(no subject)

[cherry]

It is possible -- nay, probable -- that I have been heard many a time to proclaim that I have neither interest nor aptitude when it comes to all things domestic.

Seriously, people, I have set off the fire alarm while boiling water. I wish that was hyperbole, but, alas.

With my fancy new apartment, however, and this "taking lunch/supper" places kick I'm on, I am reaching out for help. I have decided that I am going to try to cook at least once a week.

What are your favourite recipes? Where do you find said things? What would you recommend to someone starting out?

Really, I'm very open. I don't eat red meat or bananas, but other than that ...

I adore vegetables and fruit and trying new things, but I appreciate classics. I enjoy both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. I am partial to fast and easy, but am stoked to try things that are a little more involved. I am especially willing to put in the effort for things that are a little different (read: non-North American fare).

I often take lunch and supper to my full time and part time jobs, so reheatable/cold foods are good, and I am also interested in your favourite sandwiches and any awesomely interesting sandwich/salad combos you've tried.

Please: Educate me, mock my ineptitude, it's all good.

Comments

[sprat.livejournal.com]

I don't cook from recipes very often, mostly because I am lazy. (And I like simple stuff, anyway.) So I don't know if I can be much help in that department. However, here are some Things I Make Often:

* chicken breast! I like it fried in a little bit of oil with salt and pepper, or marinated in balsamic vinegar, oil, salt and pepper and garlic and then broiled (basically, you put some foil on your oven rack, stick it in the top spot with the chicken breast on it and turn the oven on to broil -- it's important to keep a close eye on it, though, because this will cook it pretty quickly). You can do chicken breast a bazillion other ways, though, and it's good for you, and if you're only cooking for one, it's not too pricey.

* Yves veggie Burgerburgers, with all the fixings and some kinda fancy cheese from Sobey's deli section. Fat free, tasty, full of soy and stuff, and if you get the ginormapack at Superstore, cheap, too.

* Microwaved whole red potatoes. Shut up, they're really easy! You just wash the potato, poke some holes in it and stick in in the microwave for about 3 minutes. And you can put plain yogurt on them and it tastes like sour cream, only it's nutritious! Sort of.

* Plain rice, a can of tuna and cooked veggies. You drain the tuna, because otherwise it's yucky, and for the veggies, I like to steam or boil some broccoli, carrots, mushrooms and sprouts, but you can use whatever. I put soya sauce all over it once it's cooked. It's cheap, you only use the one bowl, and it's surprisingly yummy.

* Blackened tofu and mixed green salad. It's really important to use pressed firm tofu for this, because it just doesn't work otherwise -- the green Mandarin tofu fourpack is best. What you do is: get some oil nice and hot in a frying pan, then stir in some spices (I like cumin, curry powder and powdered ginger). While that's sizzling, chop the tofu into tiny cubes. Throw the tofu into the pan and coat it in the oil/spice mix. Let it get a little bit brown and then mix in about a tablespoon of soya sauce, letting that coat the tofu too. Cook it until it gets kinda smoky -- it should be dry and chewy by this point -- then pull it off the heat. Make a salad of mixed greens (a la the spring mix stuff, or just baby spinch if you want) and whatever else you like in salad (I'm partial to roma tomatoes, english cucumbers, raw broccoli, baby carrots, avacado and chopped pecans) and pour the warm tofu on top. Eat with some kind of vinagrette dressing for best result. *g*

My favourite weird sandwich combo is avacado and smashed ketchup chips on toasted whole wheat bread. This is what I lived on as a teenaged vegan. Not very nutritious, but waaay yummier than they sound.

Hmm. I have more ideas but this is getting epic. If you want them, ask -- I will email them to you. In the mean time, I can recommend food_porn for recipe-type recipes and general cooking inspiration. They post pictures! It's awesome!

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

Dude, totally email me more suggestions.

Also, re: veggie burgers: Have you ever tried the Superstore ones? They have a seven veggie variety and a lentil/rice/bean (with veggies) and curry one. It is pretty much the best thing ever, OMG.

How, exactly, does one steam veggies?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bounce_/]

There's two ways, once you've cut everything into bite sized pieces. Either put them in a steamer over boiling water with the lid on for a few minutes or in microwave on high in a bowl half full of water, covered in cling wrap for three minutes. :)

[sprat.livejournal.com]

You get a metal colander (like this), or a bamboo steaming basket if you're feeling extra crunchy, and also a pot that's the right size for the colander to rest on the rim without actually fitting inside -- like this. Put some water in the pot (not enough to touch the bottom of the colander, though) and put your veggies in the colander. Cover the veggies with a lid. Voila!

Dollarama has colanders that are perfect for steaming right now. Alternatively, you can also pick up a steamer for not too much at Walmart or Superstore - it works on the same principal, but sets it all up for you. My brother has one that's tri-level, so he can steam his veggies, rice and fish all at once. Fancy! *g*

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

Oh, tri-level steamer. That sounds fantastically indulgent. Thanks for the info.

I still have not been to Dollarama, can you believe that?