OMG i dont cook and nor do i enjoy it, not a clue!! (Not as bad as these stupid people on these programmes though, thats just laziness!!) However, my boyfriends mum has set me a challenge to cook tea/dinner on saturday night, and i have no idea what to do!!! Thought of things such as sausage egg and chips, which is good but its a bit simple any idiot can bung some sausages in the oven, cook an egg and do chips! (Well after watching some of these programmes, you wouldnt think so!!) Anyway... so any ideas of something simple, but that involves cooking and doesnt take too long?

Why not try Chicken Basque (Delia recipe), we love this, also very nice the next day if you don't finish it all.  Or with weather as it is, a nice stew and dumplings, both are mainly one pot cooking.
Jane

You have got a long life of cooking ahead of you ;-) why not start as you need to go on ie cooking healthy meals. There are loads of healthy and easy recipes on the net.
What about home made salmon fish cakes?  Could not be easier and should impress her.  About 3oz of mashed potato per person (a little butter and milk but still quite dry) mixed with half a 6 oz tin of red salmon each.  I add curry powder but you could just use black pepper if you prefer.
Dust with corn flour and grill on greased foil for 5 mins each side.  Easy, quick and heathy.  I serve them with brown rice seasoned with soy sauce and salad but you could have oven chips if you really had to :-)

Most Mexican dishes are pretty quick & easy to follow, why not try burritos or tacos?

> Chicken Basque (Delia recipe),

Oooh, that looks nice.  I do a chicken provencal, thighs, peppers, onions, whole garlics, olives and tomatoes stews for an hour which is a simplified version, I suppose, but I think I will have a go at that one.

Tell me about it!! LOL

I need to learn one day, i can do the basics, just not actually something that involves creating something... she doesnt like fish and i dont think he does, so fish cakes would be a bad idea lol... although sound lovely to be honest... i would eat them myself!

Going to take a look at that chicken basque... sounds posh too!! LOL

Thank you everyone :)

Oh dear, i dont like peppers, or that spicy thing, cant be anything spicy btw haha, i couldnt even eat the chips she made sprinkled in garlic on sunday night, i spat them out haha, were too strong... anything strong like garlic, pepper or spice is a no no lol

Its lovely, I always over-cook mine as I like it when the rice gets caught on the bottom of the pot and get nice little crunchy bits, normally when I make it, I make more of the rice, peppers, chirizo parts of it, as all the chicken will be eaten, but if you have lots of the rice mixture left, it is really nice as another meal the next day, especially as it carries on marinating so gets even more tastier.

I'm not terribly keen on cooking (probably because I'm not terribly keen on food!!!) but if anyone is coming for tea I often make beef stew, and add a little red wine to make it slightly posher than usual. It's so easy as I can put everything in the casserole dish on a low heat and leave it while I get on with something else. I usually do baked potatoes with it since the oven is on anyway and then it's all done with little effort! (think I'll try that chicken recipe too that does look good)

I love cooking - I'm always trying out new meal ideas. I like Isabel's idea of fishcakes, or how about something like a spaghetti carbonara? That's really easy to make and not spicy or anything - and if you don't like garlic you could leave it out of the recipe.

I've  a really nice simple recipe for bbq pork spare ribs (or you can use chops if you prefer), really easy, just fling it all in together, serve with green salad and brown rice.. one of my lot's favourites passed down from my mum.

For the sauce:
In a large bowl mix the following
5 tblspns tomato ketchup
2 tblspns worcestershire sauce
2 tblspns soy sauce
2 tblspns plum jam
teaspoon of cayenne pepper
teaspoon of dijon mustard

Add one diced onion and a couple cloves of garlic

In an oven proof dish put in your pork spare ribs or chops, pour over the sauce, cover with foil and bake at about 180 - 200 degrees for a couple of hours or until the meat is tender.  Uncover the dish for the last 15 minutes or so, so that the sauce can thicken more.

I'm biased, but it really is an easy tasty dish.

Mexican not gonna be the best idea then!! He he!!  How about a lasagne or cottage pie? Very easy to make & can be prepared in advance & heated up!

I was gonna say carbonara too.....

Just buy a pack of bacon lardons  (pre cut bits of bacon), chop an onion and add to frying pan. Then add a good portion of mushrooms-chesnut mushrooms work particularly well. When all is cooked nicely add a pot of double cream (not healthy but you wanna impress the in laws dont you?!) and bring to the boil. Literally takes about 10-15 minutes to do. Add pasta or linguine to the sauce and give it a good shake around before finally adding parsley to serve. Stick garlic bread on the table and enjoy with a nice bottle of white wine. Yum Yum Yum.

I like the cottage pie idea, and i certainly like that idea of cabonara

Freds mum is that all you do then, exactly what you have said there... and you put it over the pasta bed and then some garnish... thats all i do??

Sounds like a little work to do on broadening the palate along with the cooking skills ;-)

Cottage pie is dead easy, here's my recipe...

Fry off some onion & garlic, add some lean steak mince & brown.  Once browned add carrotts, peas & some beef stock, plenty of salt & pepper & any herbs you like & simmer for about half an hour.  Meanwhile boil some potatoes ready for mash & grate some cheese for the top.  Put the mince in a casserole style dish, mash the potatoes to a nice creamy light & fluffy mash & spread over the top, sprinke with cheese, pop until the grill until the cheese is bubbling.  Serve with yorkshire puddings, brocolli (or any other veg you like!) & plenty of thick gravy!! Yum Yum Yum!

Well its got to either be cottage pie, or that other thing i read.. going to print it off and then at least i have some ideas and can do something thats not all bunging in the oven!! LOL

Thanks everyone :)

That other thing being carbonara! Probably learning more towards this as it seems so much easier to make, but keeping that recipe for the cottage pie, then i might try again next saturday when i have a bit more confidence and cook something a little more complicated haha :)

I really love cabonara and I think a nice frsh crispy mixed sald and garlic bread would be a real treat for your guests and not too stressful for you to do.

Here's a link to a delia recipe, just a little different from the one earlier.  Sometimes I add a little bit of baby spinach just at the end for a bit of colour.

http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/spaghetti-alla-carbonara,1779,RC.html

Good luck, tell us what you decide on and how it goes..................

yeah id go for carbonara its so easy to cook an tastes so nice! if you arnt really into cooking but want to make a nice meal you should try them packet mixes,they just add a little extra flavour and makes meals so much better.i know there is a carbonara one that you just add milk to make the sauce and cook your own mushrooms an bacon and tastes amazing! good luck qith the meal! hope it goes well! :-)

Yes thats exactly what  i do. It really is that quick and simple (idiot proof infact) and cheap. I dont see how you could gor wrong but it may be worth you doing a dummy run first. Remember to season to taste i.e add salt and pepper. It certainly looks fancy on the plate....just dont reveal to your guests just how easy it is to cook :-)

Good luck.xxx

Something you can make beforehand and just heat through would be ideal. The cottage pie idea is a good one. Or a beef casserole. I made Delia's beef in beer yesterday (it's extremely easy) and just before serving I stirred in a tablespoon of horseradish sauce. It was lovely! You could do that with some mash and veggies.
Let us know how it goes :-)

Edited to add - homemade salmon fishcakes are delicious and would be rather impressive :-)

Ive been cooking for years and last night I managed to cremate rice!!  even the dogs woulkd not eat it.use your initative - get a take a way.
Seriously, Fajhitas are easy and taste good, recommend a good old fashiones shepherds pie in this weather. Or, really want to impress Beef Wellington? simple and classy with potatoes and nice veggie's.

> Ive been cooking for years and last night I managed to cremate rice!!

LOL that made me laugh then!!! You did a meeee!!! :)

I am going to go for the cabonara idea, thank you so much everyone, i will let you know how it goes next week... bit nervous now actually!! ha ha

Good choice yorkies. Well done. Im sure you'll be fine. Have a practise run first and let us know how it goes :-)