Christmas dinner
By birdie816
@birdie816 (1276)
United States
December 23, 2010 3:19pm CST
I am a newlywedded wife and i don't have a clue bout how to cook any real food. me and my husband have so far been surviving on ramen noodles and poptarts for the last 2 and a half months lol. (sadly, i kid you not...). anyway i wanted Christmas to be special, so i was wondering what i should cook that day...any ideas?
1 person likes this
7 responses
@western_valleygirl (1363)
• United States
23 Dec 10
You really can't go wrong with a simple soup, and something baked in the oven. I really like the idea of just shoving a bunch of things in the oven for a while, and then coming back to find them done. For example, you can spice up a bird (like turkey or a chicken), and stick it on a roasting rack, then get some roasting veggies, like potatoes, carrots, onions, etc, spice them up and stick them in a baking dish (you can even add marinara, or other sauces with that), then serve with simple rice, or bread, or whatever, and a garden salad. And for soup, I usually make a 35 minute soup, like tomato bisque, or shredded chicken in a veggie soup. Etc.
The best thing to do, is always start with colorful ingredients, and a great cookbook, like Better Homes and Gardens or my favorite cooking website AllRecipes.com. Good Luck!
1 person likes this
@birdie816 (1276)
• United States
23 Dec 10
the colorful ingredients thing sounds good because i really need to start eating healthier
@Christmas2006 (1661)
• United States
24 Dec 10
Since it is only you and your husband you might try a rotisserie chicken from the store, if you like dressing, get a box of stove top and there are so many foods that are prepared you can add to your meal, either frozen or fresh.
I have always known how to cook and I taught my kids as they were growning up but my daughter nn law was just like you! Their steady food was hot dogs! She made a box of hamburg helper one time and FORGOT to put the hamburg in. That was 12 years ago, today she is making fresh homemade pies, cooking lots of from scratch recipes, and has become an excellant cook.
If you have the desire to cook you can learn to cook. My recommendation would be to buy a Better Homes and Garden Cookbook. It has a red plaid cover. Everything you need to know will be in that cookbook, they have excellant recipes and very good step by step instructions. If money is a problem, go to a used book site and order from there. You could probably get one for around $5 inculding shipping.
@Christmas2006 (1661)
• United States
24 Dec 10
My 8 year old granddaughter can make pies! WITH grandma's help! We have cooked complete meals before, from scratch.
I have no problems cooking but there really are somethings that I can not make. Like sloppy joes! But I can make home made bread, cookies and cakes, pies, lasagna, turkey dinner, meatloaf.
The big thing with the baking, is your oven temperture, it has to preheat to the temp and you must time your stuff. If you could invest in a $5 give or take oven thermomenter that you can set in your oven, then you would know the correct temp. The rest is just learning as you go.
My mother was a wonderful cook but what she never realized is that she never taught me to cook! I guess she just assumed since I was there I should know what I was doing. One time (I was in junior high) she told me to make the gravy! I had no idea HOW to make the gravy, and she was so mad at me for it! She told me, "just dump the flour in"...so I did!...Oh was she ever mad at me for that! She didn't tell me to make a thicking out of it first!!!! I really think I learned how to cook after I got married. Even the pie crust, I had to learn more on my own.
If you are interested, I can give you lots of cooking/ baking tips that are not in the books! Like when you measure your flour to make something, DO NOT pack it into the measuring cup! Packing it will cause you to have more then what your recipe calls for. The only thing you ever pack is the brown sugar.
@birdie816 (1276)
• United States
24 Dec 10
wow...i can at least make a box of hamburger helper with all the ingredients lol. i'm not quite that bad. i know how to make at least a few boxed things. i suck with the "from scratch" suff lol. i am just about the worst baker ever lol. it's funny cuz that is actually the main stuff i like to cook is baked goods when i do actually cook...go figure ;)...anyway it will probably take me 12 years to learn how to make pies lol
@birdie816 (1276)
• United States
24 Dec 10
oh. wow. maybe i am not as bad a baker as i thought. i think my main problem is just that i don't use an actual oven...i know it sounds weird and you are probably like "well wha do you use then?" but i usually use little appliances like toaster oveens because my oven doesn't work right anymore. actually i don't think i've ever used an oven lol (yes, i know that is sad..). i don't think the oven temperatures and the toaster oven temperatures are the same or something because i've destroyed quite a few batches of cookies in tha stupid toaster oven, but i followed the directions in the recipe verbatim.
@thyst07 (2079)
• United States
23 Dec 10
It's hard to give you specific ideas about what to cook without knowing what you like, what your price range is, and so on. But I can tell you that learning to cook is probably the best thing that you can do for your health, and probably for your budget too. And even though it can seem scary at first, basic cooking is really not difficult. My advice is to choose a food you like, find a recipe for it, buy the ingredients listed, and just follow the directions. Choose something to start with that doesn't use a whole lot of ingredients and that has directions that are not long and complicated. And, I repeat, follow the directions! Don't try to substitute items or change the amounts listed until you have more experience and know what works well and what doesn't.
I see that a few people have suggested turkey, but if it's just you and your husband you probably don't want to start with something that large. You could maybe try a small chicken, though. I think the first meal I learned to cook was chili, and another thing that comes to mind is spaghetti and meatballs. For recipes, check out www.allrecipes.com. You can search for whatever you want to make, and you can see how well each recipe is rated by people who made it. It makes it easier to choose one that will work well. Good luck, and if you have questions feel free to ask!
@birdie816 (1276)
• United States
23 Dec 10
cool. thanks for the advice. i really need to check out that site because i am just about sick of eaing ramen noodles lol.
1 person likes this
@western_valleygirl (1363)
• United States
23 Dec 10
Thyst07, I really like www.allrecipes.com too! I just noticed that you mentioned it also. It is a great website, because it incorporates not only people's recipes and their ratings, but their suggestions or comments on how they made it. I have learned to make adjustments that taste better from what other people have done. It is really helpful.
1 person likes this
@buggles64 (2709)
• United States
23 Dec 10
lol..you are so funny! Are you serious? You poor soul! Let's see...I would start with the turkey. My sister made a turkey in a bag a few years ago, and I have to say it was the best tasting and juiciest turkey ever, so that's what I'll be cooking this year. Mashed potatoes, which are easy to make...and then you can have some canned baked beans. Tell you what, just bring your hubby and yourself over here and eat Christmas dinner with us. We'll work on the dinner together :)
@birdie816 (1276)
• United States
23 Dec 10
wow. i thought u could only cook in plastic bags or aluminum foil
@birdie816 (1276)
• United States
23 Dec 10
lol...thanks for the offer (and the idea about the turkey in the bag)
@TrvlArrngr (4045)
• United States
23 Dec 10
Anyone can make a turkey - lol. Just remember to take out the extra parts they put inside the bird before you bake it. Then you can make instant potatoes and a can of corn to go with it. Add some pre-made rolls and you are all set. Hope it goes well!
@birdie816 (1276)
• United States
23 Dec 10
thanks for the suggestion. that just might be crazy enough to work lol
@Shar05 (4)
• United States
24 Dec 10
I don't think you can go wrong with can goods or dry foods. For a firt time cook I would suggest mashed potatoes (Hungry Jack), green beans (canned), a whole chicken (bake with creole seasoning such as red pepper, clerey, green and yellow onions), and pillsbury croissant. If you want step by step I'll be happy to tell you.
@birdie816 (1276)
• United States
24 Dec 10
cool. that sounds cheap (lol) and pretty healthy. that may be a good place for me to start out with cooking even if it's not for Christmas. i could probably use alot of these ideas with the chickens for just everyday dinners for me and the hubby.
@jahernandezrivas (11288)
• United States
23 Dec 10
If you are having trouble cooking the grocery stores do have the already prepared meals with turkey and dressings and what ever else you want to put with your dinner I did it one year, I think it was like 25-30 dollars and I got it from Albertsons, because the Holiday came so soon and I was running out of time for cooking but I don't remember if you had to call the order in or just go there? Try one of your grocery stores and see, if you don't want to cook I am not a very good cook but I try!
Well Good Luck, I would give you some suggestions but I don't know what kind of foods you guys like? Have a good day!
Well Good Luck, I would give you some suggestions but I don't know what kind of foods you guys like? Have a good day!