Should I just start cooking out of a box instead of trying to find my own recipes and substitutions?

I never seem to know what to substitute for what and always mess the recipe card up. Should I just give up?Should I just start cooking out of a box instead of trying to find my own recipes and substitutions?
Cooking is a breeze now days. First you must get acquainted with your local grocery store. Clerks are there to help you, so ask for the manager or a clerk to walk around with you.





What you will find:





Frozen dinners already cooked - follow directions on the boxes, warm in microwave. Stick with the big name brands for good taste. Add a can of veggies or frozen veggies as a side dish. Ask a clerk to show you where to find them.





Pre-cooked meats in sealed packages found in the cold section, not in the freezer, (just pop into the microwave for a few minutes) such as baked ham, pot roast with gravy, chops, chicken, meatloaf, and so much more. Ask a clerk to show you where to find them.





Canned meats of all types. Here's just a few:


Chicken; beef; spam; stews; kippers; sardines; tuna; and etc.





Side dishes:


Canned vegetables of all types.


Canned sweet potatoes.


Canned potatoes.





Minute Rice as a side dish-follow directions on box.


Stove Top Stuffing-follow directions on box.


You can now buy these products in small containers that you add water to them, let them sit a few minutes, and then eat.





Frozen vegetables in large bags or small boxes. Heat in microwave. Ask a clerk to show you where to find them.





Fresh salad greens now come already cut up and in large packages. Buy the pre-washed types. All you have to do is add the salad dressing. Be sure to use by the date on the bag. Salads turn black and need to be thrown away if not used by the printed date on the bag.





Canned soups and stews are delicious. Follow the directions on the cans.





Frozen desserts of all types. Follow directions on the containers.





Bake shop inside the grocery store has all kinds of desserts.





The deli has delicious rotisserie/roasted chickens. They also have all types of side dishes for you to choose from.





But if you would like to cook from scratch, go to: http://www.cooks.com/rec/ch/main_dishes.鈥?/a>


where there are lots of easy recipes. Put this website into your ';Favorites';. At the website, scroll down the screen and read some of the dinner recipes. On the left hand side you will find categories.





Buy a crock pot, read the directions...you put your dinner recipe in the crock pot, turn the knob to low most of the time, and it will be cooking while you are away from your home. Buy a microwave too.





Here are 1,160 Crock Pot recipes:


http://www.cooks.com/rec/search?q=crock+鈥?/a>





Here are 2,600 Microwave recipes:


http://www.cooks.com/rec/search?q=microw鈥?/a>





There are jars of all types of sauces that you heat and eat for all kinds of noodles. These are found on a shelf. Noodles are in packages, follow the directions...most of the time you will need a deep pan for boiling lots of hot water for the noodles.


A clerk can help you find these items.





You will find many brand named boxed dinners such as Pasta-Roni. There is a season packet in each box.


Ask a clerk if you need help in finding these boxed dinners.





Remember...safety in the kitchen at all times. Keep EVERYTHING clean!!!





Keep hot foods hot, and cold foods cold!!!





And ';when in doubt, throw it out';.


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1. Hamburger - Video:


http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make鈥?/a>





2. Steak - Video:


http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make鈥?/a>





3. Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich-video:


http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make鈥?/a>





4. Cheese Omelette-video:


http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make鈥?/a>





5. Roast Beef-in crock pot-video:


http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make鈥?/a>








6. Cesar Salad





7. CATALINA CHICKEN from cooks.com:





Chicken breast (or your favorite piece)


Garlic salt


Catalina dressing


Arrange chicken pieces in baking dish. Sprinkle with garlic salt. Top each piece with Catalina dressing. Cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.





8. Magic Seven-Layer Bars recipe from:


http://www.bigoven.com/108338-Magic-Seve鈥?/a>





Magic Seven-Layer Bars Ingredients


1/2 c Butter 1 c Butterscotch chips


1 1/2 c Graham cracker crumbs 1 c Walnuts, chopped


6 oz Semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1 c Sweetened condensed milk


1 c Coconut, shredded





Instructions for Magic Seven-Layer Bars


Melt butter in a 9 x 13 inch pan. Sprinkle crumbs over butter and add remaining ingredients in layers as given. Bake at 350 F for about 30 minutes. Makes about 40 bars Note: If you prefer a thicker bar, use a 9 x 9 inch pan. Bake 10 minutes longer.





9.


Video - how to cook eggs. Look on the right hand side for list:


http://www.expertvillage.com/video/16450鈥?/a>


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Here is fun eggs in a coffee cup and cooked in the microwave from ';Working Mother'; website:





2 Eggs


2 Tbsp. milk


2 Tbsp. shredded Cheddar cheese


Salt and pepper





1. COAT 12-oz. microwave-safe coffee mug with cooking spraShould I just start cooking out of a box instead of trying to find my own recipes and substitutions?
You can do both. Cooking out of a box is all well and fine. But you need to be creative too. Get simple recipes and experiment with them by adding different spices and other ingredients.


Here's one for you.


1 box of Kraft Macaroni and cheese.


1 pound ground meat.


1 onion (chopped).


salt %26amp; pepper to taste.


1 small package of frozen green beans or 1 can of green beans or 1/2 pound fresh green beans.





1. Cook beans until done.


2. Cook macaroni and cheese according to the box instructions.


3. Cook meat, onion, salt and pepper together until done. drain fat.


4 mix all cooked ingredients together in a casserole dish or use the skillet that you cooked the meat in if it's big enough.


Serve hot.


Usually serves 4.





Other things you can do is to use different spices, different veggies, different meat.


For a lower fat version use low fat mac and cheese and ground buffalo or ground turkey.
no way...if youre willing to cook on your own don't waste money on the out of the box stuff....the stuff thats in there is full of unhealthy preservatives...even if you mess up the recipe you'll learn from what you did wrong and next time try something new....or only substitute things in if you have the time to mess around with the recipe...if not follow it exactly and only pick a recipe that you have all the ingredients and time for...
NO





Food you make your self is much better for you and learning to cook is a valuable life skill. It also can be a lot of fun and helps in entertaining. An hour invested in buying some basics and a trip to Penzeys spices if there is one close to you should set you up to many happy healthy meals.





there are several list of substitutions available as well, here is one.





http://www.recipetips.com/kitchen-tips/t鈥?/a>
No don't give up.





I always thought, and still think, that the best food you could ever make come from the heart. or in this case from the mind, cuz' ur thinking about what to put in.





But food always tastes better when you put your own little special things inside. It's sort of like personalizing your own food.





But anyways, in short words, DON'T GIVE UP!


Good luck!! :)
Nah - don't give up. From now on make sure you have everything you need for the recipe - LOL. Soon enough you'll have everything stocked up and ready to go for any recipe.
Hello, life sometimes shows difficulties ,don't bother about that don't feel for what we miss. Enjoy being helpful to others .If you deserve for what you need definite it will come back to you.
It's always fun to experiment-if you're having problems though I would for a while use a box, but don't give up--you'll get the hang of it someday! It takes a lot of trial %26amp; error!
no, processed foods are really bad for you. Keep trying..it gets easier the more you do it. Watch the Food Network. It helps to give you an ideas and an understanding of flavors and spices.
No. Stuff in a box is gross, and usually high in sodium and fat. You won't learn unless you work at it. The hard work learning to cook will pay off for years to come.
plan a menu and shop the menu then subs aint an issue.


Also go simple doing dishes with least number of ingredients.
NOOOO cooking out of a box suckkks and it's so much less nutricious! Every once in a while okay, but don't give up!
Sure give it a try but still try recipes too
sure