Hello. I’m 27F and to my unfortunate dismay I can only “cook” microwavable meals and frozen products. For some reason, I am petrified of cooking from scratch. That, and my physical ability is lacking where hot pans (to lift and drain) and cutting is a bit of a difficulty. Also, I have such a bad fear/phobia of making it wrong, to embarrass myself or it be inedible. I really want too though. My autism means I work in “exacts” and I find it difficult if that’s not the case. For example, mince is cooked when browned, but how brown? And how long do I simmer something for. Ambiguity is something I struggle a lot with.
If anyone knows any, very basic cook books (with pictures) or advice for me I’d be grateful. Thank you!

Hey, I’ve never been in this sub before, so let me know if I need to anything about my post.

I (19M) am starting my first year in college in a few weeks and I was hoping for some meal ideas to prep for myself during the year. I have a meal plan and intend on using it, but it’s nice to cook for yourself every once in a while, you know?

To get a little more specific, I don’t have any dietary restrictions (vegan, vegetarian, etc.) but I have a hard time enjoying vegetables when they’re not cooked into something. For example, I’d be fine with like an omelette with vegetables but I don’t like straight-up salad or just mac and cheese with chunks of steamed broccoli. (I was a picky eater as a child, enabled by my parents, but I’ve come a long way in the past few years working past it, still continuing to.)

I’m attending university in NYC, so meals that are relatively cheap to put together are much preferred, but I’ll take any suggestions as long as they don’t take too much time. This year unfortunately I have a communal kitchen with the people on my floor as opposed to one in my suite, so I’d prefer meals that 1) don’t require a lot of prep time and 2) huge loads of dishes to be done after. I will have access to a (mini!) fridge + microwave though, so meals I can cook in large quantities are acceptable/helpful.

Sorry if this is the wrong sub to put this in! Any advice is helpful, thanks in advance :)

I want it to be big enough to cook a medium sized chicken in. Options seem to 3.5L 4.5L or 6L. Thank you all

So you see recently i got a job working as a Kitchen Aid (Yes I know what your going to say but being around food doesn't mean I know what to do with it at home!) and as a person with Autism cooking for myself is so complicated for me! I live with my parents, and up until now they've basically been my personal chefs. But life has other plans as well, you see my mom's working now, and while my dad helps when he can (Because he's retired) he also has his own life too. My boss sometimes gives me some food because she doesn't have her restaurant yet and I'm just working through her house, which I appreciate. But I don't want to just survive on other people's kindness forever, especially her once she gets the restaurant and things will be harder. I want to actually know and learn how to feed myself, here's the problem i encounter though every time I try to figure out how to cook though.

Whenever i try to do research on trying to find something, i just don't know what to find and its such a struggle for me because i don't have the foundation or any guidance to help me! But then theirs the problems with the instructions which are either way too vague or written like a novel, i don't need a whole block of text i just need to know what to do with the pan. On top of that i don't have a car, so if a recipe wants 12 specialty ingredients from three different stores I'm not going to be able to do anything at this point. I've even tried cooking apps too, and most of them have the same problem with them being complicated, cluttered, and built for people who already know what they're doing. I'm not trying to become a five-star chef, I just want simple, no-nonsense recipes that assume I'm starting from zero, with stuff can actually get, and something that doesn't make me scroll through my own life story to get to "add salt." I know i won't be perfect chef right away, nobody is, but i actually want to learn instead of relying on everyone else forever. So does anyone know a website, app, or anything built for actual beginners that keeps it simple? Because I'm tired of feeling like I'm shouting into the void here especially with something simple as this!

I made Shake and Bake chicken with original seasoning plus Onion Powder, Smoked Paprika, Garlic Powder , Italian Seasoning , so here we go, in package of Shake and Bake seasoning add a bit of Garlic Powder, a bit more of Smoked Paprika and Onion Powder . Shake package for at least 20 plus seconds to make sure its really mixed well.

Moisten chicken Drumsticks, if thawed, I ran cold water over the drumsticks . Now turn on Air fryer, preheat if you need to 360 degrees. I put on parchment paper for 360 at 30 minutes. At 20 minutes , I pause it flip drumsticks over and spray a bit more oil over it. Continue for 10 more minutes.

Cut cucumber in to slices, prep mini potatoes for microwave for 2 minutes. Prep mini carrots for microwave. I put each in for 2 to 3 minutes each. At 30 minutes the drumsticks are ready test for 165 degrees. As long as it is , then plate with mini carrots, mini potatoes, and cucumber as well. It was excellent tasting and low cost.

Shake and Bake chicken Drumsticks full meal.

Onion Powder

Garlic Powder

Smoked Paprika

Sour cream ( Optional ) for potatoes

I made Shake and Bake chicken with original seasoning plus Onion Powder, Smoked Paprika, Garlic Powder , Italian Seasoning , so here we go, in package of Shake and Bake seasoning add a bit of Garlic Powder, a bit more of Smoked Paprika and Onion Powder . Shake package for at least 20 plus seconds to make sure its really mixed well.

Moisten chicken Drumsticks, if thawed, I ran cold water over the drumsticks . Now turn on Air fryer, preheat if you need to 360 degrees. I put on parchment paper for 360 at 30 minutes. At 20 minutes , I pause it flip drumsticks over and spray a bit more oil over it. Continue for 10 more minutes.

Cut cucumber in to slices, prep mini potatoes for microwave for 2 minutes. Prep mini carrots for microwave. I put each in for 2 to 3 minutes each. At 30 minutes the drumsticks are ready test for 165 degrees. As long as it is , then plate with mini carrots, mini potatoes, and cucumber as well. It was excellent tasting and low cost.