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I want to learn to cook healthier meals for my DC and I.

65 replies

tortoise · 01/01/2007 13:17

I need to get healthy and stop feeding my DC and me crap all the time!
I'm not a confident cook and where meat is concerned I worry that I won't cook it properly and we will all be ill!

So I need tips,advice,very easy recipes or recommendations for good easy cookbooks please.
TIA and Happy New Year!

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nutcracker · 01/01/2007 14:00

I found a cookbook for beginners the other day, I am going to get it I think as I am not a confident cook either.

Will try and find it and do a link.

MKG · 01/01/2007 14:03

PeachesMcLean, Some recipes are like that, but most I just throw everything in and turn it on. I think it depends on what you're making.

nutcracker · 01/01/2007 14:03

It was this one, looks ok and not too pricey.

tortoise · 01/01/2007 14:05

oooh that looks good Nutty. I will order that when i have some money!

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MKG · 01/01/2007 14:06

Oh also try Rachel Ray Recipes, she does 30 minute meals, actually that the name of her book, "30 minute meals"

nutcracker · 01/01/2007 14:06

There is this slow cooker one too.

tortoise · 01/01/2007 14:50

ok I will look up Rachel Ray.Thanks.

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yellowrose · 01/01/2007 15:01

tortoise - don't worry about cooking meat.

In fact when you buy fresh, packed meat at most stores they give you a guide as to how long to cook. Also you can test things like whether a whole chicken has cooked in the oven or not. A good test is stick skewer or fork into the breast and the crease where the thighs join the breast, if the juice runs clear (i.e no signs of pinky or bloody juice) it has cooked.

With other things like pieces of lamb or beaf, fry some onion in oil first, then add the chopped meat (small pieces obviously cook faster) and then cover the meat with water or stock, it should cook properly within 1 - 1.5 hours on a low flame. You can also taste the meat while cooking, if it is nice and tender to bite, not hard and chewy it has cooked ! You can then add you veg. or whatever at the end to avoid over cooking the veg.

Mince meat cooks really quickly, again fry onion, add meat, add water or stock or tomato paste, etc, cover with water and lower heat and allow to cook for about 20 mins.

I am really paranoid about uncooked meat too as I have had food poisening in the past from badly cooked, or gone off meat (not my own cooking, restaurant food !), but with a bit of practice and common sense it's dead easy to cook meat safely.

Good luck !

tortoise · 01/01/2007 15:15

I'm not to bad with pre-packed meat.Apart from always smelling it then think it doesn't smell right and not wanting to risk sickness (I think I'm an emetophobe really)then chucking it!
I never do mince.I can't stand the smell of it. I don't mind cottage pie but don't know if i could make it myself!

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yellowrose · 01/01/2007 17:11

tortoise - yes I guess if you don't like the smell of mince it doesn't help !

May I suggest organic mince lamb ? I am into organic in a big way now, simply because I think it smells and tastes better, not just because I am an Eco Warrior !!

DS (2.5 yo) loves lamb and chicken.

I have a problem with supermarket fish, esp. the pre-packed ones. They always smell dodgy to me and on 2 occassions were so dodgy (completely off trout) when I took it back the women at customer service opened the bag, had a smell, said it was totally disgusting and gave me my money back (she looked really embarrassed poor woman !)

tortoise · 01/01/2007 17:19

I don't like lamb. Don't know if the mince would taste different though?
Not keen on fish either!Its more the smell than anything. Actually,maybe i'm more fussy than the kids.
DC do like fish cakes so maybe i could force myself to try making homemade ones.

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suzycreamcheese · 01/01/2007 17:38

tortoise..amble over slowly and come out your shell to 10/10/10 thread in health section; aim to eat 10 veg exercise for 10 minutes per day and now to drink 10 glasses of water..
sometimes recipes too, and friendly little thread,
bit slow just now, but that might suit your name!

QuootiepieTheHogmanayAss · 01/01/2007 17:41

oh, i hate lamb but love lamb mince

tortoise · 01/01/2007 17:51

Suzy! I doubt i can get anywhere near 10! Im drinking water so im doing ok on that part!
I will come take a look! Might take me a while to arrive.

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suzycreamcheese · 01/01/2007 17:54

start ambling over soon! its just to try to do these things! and there are some recipes ideas and exercise stuff!
actually..been kind of quiet of late, so liven it up!

IntergalacticWalrus · 01/01/2007 17:59

Tomato and marscarpone pasta is always a winner here and it's simple!

1 onion
1 clove of garlic
oil
passata
marscarpone

Chop up onion and galic, fry in a pan. put passata and marsacrpone and some mixed herbs. Pour over pasta et voila!

DS1, who has lots of fussy phases, will always polish this off

tortoise · 01/01/2007 18:01

passata??
marscarpone Thats cheese isn't it?
I hace alot to learn!

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IntergalacticWalrus · 01/01/2007 18:03

passata is sieved tomatoes. You cabn buy a big bottle of it for about 40p in Asda. It will do you about 3 or 4 moeals. It's good for bunging into spag bol etc too

IntergalacticWalrus · 01/01/2007 18:04

and yes, marscarpone is Italian cream cheese. It's v nice too!

tortoise · 01/01/2007 18:05

Oh! ok.lol!
Worth a try!
Although no-one likes tomatoes.

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DimpledThighs · 01/01/2007 18:09

quick easy healthy tomato soup:

Put 2 tins of toms in a pan
add chopped clove of garlic
stock cube
teaspoon on sugar

simmer for 20mins

liquidise or mash and sieve

serve with grated cheese and bread or as a sauce for pasta.

Godsend in my house at the moment!

DimpledThighs · 01/01/2007 18:09

oh -= crossed posts - no one likes tomatoes so maybe not tomato soup eh

tortoise · 01/01/2007 18:10

Actually DS's do like tom soup!
DD's yet to show any interest in soup!

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tortoise · 01/01/2007 18:11

Meant to add thanks for recipe. I might actually be able to manage that one.

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Mercy · 01/01/2007 18:14

Tortoise, do you like tinned tuna?

If so, you could do tuna pasta ( I have a very simple recipe), tuna meatballs with spaghetti, fishcakes with home-made chips (or rice) and salad.

What about chicken? Sausages? Home-made burgers? (could use pork mince + apple)