For a beginning cook, why does cooking and meal / menu planning seem like such a daunting task?

it's like... not only do i not really know how to cook... i feel like the planning and shopping is hard to figure out / balance out too. and finding time for it all.

how did you guys start out cooking/menu planning?For a beginning cook, why does cooking and meal / menu planning seem like such a daunting task?
KIS...Keep it simple. It depends on how many you are cooking for but start out by going to a cooking site and finding some easy recipes. Find 7 of them...one for each day and write the ingredients on a piece of paper and use it as a shopping list for your weeks groceries. Make sure you dont double up on things...if one recipe uses 2 eggs and another uses 1 and another uses 4 dont go buying 3 dozen eggs. Just buy 1 dozen and use what you need. Once you learn how to make a few meals this way you can start to modify the recipes by adding or taking away things you like or dislike. For example if you are making a stew you might like to add mushrooms but you might not like carrots very much so you can leave them out. After a while you build up a repertoire of things you can cook and it's not so hard to figure out what to buy at the supermarket because it is all in your head.For a beginning cook, why does cooking and meal / menu planning seem like such a daunting task?
Plan for the family

monday- red beans and rice or spaghetti garlic bread salad

tuesday- pork chops with rice and gravy green beans

wedsday- chicken tenders or enchiladas

thursday-give dad a steak and baked potato

friday-fish and frys or gumbo or shrimp creole

saturday -hot dogs with chips or hamburgers

sunday- fried chicken or barbeque ribs tater salad
The reason why it is a daunting task..its because if you are like me...

half the time..i dont even understand what the recipe is saying..even if it is very clear for someone else (expeirenced cook)..it is not clear for me.



It takes me time to really understand what the instructions are..but i get there..



I think the harderst thing is thinking of something you'd like to cook.



It gets easier once you get used to it and once you get comfortable in the kitchen.



You dont have to be afraid to mix things together.

If it doesnt turn out, you now know what not to do next time.

Sometimes recipes will have things you dont like..but you are afraid not to add them because you think that will not make it taste/look the same..

Well replace that thing with something you like..(eg. dont like beef, use chicken)



If you've got an idea of what you want to cook, or a recipe..go from there..

write down what that meal is going to need, and then make your shopping list according to that.

Even if you buy a little extra or not enough..there is always a way to work around things.



I think it just takes time to get used to and you've got to become comfortable and not afraid of trying to new thing or afraid that it wont turn out.

Be positive.



What i did at first..was cook when noone was home..that way they didnt know i cooked..and if it turned out nice..i would share it with them..if it didnt work out..they'll never know i tried...



thats me anyways..goodluck.
There are only five basic cooking methods.



There is sauteing, frying, poaching, roasting and braising.

Everything else is a variation of those methods.



When your starting to cook get comfortable with these methods perhaps one at a time.



When your feeling pretty good about them you develop a knack for what will work and what won't.



Once you do that you can get inspired by just seeing what's available in the store.



You can plan your menus by what is in season and what your feeling up to cooking.
lol, I'm planning my menu as we speak. Well the easiest and safest way is to browse the great internet for recipe, then take notes of what you want to cook - this way you'll make sure that you don't buy too many things. Being a student, I don't have much time to cook on the week, so I'll do all my cooking on one day, like today. Browse the net for recipes for few days ahead, then do shopping based on the list, then do all the cooking, pop them up in the fridge - ready to reheat for future use.

Alternatively, go to the shop, see what's on special, get them, then look for the recipe based on the main ingredients. E.g.: Oh, chicken is cheap, get them %26gt; back home %26gt; look for recipe based on chicken. Not the most efficient method, but hey, got the job done =D

I've been surviving the past one year on this technique~ lol.. hope it helps.
Plan your meals around easy-to-make staples like rice, spaghetti, and beans. You can do multiple things with these ingredients. Then, pick up other versitile proteins: ground beef, boneless/skinless chicken breasts, lean pork chops, firm tofu.



Then mix and match, adding variety with veggies and/or sides. Casseroles, stirfry, tacos, burritos, meatballs, mac n cheese, burgers, etc.



Here are some easy recipes to help get you started:
I think the hardest thing for a new cook is to figure out how to get it all ready at the same time. The trick is to think about how long each takes to cook, and to prepare, and work backwards. Some thing can be prepared while other things cook.



Plan simple menus where you only need to prepare a couple items. Use bagged salads and frozen/canned veggies for side dishes.



Find a cook-book for beginners that has whole meals. They will tell you what to start first and how to do each step of the preparation.



I applaud you for starting to cook. So many people don't these days and are missing out on some great food. Plus, you save money by cooking for yourself.