Is this cheating????

Question

I do not cook... I never learned as a child since my mom never cooked herself. There is only a handful of things that I can make. My husband has been asking me too learn & encourages me to check online recipes but when I look at the recipes and I do not ever know what alot of the ingredients are so then I give up.

Tonight I made fajitas but I bought the pre marinade stuff... both beef and chicken. I cut it up and cooked it. Is that cheating? (at least I COOKED it myself, I just didn't marinade it myself) I even bought the pre cut veggies cause I do not know the right way to cut an onion even. Plus, onions hurt your eyes and make you cry!

Answer 1

the pre-marinated meat is cool i use it all the time, but

pre-cut vegatables is a bit much, it only takes 15 minutes

to cut and steam some basics.

Answer 2

Cooking is just like anything else, if your not interested,  it's not for you.

Answer 3

That's how everyone I know makes fajitas.  And cutting up vegis is just time consuming.  Don't feel guilty.

You could take a cooking class or watch some cooking things on tv or the internet, just so you can see how to cut vegetables and meat and stuff - that might make you feel better and more confident.

Good luck

Answer 4

no i don't think so, you have to start somewhere and some how, congrats for doing that much!! some women would make their hubby eat out or order in, so that's good you're at least trying, keep it good job

p.s. if you don't really know about recipies and ingrediants, then try going to easy-to-cook meals online so you can come better familiar with things

Answer 5

Don't give up!  If you can watch or record the Food Network channel there are a lot of shows that will teach you things such as cutting up an onion!  And, there are videos as well.  Don't be embarrassed.  I have been cooking for 60 years and wish I could show all you youngsters what I know.  It is fun, healthy, economical and satisfying to cook your own food.  If nothing else, find a cookbook that will show you the basics.  You will do just fine!

Answer 6

I come from a childhood of eating macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, cheeseburgers and hot dogs. My mom was actually a cook, but we never made the things she made at work at home.

This made me grow up with a picky appetite for new foods. It wasn't until I moved out on my own that I started trying new things.

If your mom didn't cook a lot, I imagine you too may have had a limited exposure to new foods and recipes.

Experimenting is the best way to learn.

Take an interest in other people's food. If you visit a friend or relative for a meal, ask them how they made something. Talk to people at work about what they make for dinner.

The Food Network is a great way to learn about cooking and food. I enjoy the show "Good Eats". Alton Brown (the host) is funny and he really breaks things down to teach you about whatever he is making.

Honestly, some of the recipes are not going to be something you make in your own kitchen, but occasionally, you'll see a great recipe that you can make for you and your family. You can also get inexpensive cookbooks at places like Waldenbooks, Borders, etc. Browse the sale section.

Invest in some good cooking utensils and pots/pans. Really, it will encourage you to use them! Plus having good quality "tools" like pots and pans and knives will limit the frustration in cooking.

Don't worry that you cut corners to cook the fajitas. If it was good, than that's all that matters!

I recommend getting one of those onion choppers. I really disliked cutting onions until I got one for myself.

If you like doing the "home parties" I really recommend having a Pampered Chef Consultant come to your home to do a "cooking party". I absolutely LOVE the Pampered Chef products and my kitchen is full of them. By being a hostess, you earn free and discounted products too!

Your Pampered Chef lady will come into your home, make a simple/easy recipe and you will learn a lot about cooking and the products that make life easier when cooking!

You can find a local consultant online at www.pamperedchef.com

and clicking on FIND A CONSULTANT at the top of the page.

Learning to cook can bring variety into your otherwise boring mealtimes. It's exciting to say you cooked it yourself, and even better when everyone goes back for seconds.

Answer 7

It's not cheating it's just the easy way

Answer 8

cheating is when you get takeout mexican, replate (and, of course, hide the evidence) and present as home cooked.

If you had to fire up the stove/microwave - you did it.  

You can't just jump into home cooking - ease your way in as you already have and progress from there.

Keep on keepin' on!

Answer 9

You poor thing.  Just buy yourself a good cookbook with pictures and explicit directions and you will be fine.  I always said if you can read, you can cook.  I recommend Betty Crocker, Joy of Cooking, Good Housekeeping, Company's Coming series, these are all great books with easy to find ingredients and good instructions.

Best of luck to you.

Answer 10

You're no better than Sandra Lee.

But you can be a gourmet chef--just enroll in some classes or watch food network--specifically Giada De Laurentiis and Ina Garten-real chefs!

Best of luck!

Answer 11

as long as you told him how you made it then its semi-home cooking

Answer 12

If you have an interest in cooking, you are on your way.

Recipe books, classes and experimentation.

Don't worry you will get there, my mother "rolled out" her first cake when she got married.

Don't regard cooking as a science, think of it as interior design.

You will get there, honest.