I want to learn how to cook. What are some simple quick dishes I can do?

[Massageman]

1. Learn how to make a roux. 1 Tablespoon butter, melted in saucepan. Add 1 Tablespoon of flour, whisking quickly. This is the roux (pronounced "roo") .

For anything creamy, add 1/4 cup of milk, and whisk quickly again. Add 3/4 cup milk, whisk, put on simmer (low heat) and whisk a few seconds every minute until it thickens into "cream sauce". Put over veggies. Or, use as a "base" to make cream soups, etc. For gravies, just add some "stock" or pan drippings, stir a bit, simmer for a few minutes, done. I just made broccoli-cheese soup "ala-Panera" for supper tonight by adding shredded cheese and chopped broccoli. Or, use the cream sauce with cheese on the next item, - - - -

2. Bring water to a boil. Add pasta and cook per the label. While it's cooking, get a can of pasta sauce and put in a saucepan. Add minced up cooked sausage, chopped bacon, parmesan cheese bits, fresh garlic, a can of diced tomatoes (drained), and a spoonful of Italian herbs. Drain the pasta, add the sauce, done!

3. PM me with any other questions you might have, etc.

[normalice]

I would buy Joy of Cooking. It's got a lot of both easy and hard recipes.

But probably the easiest thing to cook is bread.

Though, it is weird that we call it cooking. The oven or stove does the cooking. The thing "cooks" do is mixing!

[abc3643]

Buy "Joy of Cooking". Once you do that, you will be home free.

[DrunkAss]

Just cooking pasta al dente seems like a step up in the US.

[supersplif]

baked beans in toast