Cooking for Beginners Part 2

1. Pita Pizzas With Side Salad

I started making pita pizzas a few years ago because I got tired of ordering pizzas that were too large for me to eat by myself. My solution was to make personal-sized pies that, believe it or not, are every bit as good as my favorite delivery joint but much healthier.

I use whole-wheat pitas topped with pizza sauce (Ragu has decent small jars, or you can save the pizza sauce dippers that come with your delivery pizza and use that; spaghetti sauce will work too in a pinch), cheese, a sprinkle of garlic powder, pepper, red pepper flakes, and oregano. Place the pizza directly on the middle rack of a 400-degree oven with a baking sheet on a lower rack to catch any drippings. Bake for about five or six minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Serve the pizzas with a simple side salad. The bagged kind is just fine; don’t forget the dressing.

2. Pulled Pork Sandwiches With Coleslaw

If you’re put off by the thought of making pulled pork because it requires a lot of work, you shouldn’t be — it hardly requires any work at all.

There are less than five ingredients in this slow-cooker pulled-pork recipe — pork tenderloin, root beer (do I have your attention now?), barbecue sauce, and hamburger buns. Place the pork loin in the slow cooker follow by the root beer. Cover and cook on low for six to seven hours. When the time is up, drain the slow cooker to get rid of all the liquid fat. The pork will fall apart and shred with ease, at which time you can stir in the barbecue sauce. Serve on hamburger buns alongside coleslaw you picked up at the store or that you can make with a prepackaged shredded cabbage mix, a few other ingredients, and this recipe for homemade coleslaw.

3. Steamed Shrimp and Corn on the Cob

Shrimp is a great ingredient for new cooks because it cooks up very fast, no matter the method.

You’ll need to start with the corn on the cob since it takes a while to cook. You can either wrap it in foil and toss it in the 400-degree oven for 30 minutes or let the ears boil on the stove for 30 minutes.

To make steamed shrimp the way I do (the best way!), pour a can of beer in the bottom of a steam pot, bring it to a boil.

Put the shrimp in a freezer bag with a tablespoon or two of Old Bay seasoning and shake to coat all the shrimp. Add the shrimp to the steamer tray, place it on the pot with the beer, and cover. Stir the shrimp every minute or so until they’re pink on both sides.

Butter the corn and squirt the shrimp with lemon before digging in.

4. Chicken Soft Tacos

Save some money and skip your favorite Mexican eatery in favor of making your own chicken soft tacos at home.

I like to grill my chicken in a broiler for this recipe by seasoning the breasts with salt, pepper, and lime, and cooking on each side for about five minutes. When the chicken is cooked through, I let it sit for at least five minutes while I prepare the other ingredients.

Chop a couple of tomatoes, some lettuce, and cilantro; grate your favorite cheese; and grab the salsa, sour cream, and guacamole.  

Next, wrap your flour tortillas in a paper towel that you’ve soaked and rung out, and place them in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Be careful removing them; they’ll be hot.

Build your chicken soft tacos by adding the chicken first, followed by the vegetables then adding the wet toppings like salsa, sour cream, and guacamole.

5. Autumn Chopped Salad

A salad is very easy to make, especially when you buy it in a bag — but you don’t have to limit yourself to only what’s in that bag. You can spruce up the salad by adding additional ingredients that you enjoy like dried fruits, fresh veggies, and nuts.

This autumn chopped salad recipe is great any time of the year, but especially in fall because of the seasonal apples and pears. On a bed of romaine lettuce (bought in a bag) add chopped apples, pears, roasted peanuts, dried cranberries, and bacon. Chop the salad with a knife to incorporate all the ingredients evenly, and toss with sweet(ish) dressing like poppy-seed or raspberry-walnut.

Crumble a tangy cheese, like Gorgonzola or feta, on top to finish.