5-Ingredient Recipes Absolutely Anyone Can Make
Seriously. Anyone.
Diana Yen, © 2016, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
I’ll always remember the very first time I decided to make dinner for my family. I was 14 years old, and after watching back-to-back episodes of “Giada at Home,” I had the “brilliant” idea to try my hand at her classic Penne a la Vodka.
I can still recall phoning up my parents at work and telling them to prepare for “culinary greatness.” I mean, it sounded simple enough to me — pasta, sauce, et voila! Dinner. Right?
You probably know where this is going …
About six-and-a-half hours later, my father found me standing in the driveway, waving at him with a scorched oven mitt.
I’ll spare you all the colorful language that followed by simply summing up the ordeal as follows: Vodka + Hot Pan = Michelle’s in BIG Trouble.
Suffice to say, we ordered takeout that night and it was a long, long time before I decided to make dinner again. What I hadn’t realized then was that, just like everything else in life, cooking is a process; one that requires years of practice to perfect.
What I really needed at 14 was to start off small and learn the basics — preferably, how to use the stove without burning my house down.
Staple recipes, like the five listed below, are a great place to begin your own personal journey with cooking, and where I ultimately restarted mine. With 5 ingredients each, these dishes don't take a ton of time or steps, but the outcomes are still seriously impressive.
Just remember to watch where you leave your oven mitts laying around ...
Cacio e Pepe seems to be everywhere these days and with good reason! Make this simple pasta dish when you want to try your hand at traditional Italian cuisine without getting in over your head. This version incorporates Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and olive oil for a rich, flavorful sauce that's simply delizioso!
There's nothing better than a pipping hot grilled cheese sandwich. To make this four-cheese culinary work of art, you'll want to spread softened butter and 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese onto the outer side of your bread slices to make it melt-in-your-mouth crispy.
Armando Rafael
Not only is this dish perfect for kids big and small, clean-up is a snap. Cooking times may vary depending on your Instant Pot model, but the end results will be creamy and delicious.
Cooking an egg properly is a feat in the kitchen — ask any chef! Perfect your sunny side up technique with this super simple recipe from Jeff Mauro. To keep control over your egg yolks, crack your eggs into a small ramekin first and then pour them into your heated skillet.
Armando Rafael
This heavenly chocolate creation is sure to become one of your signature recipes. For some crunch, add some chopped hazelnuts to the inside. Top with a coating of confectioners' sugar and let the sweet times roll.
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