How to become a good cook?

Question

ima be alone for awhile and i wanna cook for myself, im not good at all

i cant even makes pancakes. is there a good book to teach myself how to cook good meal for me and maybe family?

Answer 1

I would be lost without my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.  :)  Once you get the hang of basic recipes, start experimenting, make dishes your own.  :)

Don't worry about not being able to do pancakes; I have a friend whom I consider to be one of the best amateur cooks out there, and she can't cook a pancake or grilled cheese sandwich to save her life (always burns them).  :)

Answer 2

I have to agree on the Betty Crocker cookbooks.  Find one that goes back to the basics.  One i have is called the Bridal Edition. It tells you everything!  I have learned how to cook using this book.  Best gift i couldve ever received.

Answer 3

There are plenty of online site that you can use.

Patties.

Ingredients:

500g mince 3 tablespoons tomato paste 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 1 onion, grated 1 carrot, grated mixed herbs



Method:

Mix all ingredients together. Form patties and fry/ cook on bbq or griller

Answer 4

I always go to chapters or indigo they have great books!

Hope that help! ♥

- Happy Cooking!

Answer 5

Betty Crocker cookbooks are great. They have recipes for the most novice cooks as well as "old pros". They give you a lot of helpful hints and tips and explain processes very well. I gave each of my daughters one when they left home and also give them to young brides. I've had mine for over 20 years and still use it.

Answer 6

jus practice...find a recipe online and try it until u get in right

Answer 7

i went to the cia, and i would recommend buying one of there reference books, professional chef volume 6 or 8, you can find them on amazon for cheap, new are very expensive.

Answer 8

You want to get a good beginner's cookbook that spells out the basics and that has pictures.  The first time you make a recipe, follow it exactly to ensure the best results; after that, it is just practicing and repeating recipes until you get them down well.  I think that three of the best cookbooks, especially for beginners, are:

Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook - lots of good, kitchen tested recipes many with pictures, meat roasting charts, meat maps to show where the cuts of meat come from on the animal, a large list of substitutions and a list of measuring equivalencies.

Betty Crocker's Picture Cookbook - lots of good, kitchen tested recipes many with pictures, meat roasting charts, meat maps to show where the cuts of meat come from on the animal and the one I have, which is a new one, is based on the original and has many old fashioned recipes in it.

Third place is a tie between The Joy of Cooking and the New Settlement Cookbook. Both are very good, but the Joy of Cooking is probably a bit better for someone who has been cooking a while. The New Settlement Cookbook, was the cookbook given to incoming immigrants to the US back in the late 1800s and early 1900s to help them get use to American food and food availability.

WA

Answer 9

Julia Childs, The Way To Cook is the way to go.  This book gives you the basics as well as master recipes which are the basic building blocks to add other variations to your recipes.

Answer 10

Go get one of these cookbooks:

Betty Crocker Cookbook

Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook

Betty Crocker's Cooking Basics

How to Cook Everything

I'm a big believer (in case you can't tell) of the Betty Crocker cookbooks because they are very easy to read and follow, and they give you a lot of information on how to do a variety of dishes.  

By the way, don't go chintzy and buy the paperbacks.  Buy the spiral bounds.  They are much easier to use in the kitchen.

Answer 11

practice more and more, i used to know only frying eggs before, now i can say i'm a good cook :)  

Answer 12

Find one of those four ingredient cookbooks--they are easy to follow for beginners and the recipes are actually pretty good.

Answer 13

Practice makes perfect.  It really does.

A good Betty Crocker or BH&G basic cookbook is a great place to start.  They explain a lot of stuff and have plenty of photos and diagrams, as well as recipes that are clear and easy to follow.

Answer 14

If you can read, you can cook I always say.  Go to the library or used book store and pick up ones that look like they would be good for a novice cook.  Companys Coming series are great and easy, with lots of pictures.  Betty Crocker, Good Housekeeping etc., are all good.  Good luck and don't worry.

Answer 15

Cooking is a breeze now days.  First you must get acquainted with your local grocery store.  Clerks are there to help you, so ask for the manager or a clerk to walk around with you.

What you will find:

Frozen dinners already cooked - warm in microwave.  Stick with the big name brands for good taste.  Add a can of veggies or frozen veggies as a side dish.

Pre-cooked meats found in the cold section (just pop into the microwave for a few minutes) such as baked ham, pot roast, chops, chicken, meatloaf, and so much more.

Canned vegetables to add as a side dish.

Canned sweet potatoes to add as a side dish.

Canned potatoes to add as a side dish.

Frozen vegetables in large bags or small boxes.  Heat in microwave.

Fresh salad greens now come already cut up and in large packages.  Buy the pre-washed types.  All you have to do is add the salad dressing.  Be sure to use by the date on the bag.  Salads turn black and need to be thrown away if not used by the printed date on the bag.

Canned soups are delicious.  Follow the directions on the cans.

Frozen desserts of all types.  Follow directions on the containers.

Bake shop inside the grocery store  has all kinds of desserts.

The deli has delicious rotisserie/roasted chickens.  They also have all types of side dishes for you to choose from.

But if you would like to cook from scratch, go to this link and follow directions.  Put this website into your "Favorites".  At the website, scroll down the screen and read some of the dinner recipes.  On the left hand side you will find categories.

Buy a crock pot, read the directions...you put your dinner recipe in the crock pot, turn the k**b to low most of the time, and it will be cooking while you are away from your home.  

Here are 1,160 Crock Pot recipes:

http://www.cooks.com/rec/search?q=crock+...

Here are 2,600 Microwave recipes:

http://www.cooks.com/rec/search?q=microw...

There are jars of all types of sauces for all kinds of noodles. These are found on a shelf.  Noodles are in packages, follow the directions...most of the time you will need a deep pan for boiling lots of hot water for the noodles.  

A clerk can help you find these items.

You will find many brand named boxed dinners such as Pasta-Roni. There is a seasoned packet in each box.

(My favorite is Garlic & Olive Oil. I put more garlic powder in it 'cause I like to taste lots of garlic)

Ask a clerk if you need help in finding these boxed dinners.

Remember...safety in the kitchen at all times.  Keep EVERYTHING clean!!!  

Keep hot foods hot, and cold foods cold!!!

And "when in doubt, throw it out".

**************************************...

1. Hamburger - Video:

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make...

2. Steak - Video:

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make...

3. Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich-video:

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make...

4. Cheese Omelette-video:

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make...

5. Roast Beef-in crock pot-video:

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make...

6. Cesar Salad - Video:

http://www.flixya.com/video/303031/Cesar...

7. CATALINA CHICKEN:

From http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1939,1481...

Chicken breast (or your favorite piece)

Garlic salt

Catalina dressing

Arrange chicken pieces in baking dish. Sprinkle with garlic salt. Top each piece with Catalina dressing. Cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

8. Magic Seven-Layer Bars recipe from:

http://www.bigoven.com/108338-Magic-Seve...

Magic Seven-Layer Bars Ingredients

1/2 c Butter  1 c Butterscotch chips  

1 1/2 c Graham cracker crumbs  1 c Walnuts, chopped  

6 oz Semi-sweet chocolate chips,  1 c Sweetened condensed milk  

1 c Coconut, shredded  

Instructions for Magic Seven-Layer Bars

Melt butter in a 9 x 13 inch pan. Sprinkle crumbs over butter and add remaining ingredients in layers as given. Bake at 350 F for about 30 minutes. Makes about 40 bars Note: If you prefer a thicker bar, use a 9 x 9 inch pan. Bake 10 minutes longer.