Store cupboard challenge

Drea

Well, the results are in!

I've just had it with some rice, and it was tasty

I would have just popped that chicken in the bin and never thought to use what I did together so I'm quite chuffed

Pizza tomorrow though

Tabatha_Kitten

Stick with it mate. You done well so far.
I used to be the worst cook ever but I've had loads of ideas from here.
I am now the world expert on 'one pot' cooking - and making enough to freeze and keep us going for weeks !

julieq

I hope any leftovers are going in the fridge/freezer for later, not being chucked?

It's a shame it didn't thicken, but glad it went well otherwise, I was a bit on tenterhooks. I personally think these exercises in making thing with what you have are a much better way of getting confident with cooking than elaborate recipes from books. There's less pressure for a start, if it doesn't work you can laugh about it and put a pizza in. Gradually you figure out a few things that work together, get the hang of the principles, and build from there.

You can thicken overthin sauces by draining them off into a saucepan, then keeping over a low heat and using cornflour. If you put it straight in it goes horribly lumpy, the trick is to use 2 or 3 heaped teaspoons in a glass, add water, and stir to a milk like consistency, doesn't take long, then add about half to the sauce and stir it in, it should start to thicken, add a bit more if necessary. Keep it on the heat for a few minutes to cook the cornflour then put it back into the dish with whatever was cooking in it.

Drea

julieq wrote: »

I hope any leftovers are going in the fridge/freezer for later, not being chucked?

It's a shame it didn't thicken, but glad it went well otherwise, I was a bit on tenterhooks. I personally think these exercises in making thing with what you have are a much better way of getting confident with cooking than elaborate recipes from books. There's less pressure for a start, if it doesn't work you can laugh about it and put a pizza in. Gradually you figure out a few things that work together, get the hang of the principles, and build from there.

You can thicken overthin sauces by draining them off into a saucepan, then keeping over a low heat and using cornflour. If you put it straight in it goes horribly lumpy, the trick is to use 2 or 3 heaped teaspoons in a glass, add water, and stir to a milk like consistency, doesn't take long, then add about half to the sauce and stir it in, it should start to thicken, add a bit more if necessary. Keep it on the heat for a few minutes to cook the cornflour then put it back into the dish with whatever was cooking in it.

I agree, it's a good way to learn how to cook!

skintchick

OK, so you've helped Drea. What can I cook tonight? Or shallwe get takeaway?

Basically, i'm exhausted cos I'm PG and I didn;t sleep last night. We went shopping today and tongiht was supposed to be roast chicken but I've left it too late to put it in the oven (it's huge! Will take at least two hours) and I don;t fancy it tonight anyway.

Thing is, most of this week's meals were planned round leftover chicken.

We did buy some reduced duck breasts but I froze them and there's no time to defrost them now.

I don;t have a lot else, but here's the list:
tuna
baked beans
other beans (not kidney)
stuffing
cheese (but Oh will not eat it melted or hot)
veggies of various kinds - sweetcorn, green beans, peppers, courgette, cabbage
onions
potatoes
mince
mushrooms

I have spices and herbs, plus pasta, rice etc. We had pasta for lunch though. i don;t really fancy meat and veg.

I think we should just get a takeaway but it's not very OS especially as I lost my job.

Any ideas? i'm good at cooking so I'll try anything that isn;t too faffy.

mini_huny_money

:j well done Drea, I'm off to make mexican chicken wraps, usually by this time of night I can't be bothered but DS is coming home from Dublin tonight and by the time he get's in (Edinburgh airport BTW.......how's the fog over East tnite) he'll be starved. Thought I didnt have any chicken in cos Im running the freezer down in preparation for Xmas, but I founfd some chicken and pepper kebabs, defrosted them and ditched the skewers and chucked them in the wok

and if he doesnt eat them tnite, they'll do for tomorrow:D

misskool

Skintchick,

Fry off the mince with mushrooms and onions, throw in whatever veg you fancy. Add herbs and season. Eat with rice.

A bit more effort but peel and grate potatoes, fry chopped onion, add potatoes and then cabbage. Add some salt and pepper and herbs. Bubble and squeak.

Tuna pasta bake? Drain and flake tuna. Fry an onion. Then pasta at the bottom of the casserole dish, add tuna, peppers, courgette, then cover with some stock. Add tuna on top and then bake until cooked.

Failing that, baked beans on toast!

Tabatha_Kitten

Just take it at your own pace like Im doing.
Go for long, slow cooking and you cant go wrong.
Stew's, casserole, chilli, spag bol sauce etc, all seem to taste better the longer they are cooked.
Brown your meat & fry onions when you get time, Add stock &/or cheap wine/beer, leave in fridge, anything from a few hours to overnight, then stick in oven on low and forget !
Make it big though - my theory is that if ur going to go to the trouble, then you may as well make enough to feed an army then freeze small batch's.
It can then be expanded on for variety.
Example - take a basic spag bol sauce, add a few kidney beans, fresh chilli, left over veg and serve with rice instead of pasta.
I jazz my meals up with dumplings, yorkshire puds, crust, garlic bread etc - all were bought at first, but as my confidence grows I have started making my own.

Drea

mini_huny_money wrote: »

:j well done Drea, I'm off to make mexican chicken wraps, usually by this time of night I can't be bothered but DS is coming home from Dublin tonight and by the time he get's in (Edinburgh airport BTW.......how's the fog over East tnite) he'll be starved. Thought I didnt have any chicken in cos Im running the freezer down in preparation for Xmas, but I founfd some chicken and pepper kebabs, defrosted them and ditched the skewers and chucked them in the wok

and if he doesnt eat them tnite, they'll do for tomorrow:D

Yum, can I come to yours?

No fog here, I'm not far from the airport actually. I'll wave to every plane that passes over

Tabatha_Kitten

I did Mexican chicken wraps tonight too !!
Only cos I got the chicken cheap tho !
I do the same thing with a tin of mixed beans if money is tight.
It tastes just as good.