I am a terrible cook need some ideas pleeeeaaaseee!!

[onefootinthegravy]

Hi everyone - it is a standing joke in our family that I am not a good cook, I can cook plain meals like roast dinners and even a shepherds pie - but anything that involves too many ingredients and lots of preparation always goes wrong.
I really want to cook a nice meal for me and dh for tonight, we have had a really stressful time lately.
I just something that taste great and is really EASY to do. Any ideas would be gratefully received.
XXXX

Stirfyed tiger prawns(in their shells) with grated ginger and garlic served with a sweet chilli dipping sauce. Teriake salmon with stirfryed vegetables and noodles. Buy teriake sauce, lob it over the salmon bake salmon in oven for 10-15 minutes, noodles take 4 mins, drain and toss with a little sesame oil, stirfry vegetables with a little more of the teriake sauce. And I bet you can manage to make something lovely for dessert

what sort of thing are you lookign for though? Meal with veg, indian, something with rice or salad, italian?

spag bol a la lady and the tramp is easy

How about something like this looks very yummy - in fact it's what I'm doing tonight!

Starter, grilled goats cheese on salad with a drizzle of honey and then Greek yogurt for dessert - just off to do the shopping now!

i can't cook either, i bought myself a slow cooker and it's fab makes everything taste great, i am strong believer in packet mixes and jars, i havnt got time to shop for herbs etc, pataks do a really nice tikka masala with coriander and lemon, or fresh tuna steaks from sainsburys a little butter and lemon either lightly fry (not long) or grill and serve with sainsburys coriander and herb rice, yummy

Maybe indian or chinese would be good but not too spicy - meat rather than fish, maybe italian - the main thing is that its simple but a bit different too ? I really don't know where to start to be honest - think dh will be gobsmacked if I actually made something good!

the tikka masala i recommended is not spicy, if you have an asda nearby you could get mango chutney and tomato and onin dips serve with mini poppadom and indian starters ie pakoras etc then do masala and another dish like korma is not spicy then haag das for pudd !! can i come too

Grilled goats cheese def for starter.
-Make 2 slices of toast
-Cut a circle of toast out of each slice (with a biscuit cutter)
-Put a slice of goast cheese (about 1cm thick)on each bit of toast
-Grill for a couple of mins (until brown, keep an eye on it)
-Serve on rocket leaves with a bit of balsamic vinegar

Main course

• steak if you are feeling like splashing out. Just grill for a few mins on each side, serve with mash or new pots and green beans or something

• Tuna steak? marinade in a bit of olive oil, lemon and chilli or chopped corriander? Grill for 2 mons on each side, serve with pots and veg

Will go and dig out some v easy dessert recipes for you, but you could just buy some yummy haagan daas or Ben and Jerry's ice cream

Basically posh cheese on toast but v v yummy and v easy.

Indian-
okra is really easy to cook - chop ockra, fry, add whatever spices you want then chuck on yoghurt and grated coconut.
bhajia make an easy starter - gram flour, chilli, salt and water to make batter, dip whatever you want in it and fry it.
keema lamb - mince, spices, onion, tin of toms, and some peas. Very easy!
cumin chicken - chicken marinated in spices and toasted cumin seeds then baked.

Italian -
lasagne, but make it different by making chilli mince with kidney beans and layering it with cheese and tom puree and pasta sheet. Or you cna make it with mixed beans (black eyed beans, berlotti, whatever)

mozarella chicken, bake the chick breasts, then layer with pan roasted veg and cheese. Really simple, btu very tasty. I use mushrooms, corgette, cherry toms, sweetcorn, etc. Then serve with salad and roasted baby pots in herbs. This one is dp's fav!

I made the grilled goats cheese and then tuna steak with just steamed green beans and baby sweetcorn (no pots) for hubby's birthday, whole thing took less than half and hour to prepare and cook (so easy to do after kids in bed!) Have a lovely evening and let us know how you get on.

onefootinthegravy

what have you decided to cook ?

So sorry everyone, our internets been down all day!! Just got it back, well my dh rang earlier to say he will be working late again, will have to put the meal on hold til Saturday - but i'll definately try some of your suggestions. XXX