I’m an inexperienced cook on a budget, what are some tips and recipes for easy, quick meals?
My pantry is filled with rice a roni and pasta roni, but I want to try new things. I’m looking for all sorts of recipes… casseroles, soups, salads, cakes, cookies… anything and everything! I want to start trying new things… I just need easy recipes to help me build my cooking knowledge!
October 14th, 2010 at 11:02 am
go to foodnetwork.com it helps a lot. also, try my spinach puffs.. lol.
Supplies:
Pillsbury Crossants (in a can/dough)
Spinach Spread
Cream Cheese (melt in microwave for about 25 minutes)
Roll out the dough, and put on a lightly greased pan. Then, spread some cream cheese ontop. warm up the spinach for about 10-15 minutes, and spread on dough. Cut the dough into long strips, and roll up the strips, sitting them on their side. Slide in the oven until dough is a light, golden brown. For an extra crunch, top wiht pecans/almonds. let cool for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy! 😉
October 14th, 2010 at 11:13 am
Go to http://www.allrecipes.com. Thats where I got a lot of my easy recipes. A lot of them only have 2 or 3 ingredients so they’re really easy but really good too.
October 14th, 2010 at 11:44 am
Good for you. I alwasy recommend to people new to the cooking bug to start by cooking your favorite foods. If you love Chicken start with casseroles, soups and other recipes with Chicken. Seafood, meats, baked goods, etc., you will enjoy learning more when you cook things you love to eat.
My website if about easy recipes and easy cooking techniques. Check it out. Many things to choose from.
http://www.cooing-is-easy-and-fun.com
I just shared this recipe with someone looking for a casserole using chicken and broccoli – super simple, really tasty.
Broccoli Chicken Bake With
Creamy Cheesy Sauce
2 Roasted Chickens
3 cups fresh broccoli crowns, cut up
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1 stick unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups cubed Velveeta cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp pepper
1/2 cup crushed club crackers
13 x 9 glass baking dish
Lightly grease the baking dish. Take chicken
off bone, shred, spread evenly in dish.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut up broccoli, use all the stem, just cut
any brown areas off ends. Boil water, add
broccoli and cook for about 4-5 minutes.
You want crisp, yet tender broccoli. Cooking
to long with make mushy broccoli. Drain in
colander, run cold water over broccoli for
about 1 minute. You want to slow the cooking
process. Lay broccoli on paper towels to absorb
excess water. Spread evenly on top of the chicken.
In medium sauce pan on low heat add
soup, sour cream, and butter. Stir occasionally.
When mixture is warm, add the cheese. Stir
until cheese is melted. Add garlic powder
and pepper, mix.
Pour cheese sauce over broccoli and chicken.
Sprinkle with crushed crackers. Bake for 35 minutes
or until bubbly.
Best of luck and Happy Cooking!
October 14th, 2010 at 11:48 am
Its easy to make Thai peanut chicken. Chop up boneless chicken breasts in 1 inch or so squares. Fry up 5 min in 3tbs.oil. take out put on plate. Then saute(fry) up some sliced onions 4 big or 5 small, sliced across onion 1/2 inch wide rounds, peel 5 carrots, slice 1/4 inch rounds fry up in 4tbs oil with onions, and chopped green or red peppers 2. When done throw back together chicken and onions and peppers, carrots into pan and add Peanut Thai sauce in the Asian food section at grocery. Add 1/2 cup of peanuts and 1/2 cup peanut butter, thin with coconut milk, or water. Serve over rice. Kinda spicy but my kids rave about this dish. I serve with sliced bananas, chunky pin-apple and sliced strawberries mixed up in small bowl.
October 14th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Welsome to the club of people who cook! We were all beginners at one time. If you’re cooking without a helper, stick to basic and easy recipes with less than, say 10 ingredients.
October 14th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Here’s a cheeseburger casserole recipe that I created. We all love it, including our 5 year old. You might want to double it for your neighbors because their family is so large. :
1 lb. ground beef
1/4 onion, minced
1 cloves garlic, minced
14 1/2 oz. can diced tomatoes
2 cups raw macaroni, (cook according to package directions and drain)
1 can Campbells Cheddar cheese soup
salt & pepper to taste
Saute the onion and garlic in a little olive oil. Add the ground beef and brown. Add the diced tomatoes, including the liquid in the can. Simmer until the liquid is mostly reduced…5 to 10 minutes. Stir in the macaroni and Cheddar cheese soup. Heat through.
Deep Dish Pizz-a-Roni
1 box beef flavor Rice-a-Roni
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 3/4 cups hot water
1 cup grated Cheddar cheese
1 cup spaghetti sauce
8 slices Monterey jack cheese
2 Italian sausages, cooked and sliced
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 (2 1/2 ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained
Prepare Rice-a-Roni with butter and water, according to package directions. Let stand until all liquid is absorbed. Fold in Cheddar cheese. Spread into 10-inch pie plate. Bake at 450 degrees F for 5 minutes to set crust.
Top with spaghetti sauce, sliced cheese, sausage, Parmesan and mushrooms. Top with additional spaghetti sauce, if desired. Bake at 450 degrees F for 10 minutes or until lightly brown.
Let stand 5 minutes before cutting into 8 wedges.
Hobo Hamburgers
I’m not sure why these are called hobo hamburgers because they’re more like little meatloaves. Whatever you call them, they’re good though!
1 pound ground beef
1 egg
3/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tsp Paula Deen’s house seasoning OR 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 cup chopped green (or red) pepper, optional
1 cup grated Cheddar cheese
2 Russet potatoes, peeled and sliced
2 carrots, peeled, cut in half, then sliced lengthwise
1 large slice of onion for whoever likes onion
4 slices bacon, cut in half, optional
Mix the beef, egg, bread crumbs, lemon juice, seasonings, pepper, and cheese.
Tear some foil pieces large enough to fold in half, but the burger on, then wrap tightly and seal. Shape 4 patties and place one on each piece of foil. Place onion, potato and carrot slices on top. Top with 2 pieces of bacon. Wrap the foil tightly around the meat and vegetables. I like to bring two pieces up to the top and fold down a few times to create a nice seal, then roll the side pieces up.
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or cook over coals.
October 14th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
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Ten Minute Dinner
1 Pound ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
* 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) cream of mushroom soup, undiluted*
*1 can ( 10 3/4 ounces) cream of chicken soup, undiluted*
1 can (15 ounces) mixed vegetables, drained
1 can (5 ounces) chow mein noodles
Brown beef and onion; add both soups, mixed vegetables and 3/4 can of chow mein noodles. Pour into casserole dish. Top with remaining chow mein noodles. Bake at 400 degrees F. for 10 minutes or until hot.
NOTE: *Golden Mushroom with Sliced Mushrooms Soup can be substituted for the Cream of Mushroom soup OR Chicken Rice soup can be substituted for the Cream of Chicken soup.*
*THIS 10 Minute casserole is GOOD! GOOD! GOOD!*
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Ramen Noodle Veggie Skillet Dish
Cook the Ramen Noodles. Add in your chopped vegetables and combine with the noodles. Cook until done. Do NOT use the flavor packet but season with Greek seasoning. YUMMY!!!
Optional: You can add in chopped pieces of meat also.
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Hot Dog Casserole
You take hot dogs and cut them up. Add in mixed vegetables, chopped onion, tator tots, and a cheese sauce. Pour into casserole dish and bake until done.
***If you do not want cheese sauce, you can add in a can of undiluted creamed soup of your choice.***
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Venezuela Hot Dog
catsup (ketchup)
mustard
mayonnaise
crushed regular potato chips
shredded chopped raw green cabbage
chopped raw onions
boiled hot dog
steamed hot dog bun (split opened)
Start with opened steamed hot dog bun. Add boiled hot dog. Add chopped onions. Add shredded chopped green cabbage. Add crushed regular potato chips. Add mayonnaise. Add mustard. Add catsup (ketchup). Eat and enjoy.
*This is eaten in Venezuela, South America.*
1. Venezuela Dogs (Hot Dogs)
2. Venezuelan Dogs (Hot Dogs)
3. Venezuelan Dogs (Hot Dogs)
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I have Cherokee Indian and Choctaw Indian ancestry. One of my favorite cultural recipes of the Cherokees and Choctaws is Wild Onions and Eggs.
Wild Onions And Eggs
Wash and chop the wild onions and lightly cook the chopped onions in a greased skillet. Lightly beat the eggs and pour into the skillet with the onions. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat. Stir occasionally until done. Eat and enjoy
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American Indian Easy Fry Bread
Thaw out frozen bread dough and shape them in round circles and deep fry each side in hot oil until golden brown.
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Tuna Salad Sandwich
Combine tuna, chopped onion, chopped hard boiled egg, diced dill pickles, miracle whip, and some pickle juice together and put the tuna mixture on toasted bread. Eat and enjoy.
My parents use the same recipe and will add one slice of tomato, lettuce and sometimes one slice of onion on top of the tuna mixture.
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Blue Ribbon Potato Salad
5 cans of whole peeled potatoes, diced to desired size
1 quart jar of real mayonnaise
1/4 cup to 1/2 cup mustard, to taste
alot of celery seed, to taste
1 whole deli container of diced hardboiled eggs
1/4 cup sugar
Dice the potatoes to desired size. Mix in the mayonnaise, mustard and celery seed. Now add in the diced hardboiled eggs and mix well. Then add in the sugar to finish and mix again. Chill for at least 1/2 hour if possible. Serve.
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SJ-SC-CA Incredible Chicken Salad
3 cups chicken breast (cooked and cubed)
1 cup pineapple (diced)
1/2 cup celery (diced)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup walnuts
1/8 cup dried cranberries
2 Tablespoons sweet onion (minced)
2 Tablespoons apple juice
Combine all ingredients in a bowl until well combined and chill. Serve with a lettuce garnish.
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SJ-SC-CA Sparkling Cranberry Punch
2 cans (16 oz.) jellied cranberry sauce
1 1/2 cups orange juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 (28 oz) ginger ale (chilled)
Take the jellied cranberry sauce out of the can. Beat the jellied cranberry sauce until smooth. Stir in the orange juice and the lemon juice. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator. Put the mixture into the punch bowl. Slowly add in the chilled ginger ale and stir until mixed. Serve and enjoy.
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HillBilly Cake
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup melted butter
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 can (20 ounces) undrained crushed pineapple
(The pineapple can be sweetened or unsweetened)
1 cup light brown sugar (For Cake Topping)
1 cup chopped walnuts (For Cake Topping)
Mix ingredients together and pour into a greased 9 x 13 baking pan. Top with the light brown sugar and the chopped walnuts. Bake at 350 F. for 40 minutes.
*THIS IS AN EXCELLENT PINEAPPLE CAKE!*
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Fruit Cocktail Salad
1 can of fruit cocktail, drained (Use juice for something else)
1 envelope of Dream Whip
Whip the envelope of Dream Whip. Add in the drained fruit cocktail. Combine together until mixed. Eat and enjoy.
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Chocolate Moose (Mousse) Pie
Mix chocolate pudding with Cool Whip and pour into graham cracker pie crust. Chill until needed. Eat and enjoy your Chocolate Moose (Mousse) Pie.
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Fruit-Glop Pie
1 pre-made 9-inch pie crust (no baking needed)
A big jar of cherry pie filling
1 (8 Ounce tub) Cool Whip
I container of Strawberry Yogurt
Fresh strawberries
Mix the cherries, cool whip, and yogurt together and put in pie crust and then dot with strawberries.
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Apple Juice Freeze Dessert
Put the apple juice in a cake pan and put it in the freezer. Let it get semi-hard and take it out of freezer and take a fork and completely break it up into slush and refreeze it until semi-hard again. Take it out of the freezer and take a fork and completely break it up into slush again and refreeze again. You will then have an apple juice freeze dessert.
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Amish Peanutbutter Spread
1 Cup Peanutbutter (Smooth or Crunchy)
1 Cup Marshmallow Creme
1 Cup White Corn Syrup
Mix all ingredients together and use as a spread on bread slices. Store the remaining spread in a container.
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Outstanding Fruit Dip
1 (14-ounce can) Eagle brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 (8-ounce package) cream cheese, softened
1 (8-ounce carton) sour cream
1 (7-ounce jar) Marshmallow Creme
Blend marshmallow creme and cream cheese together with mixer. Stir in sour cream and condensed milk slowly. Chill 1 hour before serving. Serve with desired sliced fresh fruit.
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Strawberry Fruit Dip
Mix Strawberry Cream Cheese, Cool Whip, and Strawberry Preserves together to make a fruit dip.
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October 14th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Mince Patties.
1lb. Minced meat. (beef, pork, lamb, chicken)
1 small onion chopped
1 egg
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. bread or cracker crumbs
Dash Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
Mix all together. Take a small amount and make a patty.
Place in fridge to set. (30 minutes)
Pre heat oven grill and place the patties on a wire rack in a roasting pan about 6″ away from the element.
Grill for about 5 minutes each side.
Pasta Salad.
1 lb pasta – shape of your choice
1 or 2 carrots, peeled and diced
1 small cucumber, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 red pepper, cut into dice
1 – 2 cups cut up meat, poultry, or fish (salmon has body and works well)
1 large tomato, cut up OR a cup of split cherry tomatoes
Any additional vegetables you like
1 cup frozen peas
1 envelope Good Seasons Italian dressing, mixed with vinegar and good olive oil
Grated parmesan cheese to add on top.
Bring water to a boil and toss in the pasta to cook for the directed time. While you’re boiling the water and the pasta cut up all of your vegetables and the protein and mix the dressing.
When the pasta is done cooking pour the frozen peas into your colander and then pour the pasta and it’s water over the peas. The boiling water will defrost them but leave the peas with body.
Mix this in with the other vegetables and cut up protein.
Pour the prepared dressing over this to taste, some like it wetter than others. Add the parmesan to top.
October 14th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
I’m generally against advocating this, but if you want a cookbook that’s easy to find and cheap and easy to cook, try one of Rachel Ray’s cookbooks. I like to call her the gateway drug of cooking … she can get you started but she’s by no means the top level of the genre.
I’m also a big fan of Alton Brown on Good Eats. He explains and shows you the easiest way to do cooking techniques.
If your looking to make better dishes without a lot of effort, I would really suggest a crock pot and following some of those recipes. A crock pot can cost you about 15 bucks, and enables you to start your food and then come back to it later.
A really simple recipe that’s pretty cheap and can get you a lot of food with your crock pot is a BBQ Pork Shoulder. You can buy the shoulder cut for about 6 to 10 dollars, and it can give you enough meat for at least 8 BBQ sandwiches, or even just plates of BBQ meat and beans.
You want to rub the pork with a BBQ spice mixture. You can find those in the store anymore, or mix chili powder, pepper, salt, brown sugar, paprika, cumin and garlic powder. Lay a bed of sliced red onion on the bottom of the crock pot, and then put the shoulder on top. Than take a bottole of BBQ sauce and pour it over the pork shoulder, and then a bottle of beer (something kinda dark and brown, like Bass or Shiner Bock, and pour that in with everything else. You can start this on low and leave it on for 8 to 10 hours, or do it on high for about 5 hours.
It’ll be done when the pork is pulling away with just a little bit of pressure from a fork.
Hope that helps. Good luck.