Please help me I'm a terrible cook!

[tabbycat7]

I like the idea of cooking healthy, nutritious meals for my family, but the sad truth is that the only meals that don't like shite are the ones where I pour a jar of sauce over some chicken. Where am I going wrong? What could I cook/ find recipes that are easy and that will taste nice?

Please help me

TIA

I know he's hideously overexposed, but Jamie Oliver's books are a really good place to start.

I can't stand recipes that require star anise, spatchcock or guavas. I like stuff I can make from the cupboard or a trolley dash round the supermarket.

Oh there's loads you can do!

What are your dislikes? (easier than asking what you like)

I have recently honed lot of very easy simple meals for when I don't have much time.

What kind of sauces do you use with your bits of chicken? Maybe we could suggest some home-made alternatives?

Can I throw something into the mix and ask for meals for the family that are low fat too? Am on WWs and sick of making 2 meals a night!

hi tabbycat!
there are some v good recipes here on MN which also have been roadtested on the kids which may give you a starting point
also good food site which has literally thousands of recipes aimed at novices to more experienced cooks,they're also good with budget recipes too
i learnt to cook with good ol delia tbh her complete cookery course is a bit of a bible as far as i'm concerned and i know that some people sneer but(exh was one!)her back to basic range is meant to be v.good
another thumbs up for jamie oliver and also can't praise nigella lawson enough either!
once you get into the swing of it all you'll rarely use supermarket jars again!

I have loads but can't be bothered to type out the recipes so ask me if you want details, none take more than 1/2 hour for prep, stirring servin etc, some just 10 mins

Sausage, tomato 3 bean casserole
Quesedillas
Seafood Linguine
spanakopita
Pizza
Fritatta
Spaghetti Carbonara
Stew and dumpings

i've just bought the hamlyn student cookbook - on the basis that if a student can do it and has the ingredients it will be easy. so far its been good and it was cheap to buy.

what is spanakopita, DWP?

www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/spanakopita_72400.shtml

Tabby where are you? I can give cooking lessons. I'm in london tho.

Otherwise Nigel Slater's real fast food is also a great book. It's easy to look up an ingredient you like and have a look at his recipes, which are usually pretty tasty, and then they should be ready in about 30 min!

Good luck!

Real Fast Food is a great place to start, particularly as it often gives ideas for ways to vary the recipe - eg, if you don't have one herb, try another etc and he gives ideas of what will work well as a substitution.

Thanks everybody! I could't try any of these out for last night as the stupid internet broke, but watch this space! I ill obtain those books too.

I'm in King's Lynn, so a bit far, but cooking lesons sound like a good idea!

DWP, I'm not too fussy an eater, and DH will eat literally anthing and the Dss aren't too bad, but I did used to be a vegetarian, so I don't or bones. Or anything that has the texture of snot. Or things that look like insects.

You're all lovely

Jamie's Ministry of Food book is very, very simple and encouraging. It sounds like this would meet your needs.

Another vote for Nigel Slater. It's full of quick simple meals that you can do for supper in an evening, rather than the slave in the kitchen for several hours type of food that most cookbooks specialise in and is only really appropriate for weekends.

Also, I'd suggest picking up supermarket recipe cards. A good share of the quick, easy dinner recipes I use regularly are based on these.