Quick Questions on ANYTHING part 2. Please read first post for links to other threads

Katgoddess

Preparing Potatoes in Advance?

If I was to peel and dice potatoes in the morning readying to be cooked at lunchtime/teatime how do I store them so they don't brown? Would it be ok to just cover them in water?

TIA

SunnyGirl

I leave my potatoes in the pan, covered with water with a good pinch of salt in to stop them going brown. It always works and is good for things like parsnips too

Olliebeak

SunnyGirl wrote: »

I leave my potatoes in the pan, covered with water with a good pinch of salt in to stop them going brown. It always works and is good for things like parsnips too

This is also one of the best prep-ahead things for Christmas Day. My own personal tradition is watching the Carol Service on Christmas Eve while peeling/prepping my veggies at the same time AND singing away at the top of my voice !

SunnyGirl

Ollie I'll definitely be doing that come Christmas then! My Mum always does and leaves everything in covered bowls in the garage as its cold. We're having our main meal on Christmas Eve so I'll find a cd of christmas songs on the 23rd and carry on your tradition

Savvy_Sue

Olliebeak wrote: »

This is also one of the best prep-ahead things for Christmas Day. My own personal tradition is watching the Carol Service on Christmas Eve while peeling/prepping my veggies at the same time AND singing away at the top of my voice !

SunnyGirl wrote: »

Ollie I'll definitely be doing that come Christmas then! My Mum always does and leaves everything in covered bowls in the garage as its cold. We're having our main meal on Christmas Eve so I'll find a cd of christmas songs on the 23rd and carry on your tradition

Here's a better one, at 3 pm on Christmas Eve (OK it won't work for you SunnyGirl, but next year!)

1. assemble the entire family round a suitable table,
2. present them with veg peelers, sharp knives and chopping boards,
3. add chocolate and age appropriate festive drinks,
4. and ALL the veg for the next day.
5. Nobody leaves until it's all done!

I do join in with the carols too, although the boys tell me to stop repeatedly. Sorry, can't help it!

I've been doing this since they were quite small. OK, you don't want to let a 3 year old loose on the sprouts with a sharp knife, but they can peel!

blueberrypie

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Here's a better one, at 3 pm on Christmas Eve (OK it won't work for you SunnyGirl, but next year!)

1. assemble the entire family round a suitable table,
2. present them with veg peelers, sharp knives and chopping boards,
3. add chocolate and age appropriate festive drinks,
4. and ALL the veg for the next day.
5. Nobody leaves until it's all done!

Ooooh, I like your style! That's just gone into my Xmas notes! :-D

zippychick

blueberrypie wrote: »

Ooooh, I like your style! That's just gone into my Xmas notes! :-D

What are xmas notes and should I have some?:rotfl:

Natty68

CCP wrote: »

Today's fruit / veg box has three sharon fruit in it. I've never had these before - can someone to tell me how to eat them, please?

Can they be eaten raw or do I need to cook them? Do I eat them peel, seeds (do they have seeds?) and all, or are only bits of them edible? And how do I tell when they're ripe?

As you can probably tell, I'm a bit bemused by these funny orange things - any help will be very gratefully received!

Sounds like you got the same veg box as me CCP, I still haven't been brave enough to do anything with my Sharon Fruit but they are ripening off rather nicely

SunnyGirl

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Here's a better one, at 3 pm on Christmas Eve (OK it won't work for you SunnyGirl, but next year!)

1. assemble the entire family round a suitable table,
2. present them with veg peelers, sharp knives and chopping boards,
3. add chocolate and age appropriate festive drinks,
4. and ALL the veg for the next day.
5. Nobody leaves until it's all done!

I do join in with the carols too, although the boys tell me to stop repeatedly. Sorry, can't help it!


I've been doing this since they were quite small. OK, you don't want to let a 3 year old loose on the sprouts with a sharp knife, but they can peel!

Yes but they can all assemble at 3pm on the 23rd of December :D;) I like it thanks!

Edited to add:Natty68 & CCP I love sharon fruit just washed, peeled & eaten they are sooo sweet & yummy.

Savvy_Sue

I forgot to say that we are gathered around the radio for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College Cambridge, on Radio 4. That is also broadcast on TV, but a) I've never liked the idea of sharp knives being used while watching TV; b) we didn't used to have TV when I started doing this; c) I prefer to do the veg in the dining room rather than the lounge and so on ...

You'll all find your own ways of doing this, the main thing is to get EVERYONE involved. Although I think I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of years DH has been home in time ...

blueberrypie wrote: »

Ooooh, I like your style! That's just gone into my Xmas notes! :-D

zippychick wrote: »

What are xmas notes and should I have some?:rotfl:

All I can say is that I've managed perfectly well without any all these years. :rotfl: My only concession to organisation is to write down EVERYTHING I intend to serve on Christmas Day, in roughly the order in which I need to start cooking it, so that I don't forget the bread sauce ...