Weekly menu ladies....

Where do you come up with these delish-sounding meals? I am SO not creative in the kitchen, and just wondering how you all do it! I just recently started trying to cook for myself most nights (DH works nights) and I need to know where to get ideas!!!

Any tips for someone just starting out in the kitchen? Unfortunately, my mother never taught me how to cook

Re: Weekly menu ladies....

I am not exactly sure how to help you because you question is actually a large one that seems very intimidating at first. But cooking is fairly simple, and is something you can easily teach yourself.

When I was first learning how to cook, I just practiced. I used a lot of recipes. I bought a few cookbooks, and printed recipes online. Tried them out- followed them very, very carefully. Kept ones I liked, threw out the ones I didn't like. Once you have all your techniques down, the actually cooking part is easy. Most of these techniques can be found in cookbooks too. If you have questions about any techniques, foods or cooking utensils, ask it here and we can help!!

Once I figured out what me and DH like to eat and the types of meals we like, I then try to put our preferences together. I usually start with a recipe but tweak it to make it my own. I omit ingredients while adding some others, things like that. And for creating a full meal, I usually think about the main dish first and then try to think about side dishes that will accompany it well. What will compliment the flavors or enhance it? Usually one item will tie the meal together. They all have lemon, or they all have rosemary or the textures of the food go well together.

And then you become your own weekly menu planner!

Re: Weekly menu ladies....

Re: Weekly menu ladies....

I pretty much just started out as well. I try to look for very simple recipes- something that doesn't require alot of ingredients or steps.

I found bettycrocker.com has alot of simple recipes. All allrecipes.com is a great recipes.

I also like to buy kits- like Taco Dinner Kits and Fajita kits- they are so easy!

Re: Weekly menu ladies....

My mom is a fantastic cook and always made it look so easy and let me and my sister get involved. We all love to cook now. As long as you like the flavor of an ingredient and taste along the when you start, you will learn how much of it to use and how much of it you like and what you like together!

I could watch the food network all day (and look at food magazines and cookbooks).... I don't even make the actual recipes most of the time, but they inspire me and give me ideas for my own recipes! Its so easy to play in the kitchen!

Re: Weekly menu ladies....

I started out the same way too. I have to say I was quite intimidated by the recipes in gourmet mag etc. They usually require difficult techniqu and/or obscure ingredients that you'll only ever use for that recipe and is usually $$$.

I had a lot of luck with allrecipes.com Make sure you read the comments too. I picked up a lot of helpful tips by people who had already made and tweaked the recipes. They also have a search where you can put in the ingredients you have on hand and it'll generate recipes that use them.

I have found that making a weekly menu saves $$$. We make our menu and then do the weekly food shopping. There's no "Soooooo, what do you want for dinner tonight?" "I don't know, what do you want?" and back and forth

Start with simple things.

Check out sites like Pioneer Woman who posts pictures of her step by step. At least you'll know if things are looking right as you go.

Don't be scared and just go for it and always keep the pizza delivery menu handy

Re: Weekly menu ladies....

Cookbooks and recipe websites. Sometimes I try to recreate dishes I've had in restaurants or seen on TV. It's not nearly as difficult as some people think it is, I think people mostly have a fear that it won't be good and don't trust themselves. Just let loose and have fun!