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 College students and single adults are often at a loss to think of something they can cook for a real meal. Tuna sandwiches and chili can get old. Here we present some easy to fix meals that go way beyond opening a can or grabbing a fast food takeout. Setting up your kitchen cookware doesn't need to be an expensive proposition either. You just need to buy the right pots and pans and a few inexpensive bowls and utensils to put together some real home cooked meals in no time. Learning just a few basic cooking skills, you'll soon be eating better and cheaper. Let's see just how easy this can be!
When you're cooking for one, or maybe an occasional guest, you might assume that a whole roasted chicken or roast is out of the question. What will you do with all the leftovers? The answer is plenty!
Stocking your kitchen with the necessary cookware is as easy as pie. Instead of a frying pan, most often listed as a necessity, buy a home griddle. The price is about the same as a good frying pan, but far more versatile.
The regular round frying pan has a lot of wasted space, while a griddle, with its rectangular shape, has virtually no wasted space. You can fit about eight chicken legs on a griddle at once, not possible in a conventional frying pan. The griddle also allows you to cook a few slices of ham, a couple of eggs and a few pancakes all in one shot. Cook an omelet and toast a couple of rolls, with the entire meal ready at the same time.
If you can afford just one pot, a 2-quart heavy sauce pan will accomplish just about every basic cooking task you'll need. A slow cooker is another essential. Other than that, a loaf pan, a shallow baking pan with an insert, a colander, a set of measuring cups and spoons, a couple of mixing bowls, one medium and one large, one chef's knife and a paring knife, a spatula, ladle, slotted spoon and regular serving spoon completes the cookware you'll need to exercise your basic cooking skills. If you need to be really budget conscious, browse the thrift shops for any of these items. Remember too, that you don't need to buy everything at once. Get what's most useful to you first and add as you go along.
Acquiring basic cooking skills does not mean you need to become a gourmet cook. As you can see, your griddle can cook up a complete and tasty breakfast or dinner in minutes. Use it to grill a grilled cheese sandwich, with a side of salad for lunch. Anyone can manage all of these meals without an instruction book and at far less expense than eating out!
Your handy griddle can handle most frying tasks, except deep fried dishes, which aren't all that good for you anyway and are a lot more trouble. When you're getting the hang of your basic cooking skills, the less complicated, the better.
The slow cooker is a fabulous tool for producing dishes with very basic cooking skills. So simple is the preparation, all you need to do is toss the ingredients into the pot – in the correct order – and walk away until dinner time. The slow cooker is the champion of those with the most basic cooking skills. Coarsely chop a couple of onions and whatever veggies you want and plop your roast, chicken or stew meat on top. Pour a cup of broth over all and the seasonings of your choice on top of the meat. Set the cooker on medium. Do this in the morning and come home to a fragrant, delicious meal. Serve it up and freeze the remainder in portions for future meals.
Fish cooks in a flash in the microwave. Set the fish on a plate and cook on high for one or two minutes. You'll be able to see when it's cooked through halfway. Turn and cook for an equal time. Garnish with lemon juice, tartar sauce or a packaged sauce mix. Serve with a salad and some garlic bread.
See how, with just these basic cooking skills, you'll be eating better, quicker and cheaper than the less healthy convenience and fast foods? You can even impress guests!
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