Post # 1

Member
2196 posts
Buzzing bee
Darling Husband and I are trying to cook “properly” (read: not defrosting fish/chicken from the freezer and serving with steamed veges) and I’m on the lookout for new recipes! It’s so much easier to make an effort now that we’ve unearthed the kitchen from an overload of junk and received some really beautiful wedding presents – our previous cookware was from an $80 all-inclusive set (knives, plates, cutlery, everything) and was, to be frank, kinda crap. Cooking with non-stick cookware and actually having room to move is divine – oh and we can access our cookbooks now too.
I’d love to read other’s great quick-‘n-easy recipes… with links if you have them!
As a contribution from me, here’s a chicken meatball with couscous recipe I made tonight which received rave reviews from Darling Husband. Probably best to make the meatballs ahead of time but the flavours were delicious. And I swear every time I eat couscous I ask myself why we don’t have it more often … http://http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/35281/chicken+meatballs+with+couscous
DH’s parents are coming over for dinner on Wednesday (embarrassingly the first time they’ve eaten here even though we’ve been living here for 2 years!) and I’m thinking of doing a slow-cooker beef bourbignon but I’d particularly love any suggestions for in-law-proof meals.
Post # 2

Member
56 posts
Worker bee
I am cooking my way through Skinnytaste (http://www.skinnytaste.com/). Her recipes are sooo good! You can eat all of her delicious creations without feeling guilty. Last night I made Mushroom Stroganoff and Orange, Arugula, Red Onion, and Gorgonzola Salad. Yum! There’s never any left on anyone’s plate. ๐
Post # 3

Member
3429 posts
Sugar bee
goingtotherooftopoflove: do you guys grill? I have a ton of recipes for grilling. If not, I will post my stuffed chicken recipe when I get to work.
DoYouLikeGuacamole: I love Guacamole ! LOL That salad sounds YUM T hanks for sharing the link
Post # 4

Member
2196 posts
Buzzing bee
DoYouLikeGuacamole: oh wow, the first recipe she has up looks great! Will have to check out more.
I meant to ask, does anyone have issues with SO’s with very specific dislikes? I’m dealing with a hubby whose dislikes include tomatoes, cucumber, mushrooms, beans, peas, most fruit except bananas… the list goes on and of course they’re my favourite things. It was a miracle he looked past the diced tomato in the sauce tonight. It just makes cooking so restrictive. His family were never very adventurous with food – his sister has similar tastes, they’re close in age and I think Mother-In-Law just gave up – but my mum was a a foodie so I feel I’m starting from the ground up (I’ll never forget the look on his face when she offered him prosciutto, oops). If you can believe it, it was actually a big deal when I got him to eat SALAD GREENS this summer.
Post # 5

Member
1704 posts
Bumble bee
I have tons that I’d love to share, but I can only access my email for the time being, so I’ll just send you a couple that I’ve sent to other people!
I don’t know if you like Indian food, but this is one of my all time favorite meals. It doesn’t sound like anything special, but trust me. It’s delicious. It’s also my boyfriends favorite thing I cook, and I cook pretty frequently! http://www.manjulaskitchen.com/2009/01/12/cabbage-with-peas-bund-gobi-and-mater/
Potato leek soup: this is super simple and another one of my favorites. I love soup. http://vegweb.com/recipes/potato-leek-soup-1
This one isn’t a meal, it’s a dip, but it always gets compliments!
Black Bean Dip:
<div>Tortilla Chips</div>
<div>1 (15.5-oz.) can of black beans</div>
<div>1/2 small onion</div>
<div>2 tablespoons fresh cilantro</div>
<div>2 cloves garlic</div>
<div>3 tablespoons salsa (or diced tomatoes)</div>
<div>1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice</div>
<div>1 tablespoon chipotle flavored hot sauce</div>
<div>about 1/3 teaspoon cumin</div>
<div>about 1/3 teaspoon coriander</div>
<div>about 1/3 teaspoon chili powder</div>
<div>salt, to taste</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Empty black beans into bowl. Mash with a fork against the side of the bowl for desired consistency. Chop the onion, cilantro, and garlic. Combine all remaining ingredients in the bowl, and stir! </div>
Post # 6

Member
1566 posts
Bumble bee
Pillbsbury.com has some great recipes that are easy to make And really good. My absolute favorite is the carmelized garlic chicken. It’s sooooo good! Darling Husband actually said it tasted like it was ordered from a restaurant! (And Im a terrible cook!)
http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/caramelized-garlic-chicken/e7f86e7f-607c-45cf-ab68-fa674899f118
Post # 7

Member
5916 posts
Bee Keeper
goingtotherooftopoflove: Oh wow! Lol! I’m a foodie, too, and my ex was like yours. My current Fiance was never adventurous, but he is now because of me and he loves it and can’t believe what he’s been missing! I hope your Darling Husband comes around because it’s way easier and more fun, especially when you’re a foodie, if they are more open to different things. Maybe just keep cooking what you like to cook and that’s all he’ll have to eat. I remember reading about cooking for kids. They turn their nose up at something the first time or two you serve it, but after several times they just get used to it. Though I will never ever be able to eat raw tomatoes. I try every year, though!
Post # 8

Member
648 posts
Busy bee
goingtotherooftopoflove: another foodie here!! ๐ both me and my fiance LOVE to cook and we’re both really good at it (which is a blessing and a curse lemme tell ya lol). I’m gonna post the link to a meatloaf recipe that is TO DIE FOR. I’ve made this so many times I have it memorized. Even people that don’t like meatloaf have seconds on this! Hope you enjoy it!! ๐
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Brown-Sugar-Meatloaf/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Thumb&e11=brown%20sugar%20meatloaf&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page&soid=sr_results_p1i1<br /><br />
Post # 9

Member
2180 posts
Buzzing bee
RedHeadKel: I remember reading a study for one of my psychology classes when I was in college that said that kids might need to try new foods 10-15 times before the new food becomes palatable to them.
goingtotherooftopoflove: Has your Darling Husband actually tried these things in recipes that are tasty? I know that a couple of friends I have had (who are very picky eaters) have been fine eating certain things such as vegetables they claim to dislike if it’s featured in an overall tasty recipe. Maybe that’s why he didn’t mind the diced tomatoes in the recipe you mentioned.
I think the only way to go about remedying this, if he is open to it, is to get him to try these foods over and over again. I think that food preferences exist, but if you’re saying that you think his mother gave up on introducing new foods (see the reply @RedHeadKel above), I would venture to guess that maybe your Darling Husband has not tried certain foods enough times to get used to them, may have formed negative associations with certain foods, and/or has not tried these foods in a form that is palatable to him (because foods can be prepared in so many different ways!).
So if your husband is open to trying new recipes and foods, I think that introducing something slowly would be the way to go, but make sure that you introduce it multiple times in each form as well as in different forms, and over time he may grow to like it. Additionally, I think that even if…for example let’s say someone doesn’t like spinach and you make a side dish with spinach and the person doesn’t want to try it but it’s on the table at dinner…well at least they’re seeing it and experiencing what it smells like. Maybe sometime in the future that person will be willing to try it.
That’s the other thing, I feel like if you want to eat something your husband dislikes or is not going to eat, it’d be really easy to put it in a side dish that you will eat and have a different side available that he will eat.
Sorry I know you wanted a thread about recipes but I hope that somewhat helps, I’m not a psychologist or a food coach so I don’t want anyone to take my opinions as any sort of professional advice (it’s not), but that’s just what I think based on my personal experience of living with several roommates who are picky eaters over the years.
Post # 10

Member
5916 posts
Bee Keeper
MissMarple: Exactly! And you know, there were some things I didn’t like til I put ’em on a pizza years ago. Just like you said, put the thinks you don’t like in something you like. So now I eat artichoke hearts, mushrooms, and <drum roll> sauerkraut! Yup, folks. These Midwesterners like their sauerkraut and it’s GOOD on pizza! Lol!
Post # 11

Member
2180 posts
Buzzing bee
Post # 12

Member
467 posts
Helper bee
Disclaimer: this is my own personal food blog, but since you’re asking for links to recipes I feel like I can chime in without being an AW ๐
http://www.emilybites.com
I do lightened up comfort food recipes and everything I post is very user-friendly and good for those at any cooking level. If you go to the second most recent post (An Emily Bites Giveaway) I asked readers to comment with their favorite Emily Bites recipe and there are over 560 responses, so you can see which ones other people liked best.
If you go to the recipe index you can also search for recipes by ingredient or category. Hope that helps!