Cooking if you're not into cooking

[christopher575]

People who know me are as surprised as I am at my food posts these days. It wasn't all that long ago that I barely cooked anything at all. It's an ongoing process; I continue to try new things and put off trying others. 

Watching Food Network is always great, because looking at a recipe will usually turn you off if you didn't want to cook in the first place. Watching someone do it before you read it, however, is a different story. You get to see what you'll need to do and what to expect instead of worrying that you didn't get what the instructions expect you to do.

The show I think is the best for new cooks is 5 Ingredient Fix. Since the recipes are limited to five ingredients (plus salt, pepper, and water), they're a lot more reasonable for those who don't have a well-stocked pantry or spice rack. Plus Claire is funny and cute, which never hurts. 

A bit of a warning, though. She often says that if you're only buying a few ingredients, you may as well buy the nicer ones. And she means it. She doesn't bat an eye while melting $16 worth of gourmet chocolate to dip homemade churros in. Just remember that you might want to substitute or splurge sometimes, and you'll be fine.

If you don't get Food Network, there's tons of cooking videos online. The newest Food Network star, Aarti Sequeria, made a bunch before she won her show. Youtube is how I learned to make banh hoi and quite a few other things.

One more thing to keep in mind about cooking at home that people don't say often: some things are just cheaper if you don't make them yourself. If something has a lot of ingredients and you don't need very much of any of those ingredients to make one serving, you'll end up eating the same thing too many times in a row or wasting a lot of food. If you're cooking at home to save money, be sure you actually are. This is especially important if you live alone.

Comments

[myrrhmade.livejournal.com]

I <3 your food posts. I need to be better at posting mine. I usually end up taking pics of the ingredients (because they're so pretty) and some of the pans as I cook, but then I fail at pics of the finished product because husbandman is so wanting to eat NOW, lol, I usually plate and forget the rest.

As for expensive things, I loves me a good deal, but sometimes you just can't substitute, you know? Like capers packed in salt as opposed to oil. Sooo much better. Really expensive though, so I try not to do too many things with capers so my tiny jar will last longer. Same goes with good olive oil for finishing sauces and stuff, but to cook with? No. Or salt.

[blueberryjoe.livejournal.com]

[christopher575.livejournal.com]

Already in queue for tomorrow!

[blueberryjoe.livejournal.com]

nice!

[moonrock.livejournal.com]

The "some things are just cheaper if you don't make them yourself" thing is so true when you are only cooking for 1-2 people. It absolutely makes sense and is logical to make your own meals when it is for a family, but 1-2 typically ends up with way too much of whatever ingredients or leftovers, as you said. It is hard!

[crushdmb.livejournal.com]

i have a huge crush on that 5 ingredient girl for some reason. idk why.

[bradferd23.livejournal.com]

Melissa D has some good stuff that is easy too. Just an fyi and her stuff is cheap.

[christopher575.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah I'm a big Melissa fan. I also watch Mexican Made Easy every week. And Chopped. And Alex's Day Off. And Next Iron Chef.

[christopher575.livejournal.com]

Oh another thing about Ten Dollar Dinners is that the recipes often assume you've got a pantry stocked with spices and stuff. You might be using 20 cents worth of a spice, but the bottle is an investment. Here's Garrett's blog post about the time he made her Tunisian meatballs:

http://www.gmwnet.com/2009/08/39-42-dinners-with-melissa-darabian/

[jameth.livejournal.com]

What blows my mind is how domestic you have become and it doesn't stop at cooking
Basically, you are nicer but still have fucked up humor and it is awesome

[christopher575.livejournal.com]

I'm just way happier and it has infected my personality.

[emramesha.livejournal.com]

What a great post! But remember, the freezer can be your friend too. I don't do it often enough, but my mother is still the master at cooking a large batch of whatever and freezing the rest for later thawing and eating. It can help when you do make those large recipes.

[christopher575.livejournal.com]

I never think of the freezer much because the one in my last place was tiny and now ours is always full. :)