Cooking 101 for Guys Who Are Used to Eating Out

A lot of my male friends do not cook, but they sure do love some of the really basic home-cooked foods they eat at my dinner table. This post is dedicated to you dear friends, and I’m here to tell ya that there is no need to fear your stove – I’ll provide you with all the basics below to make your own hearty meal. Mix and match with meat, veg, and carb, they are all sure to satisfy any manly appetite and perhaps even lure a lovely lady into your life and over to your dinner table!<

Searing Meat

You have to admire a guy who knows how to handle a piece of meat. You can not have a delicious steak without proper searing. But not to worry, it’s easy to learn this technique that every home cook should master. Don’t forget to always season the meat with salt first before it hits the pan and you’re well on your way to a lovely main course.

Chicken Perfection

Chicken recipes are some of the most popular searches on the internet, yet a lot of people don’t know how to cook a tender, flavorful chicken breast. Once you learn the basics you can add your favorite jarred sauce, from marinara to barbecue or even a scoop of jarred tomato salsa.

Tender Crisp Vegetables

Cooking vegetables isn’t hard and steaming them keeps the nutrients in and the fat out. Just fill a large stockpot with one inch of water, bring it to a boil and add a couple handfuls of broccoli florets or baby carrots. Cook about 3 to 8 minutes, depending on the vegetables, but you’ll know it’s ready when it’s easy to pierce with a fork. Remove from the water and drizzle with a little salt, olive oil or grated Parmesan or even a squirt of lemon or lime juice. A dash of hot sauce and reduced sodium soy adds zing and lots of flavor.

Cooking Whole Grains

You don’t have to be a health nut to cook whole grains for yourself! Try starting with the easiest and most available. Couscous is a tiny pasta that comes from Morocco and is also used in Southern French cuisine – and you can find this pasta in your local grocery store. It’s fluffy and light, and totally simple to prepare, heck it cooks in around 5 minutes.

You can add whole wheat couscous to your pantry for around $2 a box. Looking for something more hearty? I’m a huge fan of short grain brown rice because its awesome chewiness works great with vegetables and takes about 25 to 30 minutes to cook.

If the cooking time is too long for you to invest, try quinoa, a whole grain that comes from South America with a creamy texture and a fun curly q shape. Cooking quinoa is as easy as cooking rice, only faster. Rinse it first, under cold water, to help remove a natural compound that can make it bitter. Boil 10 to 15 minutes according to the package instructions, then add a little olive oil, parmesan or just serve plain.

Mixing a Healthy Cocktail

Tired of swigging down beer? Perhaps you want to add a little style or panash to your evening meal by mixing a simple yet stunning cocktail. Maybe you’ve even decided to have a few friends over tonight. Even if you do end up ordering pizza out, try making your own healthy happy hour. Or go the wine route, with some basic wine recommendations for bottles $20 or under.

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