I need some kinda cheffing help. Basically, I'm a bit of a shit cook, I can only cook about 4 or 5 meals, and I wouldn't say any of them out me in contention for any head chef's jobs! That said though, I do like to get a little bit creative from time to time, and in fact have what I would call two of my own trademark meals... Pollo del Ross (chicken with a mushroom and sweetcorn sauce), and Hag Bol (it's like spag bol, but with haggis... don't ask).

Basically, I was wondering if anyone had good recommendations for simple but healthy recipes, or even like some websites that have stuff I could fling together with simple, cheap ingredients. I mean simple to the point that it's even pretty difficult for me to find things like peppers in the crappy shops near my flat!

Any help would be much appreciated

rachel ray's 30 minute meals are truly easy and everyone ive had is GOOD

food tv website that has some recipes located near the bottom of the page
Rachael Ray - 30 Minute Meals - Show List A To Z - TV - Food Network

more recipes on her website

here is her cookbook of 30 minute meals that are health conscious

__________________
the cave mouth shines
by pure force of will
i look down on the world
from the top of this lonesome hill
and you can run, and run some more
from here all the way to singapore
but i will carry you home in my teeth
-mountain goats

Hmm, look a little bit complicated for my liking, and the ingredients are mostly things I don't have any hope of ever getting my hands on

Anyone try cooking fish much at all?

ok. this guy has a good deal of meat recipes, but his dishes are tasty and about as easy as it gets without resorting to frozen and canned everything

same recipe

Original recipe given on Food Talk with Rocco on WOR Radio. Exact measurements and method was not given during the show so it is open to individual interpretation and method.

Acorn Squash
Sea salt
Olive oil
4 eggs
Tarragon (chopped)
Shallots (chopped)
White Wine Vinegar
Red Wine Vinegar

Get a couple of acorn squash, split them and bake them in the oven with a little bit of sea salt, some olive oil and a little bit of molasses, and then just serve them halved or quartered. Actually, the porcini mushroom stuffing right inside those little cavities in the squash would be great. You can even put a little bit of egg in there and then stuff the squash and slice it like a pie…


I like vinegared mushrooms as a matter of fact. Just get regular button mushrooms or whatever mushrooms you like, cut them in halves, put a little bit of oil in a super hot pan sauté them quickly, and cook them until they're brown on the outside.

Then deglaze them with white wine vinegar, remove them from the pan and put them in a bowl. If liquid starts to drain out, remove that and reduce it. Toss it with chopped tarragon, chopped shallots and red wine vinegar, and then take the mushroom liquid that you reduced and add it back in there. Toss and serve at room temperature

Yield: Serves: 4
Published: 02/14/06

his book
Amazon.com: Rocco's Five Minute Flavor: Fabulous Meals with 5 Ingredients in 5 Minutes: Books: Rocco DiSpirito

__________________
the cave mouth shines
by pure force of will
i look down on the world
from the top of this lonesome hill
and you can run, and run some more
from here all the way to singapore
but i will carry you home in my teeth
-mountain goats

omg he has 93 FREE entree recipes on his site!
free easy recipes

__________________
the cave mouth shines
by pure force of will
i look down on the world
from the top of this lonesome hill
and you can run, and run some more
from here all the way to singapore
but i will carry you home in my teeth
-mountain goats

Why not try grilling up some fresh cuts of meat like chicken or pork chops. etc. Or maybe do salmon or tuna steaks. Grilling is so easy and it is healthy. Toss some veggies together for a lil salad and maybe roast some potatos and there you go. I dunno if that is too complicated, but I went by the basis that I think both my brothers could do it.

Again, it comes down to a lack of ingredients. I'm kinda looking at very basic vegetables, stuff like peppers, onions, tomatoes... you can bet your bottom dollar you won't find an Acorn Squash within a good car journey of where I stay

Thanks for the help anyway dirtyplotte

I might try the idea of just grilling some simple meat and mixing it in with simple stuff, but that was all my mum used to ever make, and although it did an OK job, it was very much more functional than tasty!

get with some marinating and seasoning and that will definately spruce things up! Salad dressing works great as a marinade.

Also you can take the left over grilled meat and eat it over pasta. Which is filling and still cheap.

i was/am a crap cook, but i'm steadily getting better.

TRY THIS ONE!

it's so freaking easy.

CHILLI:

dice onion
+ garlic
brown mince and the above.
(i like to think i'm gordon ramsey and i might add chili flakes/seasoning)

put into a big pot, and add:
canned tomatoes
canned kidney beans
mexican bean mix (like mexican tomatoes with beans etc) x2
add rice - maybe a cup or so?

let it simmer for about half an hour.

and then serve BUT top with sour cream and grated cheese.

mmm. so easy and YUMMY.

its really easy to make a simple curry. you can saute the veggies (or meat) all in the same pan but i llike to slightly coat them in oil and then roast them first in the oven. i do like zuchini, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, etc cut up in small pieces - you can also add chikpeas. then you put them in a big pan over the stovetop and add curry powder + coconut milk. let it simmer for awhile until everything is nice and mushy and flavorful. then make some rice and put it on top. super easy and you can use really any veggies or meat around the house. (ive never made it with meat but assume it would turn out the same)

casseroles are also awesome. you just cut up whatever you have around, add some spices, put it in a pan and bake. voila. different spices create different flavors. i'm sure there are some websites out there that specify which are for what region/type of flavor. i think what makes the best cook is creativity and knowing how to put flavors together rather than actual recipes.

i'd say if you start from scratch, start with "ingredient-themes".

i.e., choose a vegetable (which is available where you are) and research recipes on the web and start with the easiest ones.
let's say "cucumber" - that would make tsatsiki (with garlic and yogurt),
cucumber salad, it goes well on great sandwiches etc.
or "potato" - roasted potatoes, potato-gratin, mashed potatoes...all very simple recipes that don't need special skills or many other ingredients.


also learn to make the easy basics: salad dressings, frying meat, pancakes (stuffed with salad: yummy), fruit salads, chili, pasta sauces...