Can't cook - won't cook!

Some really good ideas on http://www.deliaonline.com/ or Nigellaonline.

This is nice and easy if she likes garlic http://www.nigella.com/recipes/recip...2&article=3489 and you could do it with either salad or some baby potatoes in their jackets, roasted in olive oil and garlic.

[arc123]

If you need any further ideas......

I did a really nice and simple 3 courser the other day:

Starter - Potted shrimps & cayenne pepper

Main - Creme fraiche & corriander chicken (served with fresh green salad)

Pud - Coffee mascarpone cream

All very simple, Starter & main can be made day before, and main is very quick and simple too. can detail recipes if they sound any good to you?

[Stingo]

Originally Posted by krhall

Blimey, some top stuff on here - I knew the org would sort me out.

Stingo, this might sound dense but how to steam asparagus (sp?). Oh and she likes mild spicy as opposed to me who like the full ring stinger. What is the mellow version?

Steaming - you need to keep the stuff out of the water so if you don't have a steamer, have you got a metal sieve/colander that can go on top of the pan that will have the boiling water in it?

The mild version. Ok. Some olive oil as before. A few good dashes of lemon juice. Sprinkle some crushed garlic on. You could sprinkle some dried coriander on those firm juicy breasts if you wish. Grill as before. Garnish with FRESH coriander leaves and FRESH basil leaves.

Ever cooked tomatoes with fresh Basil and Mozarella cheese? It's very easy and done all in one pan.
Open two tins of tomatoes and pour into large/deep pan - simmer. Add chopped fresh basil. Simmer some more. Season to taste - add some chopped bacon if you wish. slice the Mozarella and chuck it in the same pan. It will melt and stick everywhere. Share out into two bowls. Dress with some fresh basil leaves. Enjoy.

Tomatoes and mozerrela with basil. Done.

Tomato and mozzarella is also great as a starter and just the easiest thing to do:

Get vine tomatoes and slice them thickly, get fresh mozzarella and slice, layer tomatoes, mozzarella and fresh basil leaves. drizzle over extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. A grind of fresh black pepper to finish. Serve with warm rustic french bread, or tearing off bits of french baguette.

Main course, how about some fresh pasta? Get some fresh tagliatelle (long strips of pasta) Be careful it takes only a couple of minutes to cook properly.

Get some parma ham and slice, halve some cherry tomatoes. Cook pasta and drain. Quickly stir in a couple of teaspoons of green pesto and a couple of tablespoons of creme fraiche then stir in the ham and tomatoes. Serve with a fruity fresh white wine.

All dead easy and very tasty.

Hope this helps you get afters

Trace

Hey I know a thing or two about cooking (im a CHEF)

How about
STARTERS

Homemade Creamy Mushroom Soup
or
Smoked Salmon and caviar

MAINS

Chicken Breast Wrapped in Smoked Bacon With a Pepper Sauce
Or
Steak Rossini
Or Pasta Carbonara

Dessert
BAILEYS CHEESECAKE!! dead easy.

Or ask me anytyhing u want to know and im sure i can help.

[timwilky]

TBH food is what got me my missus. The first time she had arranged to stay over, she had talked it over with friends should she bring anything etc. and they had told her, if he lives on his own he will have his food arranged.

So I did her a simple asparagus soup to start. (Cook onion/chopped asparagus with stock for 15 minutes, remove a few tips and blend the bits and add back into the the stock, make up a roux, sorry twin bro was a chef. melt a bit of butter add about a golf ball of flower and stir, add the cooled blended bit from above slowly and stirring making sure it don't go mushy and but back on the heat until it goes thick. throw back in the tips. ) This you can prepare earlier warm and add a little cream swirl and serve.

Now I would suggest, a nice piece of fillet of beef, cooked though in the pan for 3 minute each side (medium), served with saut?ed potatoes, mushrooms, and a sprig of broccoli.

It is simple, Easy to cook and impressive. Maybe politely ask how she likes her meat and adjust the above 3 minutes accordingly. and if you get it right, you get to serve afters raw and hot. Well it worked for me and 25 years later I can still cook the same meal.


Pudding. This is the simplest strange Wilkinson family tradition. Take any off the shelf ice cream pudding. pour over each portion a desert spoon of Highland Park and serve. delicious. Simple, tasty.

Originally Posted by Speedy Claire

Some really good ideas on http://www.deliaonline.com/.

I used her How to Cook books, I still don't know how to cook properly but I can follow recipes ok.

I made this Shepherd's pie recipe when I was in uni. Went down really well with my housemates.

If you like spicy food you could go the easy option and buy an Old El Paso Enchilada kit (available from local supermarket) a red & green pepper, red onion, cheese and a couple of chicken breasts.

Follow the instructions on the pack (really easy) to make a very tasty meal. Could be served with a side salad of choice.

Alternatively I like to make Chicken stuffed with Goats cheese & basil. Again very simple to make and coupled with some new potatoes and vegetables it is delicious.

Slice the chicken breasts along the side making a pocket
stuff each breast with enough goats cheese to fill the pocket but not too much so that the pocket cannot be closed up. Add 4-5 fresh basil leaves into the pocket and then close the pocket up.

Season with salt & pepper before placing into a griddle pan (preferable) or frying pan presentation side down. Fry for a couple of minutes before transferring to oven for 20 minutes.

have started cooking this year using rosemary conley gi diet book. I always used packets and jars etc but now dont. shopping bill down to about ?30 a week now and I have lost 1 stone and 1 lb since January.

favourite recipes so far are spaghetti bolognese, chilli beef linguine and pork and mango meatballs with chilli sauce. If you want details i can send pm.

I find soup quite a filling starter so I dont bother, I just have some fruit salad.

good luck with whatever you do.

A few of my favourites:

Pan-fried duck breasts with a homemade plum sauce*
(serve with oven-roasted potatoes or crispy potato wedges, and veg of your choice)

Chicken breasts in a creamy white-wine and tarragon sauce.

Spag bol (but make the sauce yourself - it's soooo easy - if you want to her to know you've made an effort).

Thai Green Curry (use chicken, beef, or prawns). You can get thai spices in a packet, ready to go ... all you do is cut/chop/crush/bruise them and chuck them in a pan with some onion, garlic, and ginger and a little coconut cream, then chuck meat of your choice in (unless its prawns), and cook until meat is sealed, then add the rest of the coconut cream/milk, and simmer for about 20 mins or so. Serve with a suitable rice (thai-style jasmine basmati is nice).

Or how about fish?
Sea-bass is lovely Just finely chop a load of celery, peppers (red & green), fennel and some red onions. Lay the chopped vegetables on a large piece of foil, get the sea-bass and stuff with some garlic, butter, and dill, lay on top of the vegetables, then put another layer of vegetables over the top of the fish and add a good squeeze of fresh lemon juice, wrap in the foil, allowing a small gap for steam to escape, and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes ... dead easy ... serve with crushed new potatoes, with some of the veg from the foil ... doesn't take long, doesn't require constant watching/stirring, and is absolutely lovely (if you like fish).

Deep-fried goats cheese coated in a walnut crumb (if you fancy a bit of a veggie option).

Vegetables to try ... dice up some butternut squash chuck on a baking tray along with a couple of cherry tomatoes (on the vine), drizzle with some light olive oil, season with some freshly ground sea-salt and black pepper and bake in the oven for about 20 mins.

If you want a full (easy to follow) recipe for any of the above then PM me (anyone).

* the homemade plum sauce is well worth it (courtesy of some Jamie Oliver recipe) and is so easy to make.

Oh and finally ... if you want to make your own prawn cocktail dressing then be prepared to start by making your own mayonaisse it's easy when you know how ... I've made my own mayonaisse a few times now, and it is sooo much better than anything that Hellmans has to offer

HTH,
Pete