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

zippychick

omnom wrote: »

Hi, I'd like to make some pizza, was just looking through the freezer and found about four unopened bags of those mozzarella cheese balls packed in water. They are dated September 2009! I've got one defrosting on the counter, but any idea if these will still be good for use after sitting for so long?

They will be fine providing they were frozen fresh

Some say they grate moz from frozen but i've never been able to manage it :rotfl:

zippychick

BUXTONRABBIT wrote: »

Marmalade question. I got a bag of Seville oranges reduced to 10p today. Can I make marmalade with granulated sugar or must it be preserving sugar. Thanks.

Hi Buxton

i would think it would be fine as as far as i know there's pectin in the orange skins and i think they are used too.... this thread may help on making marmalade

Sorry, it's something i would like to do so have no personal experience
Zip

want2bmortgage3

nearly every recipe in my veggie book involves this process and was wondering if i could grate instead of chopping? i grated celery instead of chopping and preferred the result as there was no crunchy celery, and made a smoother bolognese sauce. just wondered if anyone does this with garlic and onions to save time?

Psykicpup

I've seen & tried grating Garlic with success (bit messy) but my one & only attempt to grate onion just left a mess & me with streaming eyes.:eek:
If you chop the onion very finely it should cook out ok tho...BTW the easiest way to chop an onion is to cut it in half from stem to root, peel of the skin & pull of any long roots. Trim the stalk off & then cut in the opposite direction towards but not through the root. The finer you cut at this point gives a finer 'chunk'. Then cut again the other way until you are nearly at the root again (the same direction as you did to trim of the stalk) this will give a fine dice, which should cook away to almost nothing texture wise. NB if you have a very chunky onion you can make a cut or two horizontally to the board too before the first slicing.
I use this as I like to chop a load of onions for the freezer .. its soo handy to be able to just grab a handful or two for a recipe! :T It has the bonus of not only being speedy but because most of what makes you cry in an onion is near the root, & you only cut there once, it doesn't make your eyes weep as much!
I plan on buying a sack of onions next week to chop for the freezer as they are so cheap by the sack,:money: but often do this to use up those ones in a normal bag that would go a bit 'sleepy' before I would use them all! :A

BTW does anyone know why we call bruised or off/aged onions 'sleepy'?

Freddie_Snowbits

Onions, gets a sharp knife, quick blast and chop chop chop.
Farlic, snip ends off and just peel then crush.
Chillies, take care, wash hands afore rubbing eyes. (Note Freddie has had more chilli eyes than ... )

Sambucus_Nigra

Psykicpup wrote: »

BTW does anyone know why we call bruised or off/aged onions 'sleepy'?

Because they really are just sleeping. If you put them back in the ground they would continue growing and produce a flower and the next generation of seed.

Psykicpup

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Because they really are just sleeping. If you put them back in the ground they would continue growing and produce a flower and the next generation of seed.

Thank you Sumbucus! .. that makes sense as sometimes they are even trying to sprout a little
NB remove the green bits if you use a sleepy onion they will taste bitter! & any that have gone kinda wet & see through ....

xxvickixx

If you grate the onions they will release a lot more moisture and will not fry but boil in their own juice. It depends what recipe you are using them for.
If you're going to grate you may as well use a mini chopper or food processor - I do this when I'm making meatballs as I want moist onion to bind everything together.

quintwins

i have one of these and i always use it to chop onions and carrots ect, for garlic i just use a cheapo garlic press i got from m&s

http://www.pamperedchef.co.uk/ordering/prod_details.tpc?prodId=1702&words=chopper

LJM

all mine just gets whacked in the food chopper too saves too many tears from me lol