Hi

Are there evening classes anywhere in Sheffield [near the tram routes] for blokes that don't have a clue how to cook ?

I don't think the classes are segregated!

Have you tried The Sheffield College? They do evening and weekend classes at Castle and Norton college. They do Basic, Everyday and Internaional cookery. (Starts at about £100 in the brochure.) Or if you prefer theres Cake Decoration, Sugarcraft Flower Design and Wine Tasting!

Theres also a few posh restuarants that do cooking sessions with a meal after too (bit pricey tho).

When I decided to improve and vary my cooking I got some videos out of the local library for free. Delia was a bit dull to watch and annoying as Jamie Oliver is, he does have good deas that you can expand upon.

P.S. Are you taking my Chrimbo Dinner comments on board?!

Thanx for the reply Tuna !

Will go have a look into the classes and joining the library today.

Yes, your chrimbo dinner comments did have sommat to do with it.... I got the ready meal as I have no idea in the kitchen and live alone. Could have posioned myself !!!

Also, someone from work said that a meal I concocted and told her about sounded so disgusting that I should go learn how to cook, so I thought okey dokey maybe I better do sommat about it.

It's one of many new years resolutions, and hopefully one that I will get sorted. Be nice to have sommat other than ready meals [can do fish + chips, sizzle and stir and that's about it] and eat some fresh veg once in a while [none since I became single].

Cheers Tuna !

Hey Rudi,

Let me know if you find an evening cookery course, I wouldn't mind doing that too.

Good luck,
Jamie

Will do Jamie. Tried calling the college but no-one home until 5th Jan :mad:

Why don't some of u blokes form a group, I'm sure there are people from the Sheffielf Health and other different organisations out there who would be willing to come out and show you some nice easy, healthy food to cook and eat.

That is if you can find some where in your community with a decent kitchen and cooker and a bit of space.

Dont you have a friend who can teach you? you could always pay them in money or beer or something. You could learn at a time and place that would be convenient to you and would prob be cheeper. Also they could teach you to cook the things you would most like to cook.
Nicky

cooking aint very hard, get stuff, stick it in a blender, blend then drink ((:

Just for information, Woodseats junior school used to run a day course for adult cookery lessons. This was about 20 years ago, but they may still do it. :D

Unfortunately I dont know anyone that would come round mine and show me how to cook but have made some advances towards less ready-meals in my life....

Went to library Friday on way to train station [slight detour!] and there don't seem to be any evening classes coming up soon [they didn't have the weekend course brochure so will wait until monday to hear back from sheff college and see if they mention weekend classes...]. There is however a wine tasting course starting Monday 5th Jan !!!

The videos in the library were few and far between so I've splashed out on a huge book on sale in WHSmith [500 recipes in it for a tenner] and bought a hand blender with attachments in Argos sale and used up Nectar points. With the money I 'saved' I have subscribed to a new magazine called 'Delicious' - bought the second edition and its abs fab ! Only 18 quid for 12 month subscription...

Will also go to sites such as www.bbc.co.uk/food for inspiration

Going to try new stuff from the book and magazine at the weekends, munching my way through a mountain of ready meals in cupboard and freezer before I start cooking on weekdays.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions; will let u know what sheff college say monday regarding weekend courses. If anyone wants to volunteer to be a guineau pig for me to try my cooking on please PM me - same goes to jamie if he wants to borrow cook books etc...

TTFN

Rudi

I was pretty bad at cooking too until I discovered campbells condensed soups!!!!

I'm not kidding, with a chicken one you can make a yummy bacon and chicken pasta and the vegetable one makes a gorgeous shepards pie.

Try www.campbellsoup.co.uk. It has tons of recipes and all you need is a tin of soup and a few ingrediants. It's been a blessing for me. I no longer live on spag bol and microwave meals.

I also bought a Delia Smith cook book, that woman is genius. Her recipes actually turn out how they should and I'm now proud to say I can make a gorgeous victoria sponge cake!! :D

My next buy will be Jamie Oliver's cook book.

Thanks to my soups, Delia, and my newly purchased Kim and Aggy "how clean is your house" book, I will be a domestic godess in no time!

I definitely need some lessons as well. I'm good at making toast, only since we got a toaster though :S

I'd love to be good at cooking, a skill you will have for life and not just for xmas, literally :)

Went into T J Hughes today to get a dish with removable bottom to make cheesecakes in as I have been told they are not too hard to make, and something good to start off with. Also helps that I love deserts and could easily live on them alone...

Bumped into Ying on my way round looking at all the stuff on sale and after saying a brief hi and bye, I wondered round some more.

Came out of T J Hughes with the dish, a tray for making small cakes, a stir-fry pan, omelette pan [free with the stir-fry pan], 2 sizes of pyrex jug and 2 pyrex mixing bowls. Not sure what came over me, but its a good job there was a sale on :thumbsup:

Check the asda and buy a microwave everything from toad in the hole to chicken in white wine sauce in 10 minutes bing bing

Originally posted by rtapper
...cheesecakes...deserts...small cakes...stir-fry pan...omelette ...stir-fry
Can I come to your house for tea? :D

Whats the big deal about cooking, buy a basic book and follow instructions, they're usually step by step.Its easier than learning how to manage a computer.IMO

Sheaf Training are starting a course called Cookery around the World on 27 Jan. The course runs for 20 weeks.

0114 242 2090.

Try Chesterfield College. They run courses on a Saturday morning. Don't know if they include cooking. Otherwise get married.

Originally posted by Jess
Try Chesterfield College. They run courses on a Saturday morning. Don't know if they include cooking. Otherwise get married.

Will get in contact with them, can't see getting married being an option unfortunately :(

Friday I ventured into the unknown territory that is baking a sponge. It died horribly. Tinajones asked me to post any easy recipes that I find [I obviously ventured too far into the wilderness alone !], so here goes....

Friands, aussie style
==============

Makes 10

Every bit as easy as making cup cakes, they can be enjoyed with tea/coffee or served with warm, spiced poached fruits

180 g butter
200 g icing sugar
60 g plain flour
120 g ground almonds
5 large free-range egg whites
1 tsp grated lemon or orange zest
Icing sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 200C/fan180C/gas 6
Melt butter + let cool. Use 1 tbsp to coat a 10 muffin tin or 10 10 individual 5x10 cm oval moulds. Sift sugar and flour into a bowl containing the almonds. Mix. Fold in the lightly beaten egg whites. Add cooled melted butter and zest. mix thoroughly.

Fill moulds three-quarters full. Place on tray. Bake in middle shelf for 10 mins; turn tray around 180 degrees and let cook further 7-10 mins until tops are golden + spring back.

Remove and leave for 5 mins before gently unmouldingonto wire tray and let cool. Finish with light dust of sugar. Will keep in airtight container up to 3 days.

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Personally I made double the amount to make 20 muffins and cooked them in muffin cases to save hassle of cleaning and pulling from tray [I'm lazy !]. Tasted one - absolutely gorgeous, hope they are as nice tomorrow when cold !