Cook Something Different Challenge

Clutterfree

edinburghlad wrote: »

I really like this idea, if only I had some cook books. Maybe time to invest in a couple.

Charity shops are usually good places to pick them up or else there are loads on the web.
If you have a library, it's a good way to try before you buy too.

edinburghlad

I forgot I had a library card, will give that a go :-)

Thanks clutterfree:j

Clutterfree

I tried a new recipe a few days ago...

Book: The Way I Cook by Lisa Faulkner
Recipe: Chicken Pie with Stuffing Pastry
Page: 17



Lisa's Version:



My Version:



Feedback: I followed her recipe but I did double the amount of stock because I felt it would be too dry otherwise and I am pleased I did. Also next time I would reduce the stuffing by about a quarter because the stuffing layer was just a tad too thick for my taste.

Verdict: Would I make this again? Yes, with the above tweaks I can see this being a regular on our meal plan, especially in the winter served with mashed potatoes.

Nelski

Good to see the thread back to life again :j thanks Pink
Had a read through earlier and was giggling at my first venture into tuna and scallops

I am far better now I think at trying new things but the chilli still appears fairly regularly hey ho I can live with that.

My addiction to cook books was never sorted and must have another 10 since starting this way back when but I do at least attempt a look through them:D

Got a large pack of chicken breasts yesterday on offer at Costco so its time to hit the books and find some creative uses rather than my usual chicken tikka masala or Jamie chicken pie. Also have an abundant supply of red and green chillies thanks to another venture in the garden.

Would be good to see some of the old faces on here with their pictures of hot chefs to go with any recipe of course :rotfl:

Be back soon with update

downshifted

Ok, I'm in. Next new recipe this weekend :-)

downshifted

In the oven is Pork with ale, black pepper and prunes, from Antony Worral Thompson's GI Cookbook. Basically pork steaks marinatedin wine vinegar, sugar, herbs, garlic and lots of black pepper casseroled with fried onions and prunes in a sauce made from beer and chicken stock. I'm serving it with beans from the garden and roasted sweet potato, pepper, onion and courgettes (the latter also from the garden). I'll let you know what we think, and will take a pic though don't know how to post.

Tomorrow i am making prune and chocolate torte from bbc good food, otherwise the prunes will sit in the cupboard far too long!

Lizling

I made Persian spinach balls from my Veggiestan cookbook. They're ok, but quite bland. Still, they were quite quick and very cheap to make (half a bag of frozen spinach, some of the cheap white bread I had in the freezer, bit of milk, couple of eggs... so no great loss.

I might adapt the recipe to make similar things more to my taste.

downshifted

The pork was lovely, the prunes ensured that the sauce was not bitter, I sometimes find things made with beer too strong but this was just right and the prunes made a change from apple with pork. Pork steaks can be a bit tasteless I find, and this jazzed them up easily.

Not a recipe, but for brunch today we had leftover beans from last night at room temperature with home grown tomatoes and feta cheese and a poached egg on top. It was delicious, fresh looking and tasting, and healthy too.

Choc and prune torte in the oven now.

Gigervamp

Lizling wrote: »

I made Persian spinach balls from my Veggiestan cookbook.

Oh, what's that book like? I follow Sally Butcher on Twitter and she's been making some nice sounding lunch stuff to sell in her shop.

Lizling

I'm not sure yet. I haven't had the book long and that was the first thing I've made from it!

It looks like there's a lot of nice stuff in there, ranging from quick and easy to fairly tricky-looking. A lot of it is mezze rather than main meals, which suits me fine but wouldn't be for everyone. I'll be making a lot more from it for this thread, I'm sure.

One thing I would say though, is that if you haven't got access to a Middle Eastern supermarket of some sort, a LOT of the recipes will be very difficult to reproduce faithfully. I *do* have access to a Turkish supermarket and I'll still probably have to head over to Sally's shop in Peckham for freekeh, shanklish and half a dozen other ingredients.

I'll have to follow her on Twitter too. I always forget about Twitter.


Oh, I should add that the spinach balls probably work fine as a garnish, which is what's suggested in the book. I tried to use them more like falafel.