushrooms, 'no salt' herb seasoning, garlic powder, chicken breast and soya sauce lololol!   

i shouldn't laugh though .......... at 14 she's lost 18 pounds and kept it off and is very proud of herself (as i am of her) ........... but the chicken/broccoli concoction that she makes 3-4 times a week is really wearing thin! 

Anonymous

Shel, I've been eating a lot of broccoli lately. I love that you can put it in the microwave in a dish with a bit of water and, for me, press the "vegetable" button, it asks if its a hard or soft veggie, and in a few mins it comes out perfect! I put a little parmesan and butter on it and there's lunch. 

I bought a rice package at Costco, so I have brown rice, rice pilaf, couscous and some other rice in the package. I will have rice comin' out my ears! I'll have to try your daughter's recipe.

2up

you cracked me up ........ my kid is a 'riceaholic' ......... i got the same package at costco over here! .......... gotta love costco!

Anonymous

Shel, I'll take that famous spaghetti recipe you're talking about.  The other night I decided to make my own spaghetti sauce.  I usually buy the "jarred."  I used to make large batches of sauce and freeze it.  Well, when I tried the other day I put TOO much of something in it...I think oregano.  Soooo, a couple of nights later I "diluted" it with more tomatoes and a small can of tomato sauce and we hate it again.  It was MUCH better the second time..LOL

And, congrats to your daughter for doing so well on her diet.  I need to talk to her!

Shirley

Anonymous

Amy, I still don't like cleaning up after cooking.  In fact, I'm getting where I do not enjoy cooking anymore.    DH says, what are we eating for dinner tonight?  I say, I don't know.  What do you want?  It's that way almost every night.

Shirley

Anonymous

Yes, I put my FROZEN broccoli in the microwave.  I can get buy without any butter, but do have to use a little salt.