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Foolproof recipes

15 replies

Notcookingongas · 08/09/2026 21:10

Help! I’m at a low. I’ve never been the greatest cook but lately everything I’ve made has been fit for the bin!

What am I doing wrong?! Please could you share some of your foolproof recipes as I have family staying this weekend and I just served them the most awful risotto, followed by awful blackberry and apple crumble! They politely pushed it around their plates bless them.

I love the process of cooking/baking but it never quite works so would be grateful of some recipes that can make me look semi competent.

OP posts:
Paradoes · 08/09/2026 21:19

Is your oven and hob working ok?

I use my slow cooker a lot this time of year. So beef stew - beef onions carrots and a pack of oxtail soup mix for six hours. Baby potatoes.

Or curry - chicken, tin of coconuy milk / half jar thai paste for 4 hours

Notcookingongas · 08/09/2026 22:33

Paradoes · 08/09/2026 21:19

Is your oven and hob working ok?

I use my slow cooker a lot this time of year. So beef stew - beef onions carrots and a pack of oxtail soup mix for six hours. Baby potatoes.

Or curry - chicken, tin of coconuy milk / half jar thai paste for 4 hours

Yes, they are working, it’s me that’s the issue.

I use my slow cooker once a week in the Autumn/Winter but we’d get stewed out if we have more than that.

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foodyum · 09/09/2026 07:35

I'd start simple and go back to basics - things like sausage and mash, baked potatoes, meat/roasties/veg, pasta with a simple sauce - get you use to cooking and timing things right before trying to get flavours right

OvernightBloats · 09/09/2026 07:49

Are you measuring ingredients or guessing them? Are you using the right temperature for cooking with the oven and hob? Are you careful about cooking times? It's tempting to rush recipes which often lead to mistakes. Some recipes require patience!

I am a huge fan of Mary Berry. Her recipes are very well explained and most importantly they work. My suggestion would be to buy one of her books and try the most simple recipes first.

gingercat02 · 09/09/2026 08:06

Risotto is very difficult to do well, so that's not ideal. What was wrong with the crumble @Notcookingongas?
Who are you cooking for, kids, adults, ages, any dietary restrictions. I'll have a think.

TheSandgroper · 09/09/2026 09:46

In your case, I will suggest Delia Smith.

Many years ago, she had a tv series that started with how to boil an egg.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=delia+how+to+cook+series+1

Her website also has cookery classes https://www.deliaonline.com

And there were books to accompany the series https://www.waterstones.com/books/search/term/delia+smith+how+to+cook but you can probably get them cheaper on AbeBooks or Amazon.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=delia+how+to+cook+series+1

SpaceOP · 09/09/2026 09:51

It's quite hard to advise without knowing what's goign wrong? is it too bland? Under/over cooked? Weird textures?

Because all of these have different answers and advice I'd give.

Notcookingongas · 09/09/2026 12:07

OvernightBloats · 09/09/2026 07:49

Are you measuring ingredients or guessing them? Are you using the right temperature for cooking with the oven and hob? Are you careful about cooking times? It's tempting to rush recipes which often lead to mistakes. Some recipes require patience!

I am a huge fan of Mary Berry. Her recipes are very well explained and most importantly they work. My suggestion would be to buy one of her books and try the most simple recipes first.

Thank you! I will invest. I suspect I’m rushing and distracted. Things seem over cooked or taste awful. I do think it could be me - as well as the recipe I’m following.

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Notcookingongas · 09/09/2026 12:08

gingercat02 · 09/09/2026 08:06

Risotto is very difficult to do well, so that's not ideal. What was wrong with the crumble @Notcookingongas?
Who are you cooking for, kids, adults, ages, any dietary restrictions. I'll have a think.

The crumble tasted awful. I can’t even describe how. I’d picked blackberries too.

Cooking for adults teens who eat everything and like trying new things.

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Mulledjuice · 09/09/2026 12:09

has your oil gone rancid?
something gone wrong with your pan/utensils?

SpaceOP · 09/09/2026 12:15

Okay, here is a foolproof recipe for chicken thighs.... You can use just thigh or the thigh/leg.

Trim any excess fat/skin and slash the skin 2 -3 times.

In a large roasting dish that will fit the chicken comfortably, add:

Lemon juice (I usually go for about 1 lemon per two people you're cooking for. Roughly).
A little olive oil - about a table spoon.
Herbs and spices (all are approx measurements): 1-2 tsp fennel seeds, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1tsp dried oregano, 1-3 chopped garlic cloves (I often use easy garlic). Also, optional, 1-2 tablespoons of whisky or brandy. Stir it all together then toss in the chicken.

Turn them all over so they're well coated then leave skin side up and sprinke generously with salt (flakey salt is better).

Put in a fan oven at 150 or regular oven at 170, uncovered, for 40 minutes. Baste, then back into the oven for 20-30 minutes (check at 20 minutes, but if the skin isn't looking nice and crispy by now, crank up the heat for another 5-10 minutes).

Remove the chicken and leave to rest for 5-10 minutes. If you want to make a gravy with what's left, remove the excess fat first then do whatever you like. I cheat and just add bisto to the pan juices.

I usually serve with mash potatoes or new potatoes and stamed veg. DD begs for yorkshire puddings! Grin

TheeNotoriousPIG · 09/09/2026 18:45

This is glorious, and my family and neighbour are also huge fans: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/ultimate-sticky-toffee-pudding

If you're "not the greatest cook", you could try basic foods. My mother was the same (and frequently burnt things), so we grew up on shepherd's pie, cottage pie, corned beef hash, meat or fish with vegetables. If anything, it encouraged my sibling and I to learn to cook for ourselves!

Sticky toffee pudding with spoon taken out

Ultimate sticky toffee pudding

One of our most requested recipes – puddings don't get any better than this

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/ultimate-sticky-toffee-pudding

Notcookingongas · 10/09/2026 07:30

Mulledjuice · 09/09/2026 12:09

has your oil gone rancid?
something gone wrong with your pan/utensils?

They are all new. Pans are good quality.

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ItsOnlyJustBegun · 10/09/2026 08:33

I’ve made some terrible mistakes when I’ve been trying to cook and trying to do other jobs too… especially when baking!

Do your best to commit- in terms of focus - to following a recipe.

Sometimes it’s only 10 mins of adding stuff to a roasting tin, getting the stuff into the oven at the right temperature and setting a timer to baste it, or pull it out when it’s cooked.

Trying to make a risotto when distracted would be really hard !

^ You’ve had some great suggestions ^

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