The Teach Me How To Cook Thread

[CrystalGemini]

Sister brought some smoked salmon home so I made a spread with it:



Then I made chicken fricassee from this book:


Clean and butcher a chicken.  Then salt the pieces.


Brown the pieces in about 4tbsps of butter.



Add more butter, white wine, nutmeg, finely diced onion, and thyme to the same pot and scrape brown bits off the bottom.  Bring to a boil.


Put chicken back into the pot for another 30-40 minutes.


Remove chicken.  Whisk an egg yoke (or two) with milk or heavy cream (varies depending which one you use) then whisk into sauce.


Pour onto chicken or put the chicken into the sauce like I did to keep warm.


Serve.

[Bildi]

I have to try some of these recipes.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

[Mr. Gundam]

We're currently making chicken and dumplings for dinner. Here's a picture of the meal in it's current on-the-stove state.



I'll post a photo of the final product when it's ready to eat.

[Mr. Gundam]

Em has been making meals all week for our friends who just had their baby. One for them and one for us. Last night she did a homemade lasagna, tatortot casserole and pesto (three separate dishes, btw). Tonight is chicken and dumplings. We started late so we might not be eating until 10pm.

[etiolate]

i love big fat dumplings

[OnkelC]

homemade seasonal goodness for a change: golden Chanterelles with pasta. These very tasty mushrooms have high season right now and if you happen to come across a basket of them, treat yourself to something nice! They are easily prepared, just brush them off dry then sautee them with a bit of oil, cubed onions and ham/bacon cubes. Serve on fresh toasted bread or pasta and...







Enjoy.

[tiesto]

I've been learning how to BBQ the past few days... BBQed a NY strip steak, and a pork chop... the steak came out quite excellent and the pork chop was pretty decent although undercooked in one little spot. I mostly felt I've just been getting lucky with this. Does anybody have any effective BBQing strategies? I have a gas grill...

I'm slowly starting to learn how to cook basic stuff... made rice and a teriyaki marinade the other day too.

[BlueTsunami]

I've been learning how to BBQ the past few days... BBQed a NY strip steak, and a pork chop... the steak came out quite excellent and the pork chop was pretty decent although undercooked in one little spot. I mostly felt I've just been getting lucky with this. Does anybody have any effective BBQing strategies? I have a gas grill...

I'm slowly starting to learn how to cook basic stuff... made rice and a teriyaki marinade the other day too.

With BBQ'ing I read that its good to sear it on high heat/flame and then move it to an area where its not on direct heat to finish cooking through.

[DJ_Tet]

Anyone got any tips on how to broil/bake/grill chicken breast? 

I have plain chicken breasts that I want to add to a prepackaged penne pasta.  How should I cook them up?  I have extra virgin olive oil, not much else.

I have a cast iron skillet, as well as casserole dishes for the oven.

[DJ_Tet]

Nice, I have butter too good call.

Thanks for the quick tips


edit:  I want to slice it up too, I should do that after I cook I guess?

[Bildi]

Thank you!

Cohen

When I next go shopping I'll pick up what I need and try this within the next couple of weeks.

[DJ_Tet]

Damn, that's hot.  I'm gonna try that too (but probably with chicken as the gf likely won't want to eat lamb  :'()


Thanks for the quick chicken tip last night Cohen, it turned out moist and succulent, I should have cut it up a little more but it was great with some salt. 

[etiolate]

This is a salad I've been making lately.

1/3 Mexican Papaya, sliced and chopped into small squares
1/2 Jicama chopped into small squares
Pepper Jack cheese, cut into squares
Colby Jack Cheese, cut into squares
1/4 cup Fresh Basil (chopped)
Olive Oil
2 tbsp Cumin
bit of Honey


Not complicated, just put everything together into a bowl and toss it well. Most of the work is chopping the Jicama and Papaya. My measurings are not exact, as I always just go by feel and taste. The cumin and basil shouldn't cover up the main ingredients taste.

[MrAngryFace]

The cats next!

[OnkelC]

[Eel O'Brian]

 burgertime

[CrystalGemini]

Mups asked me to post this for him:

German Chocolate cake :9  He says he made it himself.

[Oblivion]

gots me a few questions, ya heard

Kind of a simple one I guess, since I'm not asking anything specific. The other day I saw a sale on a 4.5 lb. whole chicken for 3 bux, and decided it was a steal. One problem, though: I've never cooked a chicken (or anything else for that matter) in my life. Can any of you please tell me what I'm supposed to do, pleeeeease? As far as draining anything or cutting off and throwing away specific parts? Then, after that, how do I start the actual cooking? I don't have an oven by the way, so I'll be wanting to cook it via frying pan.


Now, for the second part of my inquiry. See, I'm pretty skinny, and I'm trying to gain some weight, so what types of meat is the best for this job? I'd like to see what I can get that could help me gain as much as possible, while at the same time, be as cheap as possible (if possible). Thanks in advance, MEN!

[MrAngryFace]

Buy a crockpot, cheap ultimate way to start cooking easy meals.

[Mr. Gundam]

We have a quince tree in our yard, and the fruit is starting to ripen. I'm really jonesing to make a lamb and quince tajine this weekend.

[Cormacaroni]

gots me a few questions, ya heard

Kind of a simple one I guess, since I'm not asking anything specific. The other day I saw a sale on a 4.5 lb. whole chicken for 3 bux, and decided it was a steal. One problem, though: I've never cooked a chicken (or anything else for that matter) in my life. Can any of you please tell me what I'm supposed to do, pleeeeease? As far as draining anything or cutting off and throwing away specific parts? Then, after that, how do I start the actual cooking? I don't have an oven by the way, so I'll be wanting to cook it via frying pan.


Now, for the second part of my inquiry. See, I'm pretty skinny, and I'm trying to gain some weight, so what types of meat is the best for this job? I'd like to see what I can get that could help me gain as much as possible, while at the same time, be as cheap as possible (if possible). Thanks in advance, MEN!

For weight gain: Just drink a gallon of (non-skimmed) milk a day. Cheap, no need to cook, very portable... And do lots of heavy squats and deadlifts. Google 'Starting Strength' by Mark Rippetoe for more on this. It's been tried and tested for decades.

[OnkelC]

Mups asked me to post this for him:
(Image removed from quote.)
German Chocolate cake :9  He says he made it himself.

never saw a cake like that around here. chocolate cake only comes like this in germany:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5013490&postcount=458

[bud]

what is that, uh, white stuff on top? i don't think i've ever seen anything like that on a cake.

[Greatness Gone]

what is that, uh, white stuff on top? i don't think i've ever seen anything like that on a cake.

Coconut, I think.

[CrystalGemini]

what is that, uh, white stuff on top? i don't think i've ever seen anything like that on a cake.

It's supposed to be a coconut pecan frosting though you'd have to ask mupepe for the actual recipe he used.  He should be back soon!

never saw a cake like that around here. chocolate cake only comes like this in germany:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5013490&postcount=458

It's called German chocolate cake because the guy who originally made it had the last name "German".

[OnkelC]

what is that, uh, white stuff on top? i don't think i've ever seen anything like that on a cake.

It's supposed to be a coconut pecan frosting though you'd have to ask mupepe for the actual recipe he used.  He should be back soon!

never saw a cake like that around here. chocolate cake only comes like this in germany:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5013490&postcount=458

It's called German chocolate cake because the guy who originally made it had the last name "German".

correct name should be "chocolate cake German" or Gemans' chocolate cake, then. origin first, name last, aka "Beef Wellington" or "Tournedos Rossini", "Parma Ham",

[CrystalGemini]

what is that, uh, white stuff on top? i don't think i've ever seen anything like that on a cake.

It's supposed to be a coconut pecan frosting though you'd have to ask mupepe for the actual recipe he used.  He should be back soon!

never saw a cake like that around here. chocolate cake only comes like this in germany:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5013490&postcount=458

It's called German chocolate cake because the guy who originally made it had the last name "German".

correct name should be "chocolate cake German" or Gemans' chocolate cake, then. origin first, name last, aka "Beef Wellington" or "Tournedos Rossini", "Parma Ham",

Americans suck at English.   :'(  Also German chocolate cake originated in Texas.  lol

[Mr. Gundam]

All I know is that German chocolate cake is fucking delicious.

Oh, I made my lamb and quince tajine Friday night, it was incredible.

[Mupepe]

  The topping is coconut, pecan and some other stuff turned into a weird frosting deal made from heavy whipping cream.

The only thing is that the cake wasn't so moist.  I'm not sure if it was because I mixed the chocolate and egg yolk in at the wrong time.  I fucked up and did it later than the recipe said so I'm thinking that was maybe why.  Still turned out delicious.

I also just made chicken teriyaki.  I kind of made a sauce out of teriyaki sauce and olive oil.  Put it in a pan to let it thicken and then threw the chicken in and turned it to medium heat and covered it.  I kept brushing the chicken with the sauce and flipping it.  turned out pretty good

[Mr. Gundam]

Next time you make teriyaki chicken, make sure you use mirin.

[Mupepe]

I don't even know what that is

[Mr. Gundam]

It's a sweet Japanese cooking wine. Most grocery stores sell it.

[Mupepe]

cool!  thank you

[Oblivion]

Would be nice if some of you assholes actually helped by TEACHING ME HOW TO COOK WTF FALSE ADVERTISIGNKNGAJGLKAJG


How long after the expiration date on a whole chicken is it safe to still eat?

[Mupepe]

I need help with a whole chicken as well.  I have no idea what to do with it.

[Mupepe]

(Image removed from quote.)

jesus that looks good!

[Rman]

I need help with a whole chicken as well.  I have no idea what to do with it.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Wash and pat down chicken with paper towels.  Season the exterior and inner cavity with kosher salt and ground black pepper and rub with unsalted softened butter.  Cut a lemon in half and squeeze lemon juice in the cavity.  Place lemon halves in cavity.  Roast for an hour in one of those aluminum disposable roasting tins.  You can use a large oven proof saute pan too.  You can place chicken on a bed of veggies, like carrots, onions, or new potatoes.  Roast for an hour.  Test for doneness by pricking the skin b/w leg and breast.  Juices should run clear, not pink, indicating doneness.  However, it will not be dried out, but tender and succulent.  Most cooks overcook chicken.  Chicken breast being the number one overcooked item in America.  I recommend kosher or organic birds for roasting.

Variations:
Garlic and Rosemary Roasted Chicken: Cut a head of garlic in half, horizontally, and place in cavity.  Season with fresh rosemary.
Cilantro Lime Roasted Chicken.  Use a lime instead of a lemon in above recipe and season chicken with cilantro before roasting.

[Mupepe]

oh cool.  thank you, dude!  I'll do it tomorrow and post pics of how it turns out

[Rman]

oh cool.  thank you, dude!  I'll do it tomorrow and post pics of how it turns out

If juices run pink, just put back in the oven for 10 or 15 so more minutes.  Also, let it rest 4 for 5 minutes under foil before cutting into it.  That helps redistribute the juices and keep the chicken nice and juicy.

[Cormacaroni]

oh cool.  thank you, dude!  I'll do it tomorrow and post pics of how it turns out

Actually, I'm betting you do something utterly random instead, like try to make baked Alaska with cream cheese, but it will still be entertaining for us all. Go Chef mups!

[Mupepe]

oh cool.  thank you, dude!  I'll do it tomorrow and post pics of how it turns out

If juices run pink, just put back in the oven for 10 or 15 so more minutes.  Also, let it rest 4 for 5 minutes under foil before cutting into it.  That helps redistribute the juices and keep the chicken nice and juicy.

  I can't wait.  Although....

oh cool.  thank you, dude!  I'll do it tomorrow and post pics of how it turns out

Actually, I'm betting you do something utterly random instead, like try to make baked Alaska with cream cheese, but it will still be entertaining for us all. Go Chef mups!

You're kinda correct!  I decided to do a spicy chicken spaghetti dish tonight.  My mom's friend had some and it was wowowowowow.  So I decided to try that tonight.  I'll post the recipe and pictures of it after I'm done

[Mupepe]

Made it last night and it turned out spicy as hell but so good.

Ingredients:
1lb - 2lb of of diced chicken
2 cans of cream of mushroom
2 cans of cream of chicken
1 can of diced spicy rotel tomatoes (labeled either mexican rotel tomatoes or rotel tomatoes with habanero)
1 can of diced rotel tomatoes
1 lb of fresh mozzarella
1 lb of spaghetti noodles
Parmesan Cheese (optional)

Get about 1lb to 2lb of chicken.  Season it any which way you'd like and fry it.  I blackened mine with some seasonings in olive oil.

In the meantime have your noodles boiling so they'll be ready to go.

After the noodles and chicken are done, throw the noodles in a baking pan and then throw in your tomatoes, cream of mushroom, cream of chicken and your cooked chicken.  Mix it together.  Then grade your mozzarella cheese on top of it and if you'd like, put your parmesan cheese on top.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and then throw the pan in for about 10-15 minutes or until it's hot. 

If you want to make it a little spicier, use another can of the spicy rotel tomatoes instead of the regular.  This is what I did.  Be aware, it's VERY spicy though.  I loved it.

I kind of changed a few things from a recipe my mom got from her friend.  I wanted to make it spicy and blacken the chicken.  She used regular rotel tomatoes and she boiled the chicken (bleh).

[Smooth Groove]

How is Paella properly pronounced?  I don't wanna sound like an ignoramus at a fancy restaurant.

[Rman]

How is Paella properly pronounced?  I don't wanna sound like an ignoramus at a fancy restaurant.

Pah-eh-yah.

[Smooth Groove]

How is Paella properly pronounced?  I don't wanna sound like an ignoramus at a fancy restaurant.

Pah-eh-yah.

Thanks, Rman. 


Do I pronounce the eh and yah seperately? 

[Rman]

Yes.

Here's a video with a recipe.  They pronounce it correctly after some fun and games with the pronunciation.

[youtube=425,350]CfN4_52loC4[/youtube]

[Smooth Groove]

Cool!

Now I can try making it myself. 

[GilloD]

I need help with a whole chicken as well.  I have no idea what to do with it.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Wash and pat down chicken with paper towels.  Season the exterior and inner cavity with kosher salt and ground black pepper and rub with unsalted softened butter.  Cut a lemon in half and squeeze lemon juice in the cavity.  Place lemon halves in cavity.  Roast for an hour in one of those aluminum disposable roasting tins.  You can use a large oven proof saute pan too.  You can place chicken on a bed of veggies, like carrots, onions, or new potatoes.  Roast for an hour.  Test for doneness by pricking the skin b/w leg and breast.  Juices should run clear, not pink, indicating doneness.  However, it will not be dried out, but tender and succulent.  Most cooks overcook chicken.  Chicken breast being the number one overcooked item in America.  I recommend kosher or organic birds for roasting.

Variations:
Garlic and Rosemary Roasted Chicken: Cut a head of garlic in half, horizontally, and place in cavity.  Season with fresh rosemary.
Cilantro Lime Roasted Chicken.  Use a lime instead of a lemon in above recipe and season chicken with cilantro before roasting.

RMan, instead of cutting the lemon in half you can boil it for ten/15 seconds and place it in whole.  It helps cook evenly, and the lemon flavor is not as strong.

YOU MUST GET UNDER THE SKIN FO THE CHICKEN OR DONT BOTHER. For real, yo. Also- Preserved lemons under the skin if you can get them.

[Mupepe]

Baking cookies with this recipe:


INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
 Add to Recipe Box

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon. Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.


In the oven now so I'll post pics when they're done.

Edit, Pics:

[Rman]

Baking cookies with this recipe:


INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
 Add to Recipe Box

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon. Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.


In the oven now so I'll post pics when they're done.

They should turn out great.  CC cookies are super easy if you follow the recipe and measure your stuff correctly.  Most people mess up baking due to inaccurate measurements, flour being the main culprit.  Pros always use weight as opposed to volume measurements, which are the most common in most cookbooks and websites.

[GilloD]

I need help with a whole chicken as well.  I have no idea what to do with it.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Wash and pat down chicken with paper towels.  Season the exterior and inner cavity with kosher salt and ground black pepper and rub with unsalted softened butter.  Cut a lemon in half and squeeze lemon juice in the cavity.  Place lemon halves in cavity.  Roast for an hour in one of those aluminum disposable roasting tins.  You can use a large oven proof saute pan too.  You can place chicken on a bed of veggies, like carrots, onions, or new potatoes.  Roast for an hour.  Test for doneness by pricking the skin b/w leg and breast.  Juices should run clear, not pink, indicating doneness.  However, it will not be dried out, but tender and succulent.  Most cooks overcook chicken.  Chicken breast being the number one overcooked item in America.  I recommend kosher or organic birds for roasting.

Variations:
Garlic and Rosemary Roasted Chicken: Cut a head of garlic in half, horizontally, and place in cavity.  Season with fresh rosemary.
Cilantro Lime Roasted Chicken.  Use a lime instead of a lemon in above recipe and season chicken with cilantro before roasting.

RMan, instead of cutting the lemon in half you can boil it for ten/15 seconds and place it in whole.  It helps cook evenly, and the lemon flavor is not as strong.

YOU MUST GET UNDER THE SKIN FO THE CHICKEN OR DONT BOTHER. For real, yo. Also- Preserved lemons under the skin if you can get them.

Putting lemon under the skin tends to make the lemon flavor too strong for my taste (mainly because it knocks a lot of medium bodied reds out, and you're stuck with a white), but a full boiled lemon in the cavity makes the flavor diffuse.  i would like to try preserved lemons though.

I meant just with spices. Lemon under the skin would be too much, agreed.

[Mupepe]

They should turn out great.  CC cookies are super easy if you follow the recipe and measure your stuff correctly.  Most people mess up baking due to inaccurate measurements, flour being the main culprit.  Pros always use weight as opposed to volume measurements, which are the most common in most cookbooks and websites.

  They turned out pretty good.  I'm uploading the pics right now.  So how can I overcome the weight to volume issue if most cookbooks and sites use volume?

Also, always cook with King Arthur flour.

Is there a specific reason?  Just better quality?

[Mupepe]

[Rman]

They should turn out great.  CC cookies are super easy if you follow the recipe and measure your stuff correctly.  Most people mess up baking due to inaccurate measurements, flour being the main culprit.  Pros always use weight as opposed to volume measurements, which are the most common in most cookbooks and websites.

  They turned out pretty good.  I'm uploading the pics right now.  So how can I overcome the weight to volume issue if most cookbooks and sites use volume?

Also, always cook with King Arthur flour.

Is there a specific reason?  Just better quality?

You should be fine using volume measurements if you only bake occasionally and use classic recipes like chocolate chip cookies, which have been tested for years for variations.

You will need a scale, like a digital scale and you can use online calculators to convert volume to weight.  If you get into bread bakin, using weight measurements is a must for best results.

[Mupepe]

Looks good Mupepe.

Thanks!

They should turn out great.  CC cookies are super easy if you follow the recipe and measure your stuff correctly.  Most people mess up baking due to inaccurate measurements, flour being the main culprit.  Pros always use weight as opposed to volume measurements, which are the most common in most cookbooks and websites.

  They turned out pretty good.  I'm uploading the pics right now.  So how can I overcome the weight to volume issue if most cookbooks and sites use volume?

Also, always cook with King Arthur flour.

Is there a specific reason?  Just better quality?

You should be fine using volume measurements if you only bake occasionally and use classic recipes like chocolate chip cookies, which have been tested for years for variations.

You will need a scale, like a digital scale and you can use online calculators to convert volume to weight.  If you get into bread bakin, using weight measurements is a must for best results.

That's actually my next goal.  I want to make some really good bread.  Soooo, got a good recipe?  I'm not really sure what kind of bread.  Recommendations?

[Mupepe]

what the heck is that?

[Rman]

I have had my hand me down kitchenaid for a long time.  Those things are workhorses and last forever. 

[CrystalGemini]

I shall revive this old thread with holiday food.  Yay.

Lobster bisque I made from extra ingredients from the Christmas dinner

[Rman]

Nice soup.

[CrystalGemini]

  That looks amazing.  What is it?  Lamb?