Jamie Oliver; Ministry of Food

thriftlady_2

moneysavinmonkey wrote: »

I'm really in a rage about that Julie woman.
Did she just invite herself along to the classes - it had already been discussed that she knew fine well how to cook so why was she there?? She just seemed to be hogging the limelight!

and the fact that after inviting herself into the classes she then starts stirring trouble up amongst everyone about new people coming to the classes and how that is not on? Why not???? As Jamie said it's his class!! I think he should have just asked Julie to leave when she started calling the shots and telling him who he should and shouldn't have in the cooking lessons. If anyone shouldn't be there it is her as she already knows how to cook, doesn't think the pass it on will work, and thinks the recipes are "crap" anyway!

I'm glad I decided not to watch this series, it sounds more like reality TV than how to cook.

kethry

I've been watching this series with interest (both me and the OH, who doesn't normally do JO, thinks "he's a bit of a !!!!") and while i think the passing it on idea is great, i can think of two huge holes..

1) those who don't have access to the internet (yes i know its available at the library but someone who doesn't have the get up and go to even learn to cook isn't going to go to the library to look this up unless they're already somewhat 'net savvy) or the finances to shell out £10 for a book... this is going to completely pass them by.

2) I actually live in an area similar to Rotherham as depicted in the programme, on a housing association estate. I get on reasonably well with the locals, have spoken to some of the other mums a few times about local issues like antisocial behaviour (but am not a mum myself). I'm a reasonably good cook and have been doing something very like "passing it on" for donkeys years, as my mom and someone like lightisfading will testify! however, while i would absolutely love to pass it on to the local mums, help teach them.. how on earth do you bring it up? I mean, i'm assuming that they live off ready meals, i've never been inside their homes, and even to ask would be a bit offensive, i think. And i think there must be
other people in the same shoes... if you don't have the local contacts already in place, but you want to help, how to go about it?

other than that i think its a fabby idea - if it takes off and councils around the country start to put it into place, i'd volunteer for it if i could...

Plum_Pie

Kethry, I totally agree. Even if you can get access at a local library, it's not secure to make financial transactions through a public computer. Also, some of these poeple may have basic bank accounts and therefore no credit/debit card.

dee63_2

How do people who do not work afford 4 takeaways a week i work full time and once very two weeks is what my buget will run to

Hobel

I've just bought the book that accompanies this series and I think it is very good. I have been looking for a book that shows you basic, non fussy cooking and I think (finally) that I have found it. I have already made the scones and used the omelette recipe. Although I could cook omelette before, this was a better recipie.

Fourcandles_3

kethry wrote: »

I've been watching this series with interest (both me and the OH, who doesn't normally do JO, thinks "he's a bit of a !!!!") and while i think the passing it on idea is great, i can think of two huge holes..

1) those who don't have access to the internet (yes i know its available at the library but someone who doesn't have the get up and go to even learn to cook isn't going to go to the library to look this up unless they're already somewhat 'net savvy) or the finances to shell out £10 for a book... this is going to completely pass them by.

2) I actually live in an area similar to Rotherham as depicted in the programme, on a housing association estate. I get on reasonably well with the locals, have spoken to some of the other mums a few times about local issues like antisocial behaviour (but am not a mum myself). I'm a reasonably good cook and have been doing something very like "passing it on" for donkeys years, as my mom and someone like lightisfading will testify! however, while i would absolutely love to pass it on to the local mums, help teach them.. how on earth do you bring it up? I mean, i'm assuming that they live off ready meals, i've never been inside their homes, and even to ask would be a bit offensive, i think. And i think there must be
other people in the same shoes... if you don't have the local contacts already in place, but you want to help, how to go about it?

other than that i think its a fabby idea - if it takes off and councils around the country start to put it into place, i'd volunteer for it if i could...

How about a beginners recipe club? Or just starting a conversation on the show? Letting them lead it to I can/I can't cook well. If the conversation doesn't go far, say something like you'd love to be involved with the project then if no one takes you up, I'd drop it.

Good luck.
If you're anywhere near North Warks I can find you lots of people willing to learn.

blueberrypie

PasturesNew wrote: »

I never did cookery at school and never bothered to cook "just for me". I've started now and when you first start cooking (especially for one person, with no freezer) the main problems are:
- recipes all use different forms of measurement.
- you need lots of unexpected equipment

You don't really, but I can see why so many people believe you do. I like that JO's site for this project lists essential equipment, but I also think that it's possible to manage without quite a few of the items it lists. But if you do need something, check out charity shops, which often have lots of kitchen equipment.

- a lot of ingredients are used in many recipes, a bit of this/bit of that; these can be quite hard to track down and expensive on that first shopping trip. I've been looking for oregano for 4 weeks now, I'll find it eventually but I'll have to go out of my way to do so.

Oregano? Really? I'm very surprised that it should be hard to find. Are you looking for the dried stuff or fresh? If dried, it should be in almost any supermarket's herbs/spices section. If fresh, many supermarkets carry small plants in the fruit/veg section.

- no matter how many of these basic ingredients you get together, the next recipe will always require 1-2 new/different ones minimum.

Another thing that isn't really so, because you can almost alway substitute or simply leave something out - but again, that knowledge is something that comes with experience and confidence, so it's difficult unless you've got a knowledgeable, experienced person helping you learn.

- no matter what new items you buy, you'll always need a new piece of equipment. I made my first cake the other week, I had no mixing bowl so started it in a measuring jug, had to tip that out into a big plastic food storage box to finish it off (had no idea how much volume the recipe would require), then I had no cake tin. Today I bought a mixing bowl.

A big one, I hope - it's easier to mix a small amount in a big bowl than the other way around. Good for you for using the storage box - creative thinking :-)

When you start cooking you've no idea if you will like what you cook, so it seems a waste often to buy all those pricey ingredients and equipment in case you never need to use it again.

Do you know anyone you could borrow some items from? Freecycle often has people giving away boxes of kitchen stuff they don't use or which are extras (I've got such a box sitting in my hall at the minute!)

Then the instructions aren't clear if you've never seen it before.

Yes - and that's one of the things I think JO realised in the first episode, when he saw how hard his recipes were for some people to follow.

Having gone from being a non-cook to a fairly competent one, I remember how daunting it was when I started.

I'm not convinced that lessons in schools are an effective way to teach people how to cook, really - I actually think that, done right, the kind of thing JO is doing would probably be more effective. The best way, though, has got to be just growing up around cookery - learning to cook the same way we learn to talk.

Fourcandles_3

blueberrypie wrote: »

You don't really, but I can see why so many people believe you do. I like that JO's site for this project lists essential equipment, but I also think that it's possible to manage without quite a few of the items it lists. But if you do need something, check out charity shops, which often have lots of kitchen equipment.

Oregano? Really? I'm very surprised that it should be hard to find. Are you looking for the dried stuff or fresh? If dried, it should be in almost any supermarket's herbs/spices section. If fresh, many supermarkets carry small plants in the fruit/veg section.

Another thing that isn't really so, because you can almost alway substitute or simply leave something out - but again, that knowledge is something that comes with experience and confidence, so it's difficult unless you've got a knowledgeable, experienced person helping you learn.

A big one, I hope - it's easier to mix a small amount in a big bowl than the other way around. Good for you for using the storage box - creative thinking :-)

Do you know anyone you could borrow some items from? Freecycle often has people giving away boxes of kitchen stuff they don't use or which are extras (I've got such a box sitting in my hall at the minute!)

Yes - and that's one of the things I think JO realised in the first episode, when he saw how hard his recipes were for some people to follow.

Having gone from being a non-cook to a fairly competent one, I remember how daunting it was when I started.

I'm not convinced that lessons in schools are an effective way to teach people how to cook, really - I actually think that, done right, the kind of thing JO is doing would probably be more effective. The best way, though, has got to be just growing up around cookery - learning to cook the same way we learn to talk.

Oregano is easy to find IF you know what it is in the first place. Oh it's a herb, it's with the herbs and spices or in the veg section great. The words have to mean something.

You can only substitute ingriedience when you feel confident you are swapping something that is going to work and beginners don't. That is the difference between being able to follow a recipe and being able to cook. If you don't know it's incredibly intimidating. It makes you feel stupid as everyone else seems to be able to do this.

Georgiabay

Fourcandles wrote: »

Oregano is easy to find IF you know what it is in the first place. Oh it's a herb, it's with the herbs and spices or in the veg section great. The words have to mean something.

You can only substitute ingriedience when you feel confident you are swapping something that is going to work and beginners don't. That is the difference between being able to follow a recipe and being able to cook. If you don't know it's incredibly intimidating. It makes you feel stupid as everyone else seems to be able to do this.

My friend worked at Sainsburys and someone asked if they stocked 'tepid water' because they needed it for a recipe.

kethry

Fourcandles wrote: »

How about a beginners recipe club? Or just starting a conversation on the show? Letting them lead it to I can/I can't cook well. If the conversation doesn't go far, say something like you'd love to be involved with the project then if no one takes you up, I'd drop it.

Good luck.
If you're anywhere near North Warks I can find you lots of people willing to learn.

hmmm. i might try that next time i see them standing outside. see how i get on. If i get blank stares, i'll drop it. Sadly i'm nowhere near North Warks - I'm in Manchester... oh well! I'll let you know how i get on.

keth
xx