Life

25 Easy Recipes That Will Teach You How To Cook in 2014

It’s the New Year, and it's time for new things. Like not eating Chipotle every single night for dinner. If your New Year’s resolution involves buying a saucepan and turning your oven on for the first time ever, we have some great things to help you get started. Not everybody is an intuitive chef, and some people are just damn clumsy. So we’ve picked out 25 of the easiest (and tastiest!) recipes that will teach you how to cook this year. Soon you will be cooking up your own Pad Thai, slow-braising your own Mississippi roast, and icing your very first from-scratch date and honey cake with cinnamon orange glaze. Come on. Let’s get cooking.

Image: Naturally Ella

by Emily Mack

Double Pimento Burger with Crispy Bacon

Just about anybody can make a burger. It’s not too hard. But making a really awesome burger is a skill that comes not just with practice, but with the right guidance. Follow these instructions for a great beef patty — and then top it with All The Things. (via Climbing Grier Mountain)

Image: Climbing Grier Mountain

Blueberry Crumb Bars

This blueberry crumb bar recipe is a great item to add to your wheelhouse. Not only are the instructions simple and easy, the blueberries can be swapped for whatever fruit happens to be seasonal. Which means you can bring these treats to any picnic, cook-out, gathering, or get-together — year-round. (via Damn Delicious)

Image: Damn Delicious

20 Minute Pad Thai

Homemade Pad Thai. In 20 minutes. You just won cooking. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Image: Half Baked Harvest

Turkey Gravy

Let’s face facts — gravy is important. So tuck this easy step-by-step recipe in your back pocket, because you’re going to need it. (via How Sweet It Is)

Image: How Sweet It Is

Soba Noodles with Cherry Tomatoes and Swiss Chard Pesto

If you’ve mastered spaghetti and meatballs, let’s keep moving right along with this dish of soba noodles, roasted zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and Swiss chard pesto. Pasta 2.0. (via What’s Cooking Good Looking)

Image: What’s Cooking Good Looking

15 Minute Salmon Cakes with Fresh Tartar Sauce

With this salmon cake recipe, you are just 15 minutes away from fancy. Dip them in freshly-made tartar sauce, and you’re welcome. (via Healthful Pursuit)

Image: Healthful Pursuit

Mississippi Roast

This recipe for Mississippi roast calls for just five ingredients. Throw it all in your crock pot and let the Slow Cooker Fairy do its thing. (via Table for Two)

Image: Table for Two

Fancy-Ass Hot Chocolate

Fancy-ass hot chocolate for a fancy-ass girl. Don’t be a Swiss Miss — step up your game with this grown-up recipe. (via A Cozy Kitchen)

Image: A Cozy Kitchen

Lemon, Parmesan, and Black Pepper Popcorn

Maybe you’ve already mastered the microwave popcorn thing. If so, good for you. If you’re interested in something a bit more special, this popcorn is prepared in a pot or Dutch oven, and is all dressed up with lemon, Parmesan, and black pepper. (via Cookie + Kate)

Image: Cookie + Kate

Roast Turkey Breast

This roast turkey breast how-to is a tasty way to practice your Thanksgiving form. Master this recipe, and soon you’ll be moving on to the whole bird. (via Foodie Crush)

Image: Foodie Crush

Ginger-Orange Salmon with Sweet Potato Hash

Want to woo your significant other with fresh and exciting flavors? With this easy ginger and orange-glazed salmon, you won’t be taking on more than you can chew. Serve it up with a healthy sweet potato hash for the full effect. (via Bare Root)

Image: Bare Root

Asparagus and Eggs

This is breakfast — so simple and so delicious. Asparagus spears are sautéed in a cast-iron skillet and then eggs are cracked on top. Sprinkle with a bit of goat cheese and enjoy. (via Naturally Ella)

Image: Naturally Ella

Whole-Wheat Garlic Knots

Baking with yeast is something that intimidates novice chefs, but these whole-wheat garlic knots will make it worth your while. Joy’s directions are clear and easy to follow, so get baking. (via Joy The Baker)

Image: Joy The Baker

Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwiches with Red Miso Frosting

You’ll find a great recipe for chocolate chip cookies here — AND these ones are sandwiched with a super inventive red miso frosting. You’re about to become very impressive. (via Climbing Grier Mountain)

Image: Climbing Grier Mountain

Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus

These prosciutto-wrapped asparagus spears are perfect for a little pre-meal nibbling at your next dinner party. Lucky for you, this recipe could not be any easier. (via Damn Delicious)

Image: Damn Delicious

Creamy Brie Four-Cheese Mac and Cheese with Buttery Ritz Crackers

You’re probably thinking, “Mac and cheese? I lived in a college dorm. I’ve got this.” You are, however, wrong. This mac and cheese is all grown up with brie, havarti, fontina, and cheddar. That’s FOUR cheeses — four more than your boxed “cheese powder” version. You need to eat this. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Image: Half Baked Harvest

Cuban Shrimp Bruschetta

Here’s another idea for a hors d’oeuvre or tapas menu. These Cuban-spiced shrimp are the easiest thing to put together — just arrange them on top of your baguette toasts, sit back, and wait for the compliments to start flowing your way. (via Adventures in Cooking)

Image: Adventures in Cooking

Pork Shank and Meatball Stew

This pork shank and meatball stew looks too delicious to not know how it’s made. Don’t be dumb. Print this recipe and tack it to your fridge ASAP. (via The Healthy Foodie)

Image: The Healthy Foodie

Old-Fashioned Doughnuts With Chocolate Glaze

You can make donuts at home. Here’s how. Mic drop. (via Joy The Baker)

Image: Joy The Baker

Enchilada Pasta Skillet

Chicken, cheese, black beans, more cheese, enchilada sauce, still more cheese. This enchilada pasta skillet is dangerously easy to put together. (via Pass the Sushi)

Image: Pass The Sushi

Shrimp and Rainbow Quinoa En Papillote

Cooking seafood can be a little daunting. But cooking it en papillote (that is, in paper), is probably the easiest way to earn your fish-cooking chops. This fresh recipe includes shrimp, rainbow quinoa, zucchini, lemon, and fresh dill — just wrap it all up in parchment paper and let the whole pack steam in the oven. (via Jelly Toast)

Image: Jelly Toast

Filet Fondue Sliders

Juicy slices of beef tenderloin served with fresh arugula on teeny tiny buns? You have my attention. I’ll take my fondue on the side, please. Make all your miniature sandwich dreams come true with this easy-to-follow, genius-level recipe. (via How Sweet It Is)

Image: How Sweet It Is

Pistachio Goji Berry Granola

Store-bought granola can be expensive — so let’s make our own, OK? This simple recipe will get you started. Once you’ve mastered it, you can dress it up with whatever mix-ins your little heart desires. (via Love and Lemons)

Image: Love and Lemons

Guinness Irish Beef Stew

A good beef stew recipe is crucial in surviving a long winter. This no-fuss version — thoughtfully boozed-up with Guinness stout — is perfect for those darkest days. (via Jelly Toast)

Image: Jelly Toast

Date and Honey Cake with Cinnamon Orange Glaze

Knowing how to make a cake — a really, really good cake — is crucial to any culinary education. This date and honey cake with cinnamon orange glaze should do the trick. Trust me. (via Adventures in Cooking)

Image: Adventures in Cooking

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