Cooking has always been an activity I have enjoyed, however, I have always had difficulties with finding time to cook due to the huge amount of time I dedicate to basketball and school. This activity has added the necessity to cook allowing me to do it more frequently. At the moment I cook approximately twice a month on every second Sunday.
Although cooking seems like an extremely easy thing do, in reality, it is the contrary. The amount of management and multitasking skills that come into play while cooking is enormous. The thing I am really good at is planning everything out which makes the multitasking slightly easier as I know exactly when to add what ingredient or at what exact temperature I should cook each dish at. However, a skill that I think I lack or should develop further is my kitchen organizational skills. I wish to improve them because every time I cook a dish my working area becomes extremely untidy and unhygienic. This means that after every cooking session I have to spend an extended amount of time cleaning up the mess I made.
What I haven't done in my cooking experience yet is cooking a dish revolving around seafood. The reason for this is because it is extremely challenging for a beginner chef such as me to prepare and cook seafood that will still taste good. For this reason, I was unable to cook my favorite dish called Pad Thai. The dish originated from Thailand and consists mostly of vegetables, rice noodles, seafood, and hot spices. Nevertheless, cooking Pad Thai is something is aspire to do in the future.
My role in this activity is to cook a number of different dishes and post their recipes on a blog. This blog will be located below the reflection segment of this page and is meant to be used by beginner chefs or college students who wish to cook something simple yet tasty. To do this I researched about the various types of dishes that I could do, and after some time, I found a cooking book in my house which offered the perfect recipes as they were neither too simple nor too complicated meaning I would be able to do them myself. Once I had chosen the recipe I would be doing I would go to a nearby store and shop for the necessary ingredients. I would then return home and on the next day, I would cook the meal. Sometimes, however, I experienced setbacks when a special ingredient was missing from the shop. This sometimes forced me to wait an additional week in order for me to able to acquire it from another store.
Although I did this project completely alone I did have some help from my mom. Many times she would help me chose the right recipe advising me on the one that would be the correct skill level for me and my blog. Not only this but many times she would go shopping with me in order to help me find the right ingredients. I found our working relationship to be extremely good as my mom and I understand each other very well.
Throughout this project, there were many times at which I didn't want to cook on that specific weekend either due to time constraints due to school work or simply due to my lack of will. However, I have almost always been able to overcome this urge of procrastination through perseverance and commitment. The most difficult thing I found about this project was going out shopping for the ingredients due to the fact that it would sometimes take me an extended amount of time to find the right ingredient. However, with the help of my mom, I was usually able to acquire it within the period of one week.
This activity does not engage in any issue of global importance. However, I hope that my blog will give other beginner chefs the opportunity to develop their skills through the selection of a number of simple recipes. Like many other people I was unable to cook very well before I started this project, however within the couple of months in which I undertook this task I have become quite a solid chef. I believe that I will find the skills I have learned throughout this project to be extremely beneficial to me when I graduate school and go to college, as I will have to prepare my own food there.
To conclude, I believe that this was an extremely beneficial project for me and everyone that will look at my blog. This is because it will give them a number of simple and quick recipes that they will be able to cook at home or in their college dorm. Throughout this activity I have learned many skills that will benefit me later on, however, I have also become aware of my lack of organizational skills when in the kitchen. Therefore, my goal for next year is to improve on the tidiness of my work so that I no longer have to spend an extended period of time cleaning up after every cooking session.
Although cooking seems like an extremely easy thing do, in reality, it is the contrary. The amount of management and multitasking skills that come into play while cooking is enormous. The thing I am really good at is planning everything out which makes the multitasking slightly easier as I know exactly when to add what ingredient or at what exact temperature I should cook each dish at. However, a skill that I think I lack or should develop further is my kitchen organizational skills. I wish to improve them because every time I cook a dish my working area becomes extremely untidy and unhygienic. This means that after every cooking session I have to spend an extended amount of time cleaning up the mess I made.
What I haven't done in my cooking experience yet is cooking a dish revolving around seafood. The reason for this is because it is extremely challenging for a beginner chef such as me to prepare and cook seafood that will still taste good. For this reason, I was unable to cook my favorite dish called Pad Thai. The dish originated from Thailand and consists mostly of vegetables, rice noodles, seafood, and hot spices. Nevertheless, cooking Pad Thai is something is aspire to do in the future.
My role in this activity is to cook a number of different dishes and post their recipes on a blog. This blog will be located below the reflection segment of this page and is meant to be used by beginner chefs or college students who wish to cook something simple yet tasty. To do this I researched about the various types of dishes that I could do, and after some time, I found a cooking book in my house which offered the perfect recipes as they were neither too simple nor too complicated meaning I would be able to do them myself. Once I had chosen the recipe I would be doing I would go to a nearby store and shop for the necessary ingredients. I would then return home and on the next day, I would cook the meal. Sometimes, however, I experienced setbacks when a special ingredient was missing from the shop. This sometimes forced me to wait an additional week in order for me to able to acquire it from another store.
Although I did this project completely alone I did have some help from my mom. Many times she would help me chose the right recipe advising me on the one that would be the correct skill level for me and my blog. Not only this but many times she would go shopping with me in order to help me find the right ingredients. I found our working relationship to be extremely good as my mom and I understand each other very well.
Throughout this project, there were many times at which I didn't want to cook on that specific weekend either due to time constraints due to school work or simply due to my lack of will. However, I have almost always been able to overcome this urge of procrastination through perseverance and commitment. The most difficult thing I found about this project was going out shopping for the ingredients due to the fact that it would sometimes take me an extended amount of time to find the right ingredient. However, with the help of my mom, I was usually able to acquire it within the period of one week.
This activity does not engage in any issue of global importance. However, I hope that my blog will give other beginner chefs the opportunity to develop their skills through the selection of a number of simple recipes. Like many other people I was unable to cook very well before I started this project, however within the couple of months in which I undertook this task I have become quite a solid chef. I believe that I will find the skills I have learned throughout this project to be extremely beneficial to me when I graduate school and go to college, as I will have to prepare my own food there.
To conclude, I believe that this was an extremely beneficial project for me and everyone that will look at my blog. This is because it will give them a number of simple and quick recipes that they will be able to cook at home or in their college dorm. Throughout this activity I have learned many skills that will benefit me later on, however, I have also become aware of my lack of organizational skills when in the kitchen. Therefore, my goal for next year is to improve on the tidiness of my work so that I no longer have to spend an extended period of time cleaning up after every cooking session.
Simple and tasty - Jan's Cooking Blog
Welcome to my cooking blog. Its purpose is to share a number of fast and simple recipes for beginner chefs. It is aimed specifically at future college students who will lack the time and effort to cook something long and hard. Although the recipes presented on this blog are simple, they are by no means distasteful. So lets get right into it!
Spaghetti Bolognese
Spaghetti is a perfect dish for a hungry college student. It perfectly combines meat, noodles, and tomato sauce in order to form a extremely well tasting dish, that takes maybe 20 - 25 minutes to create. The ingredients you will need are:
- 2 x 200g minced meat
- 2 x 200ml of tomato sauce
- 500g pack of spaghetti
- 1 Garlic
- 1 Onion (chopped up)
- Herbes de Provence
- Basilikum
- Olive oil
1. Firstly, add the onions onto the frying pan and wait for them to turn goldish in colour.
2. Once that is done add the minced meat and wait for it to turn brown, while at the same time adding garlic (do not forget to mix)
3. Then, pour the tomato sauce into the frying pan, add 2-3 pinches of both basilikum and herbes de provence, then put the lid on and wait for 10 - 15 min
4. While, your sauce if getting ready take a large pan and fill it with water, and place it on the hot plate. Wait for it to boil and when it does add the spaghetti
5. Wait for the spaghetti and the sauce to be ready and then eat away.
https://youtu.be/c6tRjiVdLS8
- 2 x 200g minced meat
- 2 x 200ml of tomato sauce
- 500g pack of spaghetti
- 1 Garlic
- 1 Onion (chopped up)
- Herbes de Provence
- Basilikum
- Olive oil
1. Firstly, add the onions onto the frying pan and wait for them to turn goldish in colour.
2. Once that is done add the minced meat and wait for it to turn brown, while at the same time adding garlic (do not forget to mix)
3. Then, pour the tomato sauce into the frying pan, add 2-3 pinches of both basilikum and herbes de provence, then put the lid on and wait for 10 - 15 min
4. While, your sauce if getting ready take a large pan and fill it with water, and place it on the hot plate. Wait for it to boil and when it does add the spaghetti
5. Wait for the spaghetti and the sauce to be ready and then eat away.
https://youtu.be/c6tRjiVdLS8
Cooked Beef with chilli
Cooked beef with chilli is an extremely quick and simple dish. It takes about 25 - 30 minutes to make and is also extremely tasty. It is a relatively spicy meal based around spring onions and of course chilli. The ingredients one may require to create this dish are:
- 700g of beef
- 8 spring onions
- noodles
- olive oil
- 100ml water
- 1 table spoon of ginger
- 1 table spoon of salt
- 1 table spoon of minced black pepper
- 1 table spoon of chilli
- 1 table spoon of brown sugar
- 2 table spoons of lemon juice
1. Cut the beef into stripes no wider the your pinky.
2. Place the meat into a plastic bag and add all the spices, sugar, and salt (mix thoroughly)
3. Cut up the onion springs
4. Fry the meat and the onion springs together in olive oil.
5. After 2 minutes add 100ml of water and 2 table spoons of lemon juice and wait for 5 min mixing once in a while.
6. While your meat is being cooked, fill a large pan with water and put it on the hot plate. Wait for the water to boil then add the noodles.
7. Wait until both parts of the dish are ready and then eat away.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A35p_H4M5VI&feature=youtu.be
- 700g of beef
- 8 spring onions
- noodles
- olive oil
- 100ml water
- 1 table spoon of ginger
- 1 table spoon of salt
- 1 table spoon of minced black pepper
- 1 table spoon of chilli
- 1 table spoon of brown sugar
- 2 table spoons of lemon juice
1. Cut the beef into stripes no wider the your pinky.
2. Place the meat into a plastic bag and add all the spices, sugar, and salt (mix thoroughly)
3. Cut up the onion springs
4. Fry the meat and the onion springs together in olive oil.
5. After 2 minutes add 100ml of water and 2 table spoons of lemon juice and wait for 5 min mixing once in a while.
6. While your meat is being cooked, fill a large pan with water and put it on the hot plate. Wait for the water to boil then add the noodles.
7. Wait until both parts of the dish are ready and then eat away.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A35p_H4M5VI&feature=youtu.be
Cornflake-Coated Chicken
Cornflake-coated chicken is classic everyone should know how to cook. It is a quick, easy, and extremely tasty dish. It takes approximately 20 25 minutes to complete. The ingredients one will need to complete this dish are:
- 5 chicken breasts
- 2 large egg
- a box of cornflakes
- salt and pepper
- olive oil
1. In a bowl whisk egg with 1 tablespoon of water.
2. Then mix this with cornflakes and 1 teaspoon of salt.
3. Coat the chicken breasts in the cornflakes.
4. Fry on a frying pan with olive oil.
5. Wait until the meat is done and then take of the frying pan.
6. Fill pan with water and place it on a hot plate. Once the water is boiling add noodles.
7. wait for the noodles to be done and then eat away.
- 5 chicken breasts
- 2 large egg
- a box of cornflakes
- salt and pepper
- olive oil
1. In a bowl whisk egg with 1 tablespoon of water.
2. Then mix this with cornflakes and 1 teaspoon of salt.
3. Coat the chicken breasts in the cornflakes.
4. Fry on a frying pan with olive oil.
5. Wait until the meat is done and then take of the frying pan.
6. Fill pan with water and place it on a hot plate. Once the water is boiling add noodles.
7. wait for the noodles to be done and then eat away.
Halibut - fish
I consider fish to be different from seafood not only due to the fact that in my eyes things that classify as seafood are octopuses or calamari but also due to the fact that fish are so much easier to make. They are not only easy to make but also extremely tasty. The things you will need to make this dish are:
- 200g of Halibut
- Olive oil
- 2 teaspoons of lemon juice
- Salt and pepper
1. Preheat olive oil on frying pan
2. Place the fish skin down on the pan and drizzle with lemon juice
3. Season with salt and pepper
4. Fry for approximately 5 - 10 minutes, until the meat is done
5. While you are waiting for the fish to be done you can boil water in a pan and add noodles once it has boiled.
6. Once the noodles and fish are done you can eat away.
- 200g of Halibut
- Olive oil
- 2 teaspoons of lemon juice
- Salt and pepper
1. Preheat olive oil on frying pan
2. Place the fish skin down on the pan and drizzle with lemon juice
3. Season with salt and pepper
4. Fry for approximately 5 - 10 minutes, until the meat is done
5. While you are waiting for the fish to be done you can boil water in a pan and add noodles once it has boiled.
6. Once the noodles and fish are done you can eat away.
Pancakes
Pancakes are a dish everyone needs to know how to do, not only due to the trivial time they take to prepare, but also due to how good they are. Pancakes take about 5 - 10 minutes to prepare and are worth every second of that time. The ingredients you will need to make this dish are:
- 1 1/2 cups of flour
- 3 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 tablespoon of white sugar
- 1 1/2 cups of milk
- 1 egg
1. Mix the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.
2. Then add milk and the egg and mix until no chunks left.
3. Heat your frying pan or special pancake making hot plates. Pour the batter onto the pan or hot plate, wait until the pancake is done on one side then flip it.
4. Once both sides are done the pancake is done and you can start making the rest.
- 1 1/2 cups of flour
- 3 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 tablespoon of white sugar
- 1 1/2 cups of milk
- 1 egg
1. Mix the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.
2. Then add milk and the egg and mix until no chunks left.
3. Heat your frying pan or special pancake making hot plates. Pour the batter onto the pan or hot plate, wait until the pancake is done on one side then flip it.
4. Once both sides are done the pancake is done and you can start making the rest.
Chilli con Carne
Chilli con carne is a dish known around the world. It is a very easily done dish however it requires quite a significant time investment. It takes approximately 45 - 50 minutes to complete the dish. The ingredients required for this dish are:
- 750g of beef
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 onion cut into small pieces
- 2-4 small garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon of flour
- 1 3/4 cup of tomato juice
- 400g of tomatoes from a can
- 1-2 tablespoons of chilli
- 1 teaspoon of caraway
- 425g of beans
- 1/2 teaspoon of oregano
- 1-2 tablespoon of parsley
- salt and pepper
- rice
1. Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan. Once it is hot add the beef until all pieces are equally well cooked on all 6 sides.
2. Add onion and garlic. Fry it until the onions start turning brownish/goldish.
3. Add tomato juice, tomatoes from a can.
4. Season the dish by adding all the spices and herbs.
5. Add beans and wait for approximately 25-30 minutes.
6. While the meat is being finished off take another frying pan and add a cup of rice to it. Then add another 2 more cups of water, and turn of the hot plate.
7. Wait 5-10 minutes for the rice to be ready then take it of the hot plate and wait for the meat to finish.
8. Once both the meat and the rice are done, the dish is finished.
- 750g of beef
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 onion cut into small pieces
- 2-4 small garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon of flour
- 1 3/4 cup of tomato juice
- 400g of tomatoes from a can
- 1-2 tablespoons of chilli
- 1 teaspoon of caraway
- 425g of beans
- 1/2 teaspoon of oregano
- 1-2 tablespoon of parsley
- salt and pepper
- rice
1. Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan. Once it is hot add the beef until all pieces are equally well cooked on all 6 sides.
2. Add onion and garlic. Fry it until the onions start turning brownish/goldish.
3. Add tomato juice, tomatoes from a can.
4. Season the dish by adding all the spices and herbs.
5. Add beans and wait for approximately 25-30 minutes.
6. While the meat is being finished off take another frying pan and add a cup of rice to it. Then add another 2 more cups of water, and turn of the hot plate.
7. Wait 5-10 minutes for the rice to be ready then take it of the hot plate and wait for the meat to finish.
8. Once both the meat and the rice are done, the dish is finished.
Grilled Lamb
Grilled lamb is yet another dish that takes little time and is relatively easy to prepare. It takes from 20 - 25 minutes to prepare largely depending on how well done one wishes it to be. The ingredients necessary to make this dish are:
- 4 large lamb chops
- 1 tablespoon of rosemary, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon of minced black pepper
1. Season the lamb chops chopped rosemary and minced black pepper
2. Place the already seasoned lamb onto high heat for 3 - 4 minutes then lower to heat for 6 - 8 minutes.
3. Once the lamb is ready it can be served with a variety of different extras such as fries, potatoes, or rice or can be simply eaten with bread
- 4 large lamb chops
- 1 tablespoon of rosemary, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon of minced black pepper
1. Season the lamb chops chopped rosemary and minced black pepper
2. Place the already seasoned lamb onto high heat for 3 - 4 minutes then lower to heat for 6 - 8 minutes.
3. Once the lamb is ready it can be served with a variety of different extras such as fries, potatoes, or rice or can be simply eaten with bread
Barszcz
Barszcz is a polish / russian traditional soup made from rootbeat although this dish is slightly more time consuming it is very tasty and perfect for a formal occasion. The ingredients one required to make this dish are:
- 2l of vegetable broth
- 500g of rootbeat
- 2 garlic cloves
- marjoram
- black peper and salt
1. Cut up the rootbeat into thin slices
2. Boil the broth.
3. Once the broth is being boiled add the rootbeat, garlic, and black peper. Cook under small temperature until the rootbeat becomes soft (approx 1 hour)
4. Filter the soup and season with salt and more peper if necessary.
- 2l of vegetable broth
- 500g of rootbeat
- 2 garlic cloves
- marjoram
- black peper and salt
1. Cut up the rootbeat into thin slices
2. Boil the broth.
3. Once the broth is being boiled add the rootbeat, garlic, and black peper. Cook under small temperature until the rootbeat becomes soft (approx 1 hour)
4. Filter the soup and season with salt and more peper if necessary.