It's taken me ages to post this, but I really need some help

[Flgihtattendant]

Sorry to sound like an eejit

but I have NO idea when it coems to cooking.

It's been Ok all year, ds has had school dinners so just a sandwich after school plus fruit, etc has been Ok.

However. It's the hols, ds2 is slowly weaning off the breast and starting to eat proper food - atm I can give him some of my supper, but ds1 really needs feeding properly.

I have a history of eating disorder - ie I find it v v difficult to think about food, buy it, prepare it, or, well, eat it - I manage for me but only with the help of frquent shop-bought sandwiches, frozen pizzas, ready meals and chocolate so on. This isn't good enough for the kids, obv.

Please can anyone offer any ideas - I'm not averse to making stuff, but have genuinely NO idea how and every recipe book I've bought has a huge list of fiddly little ingredients and I just can't cope.

I need simple, REALLY simple meal ideas - I can make fish fingers, baked potatoes, can't do mash as I don't know how and I know how to boil pasta, usually add peas to that, but then no idea what to use for sauce.

I made the first dinner of the hols last night, using quorn mince (frozen) as I am mainly veggie and don't trust myself with raw meat cooking - simmered it after frying in olive oil, with some carrots and greens and a tin of chopped tomatoes. I liked it, but the veg was almost raw and ds didn't like the quorn.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed and please don't laugh at me - I know it's about time I learned.
Thanks xxxx

[Flgihtattendant]

I've printed the thread out now, so wanted to say thankyou so very much to everyone who has spurred me on.

Please don't add any more as I'll have to write it down by hand, or print the whole lot again!!!

You are a very decent bunch.

[Yurtgirl]

another one

Another one - I havent got this one though, only the one in the first link

HTH

[Yurtgirl]

I am rather fond of this book here
Previously available (might still be) from the book people/bananas for £2 or tescos for a bit more

It has no pictures but is full of recipes for people who dont know much about cooking and who havent got lots of money, short ingredients lists as well

HTH

[mariamerryweather]

Another pasta suggestion (nicked from Nigella) - DD adores this and you can cook the whole thing in one pan - cutting down faff -

Chuck dried pasta in pan of boiling water, 4 mins before cooking time is up chuck in some frozen peas.

Once peas are cooked (after 4 mins) drain pan, leaving pasta and peas in sieve / colander.

Put pan back on the heat, add cream / creme fraiche, some chopped ham and grated cheese and mix. Then return peas and pasta to pan, stir - and that's it.

Nice with a peppery salad...

[EachPeachPearMum]

V sorry to hear about Lucysmam... I assumed she had just felt like a name change. Another one here who misses her- her threads were brilliant, and she seemed lovely.

[HuffwardlyRouge]

Spinach and Ricotta pasta?

Gently fry a chopped onion in oil for 3 minutes.
Add a packet of fresh spinach, or half a small packet of frozen spinach.
Cook until either the fresh spinach is wilted, or the frozen spinach is thawed and hot.
Add half a teaspoon of nutmeg.
Add salt and / or pepper to taste.
Stir in a tub of Ricotta.

Add to boiled pasta.

(If feeling adventurous, add a handful of pine nutswith the spinach, or some crushed garlic with the onion).

[Ohforfoxsake]

If you find supermarkets overwhelming, try an internet shop - even if its just once a month to stock up. Takes a couple of go's to get it right, but so worth it.

I'm liking Gill Holcombe's "How to feed your whole family a healthy, balanced diet with very little money ...and hardly any time, even if you have a tiny kitchen, only three saucepans etc etc". It not only has menu plans in the back, but shopping lists too. It has a good few meat free dishes, and the carrot cake is fab!

Good luck.

[shonaspurtle]

If you like couscous then it's another thing that's perfectly good as ready-made thing for emergencies.

By ready-made I mean the pre-flavoured stuff like the packs of Ainsley Harriot's Lemon & Corriander or Harissa. It's more expensive than buying it plain but good for a quick substitute for potatoes or rice.

Bloody love that stuff and quite often eat a bowl on its own if I can't be bothered to cook properly. Just add boiling water & a bit of butter!

[MorrisZapp]

sorry just to be clear about the stock, just fling the cubes directly in the pan. Ignore any guff about using a jug of water, that's what's in the pan innit!

My recipe makes a huge pot of soup - just cut quantities to make less! Doesn't need to be even vaguely exact, all the ingredients are delicious in any quantity.

Soup is great for challenged cooks like me as they don't depend on any food chemistry (like cakes do). You just fling in what you fancy and it can't really go wrong.

[MorrisZapp]

If you can boil potatoes and peas etc you can make endless meals with one bought item, for instance fishcakes, or chicken kiev etc with potatoes and peas or sweetcorn.

It's a proper 'square meal' - frozen veg are as good as fresh.

I live mainly on soup - I make a huge pot and it lasts for days.

My lentil soup recipe is so easy it's embarrassing and wins accolades from all:

Cut 2/3 large leeks down the middle, wash any dirt and mud out. Then chop finely across.

Put a wee bit of oil in a large pan and heat it up till it sizzles when you drop a bit of leek in. Then drop all the leeks in, stir, put the lid on and turn the heat right down.

Fill the kettle and stick it on.

Peel and dice 2/3/4/ large carrots (quantities don't really matter).

After about 5 mins, chuck the carrots in and the kettle full of boiling water. Turn the heat right back up again.

Add half a packet of red split lentils. I don't bother washing them tbh.

Bring to the boil and add some stock, I use Marigold powder but cubes are fine. Ham, vegetable, doesn't matter. Start with 2 cubes and add more later if necessary.

Turn right down and simmer gently with lid on for at least 30 mins. Lentils will expand massively so stir now and then, add water if you think it needs it.

You can add herbs near the end, I add a bit of dried thyme.

Honestly, it is fecking delicious. I could eat 5 bowls one after the other. It stays fresh for days of you put it in the fridge, just add more water when heating up.

[ingles2]

I don't know how old your ds is btw but can I recommend this book kids in the kitchen
I know the author and she writes fantastic simple recipes that are fool proof. This book has all sorts of simple dinner recipes, pasta, couscous, and some lovely desserts. It's really easy for children to follow as well and my ds's love cooking from it.
Perhaps you and your son could have a go a trying some new recipes together?

[ingles2]

If you like salad have you ever tried couscous flight? It is so easy and no cooking really. The dc's love it as well.
Buy a packet of couscous, measure out 200g.
put the couscous in a heatproof bowl, On top put a blob of butter, salt and pepper.
Boil kettle and measure 250g water.
Pour boiling water over couscous and put a plate on top of the bowl. Leave for 10 minutes, it'll soak up all the water.
then get a fork and separate the couscous (it looks like it's all stuck together but it's quite easy
then add
a drizzle of olive oil, more salt and pepper
then whatever you like...
chopped up spring onions,
herbs, parsley and corianer is good
pine nuts, raisins
roast vegetable like peppers or courgettes
chick peas
chopped olives
(you don't need all of these, just a couple, try herbs and onions to start)
serve it with sausages, or chops or chicken

[bellavita]

BIWI - she didn't actually leave as such.. but her computer/laptop kept breaking and I don't think she had the money to either get it fixed again or buy a new one.

Yes it is a shame, because she was actually a great help to me on cake decorating queries.

[BecauseImWorthIt]

Has Lucysmam left then? That's a shame.

[Barstardio]

Oh wow - more excellent tips. HolyG that is amazing - sounds really easy, and quick. Singing bear, thankyou - i now have three macaroni cheese recipes to try!! I won't have to buy it from the corner shop any more.

[HolyGuacamole]

Oh I have bookmarked this thread, it's brilliant! That sauce recipe is fab singingbear and loads of others too.

My friend from Italy gave me this easy, peasy recipe.

Quick macaroni cheese: Boil the macaroni (or any pasta) as normal. A few minutes before it's ready, pour a tub of single cream into a pot, when it is heated add a tiny pinch of groud nutmeg and a wad of grated cheese and Parmesan (you can do it without Parmesan though, just whatever cheese you fancy). Stir till melted then chuck in the drained pasta. Stir and serve right away - delicious.

[squirrel42]

Advice aimed at students is definitely handy for a novice in the kitchen; my student cookbook served me well with basic questions like how long are you supposed to cook cauliflower for, and what exactly are you supposed to do with butternut squash!

www.studentcook.co.uk/ - this site is brill!

[Habbibu]

Great thread - you can always get ideas from threads like this, no matter how experienced a cook you are. Student cookbooks are good - I had one called the Vegetarian student years ago, and still use some of the recipes from it.

Our basic quick meal - cook pasta, and while it's cooking, fry some sliced mushrooms in olive oil. When they're a little bit brown and quite soft, chuck in grated courgette, small broccoli florets and cook, then a handful of baby spinach (or whatever combination you have). a bit of the cooking water from the pasta may help here - just a spoonful or so. Add a couple of spoons of pesto (from a jar), and then mix with the pasta.

Other pasta - this one from an Italian friend - chop an onion finely, and fry gently. Chop a couple of red peppers quite finely, add to the pan, stir and add a mug of water. Let it all bubble gently until the water is mostly gone and the peppers are soft. Then add a spoonful of chilli powder of paprika, a couple of tins of tomatoes, stir, and leave it to cook for 40 mins or so. If you want you can add cream at the end, which is lovely but optional.

[Sidge]

I think Grub on a Grant is a great book. Not just good for students but for anyone that needs to learn how to cook from scratch. It even tells you how to boil an egg and make mash!

It has lots of really easy recipes and the instructions are clear.

[bellavita]

Hello

The supermarkets sell "stew packs" - you could make some lovely soup with it...

Just peel the veg, add water and a stock cube (or save the meat juices from your chicken and add instead), bring to the boil, simmer until tender, then blitz up or if you don't have a blender, use the potato masher to break down the veg. Serve with some crusty bread.

Well done you on asking for help . I also second what someone else said on this thread about searching lucysmams posts (I really miss her).

[Barstardio]

Oh and NO ready meals!!! I got a few packets of frozen chicken things, as I was too overwrought to contemplate the raw meat bit, but it doesn't matter - it isn't going to wreck the whole plan if some of the stuff has breadcrumbs on

[Barstardio]

Guys, it's flight here.

Just to elt you know, we went shopping and got a lot of food - but it is stuff we'll actually use this time.

I find supermarkets so overwhelming, it wasn't the easiest thing to do but I had a plan and knew what to get - even made a list, unthinkable before.

We had sarnies at lunchtime then at ds's request, boiled eggs and sweetcorn (done in same pan) for supper. They've had fruit as well, and a bit of carrot cake.

I feel so much better having had this thread last night. It all seems do-able, still daunting but not such a huge mountainous scary thing as it was - it had got to the point where there was just nothing in the fridge or cupboards, which is awful.

Onwards and upwards! Thankyou all xx

[JoesMummy09]

Every mum needs her emergency cheats. In my house it's usually stuffed fresh pasta. Served with a bit of ready made pasta sauce and a bit of salad it's nice and quick and because the pasta keeps for ever in the fridge you can keep it in reserve for when you are too tired can't be arsed to cook.

Nice simple salads are good too. Sometimes I use the bagged stuff because life is too short. You can chop up some tomatoes (cut into quarters... only chefs/androids can get perfect slices of tomato), cucumber, red onion and a packet of feta cheese, bit of olive oil and there's an instant Greek salad.

You can also add various different combinations to a few salad leaves for tasty quick suppers. Here are some of my faves:

Sliced pear, goats cheese and walnut with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Tuna, new potatoes, green beans, hard boiled eggs and olive oil.

Bacon, blue cheese with honey and mustard dressing.

Bulk out your salads with crusty bread/ quiches/cold meats/salamis/pate/smoked makerel.

Another quick supper is soup. Supermarket fresh soup is often very good. You can serve cheese, apple and crusty bread with it to bulk it out a bit.

[LittleMysMum]

Re freezing/defrosting sauces: I freeze a lot of veggie sauces (pasta/chilli/curry) - I make a huge pan and can usually manage to freeze about 3 or 4 extra portions (I use saved takeaway plastic cartons- just right size!) that will feed me, dp and 2lo's. Because they're veggie I don't worry too much about them defrosting in advance, just take one out of freezer and bang the frozen block straight in a pan on a medium setting till it's bubbling (but keep going back to stir it!). Sometimes you have to add a bit more water to the pan as it cooks, but it's really easy once you've made the original batch and can keep you going for a few weeks as one of your weekly meals.