Veggies recipes

[MaxiMe]

Hi.
I have just moved out of my parents house and I can't cook anything other than french fries
The thing is that I want to lead a healthy life and eat a lot of veggies. Considering that I am a newbie cook , do you think you could help me with some simple veggies recipes.

Thank you so much.

[Shifter]

Hey, first of all cooking CAN be fun. Don't let it intimidate you and for god's sake don't watch any gormet cooking shows. They will only scare the crap outta ya. On the other hand, there is a show I would recommond--it used to be called the Urban Peasant and it actually taught me how to cook. James Barber is the guy that cooks and his recipes are generally easy. Don't try any baking until you've gained more confidence in the cooking area.

Bread is good.

RULE ONE:

NEVER LEAVE YOUR STOVE OR OVEN ON AND WALK AWAY!

Do you have cookware?

You'll need a frypan (nonstick is good for beginners), a small pot, a "flipper" (for flipping stuff) , and some shortening (Canola oil is fine to start), a lid that will cover the frypan is very helpful as well in minimizing the mess that WILL happen when frying.

Don't try fish early--it's easy to overcook and ruin. Chicken is hard to ruin unless it's totally black. Buy cheap cuts of chicken like say--thighs (can I say that?) and frie'm. When you cut into cooked chicken and blood is still uncooked--cook it some more.

Stay away from pork until you're more confident as raw pork can ruin YOU.

Ground beef is easy and quick and can be combined with Lipton Sidekicks or any generic quick pasta for both carbohydrates and proteins. Canned veggies though expensive are convenient and don't need much heating. During the summer a can of, whatever, veggie in a bowl doesn't need to be heated. Try different ones! Canned spinach is nice.

Have some fun; a watched pot never boils; never leave the stove or oven on.

By the way I recently met a guy who, at home, has thirty servant (including five cooks). OMG!

Shifter

[Nick]

My advice is to use TONS of spices... Oh man. So good.

[Phil]

Righto, Keep it simple to start -- steamed veggies are a good, lite side dish. Just steam any of the following and add some fresh-cracked pepper (and a little olive oil if you like)

+ zucchini
+ cabbage
+ carrots
+ green beans
+ broccolli

They all cook a different rates and it can be tricky to get the timing right. Just keep testing with a fork as you steam. You can mix different veggies together if you add them at different times or cut them accordingly -- veggies that takes longer (carrots, cabbage) can be cut smaller and faster veggies (zucchini) leave larger. My favorite combo is carrots, zucchini & green beans. MMmmm. I stole that from Zouglas.

[riverrat]

Wow, you guys are making veggies sound really good.
I already mentioned my cabbage feta garlic oliveoil salad; now I'd recommend wraps. You can put all manner of raw veggies in there, and add whatever fat you want to make it tasty - cheese, meat, flavoured oil, ranch dressing...

Also, it's super easy to make a good pasta sauce. The biggest pasta mistake in the western hemisphere happens at the sauce stage, I think. The pasta should be secondary to its sauce, if it's in a veggie-tomato sauce. The sauce should be so thick with veggies that your dinner is more like a stew, with noodles thrown in for added fun. This makes sense when you consider that you shouldn't be eating all carbs, anyway.

So, here's a very basic veggie-tomato sauce recipe:
1- Saute a bunch of garlic and onions in some butter and/or oil.
2- When they're soft, add mushrooms, carrots, zuccini, broccoli, spinach, kale, chard, beet, sweet potato, whatever.
3- Add tomatoes, from pre-made sauce or as canned tomatoes or fresh, well chopped.
4- Season to taste. Basil, oregano, black and/or cayenne pepper, salt, fennel, cumin, etc.

[Nick]

That sounds so good.. oh god.

[Shifter]

Hey Maxime:

There are some really cool things here but go slow and start simple. Some of the these recipes take a fair amount of prep before you can start. Consider that your going to spend a lot of time just washing a chopping veggies. No complaints, just be ready for the time it will take you...

Something else you should get as a newbie cook/chef/self-feeder is a good sharp knife. One of the Wiltshire knives that comes in its own self-sharpening plas sheath is a good starter. Oh yeh, a sharp knife is a very good thing. It's often the dull ones that end up dangerous because you're pushing harder.

There are some very tasty ideas here, but go slow and experiment.

[Phil]

I second the sharp knife, it is much safer -- it's essential. Dull knives can also lead to wrist problems if used regularly.

[MaxiMe]

Hey guys
I am impressed ... I want to thank you all for your help especially to Shifter .. you really know how to make somebody hungry just by reading your posts

Anyway ... I think I am going to stay away from the meats and start with the veggies stuff ... it is much more healthier this way
What do you think ?

[Shifter]

Veggies are outstanding! Make sure you wash everything and then just crunch your way to bliss. Shifter doth not liveth by greens alone, but many people do...

If you're going the veggie root try to get in your legumes and pulses too, and if you don't know what they are then do some E-search and find out how to make that veggie lifestyle real healthy--you will need proteins too.

Beets me how one can live on that alone, but lettuce go onto other contributers...