Choosing The Right Recipe & Cooking Method

Find Simple Recipes

There are endless choices of cookbooks coming from all directions, but which one is right for you?

If you’re a beginner, choose a cookbook that has simple recipes consisting mostly of 4 or 5 primary ingredients and require basic cooking methods such as roasting, braising or one pan stove top cooking.

Most recipes for these methods of cooking are very easy to prepare since they require not much more than chopping up a few side ingredients like vegetables, browning off a main ingredient like beef or pork, and letting them cook in a chicken or beef broth for a period of time.  When it’s done, simply pull it out of the oven or off the stove, plate it up, and you’re ready to eat.

Choose Easy Cooking Methods

There are tons of braising or roasting recipes that are so easy to make, yet taste like you’ve been cooking all your life.  The secret to this type of simplified cooking is the incredible combination of flavors that meld together during the relatively slow cooking time that is typically required.  If you get a head start when preparing your dinner, you’ll have plenty of time to prepare for the rest of your evening and converse with your date or guests once they arrive, all while the dinner continues to cook away.

Take Your Time and Enjoy Yourself

If you find it difficult to pay attention to cooking time, braising is perfect for you.  Some of those recipes require as much as 3 to 4 hours of cooking and are very forgiving if you lose track of time.  The catch here is to plan the day before and get an early start the day of so your dinner is done at the right point in the evening and not at bar closing time.  I like to eat mid-evening, say around 8:00 or 8:30, if possible, but sometimes everyone is having such a good time that dinner gets served around 9:00 or later.  I know everyone has their dining preferences, but I suggest taking your time with the evening and don’t rush to eat dinner.  Have some snacks, cocktails and enjoy each other’s company for awhile.  It makes for a much better evening and more memorable moments for your guests.

Need More Help?

We have everything you need.  Just click on any of the links at the right under “Cooking Resources” or “Cooking Recipes” to find more information about braising, roasting or for simple recipes.  Just type in the terms you’re looking for and the sites will do the rest.