this is pretty sad for me anyways and id love your help

Denise - posted on 01/17/2010

i love to explore, i throw concoctions together if u dont like handling chicken i love using the boneless skinless chicken breast throw in the oven and bake, boil up some rice, drain then throw in cream of mushroom and i like broccoli in there too add seasoning but rice and sauce and veggies in a baking pan take your chicken lay on top sprinkle cheese on it all and throw in the oven till cheese melts. i found that a quick easy meal and it actually tastes good. lol

Sandy - posted on 01/17/2010

Catherine - have you ever bought jarred ginger? It's usually in the produce section - it's kinda like the jar o garlic. I love ginger and use it in a lot of recipes, so this is a great staple to have in your fridge.

Sandy - posted on 01/17/2010

There's a website called youvegotsupper.com. Each week, they send you five recipes. You can save them, print them, even print out a grocery list. Most of the recipes are fairly simple and I just like the idea of recipes coming to me, as opposed to me having to search for them! :) They also have a FB page. Hope this helps!

Catherine - posted on 01/17/2010

I never measure. I never have and unless it's out of a box or book. I never will. When I cook at home it just comes natural. My Great Grandmother never measured and always made the best food I have ever had. She reminds me of Rachael Ray at times with the "palm" or "pinch" "to taste" those were our measurements. If you came to chicken and rice casserole dinner at my house Jon would say "tastes different every time, but better every time." Have fun with what you make and don't stress when cooking, it comes out in the food.

A lot of those SIMPLE MEAL cookbooks are crap because who has fresh ginger in the house on a whim?? I know I don't. But reading the suggestions below, Kraft.com Campbellssoup.com Disney.com foodnetwork.com.... amazing recipes and a lot of them for your picky eating, you can cook the mushrooms and onions and all that on the side and add them to the dishes of those who like them. Good luck in your ventures.

Caran - posted on 01/17/2010

I think the best cookbook I can recommend is the Betty Crocker Cookbook. Not only does it have recipes for any type of food, it also gives tips on what to look for when buying meat, vegetables, etc., how to store foods, and how to cut the foods for a specific dish.

Leona - posted on 01/16/2010

Check out the Pioneer Woman(Ree Drummond) and Barefoot Contessa(Ina Garten) AWESOME!

Tracey - posted on 01/16/2010

Hi, allrecipes is a great site to find recipes. Good luck!

Ruth - posted on 01/16/2010

Food Network has tons of recipes and ideas. Also Sandra Lee does semihomemade, great way to get started. Good luck.

Dana - posted on 01/16/2010

allrecipes.com is great! I have also found that I'm bored in the kitchen. I'm not a great cook, but I used to cook different foods. My kids and husband are VERY picky. I can't "win" with the whole family on any meal. I like to make healthy foods, but, of course, the rest of the fam loves junk!

Jenny - posted on 01/15/2010

My kids love easy things like poached chicken, whole wheat noodles, and fresh veggies. I make lots of casseroles and ethnic foods that they won't eat! Which is frustrating sometimes, but there it is. Baked potatoes are good, too, the adults can add lots more stuff. Try googling a couple of ingredients you have on hand, and you will see lots of recipe suggestions that incorporate those elements - that's what I do when I'm stumped!

Tami - posted on 01/15/2010

Sounds like you are really looking for food you were brought up on. Ask your mom, dad or siblings. Sometimes it is just finding the right receipe you are comfortable with that is like "mom use to make". I have my favorite cook books, you must keep expermenting to do the same.



I have my foster kids tell me what they like to eat and then we find the receipes to match the food. As you know, using good ingredients and not just pkged stuff helps a lot. I like to make my own noodles, bread etc because the flavor is better and the kids eat the food resulting in a more balanced diet.

Michelle - posted on 01/14/2010

It's really not hard to just make up recipes. My mom always does this and now so do I. I actually do not care to cook. But I have two boys and my honey to feed. lol If you have a can of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, beef consomme soup, or tomatoe sauce you can just about make anything. Chicken is a easy meat to do most anhything with. We love stir fry! All you need is frozen bag of mixed vegs -your favorite sauce to flavor it with and that's a dish. GOOD LUCK!!!

Caralyn - posted on 01/14/2010

bettycrocker.com has a lot of great ideas.

Debra - posted on 01/14/2010

Meatloaf..well if I'm in a hurry I use lipton onion soup recipe. I also use BBQ sauce sometimes instead of tomato sauce. Sure I use eggs and either breadcrums or oatmeal. I never have timed it but I would say for a normal sized on about an hour. Also crockpots can produce some pretty awesome meats. I cook beef and pork roasts in them. Just put them in add your seasonings and turn them on. Yeah they take longer but you can put it on in the morning, ignore it til evening and whala.....dinner! Also another my family loves and is good for them is boneless skinless chicken breast in cream of mushroom soup with broccoli and cauliflower. OK...they don't like the cauliflower but I do. It is easy. Just brown the chicken in butter and garlic salt. Add soup and a little water (about 1/2 cand per can of soup) and let it simmer about an hour then add veggies and cook til tender. I serve it with rice. I love to cook and have been doing it about 40 years...since I was about 7. Like you there is really nothing I can't cook but I use very few recipes. GOOD LUCK!

Kimberly - posted on 01/14/2010

allrecipes.com is one of the best websites I have ever found! I'm a member there if you'd like to chat or have questions. My online name is Flying Tiger. I've been in food service for over 25 yrs and i'm a pro baker for an historic Inn in Pa. Quick and easy is great for me cause after cooking and baking all night at work, the last thing I want to do is cook a huge meal at home! lol

Louise - posted on 01/14/2010

Spaghetti bolognaise is always a good one

Jana - posted on 01/13/2010

When I am out of ideas I head to my local thrift stores and buy 7 or 8 cook books. I read through them and literally pull out the pages of the recipes I want to try. I focus on quick, easy, simple and inexpensive recipes. I use my three hole punch and put them in a binder and when I need to be inspired I go there. Since I don't always want to cook something big sometimes I take a day and cook ahead things that can go into the freezer like ground hamburger. Then when I need it for a casserole I only have to thaw it in the microwave. I really love recipes that use part fresh, part store bought stuff, like the Rhoades bread roll dough.

Andrea - posted on 01/13/2010

Sorry you didn't learn much in school. That is disappointing.



The keys for great home cooking, in my opinion, are imagination and a sense of adventure. I rarely use a recipe and when I do, I don't follow very well because it just seems more fun to play with my food. ;o) I am in the process of writing a cookbook for newlyweds as a wedding gift for my daughter. My hope is to instill in her some basic skills that can help her be inspired as well. I have a stockpot, a cast iron skillet, a sauce pan and some bakeware - nothing fancy or expensive. A casserole can be as simple as some pasta, ground beef, chili powder, garlic, onions and canned diced tomatoes. Top with cheese and bake. Wins at our house any time. I avoid convenience foods because I have found they can be made cheaper and tastier from scratch. One exception -- I do use some soup mixes occasionally to boost a recipe. Mix french onion soup mix with ground beef to make some great onion burgers. Knorr Spring Vegetable, canned tomatoes, and some burgundy wine in the crock pot with a chuck roast makes an amazing meal with some buttered noodles on the side. Have fun with your food and challenge yourself to not be so picky.

Jodi - posted on 01/13/2010

Stevie, here is a cookbook with LOTS of really easy recipes. I use it a lot when I need something quick and easy to cook, and the ingredients are pretty basic, so if you are fussy, it should be fairly easy to find something you like - it has been designed by women with kids, so caters for fussy eaters!! It is an Australian site too. I just noticed they have another book actually, so off to buy it now!!!



http://www.fouringredients.com/

Rachel - posted on 01/13/2010

tuna noodle casserole, fish tacos with homemade salsa, spaghetti and meatballs, hamburgers, grilled sandwiches, fettucine alfredo, chile, pot roast, lemon chicken, burritos, chicken enchiladas, just go to food network.. i love anything giada de laurentis makes, always simple and flavorful! good luck to you, and don't be scared to mess up, it's all a learning process!

Melanie - posted on 01/13/2010

A lot of my culinary success has come from getting hold of some good cookbooks (does not equate to expensive - shop around look inside find recipes that appeal, are easy to follow and with easy to get hold off ingredients). The other thing that has really helped is watching cooking shows. They have taught me about cooking meat, the value of seasoning and how to make my own sauces.



Tinned diced tomato with some fresh herbs (oregano or basil - can use dried too), add your choice of veges, minced meat simmered over a slow heat makes a great sauce to put over pasta. You can do the same with fresh tomato we just put the in the blender, to make a sauce.



But cooking is a lot about confidence - understanding of flavours, taste the food, the herbs and spices to work out what will go with the flavours you want. Experimentation, can provide you with some gems too - though it can also end in tears.



As for that what am I going to cook tonight... keep the ingredients to some quick meals on hand for those uninspired nights and try to get breaks from cooking - can your partner (if you have one) step up one or two nights a week (weekends are great).



Easy homemade pizza is a great (and cheap) take away alternative and is an easy one to get the kids involved. Just get some lebenese bread (or tortillas), tomato paste, and the toppings of your choice, get creative broccoli is yummy on pizza, and it can get the whole family involved.



Sorry it is a bit long I hope this helps.

Rachel - posted on 01/13/2010

i have a pillsbury cookbook, it has tons of good recipes, you can look it up online

Krista - posted on 01/13/2010

Sounds like your in a idea rut like all stay at home moms experience! :-) Here are two things I suggest..

1. Get a cookbook that you like.. I prefer Rachel Ray or even the Betty Crocker Cookbook and then pick a random recipe from meat, poultry etc each night you cook. sort of make it a challenge to do the whole book in a year or something?? :-)

2. pick a favorite cooking blog, mine is http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/ (I hate to cook so I love the crockpot) You could start at the beginning of her days and make what she made??

3. My favorite suggestion given to me by a grandma.. Buy ONLY meat that is on sale and fresh that week and make your meals based on it. It narrows down your idea choices.

4. I have also heard of people keeping like flash (recipe) cards of their favs and they mix them up and randomly select one.

Eventually you will get your usuals and rotate them in and out.

Good Luck!

Jennifer - posted on 01/13/2010

I love Allrecipes.com

Kristin - posted on 01/13/2010

Go to allrecipes.com its easy and its free, and people give reviews on everything on the website, I'm a stay at home mom and I cook all the time now, and I use that website all the time.

~Jennifer - posted on 01/13/2010

There's a great community on CoM called "Recipe Swap" - they have some great meal recipes over there.
http://www.circleofmoms.com/group.php?en...

Jolene - posted on 01/13/2010

taste of home.com

Heather - posted on 01/13/2010

Hey Stevie,
Here are a couple of ideas for you. Also if you're interested I sell Pampered Chef cookware/bakeware and there is also a great cookbook you would probably find helpful (Weekday dinners done ... is the name). Check out my website www.pamperedchef.biz/cooknbakefunwithmrsg Hope that helps and good luck to you! My husband is the picky one in my family. The two-year old currently doesn't enjoy the meals I make, but he will one day (once he realizes they're yummier than his standard favorites of mac-n-cheese, fishsticks and such) LOL! Cheers, Heather

Mexican Lasagna
¼ cup lightly packed fresh cilantro leaves
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese
2 cups (8 oz) shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
1 medium onion (about 2/3 cup chopped)
1 can (28 oz) enchilada sauce
12 (6-in.) corn tortillas
3 cups diced or shredded cooked chicken
Additional chopped fresh cilantro leaves (optional)
1. Chop cilantro with Chef’s Knife. Place cream cheese in Classic
Batter Bowl. Microwave on HIGH 30-45 seconds or until very soft.
Add cilantro and 1½ cups of the Monterey Jack cheese; mix well using
Small Mix ‘N Scraper®. Chop onion using Food Chopper; set aside.
Spread 2/3 cup of the enchilada sauce over bottom of Deep Covered
Baker. Pour remaining enchilada sauce into Stainless (4-qt.) Mixing
Bowl; set aside.
2. To assemble lasagna, using Sauté Tongs, dip four tortillas into
enchilada sauce in mixing bowl and arrange over sauce in baker
overlapping as necessary. Scoop half of the cream cheese mixture over
tortillas using Small Scoop; spread using Small Spreader. Top with 1 cup
of the chicken and one-third of the onion. Repeat layers one time. Dip
remaining four tortillas into sauce and arrange over second layer. Top
with remaining chicken and onion. Pour remaining enchilada sauce
over lasagna and sprinkle with remaining ½ cup Monterey Jack cheese.
3. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 12-15 minutes or until center is hot.
Let stand 10 minutes. Sprinkle with additional chopped cilantro. Cut
into squares using Utility Knife; serve using Mini-Serving Spatula.
Yield: 8 servings
Nutrients per serving: Calories 390, Total Fat 22 g, Saturated Fat 10 g, Cholesterol 105 mg,
Carbohydrate 25 g, Protein 26 g, Sodium 710 mg, Fiber 2 g
Cook’s Tips: This recipe can be assembled up to one night in advance.
Prepare through Step 2; cover and refrigerate. When ready to serve, let
baker stand at room temperature 15 minutes. Microwave, covered,
on HIGH 21-23 minutes or until hot. Proceed as recipe directs.
Spicy enchilada sauce can be used for more kick.


Grilled chicken penne
4 garlic cloves, peeled
2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes
3 cups uncooked mezze penne pasta
3 cups chicken broth
¾ cup dry white wine such as Chardonnay
½ tsp each salt and coarsely ground black pepper
1¼ cups lightly packed fresh basil leaves, divided
1 oz Parmesan cheese, grated (about ¼ cup packed)
2 cups diced grilled chicken breasts
Additional grated fresh Parmesan cheese
and coarsely ground black pepper (optional)
1. Spray Deep Covered Baker with olive oil using Kitchen Spritzer. Slice
garlic into baker using Garlic Slicer. Add tomatoes. Cover; microwave
on HIGH 4-5 minutes or until tomatoes begin to burst, stirring after
2 minutes. Crush tomatoes using Mix ‘N Chop. Add pasta, broth,
wine, salt and black pepper.
2. Return baker to microwave; cover and microwave on HIGH 16-18
minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring after 10 minutes. Meanwhile,
coarsely chop basil with Chef’s Knife. Reserve 2 tbsp for garnish. Grate
cheese using Rotary Grater.
3. Carefully remove baker from microwave and remove lid, lifting away
from you. Add remaining basil, cheese and chicken to baker; mix well.
Garnish with reserved 2 tbsp basil, additional Parmesan cheese and
black pepper, if desired.
Yield: 8 servings
Nutrients per serving (about 1 cup): Calories 240, Total Fat 2.5 g, Saturated Fat .5 g,
Cholesterol 25 mg, Carbohydrate 35 g, Protein 17 g, Sodium 450 mg, Fiber 2 g
Cook’s Tips: An additional ¾ cup chicken broth can be
substituted for the wine, if desired.
Any tube-shaped pasta requiring 9-11 minutes cook time, such as
penne or rigatoni, can be substituted for the mezze penne pasta.
To grill chicken in the Grill Pan, season 2 chicken breasts, about 6 oz
each, with salt and black pepper. Heat Grill Pan over medium-high heat
5 minutes. Spray pan with oil. Cook chicken 4-6 minutes or until grill marks
appear. Turn chicken over; cook 4-6 minutes or until center of chicken is
no longer pink and Digital Thermometer registers 170°F.

Myrtis - posted on 01/13/2010

I have three words for you, pasta, pasta, pasta. It's not gourmet and it's not fashionable, but it's a classic.



You can make just about any sauce in minutes (this is great for getting rid of left-overs or small amounts of food that you don't know what to do with), while the pasta is boiling even. Then, if you're really smart you make batches or favorites and freeze them for later.



It's fast, you can put your favorite ingedients in, there are not wrong recipes or wrong amounts, you don't need to measure, you don't need to time, any old pot or pan will do and it's cheap.



You can even make it super healthy by using whole wheat pasta and low fat cheeses, and you can hide all kinds of vegetables in sauce.



The only problem is if there is a wheat gluten allergy, then I would say make sauces to go on top of rice, again, rice is cooking, you are tossing stuff together in another pot for the sauce.



Good luck and hang in there! :)

Yvonne - posted on 01/07/2010

allrecipes.com

Denise - posted on 01/07/2010

Foodnetwork.com is one of my favorites and has a ton of different ideas.

Jacqueline - posted on 01/07/2010

Alot of times on the back of items like the shredded cheese spaghetti sauces noodle boxes etc... you can find some really good recipes. also check your local newspaper. I have found some of my now favorite recipes there.

Clarissa - posted on 01/07/2010

Something that is really good at my house is smoked sausage out of the package cut it up put it in a pan start cooking it until you like it cut up sum squash (yellow and green) after the sausage is done drain it put the squash in and get a can of half whole tomatoes throw that in mix it all together and cook white rice put it together and it is DELICIOUS!

Enola - posted on 01/07/2010

Cooks.com is also a really good place to find recipes. Or you can get them from family and friends.

Rebecca - posted on 01/06/2010

I bought a great magazine at a checkout at the grocery store and it had over 100 meals in a crockpot...I love it! They are so simple and i can just leave it all day and it's done for when we're ready to eat:) It's great!!

Tammy - posted on 01/06/2010

i love to cook, i have always cooked , sometimes i can make a meal out of aything, it might not be good but its dinner i say, i tell them 2 try it you never know, i sometimes take ingredience out of one box and mix it with something out of a nother, use your imagination, try to experment using different ingredience. out of a box or out of your cupboard. good luck

Clair - posted on 01/06/2010

Hi,

don't know if this will help but th cookery book i use most to feed my family is a ladybird kids cookery book called 'we can cook'. its really old now but any kids cookery book is a good addition to your kitchen as kids like the food in them!

best wishes

Clair

Michelle - posted on 01/06/2010

allrecipes.com it has sooo many ideas! The recipes are from very simple to complicated if u like. It's an amaxing site..Oh and FREE!!

Patrice - posted on 01/06/2010

I'm sorry, I messed up..too early in the morning..LOL..you need to put in water at least halfway up the ham..Fill half the pot with water. I was thinking of another meal I cook when I said an inch or two. So sorry!

Patrice - posted on 01/06/2010

Are you wanting recipes? New England Boiled Dinner is yummy and easy, and your hubby and kids would love it. It's all cooked in one large pot. Put about an inch or two of water in the bottom of a large pot, place your ham shoulder in it, then just cut up & put in carrots, potatoes, and cabbage and 2 onions(for flavor), a little salt and pepper to taste, cover and let cook over medium heat...Usually only takes a couple of hours..it;s a fantastic meal! You can eat the leftovers too for a couple fo days. :) I have tons of one dish meals too..love those!

Angela - posted on 01/06/2010

Go to HGTV.com They have tons of cooking shows, recipes video etc from many top chefs and T.V programs that their air. The nice thing is that the recipes are rated as to how difficult or easy there are.Some even have pictures of what the finished product is supposed to look like They also have nutrutional information as well as many other links.

Dee - posted on 01/05/2010

Stevie, your mom's meatloaf sounds like mine,

about 2 lbs of ground meat

1 egg

squirt or 2 of ketchup

1/2 onion (med) diced

3 or 4 pieces of bread cubed

1/4 cup of milk

mix together and mold like a flat loaf of bread (if it's to moist I add bread some crumbs to absorb the milk & egg)

bake @ 350 degrees for about 1 hr

you can tell if it's done by pressing on the top the jucie well be clear coming out.

sometimes when i'm not sure that it's done i cut it in half after about an hour and if it's still red in the middle i can let it cook another 15 mins or so

I hope this helps. By the way cooks.com is really good they have all kinds of recipes and they have the ones mom and grandmom use to make. I really like it because some if the ingredients are shown under the recipes. check it out. Good luck.

Amanda - posted on 01/05/2010

I do not use recipes either, I mostly just wing it. After having money problems the past few years, I've had to learn to make dinner at home, and I'm trying to branch out a bit, but my favorite meals to cook are: Chicken quesadillas, Malibu Chicken, Lasagna, Meatloaf ( I do have a WONDERFUL recipe for this), all kinds of soups, and roasts. They can be roast beef, turkey, and chicken, but they make for great dinners, and there are usually leftovers for yummy sandwiches the next day! If you want more info on any of these suggestions, just email me through facebook! Good luck!

Eileen - posted on 01/05/2010

sorry forgot 2 say wit irish stew u put 1lb of stewing beef in pot along wit prepared veg. carrots onions doesnt matter how many or how much all depends on how many ur feeding and a pinch of salt and pepper. cook slowly for an hour or 2. enjoy wit boiled potapoes

Eileen - posted on 01/05/2010

spagatti bol is an easy one and quick







spagatti bol is so easy and so quick goes down a treat! and a good old irish stew is lovely-specially in this rotten cold weather

spaggatti bol is lovely! of course wit garlic bread and a good old irish stew is great in this weather so cold out!

Katt - posted on 01/05/2010

I don't ever use recipes...I usually just make something up. One thing my b/f loves is a casserole I cook pasta of any kind except spaghetti, cook and season chicken in a frying pan, steam some broccoli pre heat the oven to 200 c mix all the cooked stuff in with some mushrooms and mushroom soup grate some cheese and sprinkle it on top then just bake it untill the cheese is melted, I put it in for 10 mins. I take all the foods I like and think of what would go good together and make something :)

Ruth - posted on 01/05/2010

I look up reciepes, I have a few favorite books. Bettey Crocker, I do use the internet at times. I just look at the reciepe and add and subtract and make it my own.

Rosie - posted on 01/05/2010

i love foodnetwork.com. there is a beef vegetable soup called the lady and sons beef vegetable soup on there and it is soooooooo good. i'm making it tonight as a matter of fact-so cold here in iowa -25 with the wind chill!! i just tweak things a little to make it the way i like it and my kids love it! i also put barley in it to remind me a little of soup my grandma used to make. i get alot of ideas off of that website and i absolutely love it!

Stephanie - posted on 01/05/2010

i also went to school for culinary arts andim realizing i didnt really learn much except desserts too! LOL! but i just made a beef stew in the crock pot and it was so easy, i dont use recipies but ill tell u what i put in it. first u make the gravy sauce or whatever u call it,flour water gravy master,then steak cut up small,carrots,potatoes,onions! and let it cook all day its really good! and very very easy

Erica - posted on 01/05/2010

my husband and 3 year old love this quick dinner idea. Cook up a box of rotini pasta according to the package. In another frying pan put 2 tablespoons of pesto sauce per person, shrimp or pepperoni (no specific amount, whatever looks good to you) and fresh baby spinach leafs. Sautee that all together and serve on top of pasta. Hope you have received some good ideas. Good luck!