Does Anyone here like to cook?

[finkster]

I've been trying to learn how to cook and looking for some recipes that are good. I like and eat everything so I dont really care what I cook. I just want to be able to cook for myself when I move out and not rely on microwaveable dinners lol. I also heard it impresses the ladies...

sooo...

does anyone else here cook? If so post up your favorite recipe....nothing too difficult im still learning lol.

[arthurk]

KILLER Lasagne!!! Pretty easy too!

Ingredients

3 1/2 to 4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus 1/2 cup for dusting the work surface

4 extra-large eggs

6 ounces frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and squeezed very dry and chopped very fine

1/2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 recipe ragu Bolognese, recipe follows

8 ounces Parmigiano-Reggiano, for grating

1 recipe bechamel sauce, recipe follows

Directions

Mound 3 1/2 cups of the flour in the center of a large wooden cutting board. Make a well in the middle of the flour and add the eggs, spinach, and the olive oil. Using a fork, beat together the spinach, eggs, and oil, and begin to incorporate the flour, starting with the inner rim of the well.

As you expand the well, keep pushing the flour up from the base of the mound to retain the well shape. The dough will come together when half of the flour is incorporated.

Start kneading the dough with both hands, using the palms of your hands. Once you have a cohesive mass, remove the dough from the board and scrape up and discard any leftover bits. Lightly reflour the board and continue kneading for 6 more minutes. The dough should be elastic and a little sticky. Wrap the dough in plastic and allow to rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.

Divide the dough into 3 equal portions and roll each out to the thinnest setting on a pasta rolling machine.

Bring about 6 quarts of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons salt. Set up an ice bath next to the stove top. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the pasta into 20 (5-inch squares) and drop into the boiling water. Cook 1 minute, until tender. Drain well and refresh in the ice bath. Once cooled, drain the pasta squares on towels and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

In a brownie pan, assemble the lasagne, beginning with a layer of ragu, a sprinkling of grated Parmigiano, a layer of pasta, a layer of bechamel, and then again a layer of ragu, a sprinkling of grated Parmigiano etc. until all sauce and pasta are used up. The top layer should be pasta with bechamel over it. Top the lasagne with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and bake in the oven until the edges are browned and the sauces are bubbling, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Remove and allow to cool for at least 20 minutes before serving with a dusting of Pasrnigiano.

Bolognese Sauce (Ragu Bolognese):

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 medium onions, finely chopped

4 stalks celery, finely chopped

1 carrot, scraped and finely chopped

5 cloves garlic, sliced

1 pound ground veal

1 pound ground pork

1/2 pound ground beef

1/4 pound pancetta, minced

1/2 cup milk

1 (16-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand, with the juices

1 cup dry white wine

Salt and pepper

In a 6 to 8-quart, heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, carrot, and garlic and sweat over medium heat until vegetables are translucent. Add veal, pork, beef, and pancetta to the vegetables, brown over high heat, stirring to keep meat from sticking together for about 15 to 20 minutes. Add the milk and simmer until almost dry, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and simmer 15 minutes. Add the wine and brodo, bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, until flavors are developed. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and remove from the heat.

Yield: 6 1/2 cups, about 10 to 12 servings

Besciamella (Bechamel Sauce):

5 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons flour

3 cups milk

2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

In a medium saucepan, heat butter until melted. Add flour and stir until smooth. Over medium heat, cook until light golden brown, about 6 to 7 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat milk in separate pan until just about to boil. Add milk to butter mixture 1 cup at a time, whisking continuously until very smooth and bring to a boil. Cook 10 minutes and remove from heat. Season with salt and nutmeg and set aside.

[Melissa]

That recipe sounds great, but not much of a beginner recipe...in fact, I might have to try it

Here is a mac and cheese recipe that I make...Bill loves it!

Ingredients

* 1 (8 ounce) package elbow macaroni

* 1 (8 ounce) package shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

* 1 (12 ounce) container small curd cottage cheese

* 1 (8 ounce) container sour cream

* 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

* salt and pepper to taste

* 1 cup dry bread crumbs

* 1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil, add pasta, and cook until done; drain.

2. In 9x13 inch baking dish, stir together macaroni, shredded Cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. In a small bowl, mix together bread crumbs and melted butter. Sprinkle topping over macaroni mixture.

3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until top is golden.

The amounts don't have to be exact and I don't use the bread crumbs and butter, I just top it with more cheese. In fact, I use quite a bit more cheese than the recipe calls for. It is a recipe that is super easy because you can't really mess it up.

Edited February 18, 2010 by Melissa

[finkster]

woot ill have to try both thanks anyone have anything that involves jalepinos? nom nom

[79 cutty]

I actually have my undergraduate degree in culinary arts. So if there is something in particular you want info on let me know. Otherwise...are you a fan of grilling, or just looking for simple oven cooked recipes?

[Mtgrooves]

I love to cook and I try to cook every night for me and my gal. I use bigoven.com as a go to cooking site it rules!

[Torres]

anyone ever try chili lasagna? like regular lasagna, but with chili instead of spaghetti? not as extravagant as those recipes lol, but i'm curious

[cmamtower]

anyone have anything that involves jalepinos? nom nom

i second this lol : )

[treossi]

one time i made eggs the right way, i also made a tuna fish sandwich, it was pretty good

[cubs_fan0718]

Killer Breakfast Sammich

Bologna Egg And Cheese

Fry the Egg and Bologna put Cheese between and enjoy, a little yolk also makes it even better.

U could add a jalepino to it if u wanna get spicy lol

Edited February 18, 2010 by cubs_fan0718