Not a good cook...

[Deleted member 22021]

I'm not a good cook -- better than most bachelors, but still......

I make a lot of microwaved potatoes, mirepoix soup, spicy rice, lintels, roast vegitables........

I get by.

But it's a little boring; and it seems like a vegan diet should offer a lot of exotic flavors and combinations because it isn't leaning on animal products to sex things up.

sigh!

I also freeze almost everything I buy, to keep it fresh. Onion is a real BAIN. I freeze them whole, then zap them in the microwave, then peel and chop into quarters then blast them through he food processor. But they are only good for cooking at that point, not 'fresh' applications, not after freezing. But they do hurt my eyes much less!

I found a vegan cook book for infants and toddlers. Haven't cracked it open yet........

I don' knooooooooooooooooooooooooooow...

lasyyy booooooooooooooooooooy...

 

[Emma JC]

I would suggest watching some vegan youtubers, like Simnett Nutrition, as he makes easy meals that are tasty - just remember that meat is always spiced up to make it tasty so just use the same types of spices on your vegan foods - garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, chili peppers, cumin etc go into almost every meal we make. There are lots of other youtubers that make simple vegan meals too.

Also, there shouldn't be a reason to freeze onions, I keep mine in the fridge and never have an issue with my eyes as long as I cut them as soon as I take them out. Our meals are anything but boring and, in fact, are definitely tastier than before.

A guy ate only potatoes for one whole year and stablized his health etc so picking a few good options that are tasty and filling is a good plan too.

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[Lou]

I'm not a good cook -- better than most bachelors, but still......

I'm not a good cook either but I do ok.
Still unqualified as I may be I can still offer you some advice.

I liked your tip about onions. And @Emma JC had a good one too. I can't chop onions. my eyes fill with tears so that I can't see and then the nose starts running. But I'll try the freezer and the refrigerator ideas. I have swim googles but they don't help much. I still have to breath. but I'be been thinking of trying chopping onions in my snorkeling mask - maybe even with the snorkel.

Mostly I go to the supermarket and buy chopped onions. either in the produce aisle or in the freezer section. I also can buy this "mirepoix" which is about a pint of chopped onions, celery, and carrots. A very common combo for soups. One time I bought one and I already had one in the frig so I put it in the freezer and it was fine.

There are a lot of paths to becoming a better cook. I suggest mindfulness. Just paying attention to what you are doing helps a lot. I take some of the concepts I learned in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. First get all your ingredients out. I even measure mine and put them in little containers like you see the chefs do on TV. and line up your tools. Then start the recipe step by step. If you make a mistake or learn something along the way - then make a note so you don't make the same mistake again or remember to make that adjustment. *

I used to cook with YouTubers. but I found the stopping and starting to be annoying. Unlike @Emma JC I'm not a fan of Simnett. I would rather be cooking with one of the pretty girl cooks on YouTube. CheapLazyVegan is my favorite. If you can stand perky, TastesLikeChicken is pretty fun. The VF has a whole thread devoted to our favorite YouTube chefs.

I also try to stay on the beginner slopes. Making a vegan lasagna might be a fulfilling experience but I'm more interested in feeling full.

You already mentioned you have a food processor - so you have progressed that far. One underrated and overlooked tool is the chef's knife. A good one with a sharpener makes a big difference in prep.

A few years ago my rice cooker wore out. and I didn't like my slow cooker - it was too small. InstaPots were all the rage and I bought one. Really worth it. I like the set and forget aspect of it. You don't have to stand next to the stove and stir. Plus it's Great for Beans. A vegan delight. It has also replaced my big soup pot and my pressure cooker so it does the job of 4 things.

* I'm a big fan of CopyMeThat which is an app and a website. it pretty much replaces all your cookbooks. I have a tablet with a magnetic cover and I put it on my frig and follow along. But you can also just prop your phone against something. or set your laptop on top of the microwave. the reicipes in it are editable. so you can change and add things as you go. It's free. so give it a try. I've mentioned it in a few of my posts so if you do a VF search and see some more about it. or just go to their website.

Copy Me That

Your recipes, together forever. Copy any recipe from any website with a click. You'll have your own copy of the full recipe. Then edit, organize, plan, and shop. And eat!

www.copymethat.com

 

[silva]

Easiest food is cooking some kind of grain or pasta with beans and greens or frozen veg
A favorite of mine is cooking pasta with chopped fresh collards or kale and ladling over beans. I like it top with balsamic vinegar or lemon juice and a lot of nooch, salt & pepper

I don't understand the onion thing, they last a long time in my fridge. I do use a lot though. I haven't had my eyes burn in a very long time

Sauces can really make a throw together meal better.

 

[Deleted member 22021]

I don't understand the onion thing, they last a long time in my fridge. I do use a lot though. I haven't had my eyes burn in a very long time

Yeah, the frozen onion thing doesn't work very well for me to be honest; they turn into a bit of mush after microwaving........

 

[Emma JC]

I am not sure if you saw my meal from a week or so again where I halved sweet potatoes and yellow potatoes and put them cut side down on parchment paper on a cookie tray - such a great way to get amazing starches - put them in the oven at 350 until they were nice and soft and browning around the edges - also threw in an onion to bake at the same time and you could also put in garlic too if you wished - a bit of budder and garlic powder on the potatoes was like eating a donut, so good. Baking is a great way to cook onions and you don't have to but them first unless they are large then cutting them in half and placing them face down works too.

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[Deleted member 22021]

I am not sure if you saw my meal from a week or so again where I halved sweet potatoes and yellow potatoes and put them cut side down on parchment paper on a cookie tray - such a great way to get amazing starches - put them in the oven at 350 until they were nice and soft and browning around the edges - also threw in an onion to bake at the same time and you could also put in garlic too if you wished - a bit of budder and garlic powder on the potatoes was like eating a donut, so good. Baking is a great way to cook onions and you don't have to but them first unless they are large then cutting them in half and placing them face down works too.

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

I like a good 'crispy' side on a roasted po-ta-o! I like to toss them with olive oil, and let the potatoes lay down in whatever manner they will; gives you a random amount of 'crispies,' and a variety of texture! : )

 

[Emma JC]

I like a good 'crispy' side on a roasted po-ta-o! I like to toss them with olive oil, and let the potatoes lay down in whatever manner they will; gives you a random amount of 'crispies,' and a variety of texture! : )

that is also delicious and especially if you mix together a lot of other root veggies like turnip, carrots, squash, rutabaga, etc

I tend to minimize the amount of oil that we add to foods and hence cooking face down and then having just a bit of budder on top for the taste.

I am not a health professional so take this advice as you will - I have learned about the effect that fats have on diabetes (both types) from many of the plant based doctors including Dr Neal Barnard - a build up of fat in our cells prevents insulin from doing its job... Type I can never be reversed however it may be possible to avoid the spikes and maybe even reduce the amount of medication. If you google Dr Barnard and include the words fats and diabetes all kinds of interesting information will pop up for you.

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[Deleted member 22021]

that is also delicious and especially if you mix together a lot of other root veggies like turnip, carrots, squash, rutabaga, etc

I tend to minimize the amount of oil that we add to foods and hence cooking face down and then having just a bit of budder on top for the taste.

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

I use 1 tbsp olive oil for a half-sheet of veggies. I've tried 1/2 tbsp, but the result was little dry..........

 

[Lou]

Another suggestion I am reminded of is Meal Planning.
And you can use CopyMeThat for that too but I'm still in the habit of just using a sheet of paper which I turn into a calendar.

Since I try to install some variety in my meal planning. like alternating between hot and cold cereals, waffles and breakfast sandwiches, strawberries and bannanas as toppings.

Since I usually batch cook, I'm going to have the same meal a few times a week. but I can alternate leftovers for lunch with fresh lunches.
And leftovers for dinner with fresh dinners.

And then the meals I pick to batch cook. I can alternate them and even add a new one once in a while.

After I meal plan I make my shopping list.

Having all the food in the house makes cooking easier. Also it helps keep me to the plan. Don't want to put off eating or cooking a meal because it might mean something going bad.