New recipes for a new cook...What are your favorite recipes?

[gourmetgal1]

I am a relatively new cook looking for some new cooking ideas!

I have been cooking a lot lately and have already made some great, traditional dishes- chicken piccatta, meatloaf, apple turnovers, salmon in a ginger, honey-mustard glaze, all sorts of vegetables, fajitas, Indonesian ginger chicken, skirt steak, chocolate hazelnut tart, beet napolean, etc.

My boyfriend, who is great at cooking, always helps me out in the kitchen which is a lot of fun. However, I could really use some inspiration in the kitchen to keep me going! I am looking to challenge myself, as well as to add some more basic, traditional recipes to my repertoire.

I know that all of you are the best possible resource for tried and true recipes, so please let me know your favorite recipes and any other cooking advice/ideas for a new cook looking to expand her horizons!

[pitu]

Mark Bittman's How To Cook Everything is a great basic resource for a beginner
There's lots of variety, and it's all quite simple.

[chowser]

This whole board is full of great recipes and advice/ideas. If you have a specific dish you want to learn, it might be easier to help you. But, your question is pretty general and I'm sure most people here have way too many favorite tried and true recipes and ideas to post them here. I've learned so much just by reading this board.

[onefineleo]

Many years ago, I learned so much from the Silver Palate Cookbook. Lucky for you, they just published their 25th anniversary edition. I think that book will give you plenty of inspiration to try lots of things, and get the hang of thinking like a cook. From there, you can branch out and figure out what you want to learn. Welcome to the fold....you are in for much joy.