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Astra
01-22-2006, 10:36 PM
Let me start out by saying that I was not born with an ounce of natural talent for cooking. it took me 3 years in school to learn more than what a pan was for. I went on to run a kitchen for 3 years..And now I can cook.. well most of the time..

Some basics I've learned that will help you in many ways.

*350 degrees is the oven setting for anything you dunno how to bake.
meat.. usually you can cook at about 350 and an hour per pound. Usually you can cook a little less than that depending on the meat.

*A liquid measure and a solid measure are different. Recipes do not work well when these are mixed up.. Measuring cup with a pour spout is for liquid.. Those cute little cups you have on a ring in your drawer.. those are solid measures.

* same goes for the tablespoon in your drawer. A tablespoon that you eat with is not a measuring device... Use the ones that come in that ring or whatnot that have the measures on them..

*When using large knives hold the blade and not the handle. It gives you more control over where the blade goes and eliminates the play from your wrist. Also bend the knuckle closest to your finger tip to hold what you are cutting. Keeping your fingers out from under the blade helps to enure you keep your finger tips..

* real butter is better for you than margarine becuase you can actually digest it.

* running the flame under the pan too hot for too long and/or running a hot pan under cold water warps the pans and your cooking will be negotiated after that.

*SAVE THE PANS!!! don't use metal utensils on tephlon.
it WILL be destroyed.

Eggs-
if you cook them in the grease of the sausage or the ham or bacon that you are cooking for breakfast it flavors the eggs quite well..

Bacon-
( I could never get this one right..until now..)
Preheat the oven at 350.
Put the bacon flat on a baking sheet (non greased) go on cooking whatever else you must cook. when or of you like flip the bacon.. 15-20 mins later you have AWESOME bacon.



For kernal corn and green beans I like to add to taste-

ground black pepper
salt
lawreys season salt
italian seasoning

I usually sprinkle just enough to cover the top layer in the pan. It will need a low simmer for about 10 mins..

mix a dry batch of this and use it on corn on the cobb too..

I live in a house with chopsticks and a rice cooker.. both very helpful in the kitchen.


a good magazine where you can get great quick recipes from in "quick cooking"

jabumbo
01-23-2006, 07:49 AM
i got this 'cooking for men' type book by rachel ray for christmas


she was big on the need to not measure. (if that makes sense at all) she just equated everything to things like a pinch, a palmful, or a handful

Astra
01-23-2006, 11:05 AM
i got this 'cooking for men' type book by rachel ray for christmas


she was big on the need to not measure. (if that makes sense at all) she just equated everything to things like a pinch, a palmful, or a handful
Yeah you can do that when you are familiar with the general measure of what a "pinch" and a palmful mean.. A pinch is 1/8 teaspoon (roughly) and a palmful usually can be a teaspoon... I don't measure the items for th corn and green beans I just add until the flavor is what I like.

Doe anyone have some good meatloaf recipes? I've been looking for a good one to try

cosmo105
01-23-2006, 02:23 PM
i didn't know that about pans. it makes so much sense, i feel silly not knowing it before. thankles. (y)

Astra
01-23-2006, 02:38 PM
i didn't know that about pans. it makes so much sense, i feel silly not knowing it before. thankles. (y)

No problem. Not sure which part you mean but as far as the flame goes (gas stove) Of course it depends on what you are cooking, but for the most part if you are making something that requires a cooktime of 5-10 min then the flame should not have too much of a tail on the end of the flame. if you are cooking bacon in a pan of course it's a fast high heat sort of cooking and the high flame won't damage the pan. Also take into account the type/brand of pans.

hitmonlee
01-24-2006, 02:18 AM
pounds? fareinheit? bah!

Astra
01-24-2006, 09:18 AM
pounds? fareinheit? bah!


Sorry kiddo yes I'm from the USA as far as I know the only country to still use this measurment.. Maybe it's "special" in that retarded sort if way but it's the way it is..

here's a conversion link

http://www.factmonster.com/pages/unitconversion.html?qty=176&fromopts=centimeter&toopts=foot&unittype=linear&grp=common&convert.x=40&convert.y=8