What are some good, easy meals my wife can’t screw up?

[Einstein]

Her words, not mine. “Find me some recipes that actually taste good (not just bland steak and broccoli) that I won’t screw up?”

What do you got?

[T&C]

1 minute ago, Einstein said:

Her words, not mine. “Find me some recipes that actually taste good (not just bland steak and broccoli) that I won’t screw up?”

What do you got?

First I'd buy her a spice rack.

[Augie]

8 minutes ago, T&C said:

First I'd buy her a spice rack.

 

Second, I’d buy her some spices. 

 

Third, learn to use them. 

 

We had our 9 year old grandson last weekend. He’s expressed an interest in learning how to cook, a bit of a hobby for me for a while. He can do better than microwaving his own hot dog. We do some simple recipes he loves that he could do himself with a little assistance. I hope I did not just compare your wife's cooking skills to the potential of a nine year old boy, because I think that’s what I just did. 😋

[Augie]

16 minutes ago, Einstein said:

Her words, not mine. “Find me some recipes that actually taste good (not just bland steak and broccoli) that I won’t screw up?”

What do you got?

 

What kind of foods are you into? OK with chicken? Fish? Love veggies? Are you OK with red meat? I’ve got some ideas. 

 

One of the reasons I stopped cooking was people got so damn picky! Our son married a vegetarian. Her parents will do chicken or fish, but not red meat. My niece will not do red meat, but chicken is fine, while fish, or “anything that swims in its own poop”, is off limits. I have a friend with a terrible egg allergy, so we have to be careful. My BIL and his wife went all-in vegan due to health issues. 

 

I’ve thrown my hands up. I’ll make what I want with enough for like minded people, do some simple veggies and let the wife go to Whole Foods to satisfy the picky. 

 

Cooking is mostly a matter of reading comprehension. I’m no chef, but I can read. Since I already put your wife in the same cooking basket as a 9 year old boy, I had to wonder how much more I could offend you or your bride.  😋

[Gugny]

Allrecipes.com is my go to when I need ideas. Lots of great recipes with common ingredients. 

[Joe Ferguson forever]

I love this site:  https://www.spendwithpennies.com  Made a big batch of her classic chili 2 nights ago with 2/3 ground beef and 1/3 ground lamb.  have done several other things from here and all very good and straightforward.

[Einstein]

56 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

What kind of foods are you into? OK with chicken? Fish? Love veggies? Are you OK with red meat? I’ve got some ideas. 

 

One of the reasons I stopped cooking was people got so damn picky! Our son married a vegetarian. Her parents will do chicken or fish, but not red meat. My niece will not do red meat, but chicken is fine, while fish, or “anything that swims in its own poop”, is off limits. I have a friend with a terrible egg allergy, so we have to be careful. My BIL and his wife went all-in vegan due to health issues. 

 

I’ve thrown my hands up. I’ll make what I want with enough for like minded people, do some simple veggies and let the wife go to Whole Foods to satisfy the picky. 

 

Cooking is mostly a matter of reading comprehension. I’m no chef, but I can read. Since I already put your wife in the same cooking basket as a 9 year old boy, I had to wonder how much more I could offend you or your bride.  😋

 

I am a carbaholic but i’m trying to change that. Fish is ok. Chicken is ok smothered in sauce. Steake diane is great.

 

Tired of spending thousands per month at restaurants. Body doesn’t appreciate it either.

[Augie]

6 minutes ago, Einstein said:

 

I am a carbaholic but i’m trying to change that. Fish is ok. Chicken is ok smothered in sauce. Steake diane is great.

 

Tired of spending thousands per month at restaurants. Body doesn’t appreciate it either.

 

The dollars don’t matter. 

 

What you order matters. 

 

But nice humble brag, there. 

[ExiledInIllinois]

Pizza Hut! 

[DrW]

When he was 17 or so, my son wanted to learn how to cook. Most of the cookbooks in my collection have excellent, but pretty difficult recipes with a lot of ingredients. Then, looking through the bargain bin at Barnes&Noble, I found this cookbook: It was a full success. The recipes are pretty easy and well-explained, and you do not need lots of strange ingredients. As a note of caution, the claim on the cover "30 minutes or less" is an exaggeration. Even I, as a cook with lots of experience, need longer for most of the recipes.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Simple-Recipes-Flavorful-Foolproof/dp/1933615591

 

 

[Augie]

4 minutes ago, DrW said:

When he was 17 or so, my son wanted to learn how to cook. Most of the cookbooks in my collection have excellent, but pretty difficult recipes with a lot of ingredients. Then, looking through the bargain bin at Barnes&Noble, I found this cookbook: It was a full success. The recipes are pretty easy and well-explained, and you do not need lots of strange ingredients. As a note of caution, the claim on the cover "30 minutes or less" is an exaggeration. Even I, as a cook with lots of experience, need longer for most of the recipes.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Simple-Recipes-Flavorful-Foolproof/dp/1933615591

 

 

 

When our oldest went to college we got him a cook book called A Man, A Can, And A Plan. Pretty doable stuff. 

[Augie]

1 hour ago, Gugny said:

Allrecipes.com is my go to when I need ideas. Lots of great recipes with common ingredients. 

 

Emeril was the worst, with dozens of ingredients, many of which were obscure and nearly impossible to find. Didn’t he make enough money that selling toaster ovens is beneath him?  

[WhoTom]

When I went away to college, someone gave me "The Starving Student's Cookbook." It had some simple recipes, but more importantly, it taught me this philosophy of cooking, which I still do nearly 40 years later: just improvise. Recipes are just guidelines; adjust them according to your taste and what you have available.

 

My wife and I both cook using this philosophy. We just keep a variety of meat, veggies, and starches on hand. We have a full spice rack, but I'd say we use fewer than ten of them on a regular basis. Every day we figure out what to have for dinner and one of us slaps it together in an hour or less. It always turns out good.

 

I'm always amazed at people who say they can't cook. It ain't rocket surgery.

27 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

When our oldest went to college we got him a cook book called A Man, A Can, And A Plan. Pretty doable stuff. 

 

Men's Health magazine used to have a monthly column with that name. I wonder if they put together a couple of years' worth of recipes and published it as a book.

 

[Joe Ferguson forever]

1 hour ago, DrW said:

When he was 17 or so, my son wanted to learn how to cook. Most of the cookbooks in my collection have excellent, but pretty difficult recipes with a lot of ingredients. Then, looking through the bargain bin at Barnes&Noble, I found this cookbook: It was a full success. The recipes are pretty easy and well-explained, and you do not need lots of strange ingredients. As a note of caution, the claim on the cover "30 minutes or less" is an exaggeration. Even I, as a cook with lots of experience, need longer for most of the recipes.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Simple-Recipes-Flavorful-Foolproof/dp/1933615591

 

 

Just double the time they say.  I never come close.

[muppy]

Okay this is BASIC but nearly Foolproof.

 

You buy a rotisserie chicken. Best price is Costco $4.99 or equivalent in your area.

 

First night: cut white meat in slices on toasted Bread with mayo, avocado, tomato, lettuce AND Bacon if you want to make it a Club style sandwich.  Side salad with garbanzos and craisins, pepitas for crunch. Lettuce mix or add red cabbage, carrot, tomato

 

Then you remove all meat from the carcass. The next 2 ideas are all standard at my house

 

Second Night: Take appropriate amount of chicken and cut into small pieces, add an equal amount cheddar cheese and a lesser amount of prepared salsa of your flavor level spice. I like chipotle or salsa fresca

MIX together don't make it too wet. Put flour tortilla in frying pan, put chicken mix on top to cover and then another tortilla on top. On medium high heat cook for approx 4 minutes on each side...flip over  until browned. Serve with sour cream and same side salad.

 

Third night: ..Buy a Bag of stir fry vegetables. Or use a blend of any you eat wether it be broccoli, carrot, onion, green pea pods. Other options are green beans or green onion, . Take a frying pan and sprinkle with 1T sesame oil. Let it get hot then add vegies and stir fry. Add black pepper, garlic and a generous splash of Oyster sauce. Add the last of the chicken to warm it with the vegies.

 

serve with a portion of Minute rice and soy sauce on the side. 

 

all pretty fast, not hard clean up and Yummy.

 

 

Edited February 16, 2023 by muppy

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

3 hours ago, Einstein said:

 

I am a carbaholic but i’m trying to change that. Fish is ok. Chicken is ok smothered in sauce. Steake diane is great.

 

Tired of spending thousands per month at restaurants. Body doesn’t appreciate it either.

if you love carbs, try Pepe e Cacio. Pasta, pasta water, cheese, pepper. It’s such an easy dish to make. 
 

https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/cacio-e-pepe

 

 

[Johnny Hammersticks]

Hamburger Gravy brah.  Ground meat cooked with a little oil in a pan.  Add cream of mushroom soup, some frozen peas and carrots, and season with salt and pepper.  Serve over mashed potatoes or rice.

[Mark Vader]

Cream of Wheat

[Doc]

Retatta.

[Joe Ferguson forever]

8 hours ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

Hamburger Gravy brah.  Ground meat cooked with a little oil in a pan.  Add cream of mushroom soup, some frozen peas and carrots, and season with salt and pepper.  Serve over mashed potatoes or rice.

growing up, when it was just me and my dad for a while, we had this often, without the soup or frozen veggies.  Thinking it would be better with those.  I would also add some onions.

Edited February 16, 2023 by redtail hawk