Danette asks:
How much pudding is too much pudding? I love pudding, my favorite is chocolate. Also, what are some creative uses for pudding?
I believe there is no such thing as too much pudding. I suppose as with any food, you should stop eating when you are full.
At the risk of not being creative enough, I am going to assume you're asking for edible uses for pudding. The Jello website has tons of great recipes using their instant pudding.
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Monday, August 30, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Picky Eaters and the Men Who Don't Love Them All That Much
Clint asks:
I love to try new foods and restaurants but my girlfriend is not adventurous and would rather go to TGIFridays or some other local bar restaurant. I love fried mac and cheese, but I want to propose and don't want to be stuck eating fried mac and cheese on a night out for the rest of my life. How do I tell her that she needs to try new stuff? I was hoping to propose at a new fancy French bistro but she refuses to go because she thinks all they serve is snails and gruel.
Well first, telling her she needs to try new things isn't going to work. It may even make her dig her heels in more. You need to encourage her and assure her that new foods won't kill her. Take baby steps. If she really doesn't think she likes French food, then find an Italian place, or even high-end American. Tell her where you're going is a surprise so she doesn't have time to protest. Let her order what she wants for a main dish, but pick an appetizer to share that's a little more adventurous, and encourage her to taste what you're having.
As her confidence builds, you can try more and more exotic restaurants. Tapas and Mezza are great for picky eaters, because you can try a variety and the portions are small. This way, if she tries something she really doesn't like, there's always something else to move on to.
Keep in mind that you shouldn't completely cut out TGIFridays as an option. Cheap, fried and delicious isn't always a bad thing. Maybe alternate who gets to choose the restaurant each date, or agree that every 3rd date has to be at a place you've never tried. If she's absolutely unwilling to bend, then you have bigger problems. Marriage is about compromise, and if she's unwilling to meet you halfway on this, imagine the fights that will ensue when you're dealing with visiting in-laws or raising children.
And while we're on the subject of marriage, you need to seriously re-think your planned proposal. Why in the world would you want to pop the question in a place where she doesn't even want to be? Is hungry and cranky really the state of mind you want her in for this particular event? This moment is about the two of you together, not about her fitting into some image of what you wish she could be. Surely you two have some common interests; obviously food isn't one of them. Propose at a park or on the beach or in your living room, but for God's sake, not in a restaurant that you already know she won't enjoy or appreciate.
I love to try new foods and restaurants but my girlfriend is not adventurous and would rather go to TGIFridays or some other local bar restaurant. I love fried mac and cheese, but I want to propose and don't want to be stuck eating fried mac and cheese on a night out for the rest of my life. How do I tell her that she needs to try new stuff? I was hoping to propose at a new fancy French bistro but she refuses to go because she thinks all they serve is snails and gruel.
Well first, telling her she needs to try new things isn't going to work. It may even make her dig her heels in more. You need to encourage her and assure her that new foods won't kill her. Take baby steps. If she really doesn't think she likes French food, then find an Italian place, or even high-end American. Tell her where you're going is a surprise so she doesn't have time to protest. Let her order what she wants for a main dish, but pick an appetizer to share that's a little more adventurous, and encourage her to taste what you're having.
As her confidence builds, you can try more and more exotic restaurants. Tapas and Mezza are great for picky eaters, because you can try a variety and the portions are small. This way, if she tries something she really doesn't like, there's always something else to move on to.
Keep in mind that you shouldn't completely cut out TGIFridays as an option. Cheap, fried and delicious isn't always a bad thing. Maybe alternate who gets to choose the restaurant each date, or agree that every 3rd date has to be at a place you've never tried. If she's absolutely unwilling to bend, then you have bigger problems. Marriage is about compromise, and if she's unwilling to meet you halfway on this, imagine the fights that will ensue when you're dealing with visiting in-laws or raising children.
And while we're on the subject of marriage, you need to seriously re-think your planned proposal. Why in the world would you want to pop the question in a place where she doesn't even want to be? Is hungry and cranky really the state of mind you want her in for this particular event? This moment is about the two of you together, not about her fitting into some image of what you wish she could be. Surely you two have some common interests; obviously food isn't one of them. Propose at a park or on the beach or in your living room, but for God's sake, not in a restaurant that you already know she won't enjoy or appreciate.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Killing Kittens Is Bad. Eating, On The Other Hand....
Ugh writes:
Everyone around me is obsessed with their weight and dieting. I have to change the topic a lot of times if I want to participate. If I came to a function boasting about a new diet I wanted to try, or maybe I lost 3 pounds, I'd get a better response from the group than if I were to tell them of a raise or promotion at work. What the hell, why are people so obsessed to the point that being on a diet is revered? It's sickening.
Ugh, indeed. Unfortunately, your problem is not unique. There's an entire week devoted to giving up fat talk (the second week in October). And there are people all over the world who blog about this issue, among others related to size acceptance and feminism. Fat talk is pervasive. It is ubiquitous. It is also limiting, boring, stifling, competitive, and destructive. It reduces everyone who participates in it to no more than a body, and a public body at that, subject to scrutiny and evaluation by the general populace - all of whom have been told that fat is wrong, fat is bad, fat is a moral issue, and to be even vaguely fat is the worst thing anyone could ever dare to be. Fat talkers depend on the culture to keep them going; they depend on the fact that "everyone knows" how awful it is to be fat, and that weight is a choice, and that the pursuit of ceasing to exist - becoming a size zero - is an occupation shared by everyone.
So don't back them up. They get positive reinforcement for this behavior from the other fat-talkers, and they won't be expecting you to burst their bubble - or to point out the ridiculousness of making their own bodies their enemies. You needn't be rude, but if you really want this to stop (and not merely to walk away from it), you need to point out that there are so many more interesting things in the world to discuss. You can throw some facts about diets at them (namely, that they don't work, full stop, end of story). You can point out that humans generally respond poorly to restrictions of any kind, and that they would do better to investigate intuitive eating and Health At Every Size concepts if they want to improve their well-being. You can talk about how the BMI definitions were arbitrarily changed in the 1990s, and that studies have shown that being in the "overweight" category actually results in living the longest, statistically. You can point out that being skinny is not the same as being healthy. You can simply tell them that you don't diet, and you don't want to discuss dieting because it's boring.
Most of these will stop a conversation dead in its tracks. They might stare at you and go right back to it amongst themselves, or they might ask for more input from you. If you get the chance to elaborate, you might consider discussing how making women focus on beauty and weight is a losing game and the product of a society that definitely doesn't want women to ever achieve full equality. And then segue into a discussion of politics, or science, or a funny blog post you just read about anything but weight.
Or, you can continue to ignore it, just far more flagrantly. Bring a book, and start reading every time someone starts with "I was so bad last night, I ate...." It's rude, sure, but honestly, so is being a repetitive bore who can't carry on a conversation that doesn't involve calories.
Unfortunately, you may end up just having to find new friends. People are obsessed with dieting and weight because it's considered a moral issue; because women, especially, are brought into the fold of body-haters and chronic dieters early in life; and because as I said above, people hate the fatties. Not dieting is considered not normal, and you may just have to find a group of freaks like you.
Everyone around me is obsessed with their weight and dieting. I have to change the topic a lot of times if I want to participate. If I came to a function boasting about a new diet I wanted to try, or maybe I lost 3 pounds, I'd get a better response from the group than if I were to tell them of a raise or promotion at work. What the hell, why are people so obsessed to the point that being on a diet is revered? It's sickening.
Ugh, indeed. Unfortunately, your problem is not unique. There's an entire week devoted to giving up fat talk (the second week in October). And there are people all over the world who blog about this issue, among others related to size acceptance and feminism. Fat talk is pervasive. It is ubiquitous. It is also limiting, boring, stifling, competitive, and destructive. It reduces everyone who participates in it to no more than a body, and a public body at that, subject to scrutiny and evaluation by the general populace - all of whom have been told that fat is wrong, fat is bad, fat is a moral issue, and to be even vaguely fat is the worst thing anyone could ever dare to be. Fat talkers depend on the culture to keep them going; they depend on the fact that "everyone knows" how awful it is to be fat, and that weight is a choice, and that the pursuit of ceasing to exist - becoming a size zero - is an occupation shared by everyone.
So don't back them up. They get positive reinforcement for this behavior from the other fat-talkers, and they won't be expecting you to burst their bubble - or to point out the ridiculousness of making their own bodies their enemies. You needn't be rude, but if you really want this to stop (and not merely to walk away from it), you need to point out that there are so many more interesting things in the world to discuss. You can throw some facts about diets at them (namely, that they don't work, full stop, end of story). You can point out that humans generally respond poorly to restrictions of any kind, and that they would do better to investigate intuitive eating and Health At Every Size concepts if they want to improve their well-being. You can talk about how the BMI definitions were arbitrarily changed in the 1990s, and that studies have shown that being in the "overweight" category actually results in living the longest, statistically. You can point out that being skinny is not the same as being healthy. You can simply tell them that you don't diet, and you don't want to discuss dieting because it's boring.
Most of these will stop a conversation dead in its tracks. They might stare at you and go right back to it amongst themselves, or they might ask for more input from you. If you get the chance to elaborate, you might consider discussing how making women focus on beauty and weight is a losing game and the product of a society that definitely doesn't want women to ever achieve full equality. And then segue into a discussion of politics, or science, or a funny blog post you just read about anything but weight.
Or, you can continue to ignore it, just far more flagrantly. Bring a book, and start reading every time someone starts with "I was so bad last night, I ate...." It's rude, sure, but honestly, so is being a repetitive bore who can't carry on a conversation that doesn't involve calories.
Unfortunately, you may end up just having to find new friends. People are obsessed with dieting and weight because it's considered a moral issue; because women, especially, are brought into the fold of body-haters and chronic dieters early in life; and because as I said above, people hate the fatties. Not dieting is considered not normal, and you may just have to find a group of freaks like you.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Just Don't Get The Clifford Ones
Cassie T. writes:
Trying to have a party for my husband, but feel like invitations are too grade school. Not everyone has access to internet, so evites are out. Aside from calling people directly, is there a preferred way to invite people to a simple birthday bash and require an rsvp, whether it's yes or no, to get an accurate head count for food? Is there a preferred timeline for all of this?????
Take a deep breath. Hold it. Let it out. Do that again.
Feeling more calm? Like, by four question marks' worth? Yes? Then let's begin.
Invitations are the only way to get a semi-accurate headcount for the party. There's nothing juvenile about a nice little square of cardstock that says who, what, where, and when, and asks for a response. Don't use fill-in-the-blanks or anything with clowns, race cars, or balloons on it, and you'll be fine on that front. (For our other readers: Evites are perfectly acceptable for a casual occasion, in my opinion, if all your guests are tech-savvy and have access. Otherwise, yes, go with paper.)
Most caterers will give you a date by which they need your final count and your full payment or final balance due, usually 1-2 weeks before the event. If you're cooking yourself, use the same formula. Send your invitations 3-4 weeks ahead of the date of the party, request a response 1-2 weeks before, and use that extra 1-2 weeks to follow up with people who haven't responded (and there will be at least a few, trust me.). Nail down your absolute final count within a few days of the party, and double-check your supplies (or check with your party supply provider) no later than the day before the party. If you're doing everything yourself, make sure you have everything you'll need ready to go the day before, so that the day of, all you need to do is set up, dress up, and party down.
Trying to have a party for my husband, but feel like invitations are too grade school. Not everyone has access to internet, so evites are out. Aside from calling people directly, is there a preferred way to invite people to a simple birthday bash and require an rsvp, whether it's yes or no, to get an accurate head count for food? Is there a preferred timeline for all of this?????
Take a deep breath. Hold it. Let it out. Do that again.
Feeling more calm? Like, by four question marks' worth? Yes? Then let's begin.
Invitations are the only way to get a semi-accurate headcount for the party. There's nothing juvenile about a nice little square of cardstock that says who, what, where, and when, and asks for a response. Don't use fill-in-the-blanks or anything with clowns, race cars, or balloons on it, and you'll be fine on that front. (For our other readers: Evites are perfectly acceptable for a casual occasion, in my opinion, if all your guests are tech-savvy and have access. Otherwise, yes, go with paper.)
Most caterers will give you a date by which they need your final count and your full payment or final balance due, usually 1-2 weeks before the event. If you're cooking yourself, use the same formula. Send your invitations 3-4 weeks ahead of the date of the party, request a response 1-2 weeks before, and use that extra 1-2 weeks to follow up with people who haven't responded (and there will be at least a few, trust me.). Nail down your absolute final count within a few days of the party, and double-check your supplies (or check with your party supply provider) no later than the day before the party. If you're doing everything yourself, make sure you have everything you'll need ready to go the day before, so that the day of, all you need to do is set up, dress up, and party down.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Here, Mooch Mooch Mooch!
Frustrated writes:
Every time I have something, there is one person who wants some of it. For example if we are having lunch and I say that my lunch tastes good, she wants some. If I buy something cute for myself at the store, she'll ask me if there were more and if she can either have mine (I am not lying) or if I can buy an extra for her. I just grew a bunch of fresh herbs in my garden, and as soon as she heard she asked me to give her some. I know I have extra of most everythig to spare, it's annoying that I have to anticipate her asking me for whatever I have. I often get caught off guard and say "okay" at first, and then realize what I did afterwards. IE, I have plenty of fresh herbs, but they just started to sprout. I can give her some when they start growing bigger, but not right now. Why does she need to have everything I have, and how do I ask her to stop asking me for what I have? Avoiding her is nearly impossible.
I admit, this is a trick I learned from Etiquette Hell: "I'm sorry, that won't be possible."
The beauty of this is that you're not saying a bald-faced, hard-to-swallow "No", but you're definitely making it clear that her mooching is simply not an option. No need to give a reason why it won't be possible; if she questions you, just keep repeating yourself. Variations on the theme: "I won't be able to do that"; "I'm afraid not".
If you don't feel confident enough to pull that off - or if you don't mind her mooching some things (like the herbs), but want to throttle her about others (your lunch), just lie. "I want your lunch."
"Oh, I'm sorry, there's not enough to share. How about we bring extra tomorrow to trade, like in grade school?" Then walk away.
"I want your sweater. Will you buy me one?"
"Aw, shucks, this was the last one the store had/I bought it at the thrift store/I got it out of my sister's closet. Too bad - we totally could have matched!"
Remember, your things belong to you. You are under no obligation to share them, no matter what whacked-out ideas she might have about altruism and "being nice". It is not impolite to refuse to shell out money, or time, or food to someone who is perfectly capable of earning her own.
Every time I have something, there is one person who wants some of it. For example if we are having lunch and I say that my lunch tastes good, she wants some. If I buy something cute for myself at the store, she'll ask me if there were more and if she can either have mine (I am not lying) or if I can buy an extra for her. I just grew a bunch of fresh herbs in my garden, and as soon as she heard she asked me to give her some. I know I have extra of most everythig to spare, it's annoying that I have to anticipate her asking me for whatever I have. I often get caught off guard and say "okay" at first, and then realize what I did afterwards. IE, I have plenty of fresh herbs, but they just started to sprout. I can give her some when they start growing bigger, but not right now. Why does she need to have everything I have, and how do I ask her to stop asking me for what I have? Avoiding her is nearly impossible.
I admit, this is a trick I learned from Etiquette Hell: "I'm sorry, that won't be possible."
The beauty of this is that you're not saying a bald-faced, hard-to-swallow "No", but you're definitely making it clear that her mooching is simply not an option. No need to give a reason why it won't be possible; if she questions you, just keep repeating yourself. Variations on the theme: "I won't be able to do that"; "I'm afraid not".
If you don't feel confident enough to pull that off - or if you don't mind her mooching some things (like the herbs), but want to throttle her about others (your lunch), just lie. "I want your lunch."
"Oh, I'm sorry, there's not enough to share. How about we bring extra tomorrow to trade, like in grade school?" Then walk away.
"I want your sweater. Will you buy me one?"
"Aw, shucks, this was the last one the store had/I bought it at the thrift store/I got it out of my sister's closet. Too bad - we totally could have matched!"
Remember, your things belong to you. You are under no obligation to share them, no matter what whacked-out ideas she might have about altruism and "being nice". It is not impolite to refuse to shell out money, or time, or food to someone who is perfectly capable of earning her own.
I Do Not Think This Is About What You Think It's About
Bling writes:
My sister-in-law feeds her kids completely unhealthy things. McDonald's, Chinese takeout, burgers from the diner, you name it. They often refuse to eat what she cooks, so she goes and buys them what they DO want because she's afraid they'll starve. The doctor told her that the youngest kid is slightly overweight, and she goes on and on about how cute his "little fat butt" is, and how he's gotten so big that none of the kid-sized shorts fit him in the stores. Is there a way to tell her that maybe their eating habits are why the kid is growing wider faster than he's growing taller? He's 6.
So...what you want me to tell you is a good way to tell your sister she's a total moron?
Look, I'm pretty sure no one in the world thinks fast food is healthy. She knows what she's feeding her children is not ideal; she doesn't care. The incentive of not having to deal with whiny kids is greater for her than the incentive of providing them a healthy start in life. I'd bet actual cash money that she's not parenting well in any other arena, either: why does this one thing bother you so much that you feel the need to comment on it? Have you commented on any of her other parenting missteps?
They're her kids, not yours. Unless you want to prove to the courts that she's an unfit mother and take the children from her, this is none of your business. Period. The best you can do is provide healthy choices for the kids when they're in your care. You may be able to plant the idea in them that taking care of our bodies by fueling them well and moving for the joy of it really does feel better than loading up on junk and camping in front of the TV, but don't get your hopes up.
My sister-in-law feeds her kids completely unhealthy things. McDonald's, Chinese takeout, burgers from the diner, you name it. They often refuse to eat what she cooks, so she goes and buys them what they DO want because she's afraid they'll starve. The doctor told her that the youngest kid is slightly overweight, and she goes on and on about how cute his "little fat butt" is, and how he's gotten so big that none of the kid-sized shorts fit him in the stores. Is there a way to tell her that maybe their eating habits are why the kid is growing wider faster than he's growing taller? He's 6.
So...what you want me to tell you is a good way to tell your sister she's a total moron?
Look, I'm pretty sure no one in the world thinks fast food is healthy. She knows what she's feeding her children is not ideal; she doesn't care. The incentive of not having to deal with whiny kids is greater for her than the incentive of providing them a healthy start in life. I'd bet actual cash money that she's not parenting well in any other arena, either: why does this one thing bother you so much that you feel the need to comment on it? Have you commented on any of her other parenting missteps?
They're her kids, not yours. Unless you want to prove to the courts that she's an unfit mother and take the children from her, this is none of your business. Period. The best you can do is provide healthy choices for the kids when they're in your care. You may be able to plant the idea in them that taking care of our bodies by fueling them well and moving for the joy of it really does feel better than loading up on junk and camping in front of the TV, but don't get your hopes up.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
This Is Not The Dish You're Looking For
Just Wants To Eat writes:
I work with a fairly close group of people. In general, I like them. There is one woman I work with who is obsessed with food. I can appreciate that being a bit of a foodie myself.
What drives me crazy is that this woman insists on examining, asking about and even sniffing my food. I've tried to ask her nicely not to, I've tried being a bitch about it, I've tried being assertive about it and nothing gets through to her.
How do I get her to let me eat in peace?
Ugh. These people are awful. I'm always tempted to ask if I can see the statute that made them Supreme Mugwump of All Things Edible. I don't, because I'm polite, but sometimes it's a struggle.
I have two suggestions: Ignore her completely, or be a broken record.
The first method works because you just do not engage. When she asks, don't answer. When she moves near you to see or smell your food, walk away. When she follows you, keep walking. If you can, shut a door in her face.
The second method makes you an ungratifying automaton. "What are you eating?"
"It's none of your business."
"Is it tasty?"
"It's none of your business."
"Can I smell it?"
"It's none of your business."
If she's not getting any reaction - but especially if you're also walking away from her and not letting her see the food - she should give up. You can substitute any polite phrase, as well; "Please don't bother me" or "I'm on my lunch break" or "I'm leaving now" should all have the same effect.
And if neither of these works, try the Force. Trust me. This is the advice you're looking for.
I work with a fairly close group of people. In general, I like them. There is one woman I work with who is obsessed with food. I can appreciate that being a bit of a foodie myself.
What drives me crazy is that this woman insists on examining, asking about and even sniffing my food. I've tried to ask her nicely not to, I've tried being a bitch about it, I've tried being assertive about it and nothing gets through to her.
How do I get her to let me eat in peace?
Ugh. These people are awful. I'm always tempted to ask if I can see the statute that made them Supreme Mugwump of All Things Edible. I don't, because I'm polite, but sometimes it's a struggle.
I have two suggestions: Ignore her completely, or be a broken record.
The first method works because you just do not engage. When she asks, don't answer. When she moves near you to see or smell your food, walk away. When she follows you, keep walking. If you can, shut a door in her face.
The second method makes you an ungratifying automaton. "What are you eating?"
"It's none of your business."
"Is it tasty?"
"It's none of your business."
"Can I smell it?"
"It's none of your business."
If she's not getting any reaction - but especially if you're also walking away from her and not letting her see the food - she should give up. You can substitute any polite phrase, as well; "Please don't bother me" or "I'm on my lunch break" or "I'm leaving now" should all have the same effect.
And if neither of these works, try the Force. Trust me. This is the advice you're looking for.
Friday, May 21, 2010
What's For Dinner?
Setting up a kitchen can be a daunting task, especially if you come from a family that doesn't cook very often – or very well! But a well-run kitchen can be a joy for you and your friends and family. Here are my tips for the beginning cook.
What do I need?
My completely unhelpful answer is: It depends. Kitchen needs change as you move through life; the needs of someone fresh out of school and setting up an apartment are much different from an empty-nester whose five kids have flown the coop. But there are a few things that everyone needs.
10. A decent knife set. Frankly, I've done well with Farberware, which is cheap and available at big-box stores. You can get away with fairly inexpensive knives, especially if you learn how to hone and sharpen them yourself, and keep honing/sharpening tools in your kitchen.
11. Kitchen towels. Some people call them tea-towels or hand-towels. They can be used for just about everything – as pot holders, as towels, as strainers, as non-slip surfaces.
There are a lot of specialty items out there, but Alton Brown and I agree: there is no need for uni-taskers! Do you really need a meat mallet? Or can you maybe buy a hammer instead? Just a toaster? Why not spring for a toaster/oven combo? Just a food processor? Look into blenders with processor attachments instead.
I got my tools. Now what?
Now that you have "hardware" covered, it's time to look at "software": your pantry. And by pantry I don't simply mean the food on your shelves; it can also mean the food in your fridge and the food you make sure to buy on every shopping trip because you know you'll use it up.
A good pantry is made up of things you like to eat often, and ingredients that can keep for a while, can be very versatile, and can help you whip something up without having to run to the store everyday. Most people's pantries have canned goods, dried pastas, spices, common vegetables (onions, carrots, garlic, tomatoes), salt and pepper, baking needs (flour, sugar, butter), and cooking/flavoring media (different oils, vinegars, rubs, and pastes for cooking, marinades, and dressings).
Your pantry will be as unique as you are. Mine, for example, skews heavily to Italian, Mexican, and old-fashioned American cooking, as those are my go-to culinary genres. Some people's pantries will be Asian-influenced, or Vegan, or diabetic, or low-carb.
To get started, think about your favorite foods. What flavors go into them? Look up the recipes and see what sorts of ingredients they use. Write down ones that appear in multiple recipes. Those will be the ingredients with which you start your pantry. Keep your grocery lists for a month or two, and see what you keep buying. These items are your pantry, and you may be able to buy them in bulk to save money. Consult your friends and family, as well; they may have the best-stocked kitchen on the block!
Fresh, frozen, or canned: The Great Vegetable Debate
You may have heard that fresh vegetables are where it's at, nutritionally speaking, and I won't dispute that. Fresh veggies are the best if you plan to use them immediately, eat them raw or slightly cooked, or throw them in a salad.
But if veggies are out of season or you plan to use them in a soup, stew, or otherwise cook the hell out of them, frozen and canned are the way to go. If you can find a veggie frozen, that's always preferable in terms of nutritional content and texture, so spring for those frozen green beans or edamame.
Very few veggies survive canning well. Tomatoes are about the only really great canned vegetable out there, followed up by beans, which, of course, aren't really vegetables! It's perfectly acceptable (and easier on both pocketbook and your time) to use canned tomatoes and beans when making a sauce, soup, or stew. Look for organic and all-natural brands – and check the ingredients list – to make sure you're getting only the ingredient you're looking for.
So how do I know how to cook this stuff?!
With the rise of the Food Network and the celebrity chef, it may seem like there are entirely too many recipes to choose from these days. But don't be intimidated by this bounty! Realize that you can try making things in several different ways until you find the recipe you like best.
But first, start with the basics. I recommend every home cook own a copy of the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook. It comes in a red checkered cover, and it has sections on how to choose a cheese or a bread, how to bake a cake, which cuts of meat are best for which applications, and dozens of other tips for beginners (and those of us who can always learn something new!). Almost every edition of the BH&G is different, so if you find one at a thrift store or used bookstore, snap it up!
The Joy Of Cooking is a slightly more advanced resource. It's much larger than the BH&G, and gives many more far-ranging tips, but it is also an invaluable resource in the kitchen.
Once you have these basics, you can fill out your collection with whatever books catch your eye or your taste buds. There is a cookbook out there for any taste and any skill level, not to mention all the recipes available for download at sites like AllRecipes.com, Epicurious.com, and FoodNetwork.com.
Once you've found a few recipes that sound good to you, try them! Don't be surprised if they don't work exactly right the first time, or if you want to add or subtract something. Every recipe is merely a starting point: you can put your own personal spin on any dish, and in trying new things, you'll be reinforcing the basic skills necessary to make the recipe.
Now that you have a few recipes in your repertoire, call your friends!
Entertaining doesn't have to be fancy
What do you remember most about the last time you got together with your friends? The food? The plates on which it was served? The tablecloth and napkins? Of course not. You remember having a great time! So if no one remembers that stuff, is it even important? Yes, but probably not in the way you might think.
If there hadn't been enough plates or silverware, or if there were no napkins to be found, you would remember that. If the meal was cold, or poorly prepared, or made you ill, you would remember that. In other words, while the table settings and the food may not be the focal point of a gathering, their absence is very keenly felt, indeed.
Making sure you have a full complement of dishes and silverware, enough chairs for your guest list, and that you have mastered at least one tasty recipe is all you need to successfully carry off a dinner party. Candles and china and Grandma's silver are nice touches, but gracious entertaining is about providing everything your guests will need to the best of your abilities with good cheer and kindness. If you plan to entertain at a traditional mealtime, make sure you offer your guests a meal. If you're entertaining in the off-times, offer something to drink and maybe a snack – some cheese and crackers, chips and dip, veggie sticks, or cookies are all easy to keep on hand, and if your guests don't eat them, you always can!
Cooking at home is economical, healthful, and a wonderful way to show love to yourself and to your friends and family. Home cooked food is comforting, and a great way to cap off your day. I hope you'll use some of these tips and become the food guru for your social circle!
What do I need?
My completely unhelpful answer is: It depends. Kitchen needs change as you move through life; the needs of someone fresh out of school and setting up an apartment are much different from an empty-nester whose five kids have flown the coop. But there are a few things that everyone needs.
- A heavy-bottomed pot. Two is better – a two-quart pot and a larger one. The two-quart is a good size for everyday tasks: making rice or mac-n-cheese, say; the larger pot will be handy for making larger amounts of soups, stews, and sauces, as well as cooking up pasta for a crowd or mashing potatoes.
- A heavy-bottomed frying pan. This may be called a skillet or saut̩ pan, depending on the brand, but this is a pan you can make almost anything in Рeven sauces in a pinch.
- A non-stick frying pan. Sometimes manufacturers will call this an omelet pan, and it really is indispensible for eggs and anything with cheese.
- A whisk.
- Tongs.
- A spatula. Some people call them flippers or turners – not little rubber spatulas (though those are also handy), this is a flat utensil for flipping meats or fish.
- Rubber spatulas. It's good to have a few different sizes of these, for different applications. Also good if you spring for the heat-resistant ones.
- A plastic cutting board, for meats.
- A wooden cutting board, for everything else.
10. A decent knife set. Frankly, I've done well with Farberware, which is cheap and available at big-box stores. You can get away with fairly inexpensive knives, especially if you learn how to hone and sharpen them yourself, and keep honing/sharpening tools in your kitchen.
11. Kitchen towels. Some people call them tea-towels or hand-towels. They can be used for just about everything – as pot holders, as towels, as strainers, as non-slip surfaces.
There are a lot of specialty items out there, but Alton Brown and I agree: there is no need for uni-taskers! Do you really need a meat mallet? Or can you maybe buy a hammer instead? Just a toaster? Why not spring for a toaster/oven combo? Just a food processor? Look into blenders with processor attachments instead.
I got my tools. Now what?
Now that you have "hardware" covered, it's time to look at "software": your pantry. And by pantry I don't simply mean the food on your shelves; it can also mean the food in your fridge and the food you make sure to buy on every shopping trip because you know you'll use it up.
A good pantry is made up of things you like to eat often, and ingredients that can keep for a while, can be very versatile, and can help you whip something up without having to run to the store everyday. Most people's pantries have canned goods, dried pastas, spices, common vegetables (onions, carrots, garlic, tomatoes), salt and pepper, baking needs (flour, sugar, butter), and cooking/flavoring media (different oils, vinegars, rubs, and pastes for cooking, marinades, and dressings).
Your pantry will be as unique as you are. Mine, for example, skews heavily to Italian, Mexican, and old-fashioned American cooking, as those are my go-to culinary genres. Some people's pantries will be Asian-influenced, or Vegan, or diabetic, or low-carb.
To get started, think about your favorite foods. What flavors go into them? Look up the recipes and see what sorts of ingredients they use. Write down ones that appear in multiple recipes. Those will be the ingredients with which you start your pantry. Keep your grocery lists for a month or two, and see what you keep buying. These items are your pantry, and you may be able to buy them in bulk to save money. Consult your friends and family, as well; they may have the best-stocked kitchen on the block!
Fresh, frozen, or canned: The Great Vegetable Debate
You may have heard that fresh vegetables are where it's at, nutritionally speaking, and I won't dispute that. Fresh veggies are the best if you plan to use them immediately, eat them raw or slightly cooked, or throw them in a salad.
But if veggies are out of season or you plan to use them in a soup, stew, or otherwise cook the hell out of them, frozen and canned are the way to go. If you can find a veggie frozen, that's always preferable in terms of nutritional content and texture, so spring for those frozen green beans or edamame.
Very few veggies survive canning well. Tomatoes are about the only really great canned vegetable out there, followed up by beans, which, of course, aren't really vegetables! It's perfectly acceptable (and easier on both pocketbook and your time) to use canned tomatoes and beans when making a sauce, soup, or stew. Look for organic and all-natural brands – and check the ingredients list – to make sure you're getting only the ingredient you're looking for.
So how do I know how to cook this stuff?!
With the rise of the Food Network and the celebrity chef, it may seem like there are entirely too many recipes to choose from these days. But don't be intimidated by this bounty! Realize that you can try making things in several different ways until you find the recipe you like best.
But first, start with the basics. I recommend every home cook own a copy of the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook. It comes in a red checkered cover, and it has sections on how to choose a cheese or a bread, how to bake a cake, which cuts of meat are best for which applications, and dozens of other tips for beginners (and those of us who can always learn something new!). Almost every edition of the BH&G is different, so if you find one at a thrift store or used bookstore, snap it up!
The Joy Of Cooking is a slightly more advanced resource. It's much larger than the BH&G, and gives many more far-ranging tips, but it is also an invaluable resource in the kitchen.
Once you have these basics, you can fill out your collection with whatever books catch your eye or your taste buds. There is a cookbook out there for any taste and any skill level, not to mention all the recipes available for download at sites like AllRecipes.com, Epicurious.com, and FoodNetwork.com.
Once you've found a few recipes that sound good to you, try them! Don't be surprised if they don't work exactly right the first time, or if you want to add or subtract something. Every recipe is merely a starting point: you can put your own personal spin on any dish, and in trying new things, you'll be reinforcing the basic skills necessary to make the recipe.
Now that you have a few recipes in your repertoire, call your friends!
Entertaining doesn't have to be fancy
What do you remember most about the last time you got together with your friends? The food? The plates on which it was served? The tablecloth and napkins? Of course not. You remember having a great time! So if no one remembers that stuff, is it even important? Yes, but probably not in the way you might think.
If there hadn't been enough plates or silverware, or if there were no napkins to be found, you would remember that. If the meal was cold, or poorly prepared, or made you ill, you would remember that. In other words, while the table settings and the food may not be the focal point of a gathering, their absence is very keenly felt, indeed.
Making sure you have a full complement of dishes and silverware, enough chairs for your guest list, and that you have mastered at least one tasty recipe is all you need to successfully carry off a dinner party. Candles and china and Grandma's silver are nice touches, but gracious entertaining is about providing everything your guests will need to the best of your abilities with good cheer and kindness. If you plan to entertain at a traditional mealtime, make sure you offer your guests a meal. If you're entertaining in the off-times, offer something to drink and maybe a snack – some cheese and crackers, chips and dip, veggie sticks, or cookies are all easy to keep on hand, and if your guests don't eat them, you always can!
Cooking at home is economical, healthful, and a wonderful way to show love to yourself and to your friends and family. Home cooked food is comforting, and a great way to cap off your day. I hope you'll use some of these tips and become the food guru for your social circle!
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