Learnt the basics from my mum, plus my old man suffered from Crohn's so never really had take always until I left home. My advice would be to start with simple dishes as I think most people panick with timing when starting out cooking. For example If you can boil water, fry mince and open a jar of bolognese sauce you can do a reasonable spag boll. Cooking doesn't have to be difficult, plus if you ain't getting paid to do it, the odd slightly over cooked vegetable or an egg which is now hard boiled instead of soft boiled ain't the end of the world. Like most things in life, "practice makes perfect"!!!
I love mince and dumplings, I'd love to make that. I like stir fries, too... I eat most things, to be fair.
The problem with most recipe books is they are designed to be wordy and clever so put novice cooks off. Simple meals appear over complicated. @CBD saffy try one of Nigel Slater’s easy meals books. Jamie Oliver did one that only uses up to five ingredients in each dish.
Thanks, mate. I was raised mainly by my grandparents and growing up I just took for granted that every meal would be made for me. I left school and moved straight in with a lass who knew her way around the kitchen. When I got into my 20's, I froze when it come to making a meal, I felt I'd left it to late and then by that stage it's a bit embarrassing asking people. My Mam really tried to help me when she was dying, she bought me a slow cooker and told me to just put everything in that. I want to learn to cook, though. She wasn't well enough to do that, I don't think.
I had the same problem with learning how to use a washing machine and I’m still not that good with them. Mum did the washing, then I went to uni and a female housemate did my washing for me, left uni and mum still did the washing as I’d take a bag home for her every couple of weeks, moved in with a girlfriend and she did the washing, married her and she did the washing for a few years and then said I was a lazy **** and needed to learn how to use a washing machine. So I did it wrong.
I think a slow cooker is a brilliant way to cook and because you just pretty much just chuck it in and leave it for a few hours it's really difficult to screw it up. I think @Chief is the sites slow cooker expert and posts a number of good looking dishes. Again if you can fry mince and boil potatoes, you can master a basic shepherd's pie. Slowly fry some mince until it goes from pink to brown, boil and mash some spuds. Put the mince in an oven proof dish, stick the mash on top, add a little grated cheese on top of the mash and stick in the oven until the cheese goes golden. Might not win any master chef awards but I bet you would enjoy it?
Well, we can swap tips. I'm great with a washine machine. Whites, darks, and coloureds in three separate piles. If you aren't sure, just put it on a 30 quickwash and you'll be fine, no colours will run.
I've just about mastered light and dark wash now, but still not sure what program number to use. The dishwasher is my kitchen appliance that I really struggle with. I always end up putting it on the program which takes about three hours to complete.
My cooking emanated from roast dinner being my favourite meal. When I went to uni I had to learn how to make it. Then it went from thinking pub meals were **** for the money so decided I could make it better myself and do.
I have an electric oven and tend to put most things in at about 180 degrees. From then I just keep a close eye on it. I don't think I've ever used a timer!! I'm sure a professional like Ginge will tell you I'm doing it wrong but it works for me. I would also add that I'm talking about cooking, not baking. I can't bake to save my life but I think that is because baking requires a little patience and finesse. As I already said, most basic cooking is quite forgiving, it's hard to not have something edible at the end!!!!
I know Jamie Oliver isn't so popular at the moment but his books are great as they are basic and effective, I'd recommend his books for sometime wanting to learn.
Tonight I had braised pig cheek with crispy shredded pigs ear for a starter and lamb 3 ways for main (no jokes). Have to say though the mini shepherd's pie was the best.
Had Thai takeaway tonight. Shared a Pad Thai and sticky rice, she ordered chicken panang and me beef curry red. Was bloody lovely. Just polishing off a bottle of sauvignon blanc. Not done a slow cooked meal for a couple of weeks (for reasons soon to be apparent) ,will be doing at least one next week though. Will post before and afters as usual!
Where was this? The food sounds nice. I've never ever found or been to a single decent restaurant in Cardiff!
The Potted Pig. Superb meal, it's in an old bank vault at the top of St Mary's st. Also went to The Alchemist which was great fun, daft cocktails.
There's one of those at Media City. Mate of mine got a round that cost him £240 after a United game couple of years back, silly twat. We were all bladdered. Pretty sure I only had a G&T but it had smoke coming out of it so that added a tenner at least!
Speaking of pig...my son and I each had one of these at a restaurant in the New Forest. It’s half a pig’s head. My daughter thought it was rank as it still had the teeth in.
