I'm not a very good cook

The reason this is coming up now is that I have my family coming for birthdays in a couple weeks and I went through what I feel comfortable cooking and it's nothing!  Hamburgs!! My sister can't have tomato, so that rules out lasagna and spaghetti, but even those aren't all that nice for a party meal.  And I'd like to make the meals I fix for my husband nicer.  What we had the last several days was tasteless!  I even tried putting mustard on it and it didn't help.

do they just not turn out well, like getting burned or overdone?  or are they just not that appetizing?  i found broiling meat very simple and easy.  and with that, you could put all kinds of different marinades on different meats.  a simple one, put chicken in a bag with thousand island dressing for a few hours.  set your oven to broil, put the chicken in a pan (like maybe a lasagna pan) and broil.  turn them in 10 minutes and then check them in 5-10 minutes.  in the soup isle of the grocery store you can find packets for different sauces to use on pastas, or meats or more.  and if mashed potatoes seem boring you can buy the boxed scalloped potatoes, and other kinds, usually in that same isle.  not the healthiest, but tasty.   if you don't have a crock pot, get one!  great for chicken and pot roasts, and easy!  a roast can be spiced up with bbq sauce or even steak sauce.   you can look up to get recipes for different sauces for fish, and pork chops by googling it.    how big of a gathering will it be for your b-day parties?

Brown beef, in batches if you have to. Drain. Place in a 5 qt slow cooker on low for 4-5 hours or until onions are tender. 

Super easy; you just leave it in the crock pot. :-)

If you don't have a crockpot, go buy one!! My hubby's favorite is when I make steak in it!! I actually buy the already-cut-up (cheaper than steak) stew cubes. I throw thenm in there with some Jack daniels' BBQ sauce and montreal steak seasoning (makes any meat taste great, btw!) and I cook them all day long! I'm constantly checking them and scooping out the excess juice and adding more BBQ sauce (so it cooks into the meat and makes it very tender). If you want, you could chunk up some red-skinned potatoes or add veggies to cook with the meat, or just make some mashed potatoes to go with it! Crockpots are also great for cooking chicken too!! I always put seasoning on everything (Mrs Dash seasonings are great to use and I always put oregano on everything just because I love it!! Kraft Foods has a great web site you should check out!!

Oops, just realized your sis can't have tomato, but I don't know that it would make a huge difference to leave it out of the recipe above. Just add some more beans (like kidney) and a little bit of beef broth instead, maybe 1/2 cup to a cup, to make sure it doesn't dry out. It should still taste great. You could also substitute like a cream of mushroom soup for the tomatoes; it'd turn into more of a chili "stew". 

Thank you for the suggestions.

My meals are tasteless. I just cooked a roast in the crockpot. I added onion, salt and pepper, some worcestershire sauce, and although the meat was tender, it was unappetizing.

Only about a dozen people for the party, all family so no real pressure. My sister with the tomato allergy is a concern. There will be 4 children.

I didn't know about the sauce mixes, thank you. Thank you also for the chicken recipe, this does look good.

Quoting jammieg:

do they just not turn out well, like getting burned or overdone?  or are they just not that appetizing?  i found broiling meat very simple and easy.  and with that, you could put all kinds of different marinades on different meats.  a simple one, put chicken in a bag with thousand island dressing for a few hours.  set your oven to broil, put the chicken in a pan (like maybe a lasagna pan) and broil.  turn them in 10 minutes and then check them in 5-10 minutes.  in the soup isle of the grocery store you can find packets for different sauces to use on pastas, or meats or more.  and if mashed potatoes seem boring you can buy the boxed scalloped potatoes, and other kinds, usually in that same isle.  not the healthiest, but tasty.   if you don't have a crock pot, get one!  great for chicken and pot roasts, and easy!  a roast can be spiced up with bbq sauce or even steak sauce.   you can look up to get recipes for different sauces for fish, and pork chops by googling it.    how big of a gathering will it be for your b-day parties?

I need ideas for my husband's meals, too.  So with tomatoes would be fine for him. How creative you are to think of the alternatives. I don't know why I am so hopeless about cooking. My mom is a great cook, and my grandmothers were, too. Thank you for the recipe and the extra suggestions.

Quoting BaileynMe:

Oops, just realized your sis can't have tomato, but I don't know that it would make a huge difference to leave it out of the recipe above. Just add some more beans (like kidney) and a little bit of beef broth instead, maybe 1/2 cup to a cup, to make sure it doesn't dry out. It should still taste great. You could also substitute like a cream of mushroom soup for the tomatoes; it'd turn into more of a chili "stew". 

Start out small.  I had to learn  the same way, and now I am a WONDERFUL cook.... I am a Louisiana, so I had alot to learn, as peopl ehere are known for food.

When I was just starting out, these were favorites:

Nachos:

brown ground beef.  Drain.  Add ortega chipotle taco seasoning, a little cayenne and a tiny bit of water until it is all dissolved.

Put some corn tortilla chips on a plate, and top with the meat, then some jarred slice jalapenos and shredded monterey jack cheese to cover. 

Put it in the microwave until melted.  You have to eat it immediately after done, though, so have everyone ready.. The cheese kind of gets solid after a few minutes. LOL

On the side, have shredded lettuce, chopped tomato and onion, and sour cream ready.

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Shrimp is ALWAYS easy, as it takes little effort or time.  A good one is this:

In a container with a lid, or a ziploc bag, combine oil, garlic, black pepper, salt, and lemon juice.  Let it sit for a bit.  If left on the counter, only keep out about 30 minutes- an hour.  In t he frdige it can stay overnight.

Get some instant rice.  Follow the directions on the box, but instead of the water, use half orange juice, half chicken stock, and add a little chopped onion, salt, papper and dried parsley.  Cook as directed.

Get a bag of frozen veggies, store brand is fine, and put them in the microwave with a little butter, a seasoning and cook until tender.

Now, for the shrimp...Put some oil in a skillet.  Maybe a half inch or so.  Then heat it to medium.  Place the shrimp in one at the time.  Wait until they begin to crisp, and flip them.  Do not stir them or constantly move them.

That's all. :)

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Like chicken fried steak?

Buy a pack of cheap hamburger.  Separate it into four equal portions.  In a bowl or pan, mix together equal parts plain bread crumbs and flour.  In another bowl or pan, mix together a couple eggs and milk, or I prefer milk and vinegar(this makes buttermilk).  Make four wide patties with each portion of meat.  Cover them in the flour mixture, then the milk mixture, then the flour mixture again.  Make sure they are completely covered.

Heat a griddle or skillet to medium and add some oil.  Maybe a half inch to an inch.  Place a patty in until it is browned and crispy, then flip it.  When this side is done, take it out and add another.

Make some instant mashed potatoes.  I always use boiling hot water, a few tablespoons of butter and seasoned salt.

Make up some white gravy with a mix.

Steam some frozen veggies in the microwave.

Serve.  That is all.

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Meatballs and gravy:

Take a pound of cheap ground beef and make it into little balls, maybe the size of walnuts..or a gumball..whatever. LOL

Put some oil in a skillet and brown them, turning after they start to brown.  Make sure they are all browned, even though they do not need to be cooked through.

Take them out of the skillet.

Add some fresh mushrooms to the skillet.  Cook until browned and remove to same place as meatballs.

Mix together some beef bouillion and water using directions or canned beef broth.  After you drain most of the oil from the skillet, add the beef sauce.  Turn heat up to high and let it get to a boil.

In a bowl, mix together either flour or cornstarch with water.  Equal parts of both.  I like to start with a couple tablespoons and add more as I need it.  Sitr in a bowl until all the clumps are gone, and dump it into the boiling liquid.  Add the mushrooms and meatballs.  Let it get back up to a boil.

Mix more liquid and add it if it isn't thick enough for you.  Also, a little milk makes a creamy gravy...sometimes I add it, sometimes I don't.  It is good either way.

Taste the gravy and season as you feel you need to...I usually add little more than salt and pepper or some seasoned salt.

Make some instant mashed potatoes and steam some frozen veggies in the microwave.

Serve the sauce, meat and mushrooms over the potatoes and the veggies on the side.

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Um.... cut some chicken breast into cubes and boil them.  Drain and cool them.  In a pot, dump a can of hot rotel, a cup of milk, and a big block of velveeta.  Add some cream of mushroom or cream of chicken.

Boil a pound of pasta.

Mix drained pasta with cheese sauce.  Add chicken. Serve.

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Hope this helps.. PM me and remind me and I will think up a few more that I used to use.

I love barbecue but rarely make it. OK, never make it. I've seen the Jack Daniels BBQ sauce in the stores but not montreal steak seasoning- would this be in the bottle spice section near the baking supplies?  About the potatoes and vegetables, are you saying toss them in the crockpot with the meat? I've seen Mrs Dash, so I can get that.  Thank you for the help. I really need to do better with my cooking.

Quoting kristielee79:

If you don't have a crockpot, go buy one!! My hubby's favorite is when I make steak in it!! I actually buy the already-cut-up (cheaper than steak) stew cubes. I throw thenm in there with some Jack daniels' BBQ sauce and montreal steak seasoning (makes any meat taste great, btw!) and I cook them all day long! I'm constantly checking them and scooping out the excess juice and adding more BBQ sauce (so it cooks into the meat and makes it very tender). If you want, you could chunk up some red-skinned potatoes or add veggies to cook with the meat, or just make some mashed potatoes to go with it! Crockpots are also great for cooking chicken too!! I always put seasoning on everything (Mrs Dash seasonings are great to use and I always put oregano on everything just because I love it!! Kraft Foods has a great web site you should check out!!

Im not the best cook either but i have the EASIEST RECIPE EVER!! haha If you like beef stew and cornbread, i think you will like this....

Buy cans of beef stew (doesnt matter the brand) i always get about 4 cans but you can use as many as you want depending on family size. Buy some cornbread mix. I always get the sweet cornbread in a box.

Put beef stew in a deep pan and make your cornbread mix. Pour the mix over the stew. Follow the directions on the cornbread box. ( like how long to cook and what to set the oven on) AND THATS ALL!!! Plus its so yummy! :)