inspiration required...

chloe99_2

maybe you could check with your (very miserable) authorities, whether frying in oil actually means that you can't saute onions etc, maybe it means no chips or deep fried food (a slim chance I know).

What about that diet spray stuff you buy from supermarkets, would that get around it do you think - I can't remember what's in it, maybe someone else could help there.

crana9

It specifies "frying, or cooking in oil"..

I know, they are unbelievably picky. The thing is you're not actually meant to use the kitchens to cook! You're not really allowed to cook "main meals" there.. you are meant to eat in the canteen (which i ahve tried but its just :-X)

lol, typical student, unfortunately not, I have lectures at 9 3 days a week and at 10 the other 3, I only get sunday off! and I have timetabled stuff till 8.15 some nights.. i have 30 contact hours a week before I even do any work!

chloe99_2

he he he - I meant the diet spray you use as an oil substitute!!!

Lillibet_2

What about microwave omlettes? You can get a special plastic micro-omlette dish (Lakeland plastics amongst other suppliers) and can add veg/cheese/mushroms etc to them. They don't burn easily & are frrily healthy & nutritious & student budget friendly I seem to rememrb from my student days that fish fingers (if you eat fish) & baked beans cook fine in the microwave too ;D

crana9

Microwave omelette maker - great idea. I think we might even have one at home we don't use. I will investigate over Xmas!

I don't eat fish unfortunately Although there is a shop here that sells truly terrifying-looking vegetarian fish fingers...I don't think I'll be buying them somehow. hehehe.

Lillibet_2

I assume you have exhausted that old student favourite : The baked potato?

Also have you ever tried veggie hot dogs? In my opinion they taste better than meat hot dogs (with questionable meat content in any case!), they have quite a strong flavour & can be added to pasta/risiotto/veggie stew etc which can all be made on the hob with a little patience

For risiotto be sure to keep the water topped up in the rice until the very end to avoid burining, it should be served mosit with enough "thick" water from the cooking to form a kind of sauce, throw in an onion early if you can't saute it first then add peppers about 5-10 mins before serving & add a dash of greated chedder & lots of balck pepper when it's on the plate. Will keep in a sealed tupperwear box in the fridge for the next night but don't add the cheese until it's re-heated.

HTH

crana9

Good ideas there lillibet. I don't eat meat so yep I do eat quite a few veggie sausages/hotdogs. I have several quorn ones in the fridge as it happens (combining a special offer with some coupons quorn kindly sent me. ahh!) so I may try them in a stew, good idea. I was going to have sausage & sweetcorn pasta tonight..lol..not very exciting.

Galtizz

Good idea with the microwave stuff. I'm not sure it's worth me getting another one with a grill  :-/ but its a good thought.

LIDL have them on offer from next Thursday.

Also have a bizzare Raclette Grill I have no idea what it is or how it works but it's only £12.99 and it grills things  :-/  
Also, on the same lines, could you use a George Forman to add a bit of colour to your food? My local Comet had a couple of boxes of reduced ones last week £12.99 because the box was a bit battered.

cath-w

Hi there,

I would suggest buying a steamer.  I have a steamer pan in 4 sections.  The bottom pan bit, 2 sections for food to go and then a lid.  Well worth the money it will cost you to buy.

Recipes:
(1)

You can make veg and cous cous.  Heat some water in a kettle and add to a stock cube.  Pour over cous cous and let to sit for a few mins (I never bother to cook cous cous as it says on the packet just pour over the hot water).

Cut into large chunks some veg (carrots, potatoes, leeks, brocolli - whatever you like).  Put them in the steamer (or boil).  When softish add spices as required and serve on top of the cous cous.


(2) Soup.  You can make all sorts of soups from veg.  You can even add pasta and rice to the soups also.  Again steam the ingredients to go into the soup (you can even steam mushrooms), add spices and herbs and blend with a stock cube until smooth (nneds a blender for this though)

You can do;
- mushroom, potato and onion
- carrot and potato
- brocolli and chedder
- leek and potato

Another idea is to go to your local library and get a book on microwave cooking, or one pot cooking as this will have loads of ideas too.

C.

Just thought - you can also cook noodles by boliing them and then eat with steamed veg and a bottled sauce from the supermarket.


edited to add more info

Trow

Instead of sauteing in oil you can use a little water, stock or wine - works well to cook onion etc before adding other ingredients.

I notice you don't mention pasta - thats always fairly straightforward with just pans - bolognaise, macaroni cheese and just veggie pasta with tinned toms and veg - or pasta and pesto - delicious with some veggie sausages chopped into it and some cheese on top.

Have you tries making 'quorn supreme' using quorn chunks and mushroom soup? I add sweetcorn and onion and serve with whatever veg I have and rice or potato or pasta - its *really* easy and quick to make.

I'll come back if I think of anything else.