Not as good as I thought

[melaniepur]

I've been learning to cook for about a year and half now. I like to cook from scratch and I only cook vegetarian. I haven't tried a lot of recipies, only a few perhaps, but tonight I am going to be honest with myself and admit that I stink at cooking. I feel better. Maybe I can actually follow a recipe now instead of thinking I can wing it my own way. But come on, isn't that normal?

I tried to make chocolate chip cookies tonight, I know, HOW HARD COULD IT BE. You don't want my cookies. Trust me...

Here's the problem. My husband doesn't like to buy "ingrediants." I've learned that when he shops, he gets something that he can eat within 20-30 (heating something up like rice or pizza or mac and cheese) When I shop, very rare, I will grab what I think I need to make a bunch of stuff, like staples (bread, eggs) and then snack stuff (which he never buys), leaving out ingredients for actual recipes. But then if I buy fresh stuff to make said recipes I might not use the ingredients therefore never buy them again because "i didn't use them last time" Complicated, much? How hard could eating be. I need some innovative ideas here LOL!

It's very late. I'm just rambling, hoping somebody can understand what the heck I'm talking about and give me some good advice or simple recipes.

Goodnight all

[jennywren]

Awh Melanie if you lived closer you could pop over and borrow some of my cookery books. I used to collect them; I have masses

I couldnt cook at all, many years ago, - so I enrolled at night school and took a three year Cordon Bleu course - the Beginner's class was full - so in at the deep end

I learned such a lot and it was great fun

Now each year I enrol at night school for cookery

[bogmyrtle]

Melanie,

I buy cookery books, read them like a novel, then put them on a shelf! At one stage we had over a hundred (I have had a clear out since!). I have a couple that I will cook out of and follow a recipe sometimes.

Would it help if you planned your meals for the following week, wrote a shopping list and tried to stick to it? We have done this since just after Christmas and have found it helps as we don't overbuy and waste food, it's easier when I come in from work and we have saved on the food bill.

My hubby doesn't cok very often but follows a recipe almost to the letter when he does - and he is a good cook. He did fishcakes with a herby mayonnaise on Monday night - and very nice they were too.

[emseypop]

It took me a few years to realize my cooking wasn't improving with time! I can cook a roast with veg 9 times out of 10 it'll be fine, but there's always the odd occasion when everything goes wrong I have an apple cake which is my specialty, most other cakes I try to cook end in disaster even the kits in boxes you get from the supermarket. Men shouldn't be allowed to shop for food on their own, if my OH was allowed to run amuck we'd be living on cherrycoke, lemon curd and dry roasted peanuts

[jennywren]

Oh lemon curd I love this - not many people do - anyone else like it

[bogmyrtle]

May 20, 2009 21:48:58 GMT 1 jennywren said:

Oh lemon curd I love this - not many people do - anyone else like it

I do - hubby doesn't, shame that, more for me ;D

I make an ice cream with it - pot of double cream, some meringue cases/nests and a jar of lemon curd.

Whip the cream, break the meringue up and add, then add add the lemon curd. Mix and put in the freezer. You need to bring it out of the freezer a little before you serve it. Measures are not known - the recipe was given to me as above so you can play around with it.

[emseypop]

May 21, 2009 8:41:24 GMT 1 @bogmyrtle said:

May 20, 2009 21:48:58 GMT 1 jennywren said:

Oh lemon curd I love this - not many people do - anyone else like it

I do - hubby doesn't, shame that, more for me ;D

I make an ice cream with it - pot of double cream, some meringue cases/nests and a jar of lemon curd.

Whip the cream, break the meringue up and add, then add add the lemon curd. Mix and put in the freezer. You need to bring it out of the freezer a little before you serve it. Measures are not known - the recipe was given to me as above so you can play around with it.

Sounds so simple even I could do it : ;D OH has 2 lemon curd sarnies for his lunch at work everyday.

[jennywren]

I dont think could eat between bread - I put it on tea loaf or similar and eat it that way

Sorry Melanie going off Thread - back on again now

Did you think my idea a good one - enrolling at night classes?

Two years ago I learned how to make a gorgeous Almond Spanish Bean Soup - see my recipe in Food

I now make this every week - so it was worth it for me - the classes dont start until Sept each year but it is nice to have something to look fwds to towards the Winter months

[melaniepur]

It is a good suggestion but it doesn't fit with my schedule right now. Maybe when my daughter gets older

I will be checking out your Almond Spanish Bean Soup, sounds delicious!

[bogmyrtle]

Jun 10, 2009 20:06:16 GMT 1 @melaniepur said:

It is a good suggestion but it doesn't fit with my schedule right now. Maybe when my daughter gets older

I will be checking out your Almond Spanish Bean Soup, sounds delicious!

The soup is delicious Mel, we tried it and so easy to make.

[maggyd]

May 20, 2009 21:48:58 GMT 1 jennywren said:

Oh lemon curd I love this - not many people do - anyone else like it

I love anything made with lemons jen especially curd ;D I have made it, a long time ago and it was delicious. Im quite good with jams,chutneys, I used to bake lots of cakes and bread when my family were at home but these days Ive lost the inclination as my O.H. just takes for granted that preparing food is easy and never says he likes anything unless you ask him!! he soon tells you if he hasnt though so these days I dont bother making much effort just plain everyday some might say boreing he doesnt like paste or rice (I do) .

I know what Mel is saying though about ingredients and needing to buy lots of things you probably wont use again I have things like Star Annis! geletine ! cream of Tarter! they are lots of dried herbs that must need throwing out : Im not a very good at stocking up IN CASE if Im doing something it probably costs me a fortune I have to go out and buy the lot (thats my excuse) for sticking to the same old same old. If Im honest I dont like cooking at all! mind you I can turn my hand at a wonderful special occasion cake.

[maggyd]

Oh and Mel even the experts follow recipes so dont think your no good because you have to follow one and you will find that you will start putting your own little touches once you get used to cooking, Ive been cooking since 1961 and I still use recipe books.