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Resources for new cooks
Posted on 12/21/16 at 1:04 pm
Posted on 12/21/16 at 1:04 pm
My goddaughter is newly married to an enlisted man and will be joining him on base in a couple months.
She has no clue how to cook and now regrets not taking her Mom and I up on offers to teach her when she was growing up. I'm going to teach her a few basics in the time we have left before she leaves, but does anyone have any favorite YouTube cooking channels? Any shows available on Netflix? Good cookbooks for a beginner? (the full extent of her cooking ability is heating up a tostino's pizza, and I'm not even sure she uses an oven for that)
I doubt they're going to have cable or Vue/Sling/Directv Now subscription, so Food Network and Cooking Channel are not an option (and have few actual cooking show left on anyway). Appreciate any help anyone could provide.
She has no clue how to cook and now regrets not taking her Mom and I up on offers to teach her when she was growing up. I'm going to teach her a few basics in the time we have left before she leaves, but does anyone have any favorite YouTube cooking channels? Any shows available on Netflix? Good cookbooks for a beginner? (the full extent of her cooking ability is heating up a tostino's pizza, and I'm not even sure she uses an oven for that)
I doubt they're going to have cable or Vue/Sling/Directv Now subscription, so Food Network and Cooking Channel are not an option (and have few actual cooking show left on anyway). Appreciate any help anyone could provide.
12
Posted on 12/21/16 at 1:07 pm to Miz Piggy
Not sure about the videos, but this board shares a lot of knowledge and has taught me a good bit. Granted I can do more than throw pizza in the oven, but trying new stuff with new ingredients really helps you hone in your skills.
ETA: outside of beer and restaurant topics, I probably read every thread on here.
ETA: outside of beer and restaurant topics, I probably read every thread on here.
This post was edited on 12/21/16 at 1:10 pm
Posted on 12/21/16 at 1:11 pm to PapaPogey
quote:
this board shares a lot of knowledge and has taught me a good bit.
Oh, I agree - love this board and am on here multiple times a day, even if I rarely post. I'm still afraid it would be too advanced for her. Seriously. She's that clueless in the kitchen.
This post was edited on 12/21/16 at 1:32 pm
Posted on 12/21/16 at 1:27 pm to Miz Piggy
Good Eats should have some YouTube videos which are great
I've also found seriouseats.com to be a great resource
I've also found seriouseats.com to be a great resource
Posted on 12/21/16 at 1:36 pm to Miz Piggy
Take a look at Cuisine at Home magazine. Most of the meals are pretty quick. This is a no ads magazine and there are color step by step pictures. Also a section on tips. We use it for ideas for quick during the week meals. I think there's a forum on the website or there used to be that might be helpful to her.
Some of Martha Stewart's recipes are pretty simple and sometimes, if you google, you can find the video to go with it.
Look at this very simple chicken pot pie recipe on her site. It takes no time to make, though it may take her longer as a new cook, but it's not complicated.
LINK
The video explains a lot and is only 5 minutes. Recipes like these with matching videos can be very helpful.
Some of Martha Stewart's recipes are pretty simple and sometimes, if you google, you can find the video to go with it.
Look at this very simple chicken pot pie recipe on her site. It takes no time to make, though it may take her longer as a new cook, but it's not complicated.
LINK
The video explains a lot and is only 5 minutes. Recipes like these with matching videos can be very helpful.
Posted on 12/21/16 at 1:42 pm to Miz Piggy
Best advice is to tell her to learn 5 or 6 techniques. So for instance teach her how to braise something, how to pan sear chops or fish, how to make soup, how to roast a chicken, make an omelet, blanch vegetables, in other words the basics.
Once you get those concepts down can really start to cook and make one's own recipes. Avoid sushi lessons, advanced cupcake techniques, and dishes with hard to source ingredients.
Once you get those concepts down can really start to cook and make one's own recipes. Avoid sushi lessons, advanced cupcake techniques, and dishes with hard to source ingredients.
This post was edited on 12/21/16 at 1:44 pm
Posted on 12/21/16 at 1:44 pm to iAmBatman
quote:
Good Eats should have some YouTube videos which are great
alton brown's new cookbook is exactly what the OP is looking for
AB EVERDAY COOK
Posted on 12/21/16 at 1:57 pm to cgrand
quote:
alton brown's new cookbook is exactly what the OP is looking for
i love AB, but she wouldn't get past the pantry basics section of that book!
She's also not an adventurous eater.
Posted on 12/21/16 at 2:45 pm to cgrand
Been meaning to check that out. How is it?
I have the 3 Good Eats books and would like to add this one to the collection
I have the 3 Good Eats books and would like to add this one to the collection
Posted on 12/21/16 at 2:54 pm to Miz Piggy
quote:
She's also not an adventurous eater.
Is she ok with handling raw meat? Eggs?
It's pretty easy to learn how to brine, season, and roast chicken breasts. Also browning meat for things like tacos or sauces.
I come from a family of terrible cooks. My parents always fed us premade/frozen things and couldn't find their way around their own kitchen if their lives depended on it. I didn't learn anything about cooking until I was 20 and my college roommate (who was a great cook) really taught me about it. I can more than hold my own in the kitchen now and make some dishes really, really well. If you give me an idea of the kind of meals she's looking to do, I might be able to point her in the right direction.
This post was edited on 12/21/16 at 2:56 pm
Posted on 12/21/16 at 3:01 pm to Miz Piggy
What types of foods do she and her husband enjoy? Is she more of a comfort food eater?
Posted on 12/21/16 at 3:16 pm to Gris Gris
Her husband is not a picky eater and appreciates good food. Her favorite things are processed foods (tostino's and Jimmy Dean Pancake and Sausage on a stick) and fast food. She's willing to learn for him, so I thought I'd focus on some comfort foods (he's a country boy).
I plan to teach her how to make breakfast and a couple of basic dinners (maybe roast chicken, meatloaf and mashed potatoes or pot roast). The thing I have to be careful of is that my kitchen is very well equipped, while hers will not be. I'd be willing to bet she doesn't have simple tools like a meat thermometer, potato masher or food processor.
ETA: I think the key to what I'm teaching her is that I'm not going to do ANYTHING for her. I'll stand next to her and give her instructions, but she'll have to actually do it all. Which will be completely frustrating for me.
I plan to teach her how to make breakfast and a couple of basic dinners (maybe roast chicken, meatloaf and mashed potatoes or pot roast). The thing I have to be careful of is that my kitchen is very well equipped, while hers will not be. I'd be willing to bet she doesn't have simple tools like a meat thermometer, potato masher or food processor.
ETA: I think the key to what I'm teaching her is that I'm not going to do ANYTHING for her. I'll stand next to her and give her instructions, but she'll have to actually do it all. Which will be completely frustrating for me.
This post was edited on 12/21/16 at 3:30 pm
Posted on 12/21/16 at 3:41 pm to Miz Piggy
As I was thinking about this, I also thought about what tools she might have in her kitchen. You nailed that. She can't cook some things without the right tools, so it's good that you know what she has. She might benefit from a crock pot. Harder to mess up some of those recipes!
Take a look at that Cuisine at Home magazine. It may be good after you've taught her a few things. Step by step pictures are good. In fact, look at Pioneer Woman's site. She takes pictures of EVERYTHING and many of her recipes are simple.
Roasting vegetables is really easy, but if she's trying to cook two things in the one oven she'll probably have, that could be difficult for her to manage. The crock pot would come in handy for that, though, or maybe a toaster oven.
I think you're correct on all points.
Take a look at that Cuisine at Home magazine. It may be good after you've taught her a few things. Step by step pictures are good. In fact, look at Pioneer Woman's site. She takes pictures of EVERYTHING and many of her recipes are simple.
Roasting vegetables is really easy, but if she's trying to cook two things in the one oven she'll probably have, that could be difficult for her to manage. The crock pot would come in handy for that, though, or maybe a toaster oven.
quote:
ETA: I think the key to what I'm teaching her is that I'm not going to do ANYTHING for her. I'll stand next to her and give her instructions, but she'll have to actually do it all. Which will be completely frustrating for me.
I think you're correct on all points.
Posted on 12/21/16 at 4:27 pm to Miz Piggy
The Pioneer Woman website has a ton of good recipes.
Posted on 12/21/16 at 5:21 pm to VABuckeye
I'd also recommend Pioneer Woman site and shows for a new cook who is not an adventurous eater. Her stuff is almost always pretty simple, and it's usually good food.
Posted on 12/21/16 at 5:49 pm to Twenty 49
+1 on Pioneer Woman...she does basic cooking & mainstream midwestern/southern flavors. I'd equip her with a few books, too: the Joy of Cooking, Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything, and maybe a Barefoot Contessa book (lots of pics, simple but good enough for company recipes). One e-book to consider: Leann Brown's Good and Cheap, Eat Well on $4/Day...she wrote the book to cover the standard SNAP food allowance of $4/day. So she can learn to cook & practice thrift at the same time, while eating more than Totino's Pizza Rolls.
Good for you, trying to help her get some life skills.
Good for you, trying to help her get some life skills.
Posted on 12/21/16 at 10:19 pm to Miz Piggy
She might not have a cable subscription, but they'll probably have internet access. YouTube can be a good resource, residually since she can follow along, pause, and rewind as necessary. I don't have any specific recommendations so hopefully others have channels they can share.
I'd suggest bringing her to the grocery store to shop with you. You can point out things without buying. For example, a preseasoned packaged pork tenderloin is a good start. They are dead simple to just put in the oven, and she can try different ones to get an idea of what flavors she likes. When she knows what flavors she likes, she can try seasoning get own.
Finally, it'd be a great help to teach a few things that will leave leftovers that can ease cooking burdens later in week. Making chicken salad from leftover roasted chicken, tacos with leftover pork, etc.
I'd suggest bringing her to the grocery store to shop with you. You can point out things without buying. For example, a preseasoned packaged pork tenderloin is a good start. They are dead simple to just put in the oven, and she can try different ones to get an idea of what flavors she likes. When she knows what flavors she likes, she can try seasoning get own.
Finally, it'd be a great help to teach a few things that will leave leftovers that can ease cooking burdens later in week. Making chicken salad from leftover roasted chicken, tacos with leftover pork, etc.
Posted on 12/21/16 at 10:48 pm to hungryone
quote:
Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything,
First cookbook I bought after I got interested in cooking. Simple recipes for a wide variety of foods.
You just have to make sure she is the kind to use a book. Some folks can be given all the books in the world but will never crack a spine.
Posted on 12/22/16 at 2:26 am to Kafka
you tube the frugal gourmet
saves money, and good stuff
saves money, and good stuff
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