Nothing's turning out right

[Guest guest]

Donna isn't kidding, I've read about some of her disasters!! I have more

flops than I care to admit. Keep trying. Go for easy like Donna suggested.

I just tried something & I was skeptical but it turned out good. Stick with

the tried n true. YOu can do it!!

 

 

In a message dated 4/22/2009 6:54:44 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

thelilacflower writes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I detect a lot of frustration. Nothing comes easy. Practice makes

perfect. If you have this " I give up, nothing comes out attitude " , it won't.

Get back in the kitchen and start over with another recipe. Go through the

files and find easy recipes, there are thousands of them. If you don't

know what an ingredient is, ask us. I taught myself 101% how to cook, I have

made diasters like you wouldn't believe but I was always determinded I

could do it.

Maybe you won't be the best cook, maybe you don't love to cook but you can

do it and recipes do turnout.

Donna baby I crack the whip!

 

Barn's burnt down .......

now I can see the moon.

Source: Masahide 1657 - 1723

 

--- On Wed, 4/22/09, pierce407720032003 <_sacornelius@sacorne_

(sacornelius) > wrote:

 

pierce407720032003 <_sacornelius@sacorne_

(sacornelius) >

[vegetarian_ [vegetarian_<WBR>grou

_@vegetarian_gveg_

( )

Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 3:25 PM

 

I am having no luck cooking anything. Ok I will admit it is a new goal and

that I have baked a little before but never cooked.

 

I miscopied something when writing a black bean chili recipe and am

guessing. I'll keep boiling the beans but it is apparant it won't turn out.

 

The cheesecake didn't work.

 

Ingredients in recipes look so overwhelming. Most have things I've never

heard of or have heard of by reading them in recipes but never seen and have

no idea what they really are.

 

Did the rest of you grow up cooking? Or teach yourself?

 

Uhura

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Oh, I have had lots of mistakes. Ask anyone about my non-lentil loaf.

I finally gave up on that.

sue

 

 

pierce407720032003 wrote:

>

>

>

> I am having no luck cooking anything. Ok I will admit it is a new goal

> and that I have baked a little before but never cooked.

>

> I miscopied something when writing a black bean chili recipe and am

> guessing. I'll keep boiling the beans but it is apparant it won't turn out.

>

> The cheesecake didn't work.

>

> Ingredients in recipes look so overwhelming. Most have things I've never

> heard of or have heard of by reading them in recipes but never seen and

> have no idea what they really are.

>

> Did the rest of you grow up cooking? Or teach yourself?

>

> Uhura

>

>

>

>

> ------

>

>

>

> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

> Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.12.3/2075 - Release 04/22/09

17:25:00

>

[Guest guest]

We girls had to take cooking and sewing in the 7th and 8th grades. I'm

glad I learned but would have also liked to have taken what the boys did,

woodshop. Oh, well, I guess I would have used the cooking more.

 

Try one of those cheesecakey things made in a graham cracker pie crust.

 

Barbara

 

 

 

At 03:25 PM 4/22/09, you wrote:

 

 

>I am having no luck cooking anything. Ok I will admit it is a new goal and

>that I have baked a little before but never cooked.

>

>I miscopied something when writing a black bean chili recipe and am

>guessing. I'll keep boiling the beans but it is apparant it won't turn out.

>

>The cheesecake didn't work.

>

>Ingredients in recipes look so overwhelming. Most have things I've never

>heard of or have heard of by reading them in recipes but never seen and

>have no idea what they really are.

>

>Did the rest of you grow up cooking? Or teach yourself?

>

>Uhura

>

>

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

A lot of cooking is trail and error. I learned from my grandmother who doesn't

even use recipes, just a little of this and that ( it's hard to get recipes from

her!) but just keep in mind you can often add or omit things and will work out

fine based on your preferences. Baking is actually harder than general cooking

since it uses very precise measurements in order to turn out. Just keep trying

and don't be afraid to experiment. I often times cannot even duplicate a recipe

I come up with because I just used whatever I had around the house and threw it

togeather.

 

, " pierce407720032003 " <sacornelius

wrote:

>

> I am having no luck cooking anything. Ok I will admit it is a new goal and

that I have baked a little before but never cooked.

>

> I miscopied something when writing a black bean chili recipe and am guessing.

I'll keep boiling the beans but it is apparant it won't turn out.

>

> The cheesecake didn't work.

>

> Ingredients in recipes look so overwhelming. Most have things I've never

heard of or have heard of by reading them in recipes but never seen and have no

idea what they really are.

>

>

> Did the rest of you grow up cooking? Or teach yourself?

>

> Uhura

>

[Guest guest]

I taught myself.  It turns out my mother hated cooking and still does so she

didn't teach me very much.  She's actually a good cook but hates it so I used

to call and ask her questions every now and then.  I watch a lot of cooking tv

shows but there is one book I love for really basic cooking information which is

" How to Cook Everythng " .  There is a vegetarian version of this cookbook now.  I

own both versions.  Some recipes just don't turn out and occasionally I cook

something and it's awful but usually I'm rewarded with food I'm very happy

with.  It helps to start with a good recipe.  I have a lot of cookbooks and

there are some that I'm very happy with and some that are really disappointing. 

For basic techniques, I find the " How to Cook Everything "  book helpful. 

Sometimes, it is just a bad recipe or not a recipe that appeals to you. 

 

Also, I have cooked beans where I gave up on them.  I'm still not sure what went

wrong.  But I've had them turn out fine as well.

 

Not sure if that helps.  Stick with it. 

 

Samantha

 

 

[Guest guest]

When I was old enough to move

My father started showing me how to cook.

I can not remember never knowing how to cook.

Love it and consider myself very creative when cooking.

Cooking just takes a little practice then you will find it very easy.

Don't worry about a few mistakes.

Enjoy the learning process.

 

 

 

, " pierce407720032003 " <sacornelius

wrote:

>

 

>

>

> Did the rest of you grow up cooking? Or teach yourself?

>

> Uhura

>

[Guest guest]

I agree, don't give up! Re beans: If cooking from dry, sometimes it takes

forever to cook. I think it depends on how old the beans are. You might want to

substitute canned beans until you get the hang of dry bean cooking. I did and

have been cooking dry beans now for close to 50 years but there are still some

that just don't want to cook.

 

Try again! My fudge failure wasn't hard enough to cut and eat but it made an

awesome fudge topping for ice cream. You can do it, I know you can!

 

Now get in that kitchen. Hugs and best wishes, Veggie drill instructor Jeanne in

GA

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hear Hear! Well said Jeanne!

My mom was a nuts and bolts cook, but my Finnish grandmother was a superb

cook. I was a pretty bad cook for the first probably 10 years of my married

life, I don't know what happened but I started to enjoy it more. I love to

cook and bake, though I've never gotten as good at bread as I'd like. But

I'm relatively young and can keep trying! I want to try homemade pasta too,

its been years since I had the machine out. Maybe this weekend.....

Amy

 

 

In a message dated 4/23/2009 8:21:40 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

treazured writes:

 

The thread moving throughout my entire cooking and eating life is

appreciation for food that's been well prepared. Good food doesn't necessarily

mean expensive, snobby food.

 

 

**************Big savings on Dell XPS Laptops and Desktops!

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[Guest guest]

Uhura asked " Did the rest of you grow up cooking? Or teach yourself? "

 

I have always had a passion for food and cooking and lived in the kitchen but my

parents sent me to a friend of theirs who was a Cordon Bleu trained chef and she

put the polish on my cooking and introduced me to puff pastry and how to cook

with whatever is at hand as long as the ingredients are prime and fresh. Those

were the best years of my life, with the exception of the past 42 years with my

husband. (Original model.)

 

I learned Southern (Soul) cooking from my paternal North Carolina grandmother,

Yankee cooking from my maternal grandmother, world cooking from my native

American mother and vegetarian cooking all over the place. Necessity has taught

me how to take a little of this and that and make good food, even when I had

nothing other than a hot plate, chef's knife and two pots to cook in. (Not that

long ago - didn't have a refrigerator, either.)

 

The thread moving throughout my entire cooking and eating life is appreciation

for food that's been well prepared.  Good food doesn't necessarily mean

expensive, snobby food.

 

HTH, Jeanne in GA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Yes, hang in there Uhura -- cheesecakes are hard, but these people have

great tips, and some of us can definitely commiserate with your

disappointments! I have not attempted dried beans yet (my mom always used

canned growing up). I know how to cook a limited number of dishes from

watching my mom and grandma, and I have changed those recipes to be

vegetarian -- sometimes with great results, sometimes it takes two or three

tries to make it work. Tofu I have had no luck with, but I know I like it

when it is properly prepared (and I haven't figured out how to do that yet!)

 

Start with easy recipes you like -- spaghetti with Ragu from a jar and soy

crumbles or soy meatballs; baked macaroni and cheese; chili with canned

beans (with or without soy crumbles). It will build your confidence, and

you'll eventually start adding things to make these dishes better.

 

My best idea for making a new recipe you're not sure of: keep a frozen pizza

on hand so you won't go hungry if you have a spectacular failure! (The

Amy's Kitchen and Kashi pizzas are particularly good) Also, making a half

recipe minimizes the ingredient wasting if it doesn't turn out, especially

if you're cooking for only one or two.

 

Hang in there, and keep emailing the group. People like Jeannie, Donna,

Judy, Irene, others are great help with cooking skills (and people like me

are good for commiserating!)

 

Audrey S.

 

 

 

 

On Wed, Apr 22, 2009 at 5:54 PM, Donnalilacflower

<thelilacflowerwrote:

 

>

>

>

> I detect a lot of frustration. Nothing comes easy. Practice makes

> perfect. If you have this " I give up, nothing comes out attitude " , it

> won't. Get back in the kitchen and start over with another recipe. Go

> through the files and find easy recipes, there are thousands of them. If

> you don't know what an ingredient is, ask us. I taught myself 101% how to

> cook, I have made diasters like you wouldn't believe but I was always

> determinded I could do it.

> Maybe you won't be the best cook, maybe you don't love to cook but you can

> do it and recipes do turnout.

> Donna baby I crack the whip!

>

> Barn's burnt down .......

> now I can see the moon.

> Source: Masahide 1657 - 1723

>

> --- On Wed, 4/22/09, pierce407720032003

<sacornelius<sacornelius%40msn.com>>

> wrote:

>

> pierce407720032003 <sacornelius <sacornelius%40msn.com>>

> Nothing's turning out right

> <%40>

> Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 3:25 PM

>

> I am having no luck cooking anything. Ok I will admit it is a new goal and

> that I have baked a little before but never cooked.

>

> I miscopied something when writing a black bean chili recipe and am

> guessing. I'll keep boiling the beans but it is apparant it won't turn out.

>

> The cheesecake didn't work.

>

> Ingredients in recipes look so overwhelming. Most have things I've never

> heard of or have heard of by reading them in recipes but never seen and have

> no idea what they really are.

>

> Did the rest of you grow up cooking? Or teach yourself?

>

> Uhura

>

>

>

>

>

 

[Guest guest]

In our school it didn't matter what gender you were. We all took cooking and

sewing and we all took shop (at least one class of each). It gave us some good

laughs!

 

Paula

 

, Barbara & George Grenier <grenier

wrote:

>

> We girls had to take cooking and sewing in the 7th and 8th grades. I'm

> glad I learned but would have also liked to have taken what the boys did,

> woodshop. Oh, well, I guess I would have used the cooking more.

>

> Try one of those cheesecakey things made in a graham cracker pie crust.

>

> Barbara

>

>

>

> At 03:25 PM 4/22/09, you wrote:

>

>

> >I am having no luck cooking anything. Ok I will admit it is a new goal and

> >that I have baked a little before but never cooked.

> >

> >I miscopied something when writing a black bean chili recipe and am

> >guessing. I'll keep boiling the beans but it is apparant it won't turn out.

> >

> >The cheesecake didn't work.

> >

> >Ingredients in recipes look so overwhelming. Most have things I've never

> >heard of or have heard of by reading them in recipes but never seen and

> >have no idea what they really are.

> >

> >Did the rest of you grow up cooking? Or teach yourself?

> >

> >Uhura

> >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have more disasters than I care to mention. I have always hated cooking,

but recently, I've been more into it.

 

Cooking is trial and error. You learn from your mistakes, so in a way,

they're good. Someone else said start with the basics. I agree with that.

Also, once you find something that works, stick with it. Then as you learn,

you can expand.

 

All the women on my mother's side were EXCELLENT cooks, and then I came

along. My grandmother could make mashed potatoes that literally melted in

your mouth! They were so smooth, they were like ice cream. Mine are lumpy

and bumpy. But I can make a kick ass lasagne. It took me many years to learn

to make biscuits (my family is from Louisiana. You're not worth your salt if

you can't make a good biscuit in my family). After trying many countless

times, this past year I finally made edible biscuits.

 

So, keep trying. You'll get it!

 

On Wed, Apr 22, 2009 at 6:25 PM, pierce407720032003 <sacorneliuswrote:

 

>

>

> I am having no luck cooking anything. Ok I will admit it is a new goal and

> that I have baked a little before but never cooked.

>

> I miscopied something when writing a black bean chili recipe and am

> guessing. I'll keep boiling the beans but it is apparant it won't turn out.

>

> The cheesecake didn't work.

>

> Ingredients in recipes look so overwhelming. Most have things I've never

> heard of or have heard of by reading them in recipes but never seen and have

> no idea what they really are.

>

> Did the rest of you grow up cooking? Or teach yourself?

>

> Uhura

>

>

>

 

 

 

--

Live ready.

 

http://laineyvette.blogspot.com/

http://theaccidentalhomemaker.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

As far as cheescake goes, I tried the premade stuff and it is great! I am not

sure how strict you are with your diet (we aren't), so I wasn't too concerned

with the ingredients. I just wanted cheesecake one day and after price-checking,

it would have cost me more to make one than buy the crust and premade stuff.

Plus, no cooking required!

 

, " pierce407720032003 " <sacornelius

wrote:

>

> I am having no luck cooking anything. Ok I will admit it is a new goal and

that I have baked a little before but never cooked.

>

> I miscopied something when writing a black bean chili recipe and am guessing.

I'll keep boiling the beans but it is apparant it won't turn out.

>

> The cheesecake didn't work.

>

> Ingredients in recipes look so overwhelming. Most have things I've never

heard of or have heard of by reading them in recipes but never seen and have no

idea what they really are.

>

>

> Did the rest of you grow up cooking? Or teach yourself?

>

> Uhura

>

[Guest guest]

Philadelphia brand cheesecake filling comes in a tub in the refrigerated

cream cheese section -- good stuff. I have been known to eat it with a

spoon...

 

Audrey S.

 

On Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 2:10 PM, itshotinjt04 <itshotinjt04wrote:

 

>

>

> As far as cheescake goes, I tried the premade stuff and it is great! I am

> not sure how strict you are with your diet (we aren't), so I wasn't too

> concerned with the ingredients. I just wanted cheesecake one day and after

> price-checking, it would have cost me more to make one than buy the crust

> and premade stuff. Plus, no cooking required!

>

> <%40>,

> " pierce407720032003 " <sacornelius wrote:

> >

> > I am having no luck cooking anything. Ok I will admit it is a new goal

> and that I have baked a little before but never cooked.

> >

> > I miscopied something when writing a black bean chili recipe and am

> guessing. I'll keep boiling the beans but it is apparant it won't turn out.

> >

> > The cheesecake didn't work.

> >

> > Ingredients in recipes look so overwhelming. Most have things I've never

> heard of or have heard of by reading them in recipes but never seen and have

> no idea what they really are.

> >

> >

> > Did the rest of you grow up cooking? Or teach yourself?

> >

> > Uhura

> >

>

>

>

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Oh but homemade cheesecake is so much better

 

On Apr 23, 2009, at 2:10 PM, " itshotinjt04 " <itshotinjt04 wrote:

 

 

 

As far as cheescake goes, I tried the premade stuff and it is great! I am not

sure how strict you are with your diet (we aren't), so I wasn't too concerned

with the ingredients. I just wanted cheesecake one day and after price-checking,

it would have cost me more to make one than buy the crust and premade stuff.

Plus, no cooking required!

 

, " pierce407720032003 " <sacornelius

wrote:

>

> I am having no luck cooking anything. Ok I will admit it is a new goal and

that I have baked a little before but never cooked.

>

> I miscopied something when writing a black bean chili recipe and am guessing.

I'll keep boiling the beans but it is apparant it won't turn out.

>

> The cheesecake didn't work.

>

> Ingredients in recipes look so overwhelming. Most have things I've never heard

of or have heard of by reading them in recipes but never seen and have no idea

what they really are.

>

>

> Did the rest of you grow up cooking? Or teach yourself?

>

> Uhura

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Uhura,

 

It can be frustrating; I go through spaces where things won't turn out well or

I slave away over a dish & get a lukewarm reaction from DH. But don't give up.

Take it slow. Cheesecake is hard - leave that for later

 

You know what helped me a lot when I was first teaching myself? It's called

mise en place -- the technique where you go thru the recipe line by line and

measure everything _before_ you start cooking. It makes more dishes but it

avoids mistakes from misreading or (this is my bug-a boo) discovering you're

missing a key ingredient right in the middle of cooking! It also makes you go

over the recipe most carefully and get all the steps lined up in your head and

map out the timing so you're not still sauteeing mushrooms after the omelet is

already cooked lol. Also gives you a chance to go over all the terms in a

recipe & make sure you understand them: blanching, braising, etc.

 

I have had some awful awful flops. The over-roasted oven roasted veggies that I

thought I'd just turn into a roasted veggie pate - ICK. My first batch of bean

burgers that felt like hockey pucks, tasted like socks and looked like cow pies.

The red velvet cake that never rose (THAT's a complicated one -- still haven't

gotten that one right). The pumpkin pie in which I put a 1/4 cup of salt

instead of 1/4 tsp (I was 9 !!!) The countless soups over the years that have

been too salty, too garlicky, too whatever.

 

But they balance out against the flush of pleasure at a tasty batch of soup that

everyone gobbles up, a batch of cookies that everyone asks for the recipe of, a

cheesecake that raises $200 at an auction.

 

I'm 44. In 34+ years of cooking there have been numerous ups & downs. Toss the

downs, eat the ups & don't give up! *hug*

 

Plus you've got your veggie family here to help you.

 

Peace,

Diane

 

 

 

 

 

, " pierce407720032003 " <sacornelius

wrote:

>

> I am having no luck cooking anything. Ok I will admit it is a new goal and

that I have baked a little before but never cooked.

>

> I miscopied something when writing a black bean chili recipe and am guessing.

I'll keep boiling the beans but it is apparant it won't turn out.

>

> The cheesecake didn't work.

>

> Ingredients in recipes look so overwhelming. Most have things I've never

heard of or have heard of by reading them in recipes but never seen and have no

idea what they really are.

>

>

> Did the rest of you grow up cooking? Or teach yourself?

>

> Uhura

>

[Guest guest]

Is it really possible to make anything too garlicky? LOL

 

We love garlic and put it, lots of it, in everything!

 

Paula

 

 

>

> I have had some awful awful flops. The over-roasted oven roasted veggies that

I thought I'd just turn into a roasted veggie pate - ICK. My first batch of

bean burgers that felt like hockey pucks, tasted like socks and looked like cow

pies. The red velvet cake that never rose (THAT's a complicated one -- still

haven't gotten that one right). The pumpkin pie in which I put a 1/4 cup of

salt instead of 1/4 tsp (I was 9 !!!) The countless soups over the years that

have been too salty, too garlicky, too whatever.

>

>

>

> Peace,

> Diane

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I taught myself and am still teaching myself to cook. I always start with a

simple recipie, like spaghetti. Once I have it down, I'll start altering and

playing with the ingrediants. I don't consider myself to be a cheesecake level

cook and have never tried. Watching other's cook helped a lot as does having my

mom on speed dial when I have a question, like how long do i boil an egg for an

egg salad sandwich, again.?

good luck, don't quit cooking.

Maggie

[Guest guest]

-I was the same way, but I learned by trial and error

 

 

-- In , " pierce407720032003 " <sacornelius

wrote:

>

> I am having no luck cooking anything. Ok I will admit it is a new goal and

that I have baked a little before but never cooked.

>

> I miscopied something when writing a black bean chili recipe and am guessing.

I'll keep boiling the beans but it is apparant it won't turn out.

>

> The cheesecake didn't work.

>

> Ingredients in recipes look so overwhelming. Most have things I've never

heard of or have heard of by reading them in recipes but never seen and have no

idea what they really are.

>

>

> Did the rest of you grow up cooking? Or teach yourself?

>

> Uhura

>

[Guest guest]

Uhura,

Some dishes taste best after they've set awhile. Put it in the fridge and try

it tomorrow.

 

If it looks like a total disaster (like the BB chilli) then why not experiment?

 

Is it too runny? Flour or corn starch will thicken runny stuff.

 

Is it too salty? Potatoes added and then later removed will take out saltiness.

 

Beans aren't done? Beans, cooked long enough, will probably finally not be hard

nuggets. (I think chilli can cook forever if you keep adding liquid. Think

about chilli festivals where they cook in big pots all day long.)

 

Cheesecake, to me, is not a beginner recipe unless you have one of those ones

that are supposed to be fool-proof. (Fool-proof to me means four or five

ingredients and less than a 10 minute prep time.)

 

Try SIMPLE recipes. Get a beginner's cookbook. Work your way up to the more

complicated recipes. You'll get there. Someday you will be putting things

together by eyeballing the measurements and adding/substituting ingredients as

your cupboard dictates. Really. It just takes time and patience -- like any

good skill takes to develop.

 

This is a good day to remember that and thank all those Moms (and Dads) who put

food on the table 3x a day with seeming ease. There's skill in cooking just

like any other craft. So what someone can rebuild a transmission? Do they do

it three times a day, three-hundred-and-sixty-five-days a year? Thanks, Moms!

-- and Dads who cook, too!

 

Giselle

 

 

[Guest guest]

Get a cookbook with basic recipes and lots and lots of pictures. Even a kid's

cookbook. Start small and work on just a couple of recipes till you get them

perfected. There has to be some cooking films on Youtube I would think.

 

 

Kandi