(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

in which I wax enthusiastic

[raucousraven.livejournal.com]

Uh, I'm hopeless with cooking right now, but my solid no-fail recipe is fried rice. You just need some leftover rice out of the cooker from last night (or fresh will do too, I guess :), some veg (any veg, really), meat, soy sauce and garlic. Onions, too, if you like 'em. Cook garlic, optional onions and meat all through (turkey works, and adding something like turkey sausage is a good way to bring the flavour), drain and set aside. Cook veg with more garlic and not much oil; you can steam these, too. I like eggplant, or broccoli and snap peas, but adding whatever's in the fridge is part of the fun, here. Set those aside when they're tender. Then coat a big pan with some oil and put your leftover rice in, stirring to keep things as nonstick as possible. Add soy sauce to taste; if you want to add chili oil or any other sauces (teriyaki is popular), now's a good time. Then add back the meat and veg to heat them all up and give the rice more flavour. Then just serve and eat! If you have them, sprinkle some sesame seeds on, too. They are yum.

I try to make enough for dinner and lunch, with possible snack in between. I like this dish because it's not difficult, it uses the crazy stuff in the fridge, and it's never boring.

If you are comfortable in a lab, try looking through cooking for engineers -- they have a great shepherd's pie recipe I adapted for turkey-lurkey by adding cumin and coriander curry, and changing the potatos out for sweet potatos. MMM GOOD.

Re: in which I wax enthusiastic

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

That sounds v. v. tasty, and boredom relieving.

Also, oh my goodness, that site has flow charts!

You know it's never made sense to me that I find chemistry easier than cooking, but these things happen.

Re: in which I wax enthusiastic

[raucousraven.livejournal.com]

The flow charts made me laugh and laugh, partly because GEEKALICIOUS (mmm, punes or plays on words!) and partly because I knew the site creators had genuinely understood what I needed from them. And there are many, many excellent cooking sites out there, but cooking for engineers is the one I go to when I need to actually make food instead of drool into my keyboard.