My can't cook...

Andy Birkenhead · 09-11-2015, 12:46

Is there something that your wife / husband etc just cannot cook properly ?
My wife makes a great roast dinner, but she just can't cook a decent roast potato !

whitecliffe · 09-11-2015, 12:52

Its not cooking as such but try as I might I just cant make proper egg mayonnaise.

ChristmasCake · 09-11-2015, 13:22

This is going to make me sound ridiculous, but for me, the thing I struggle with is rice.

I just can't get it right. I always get distracted and do something else, and I come back, and it's like a congealed mess.

I even ruined it in the rice cooker thing.

I just get other people to do my rice for me these days.

JulesF · 09-11-2015, 17:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristmasCake

This is going to make me sound ridiculous, but for me, the thing I struggle with is rice.

I just can't get it right. I always get distracted and do something else, and I come back, and it's like a congealed mess.

I even ruined it in the rice cooker thing.

I just get other people to do my rice for me these days.

How do you manage to ruin it in a rice cooker? That takes quite some doing!

Espresso · 09-11-2015, 19:32

My other half is a dab hand with bread and pastry and the slow cooker and steaks but he can't scramble or fry eggs to save his sodding life.
I can't make Yorkshire puddings or bread. Though my cakes turn out well and my gravy is ace.

Drift Away · 09-11-2015, 20:19

I'm not married.

ChristmasCake · 10-11-2015, 00:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulesF

How do you manage to ruin it in a rice cooker? That takes quite some doing!

Maybe I put too much water?

RubyNyx · 10-11-2015, 03:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristmasCake

Maybe I put too much water?

1 cup of rice, to 2 cups of water, turn on gas/heat, once it comes to the boil, turn right down to the lowest setting, as in barely lit, and cover, leave for 10-15 mins, check after 10, but if not done put the lid back on for another 5.

Usually makes the perfect rice!

I don't usually struggle to cook or bake anything, however, me and frangipane seem to have some issues when mixing!

tiacat · 10-11-2015, 05:30

Personally its one cup of rice to 1.5 cups of water for me.

I am a very good cook but for some reason the perfect omelette is beyond me

shmisk · 10-11-2015, 08:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiacat

Personally its one cup of rice to 1.5 cups of water for me.

I am a very good cook but for some reason the perfect omelette is beyond me

I cannot cook things like omelettes or pancakes to save my life. My omelettes always look like crap scrambled egg and my pancakes just a heap in the pan.

I can actually cook proper food and bake too so this beyond annoys me....

But to answer the OP I find my non existent husband just doesn't cook anything. Useless bloke...

Andy Birkenhead · 10-11-2015, 10:38

I use the 'pan full of water and boil it until it's cooked' method of cooking my rice !

malpasc · 10-11-2015, 10:56

I trained as a chef and am a generally good cook (even if I say so myself

) but I just cannot so a decent roast potato or Yorkshire puddings.

My husband on the other hand, is not a brilliant cook but makes amazing roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings!

kirbyreed · 10-11-2015, 11:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by malpasc

I trained as a chef and am a generally good cook (even if I say so myself

) but I just cannot so a decent roast potato or Yorkshire puddings.

My husband on the other hand, is not a brilliant cook but makes amazing roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings!

i find roast potatoes quite easy. i just parboil them and then put them in the oven with some oil over them and usually the fat of whatever meat i am cooking. that makes them soft on the inside and crispy on the outside.

Jellied Eel · 10-11-2015, 13:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by malpasc

My husband on the other hand, is not a brilliant cook but makes amazing roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings!

Ah, sounds like a relationship where you complement each other. The whole is greater than the sum of it's parts, especially for roast dinners

For roast spuds, tip I got was to microwave the spuds instead of par-boiling. So they don't have as much moisture in them and go crispy, and having nice hot fat. Still working on the perfect pudding, if only to make the perfect toad in the hole.

As for rice, I do it the lazy way and nuke it. I use the traditional 1 cup rice, 2 cups water. 12mins on high in my 850W works fine for me

Jambo_c · 10-11-2015, 13:09

The rice thing puzzles me, all this measuring water and rice cookers and stuff folk do. I just weigh enough rice out, stick it in a pan of boiling water and wait until it's done. It always turns out spot on, I've even had a couple of people compliment me on my rice and ask how I did it which confused me no end as I don't do anything special. Maybe I've just got a pan that happens to be an ideal size or something.

mimik1uk · 10-11-2015, 13:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jambo_c

The rice thing puzzles me, all this measuring water and rice cookers and stuff folk do. I just weigh enough rice out, stick it in a pan of boiling water and wait until it's done. It always turns out spot on, I've even had a couple of people compliment me on my rice and ask how I did it which confused me no end as I don't do anything special. Maybe I've just got a pan that happens to be an ideal size or something.

thats how i do rice as well and even tho i am a very limited cook it seems to work fine

Miss C. DeVille · 10-11-2015, 14:37

Lasagne...I followed the instructions to the letter for the sheets of pasta but it still turned out like boot leather...couldn't even get a fork through it!

Bex_123 · 10-11-2015, 16:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Birkenhead

I use the 'pan full of water and boil it until it's cooked' method of cooking my rice !

Same, gotta say I don't understand how people mess up rice (and believe me I am not suggesting I'm better than them - The amount of things I have completely buggered up when cooking is legendary).

But with rice... I just weigh out rice, put in large pan of boiling water and drain when it's cooked. I don't understand this measuring out water stuff

Jellied Eel · 10-11-2015, 16:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bex_123

But with rice... I just weigh out rice, put in large pan of boiling water and drain when it's cooked. I don't understand this measuring out water stuff

For me, it's convenience. So using standard measures, I can skip the draining bit and thus cleaning sieve

tiacat · 10-11-2015, 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bex_123

Same, gotta say I don't understand how people mess up rice (and believe me I am not suggesting I'm better than them - The amount of things I have completely buggered up when cooking is legendary).

But with rice... I just weigh out rice, put in large pan of boiling water and drain when it's cooked. I don't understand this measuring out water stuff

It means the texture of the rice is at its optimum. No need to drain so you keep all the flavour it in, especially basmati

Toby LaRhone · 10-11-2015, 17:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiacat

I am a very good cook but for some reason the perfect omelette is beyond me

You should watch Saturday Kitchen.
Every week two chefs race to get an omelette on a plate in less than 20 seconds.
I think the record is around 16 seconds.
If I were running the show I'd add a proviso for each chef after they'd finished which would be:
"Now eat it!"
Or sometimes, "Now suck it up!"

tiacat · 10-11-2015, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toby LaRhone

You should watch Saturday Kitchen.
Every week two chefs race to get an omelette on a plate in less than 20 seconds.
I think the record is around 16 seconds.
If I were running the show I'd add a proviso for each chef after they'd finished which would be:
"Now eat it!"
Or sometimes, "Now suck it up!"

Ive seen it and it annoys me that even they make a better omelette than me even when they're just messing around.

Thunderfoot · 10-11-2015, 19:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss C. DeVille

Lasagne...I followed the instructions to the letter for the sheets of pasta but it still turned out like boot leather...couldn't even get a fork through it!

Did you boil the pasta sheet's before building the lasagna?

Make sure you are generous with the bolognese/white sauce, so it don't dry out when cooking in the oven.

Toby LaRhone · 10-11-2015, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiacat

Ive seen it and it annoys me that even they make a better omelette than me even when they're just messing around.

1. They are seriously competitive.
2. No they don't, I promise you - they hardly ever serve up a recognisable omelette.

Toby LaRhone · 10-11-2015, 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderfoot

Did you boil the pasta sheet's before building the lasagna?

Make sure you are generous with the bolognese/white sauce, so it don't dry out when cooking in the oven.

Good point.
Some instructions suggest you don't need to.
I would always soften them by lightly boiling them first.

09-11-2015, 12:46	#1
Andy Birkenhead Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Birkenhead, Merseyside. Posts: 9,712	My can't cook... Is there something that your wife / husband etc just cannot cook properly ? My wife makes a great roast dinner, but she just can't cook a decent roast potato !

09-11-2015, 12:52	#2
whitecliffe Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bored with Digital Spy Yawn Posts: 3,676	Its not cooking as such but try as I might I just cant make proper egg mayonnaise.

09-11-2015, 13:22	#3
ChristmasCake Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: London Posts: 20,218	This is going to make me sound ridiculous, but for me, the thing I struggle with is rice. I just can't get it right. I always get distracted and do something else, and I come back, and it's like a congealed mess. I even ruined it in the rice cooker thing. I just get other people to do my rice for me these days.

09-11-2015, 17:54	#4
JulesF Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 5,103	Quote: Originally Posted by ChristmasCake This is going to make me sound ridiculous, but for me, the thing I struggle with is rice. I just can't get it right. I always get distracted and do something else, and I come back, and it's like a congealed mess. I even ruined it in the rice cooker thing. I just get other people to do my rice for me these days. How do you manage to ruin it in a rice cooker? That takes quite some doing!

09-11-2015, 19:32	#5
Espresso Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 17,127	My other half is a dab hand with bread and pastry and the slow cooker and steaks but he can't scramble or fry eggs to save his sodding life. I can't make Yorkshire puddings or bread. Though my cakes turn out well and my gravy is ace.

09-11-2015, 20:19	#6
Drift Away Inactive Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Stockport Posts: 306	I'm not married.

10-11-2015, 00:37	#7
ChristmasCake Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: London Posts: 20,218	Quote: Originally Posted by JulesF How do you manage to ruin it in a rice cooker? That takes quite some doing! Maybe I put too much water?

10-11-2015, 03:55	#8
RubyNyx Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Wolfsbane Lane Posts: 1,298	Quote: Originally Posted by ChristmasCake Maybe I put too much water? 1 cup of rice, to 2 cups of water, turn on gas/heat, once it comes to the boil, turn right down to the lowest setting, as in barely lit, and cover, leave for 10-15 mins, check after 10, but if not done put the lid back on for another 5. Usually makes the perfect rice! I don't usually struggle to cook or bake anything, however, me and frangipane seem to have some issues when mixing!

10-11-2015, 05:30	#9
tiacat Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 9,236	Personally its one cup of rice to 1.5 cups of water for me. I am a very good cook but for some reason the perfect omelette is beyond me

10-11-2015, 08:18	#10
shmisk Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 7,333	Quote: Originally Posted by tiacat Personally its one cup of rice to 1.5 cups of water for me. I am a very good cook but for some reason the perfect omelette is beyond me I cannot cook things like omelettes or pancakes to save my life. My omelettes always look like crap scrambled egg and my pancakes just a heap in the pan. I can actually cook proper food and bake too so this beyond annoys me.... But to answer the OP I find my non existent husband just doesn't cook anything. Useless bloke...

10-11-2015, 10:38	#11
Andy Birkenhead Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Birkenhead, Merseyside. Posts: 9,712	I use the 'pan full of water and boil it until it's cooked' method of cooking my rice !

10-11-2015, 10:56	#12
malpasc Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 6,350	I trained as a chef and am a generally good cook (even if I say so myself ) but I just cannot so a decent roast potato or Yorkshire puddings. My husband on the other hand, is not a brilliant cook but makes amazing roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings!

10-11-2015, 11:44	#13
kirbyreed Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,452	Quote: Originally Posted by malpasc I trained as a chef and am a generally good cook (even if I say so myself ) but I just cannot so a decent roast potato or Yorkshire puddings. My husband on the other hand, is not a brilliant cook but makes amazing roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings! i find roast potatoes quite easy. i just parboil them and then put them in the oven with some oil over them and usually the fat of whatever meat i am cooking. that makes them soft on the inside and crispy on the outside.

10-11-2015, 13:06	#14
Jellied Eel Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: In a jar, on a shelf Posts: 31,698	Quote: Originally Posted by malpasc My husband on the other hand, is not a brilliant cook but makes amazing roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings! Ah, sounds like a relationship where you complement each other. The whole is greater than the sum of it's parts, especially for roast dinners For roast spuds, tip I got was to microwave the spuds instead of par-boiling. So they don't have as much moisture in them and go crispy, and having nice hot fat. Still working on the perfect pudding, if only to make the perfect toad in the hole. As for rice, I do it the lazy way and nuke it. I use the traditional 1 cup rice, 2 cups water. 12mins on high in my 850W works fine for me

10-11-2015, 13:09	#15
Jambo_c Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 3,721	The rice thing puzzles me, all this measuring water and rice cookers and stuff folk do. I just weigh enough rice out, stick it in a pan of boiling water and wait until it's done. It always turns out spot on, I've even had a couple of people compliment me on my rice and ask how I did it which confused me no end as I don't do anything special. Maybe I've just got a pan that happens to be an ideal size or something.

10-11-2015, 13:27	#16
mimik1uk Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 21,813	Quote: Originally Posted by Jambo_c The rice thing puzzles me, all this measuring water and rice cookers and stuff folk do. I just weigh enough rice out, stick it in a pan of boiling water and wait until it's done. It always turns out spot on, I've even had a couple of people compliment me on my rice and ask how I did it which confused me no end as I don't do anything special. Maybe I've just got a pan that happens to be an ideal size or something. thats how i do rice as well and even tho i am a very limited cook it seems to work fine

10-11-2015, 14:37	#17
Miss C. DeVille Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Folkestone Posts: 1,648	Lasagne...I followed the instructions to the letter for the sheets of pasta but it still turned out like boot leather...couldn't even get a fork through it!

10-11-2015, 16:31	#18
Bex_123 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 8,727	Quote: Originally Posted by Andy Birkenhead I use the 'pan full of water and boil it until it's cooked' method of cooking my rice ! Same, gotta say I don't understand how people mess up rice (and believe me I am not suggesting I'm better than them - The amount of things I have completely buggered up when cooking is legendary). But with rice... I just weigh out rice, put in large pan of boiling water and drain when it's cooked. I don't understand this measuring out water stuff

10-11-2015, 16:41	#19
Jellied Eel Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: In a jar, on a shelf Posts: 31,698	Quote: Originally Posted by Bex_123 But with rice... I just weigh out rice, put in large pan of boiling water and drain when it's cooked. I don't understand this measuring out water stuff For me, it's convenience. So using standard measures, I can skip the draining bit and thus cleaning sieve

10-11-2015, 17:09	#20
tiacat Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 9,236	Quote: Originally Posted by Bex_123 Same, gotta say I don't understand how people mess up rice (and believe me I am not suggesting I'm better than them - The amount of things I have completely buggered up when cooking is legendary). But with rice... I just weigh out rice, put in large pan of boiling water and drain when it's cooked. I don't understand this measuring out water stuff It means the texture of the rice is at its optimum. No need to drain so you keep all the flavour it in, especially basmati

10-11-2015, 17:22	#21
Toby LaRhone Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 9,227	Quote: Originally Posted by tiacat I am a very good cook but for some reason the perfect omelette is beyond me You should watch Saturday Kitchen. Every week two chefs race to get an omelette on a plate in less than 20 seconds. I think the record is around 16 seconds. If I were running the show I'd add a proviso for each chef after they'd finished which would be: "Now eat it!" Or sometimes, "Now suck it up!"

DS Forums

My can't cook...

10-11-2015, 17:25	#22
tiacat Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 9,236	Quote: Originally Posted by Toby LaRhone You should watch Saturday Kitchen. Every week two chefs race to get an omelette on a plate in less than 20 seconds. I think the record is around 16 seconds. If I were running the show I'd add a proviso for each chef after they'd finished which would be: "Now eat it!" Or sometimes, "Now suck it up!" Ive seen it and it annoys me that even they make a better omelette than me even when they're just messing around.

10-11-2015, 19:48	#23
Thunderfoot Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 95	Quote: Originally Posted by Miss C. DeVille Lasagne...I followed the instructions to the letter for the sheets of pasta but it still turned out like boot leather...couldn't even get a fork through it! Did you boil the pasta sheet's before building the lasagna? Make sure you are generous with the bolognese/white sauce, so it don't dry out when cooking in the oven.

10-11-2015, 22:06	#24
Toby LaRhone Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 9,227	Quote: Originally Posted by tiacat Ive seen it and it annoys me that even they make a better omelette than me even when they're just messing around. 1. They are seriously competitive. 2. No they don't, I promise you - they hardly ever serve up a recognisable omelette.

10-11-2015, 22:10	#25
Toby LaRhone Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 9,227	Quote: Originally Posted by Thunderfoot Did you boil the pasta sheet's before building the lasagna? Make sure you are generous with the bolognese/white sauce, so it don't dry out when cooking in the oven. Good point. Some instructions suggest you don't need to. I would always soften them by lightly boiling them first.