I am curious if you all can help me. I have never been much of a "cook" and I get yelled at all the time for it... my MIL, cooks everything from scratch and I hear all the time about how bad it is that I do not do this. I am not interested in learning to cook EVERYTHING from scratch but I know how to make: Spaghetti, Hamburgers, Hamburger meals (Tacos ect...) but other then that we are officially out of ideas. I can cook breakfast foods too. I have no clue how to cook chicken... I am scared to death I will poison my family.
So where do I begin? I am in the process of making out a weekely shopping list (meals for the next two weeks) and I am convinced this time I am actually going to do it and stick to it we have got to eat better then sandwiches and leftovers night after night. Can you help me? How do I learn or am I just hopeless?

Kristen

I suggest getting a Betty Crocker Cookbook. It has glossaries and definitions. It's a big help. It has pictures and directions for doing just about anything. I refer to it a lot for ideas and how to's. Forexample it tells you about different cuts of meat and what they are best used for. It's never too late to learn how to cook or how to cook better.

Yep, I agree!! Buy a good cook book and follow directions!! It gets easier with practice, so you are never going to get anywhere if you don't try!!!

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~Happiness is a large family~

If I can cook anyone can. The cookbook I suggest is the Better Homes and Garden cookbook. It has all the basic recipes you need and definitions, etc. Also, if you have the channel, I've actually picked up a lot of good tips from the Food Network. I really like Alton Brown (Good Eats) and Paula Deen (Paula's Home Cooking).

Start with the easy, everyday kind of things your family likes to eat. Also, if you have a friend or family member whose cooking you enjoy, ask them to teach you a few recipes.

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My father has only given me 2 decent pieces of advice in my life, and one is "if you can read, you can cook." If you have something you like at a friends' - ask for the recipe. There are TONS of recipes on this site. Just follow them. Just "knowing" what to do with certain foods comes later. For now, just follow recipes. Here's a hint - you know those bags of "flash frozen" chicken breasts - the ones that are rock solid? You don't have to thaw them before you cook them. Directions on the bag - bake for 45 minutes at whatever temp it says. That's it. Top it w/ some salsa, or ranch dressing, or bbq sauce, or honey mustard sauce, etc. about halfway thru cooking. Serve over rice.

I tell everyone I cook cause I am untalented in every other aspect
can't sing, dance, draw,or sew but I can read and follow simple directions.

It's not hard!!!Start w/simple things(and sometimes the simple things are THE BEST)
I am more than willing to help w/ANYTHING!!!You can p.m. me anytime!!!Or just post a question here....there's really a TON of great cooks on here and all would love to help!!!

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Do you have a gas grill?

I am the grilling queen. It's hard to mess up on the grill. Pork chops, pork steaks, burgers, steaks, kabobs.

Serve with a salad or open a can of veggies or baked beans and you have your self a meal.

I make simple stuff, with few ingredients.. Like m2m said, sometime the simple stuff is easiest.

Chicken with bone in is great baked in the oven and super easy, coat with crushed corn flakes is good. Mash some potatoes, serve with a veggie.

Crock pot is easy too. There are excellent recipes on here..

As m2m said you can ask me anything anytime.. I'm more than willing to anwser "dumb" questions.