How long will this lot last?

Ames

Oooh, good job I haven't thrown the bones and skin away yet! I'll give it a go - I've got a mini sc so I'll put the bones and stuff in there and have a go. I don't really have much to lose, a bit of veg that I wouldn't use anyway. I might try some other veg though, depending what I've got left. I've got a few packets of supa noodles that I don't know what to have with, so I can try your chickeny thing! So do I just chuck the veg in with the bones, or do I put some water in too? Would using a veg oxo make it a bit nicer, or would it ruin it? I told you I was a fan of the 'chuck it all together and cross your fingers' school of cooking!

I have to say I haven't done quite as much as it seems - I bartered with a friend, he did the chopping veg in return for a lift. So all I've been doing is chucking stuff in the sc, waiting a few hours, taking it out, spooning it into bags in tupperware boxes, and repeat.

greenbee

Ames wrote: »

Oooh, good job I haven't thrown the bones and skin away yet! I'll give it a go - I've got a mini sc so I'll put the bones and stuff in there and have a go. I don't really have much to lose, a bit of veg that I wouldn't use anyway. I might try some other veg though, depending what I've got left. I've got a few packets of supa noodles that I don't know what to have with, so I can try your chickeny thing! So do I just chuck the veg in with the bones, or do I put some water in too? Would using a veg oxo make it a bit nicer, or would it ruin it? I told you I was a fan of the 'chuck it all together and cross your fingers' school of cooking!

You'll need enough water to cover the bones & veg - the higher the ratio of bones to water the richer the stock will be. Don't add any oxo, it should be fine as it is.

What I do when I need a quick meal

• remove frozen stock from freezer
• run container under hot tap to release stock
• tip stock into saucepan and turn heat on very low to melt it
• add chopped chilli & lemongrass to infuse if I've got any
• bring stock to boil. Remove lemongrass if present
• add noodles
• add chopped spinach
• tip into bowl and eat

Ames wrote: »

I have to say I haven't done quite as much as it seems - I bartered with a friend, he did the chopping veg in return for a lift. So all I've been doing is chucking stuff in the sc, waiting a few hours, taking it out, spooning it into bags in tupperware boxes, and repeat.

Well done! That's a great way of doing things. I'm sure you can trade help with cooking for an invitation to stay and have a meal sometime too!

Ames

Nah, he wouldn't eat my cooking - it's not pizza or burgers!

The hand blender I'm getting from sis has a whisk attachment, so I might try a simple cake. I want to try a Christmas cake but it's been so long since I baked I want to try something simple first.

Just found a thread on here about semolina, lots of yummy ideas! Not sure it'll work in the sc though, but I'll try it first. I read about someone doing it and it turning out to be more of a cake type thing than pudding, but that'd be fine by me. I'm also wondering if I could throw a glug of amaretto in it to make it tastier. So I'm looking forward to trying that on Sunday.

Think I'll freeze the bones and wait till I've got more of them. 7 thigh bones wont really go too far I don't think! It might be a while though, so far I'm on 7 portions of chicken based meals, with another sc full to take out now, and another one to make... so I don't think I'll be buying any more chicken for a while!

Ames

Mmm just tasted the lamb, it was delicious, so tender and it just fell off the bones. I'm running out of freezer room though so I've had to change a few things round. I've taken out a big fish ready meal to eat tomorrow, that'll give room for about 3 portions of my stuff. And I've taken the thai spices thing out - I'm going to defrost it and stick it in the sc with the chicken that's left to be cooked. That's bulky and should make enough room for everything.

As ever, question time! I've been looking into the desserts and some of them want allspice. Could I use mixed spice instead? The descriptions look similar, but there's a big difference in price.

greenbee

Ames wrote: »

As ever, question time! I've been looking into the desserts and some of them want allspice. Could I use mixed spice instead? The descriptions look similar, but there's a big difference in price.

Allspice is actually just a single spice (allspice berries) and is included in mixed spice. It really depends on what you're going to be using it for. If you've already got the other components of mixed spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger generally), the invest in some allspice and you can start mixing your own spice blends. They all last for ages, although become less potent over time.

Ames

I just want to use it in apple pies and things to make it a bit more tasty.

greenbee

Ames wrote: »

I just want to use it in apple pies and things to make it a bit more tasty.

You can add all sorts of things to apple to jazz it up! Ginger works well, as does nutmeg or cinnamon, so if you've got any of those, use them up before buying anything else (you can mix them too). Or you can add in other fruit for a bit of variety. If you're making crumble, ginger in the topping is a nice idea.

MUMMYTO2BOYS

Ames wrote: »

I had a taste of last night's curry when it was done - it was first thing in the morning though so didn't fancy a full portion! It didn't taste very curryish, but was good anyway!

Use more curry and chilli powder and get some paprika, turmeric, garamassala (all bagged spices, less than £1 each at supermarkets) they last ages, just add a couple of teaspoons to every curry.

Ames

Thanks, I'll go herb and spice hunting next week! I don't have any curry powder, and the cumin, coriander etc I used ended up tasting more chilli like.

I'm going to have to put the apple pie on hold until I've got more room in the freezer, which I'm working on. Unless I just do individual ones in my tiny sc. Or I might try doing a small simple cake tomorrow, now I've got sisters hand blender and whisk thing. Off to look at recipes now...

Thanks again for all your help!

MUMMYTO2BOYS

Ames wrote: »

Thanks, I'll go herb and spice hunting next week! I don't have any curry powder, and the cumin, coriander etc I used ended up tasting more chilli like.

I'm going to have to put the apple pie on hold until I've got more room in the freezer, which I'm working on. Unless I just do individual ones in my tiny sc. Or I might try doing a small simple cake tomorrow, now I've got sisters hand blender and whisk thing. Off to look at recipes now...

Thanks again for all your help!

Which recipe were you following for the curry?