Weezl's phase 1- recipe testing and frugalisation- come one, come all!

weezl74

shanks77 wrote: »

Ok they went down very well ex gave them a 8/10 me 7/10 would have them again would prob reduce the oats a little but very filling and tasty. Took pictures but unable to download them not sure what i am doing wrong but never mind

:D:D glad you liked despite the meat with fruit thingie

Y'never know, shirley's month 2 could easily include this recipe

ceridwen wrote: »

Just one point (okays - two then) re further frugalising.

I wonder why we are using canned beans/chickpeas/etc - when there are dried versions available? Dried pulses are noticeably cheaper than canned ones/healthier/better for the environment - whats not to like?:D

only because of initial out-lay C 1 can kidney beans 19p, smallest bag of dried kidney beans 99p. Even though it would last Shirley more months.

poohbear59

weezl74 wrote: »

Yes, lets try this one but with powdered milk instead of the water

Can you serve it with 250g potato wedges per person, plus 2 other veg weighing 80g each?

(but as your men are hungry and outdoorsy, maybe have a bit to spare ie extra wedges as seconds in case of mutiny!)

I really appreciate this PB

Thanks, The cauliflower cheese is ready to go in the oven for browning off a bit and the potatoes are in too. I will let you know the verdict later tonight.

BTW I seem to have an extra man here for dinner. Wish me luck, I have added extra potato but all other ingredients are exactly as in your recipe.
They may need toast for supper tonight.

ceridwen

weezl74 wrote: »

:D:D glad you liked despite the meat with fruit thingie

Y'never know, shirley's month 2 could easily include this recipe



only because of initial out-lay C 1 can kidney beans 19p, smallest bag of dried kidney beans 99p. Even though it would last Shirley more months.

Hmmm....understand that point....

So - I guess we hope Shirley has one of those shops nearby where its possible to buy ingredients by the ounce (showing my age here..:o) in the exact quantities she requires....

Hmm...wonders if its worth us putting the dried measurement equivalent in recipes besides that "1 can of..."? I think that would be a good idea for those Shirleys (and us) who DO have a shop like that nearby:D. I admit I'm struggling a bit with how many ounces (age again:o) of dried pulses = 1 can of the same pulses (can anyone put me outa my misery on this please?).

SusanC_2

ceridwen wrote: »

I wonder why we are using canned beans/chickpeas/etc - when there are dried versions available? Dried pulses are noticeably cheaper than canned ones/healthier/better for the environment - whats not to like?:D

I've been using the canned ones - but I'm thinking about it...and recall back in the 1970s I always used dried ones and then cooked them up in the pressure cooker I had then.

I've got a different pressure cooker now - and...errr....confession time I'm still looking at it nervously...as its a different style to the one I had back then....:o:o

However - I think I'm correct in thinking I could just revert to dried pulses and the soaking them overnight before cooking them - BUT cook them in my slowcooker/crockpot instead of my pressure cooker??

I would imagine I could just do that soaking, then bring them to a boil in a saucepan and just transfer them to my slowcooker and cook them on high for 3-4? hours and bingo....OR maybe on low for 7-8? hours and also bingo.

Am I right in thinking this?

I'd like to try this for myself - at the rate I'm going...it could take some time yet before I try out my modern-style pressure cooker...but I could "get in there" and try a slowcooker method of cooking them within days.

I'm thinking that - if this works - then I dont reckon it would be too much faff for Shirley....:)

If it's kidney beans you have to boil them first before putting them in the slow cooker otherwise you can get kidney bean poisoning. I tend to make sure I need a lot of them so that it's worth the effort but for smaller amounts, they can be cooked and then frozen ready for use. (I am scared of pressure cookers since my Auntie's sprayed gravy all over the ceiling.)

weezl74

poohbear59 wrote: »

Thanks, The cauliflower cheese is ready to go in the oven for browning off a bit and the potatoes are in too. I will let you know the verdict later tonight.

BTW I seem to have an extra man here for dinner. Wish me luck, I have added extra potato but all other ingredients are exactly as in your recipe.
They may need toast for supper tonight.

Acquired an extra man without noticing :rotfl:

Hope it goes well, fingers crossed for you

ceridwen wrote: »

how many ounces (age again:o) of dried pulses = 1 can of the same pulses (can anyone put me outa my misery on this please?).

drained weight of an average can of pulses is 260g, which is produced using roughly 130g of dried pulses. 130g dried pulses is 4.5oz. Hope that helps

FrankieM

My veggie burgers were very tasty but a were still a bit wet. ceridwen perhaps use the baked beans but not all or any of the sauce?

ceridwen

SusanC wrote: »

If it's kidney beans you have to boil them first before putting them in the slow cooker otherwise you can get kidney bean poisoning. I tend to make sure I need a lot of them so that it's worth the effort but for smaller amounts, they can be cooked and then frozen ready for use. (I am scared of pressure cookers since my Auntie's sprayed gravy all over the ceiling.)

I'd got that idea playing on my mind a bit - of the need to boil kidney beans - hence thinking "Oh well - I'll boil 'em all before sticking in a slowcooker".

Do you think I need to specifically boil the kidney beans for a bit (say 15 minutes?) before transferring them and the water they are boiled in to the slowcooker to finish cooking maybe? - but could put other dried beans/lentils straight in the slowcooker in the water after it had just come to the boil?

SusanC_2

ceridwen wrote: »

Hmmm....understand that point....

So - I guess we hope Shirley has one of those shops nearby where its possible to buy ingredients by the ounce (showing my age here..:o) in the exact quantities she requires....

Hmm...wonders if its worth us putting the dried measurement equivalent in recipes besides that "1 can of..."? I think that would be a good idea for those Shirleys (and us) who DO have a shop like that nearby:D. I admit I'm struggling a bit with how many ounces (age again:o) of dried pulses = 1 can of the same pulses (can anyone put me outa my misery on this please?).

I don't know how accurate it is but I usually reckon one cup cooked is equivalent to a tin and one cup dried makes about four cups cooked (which is very annoying when your hummous recipe uses three cups). Will go and weigh a quarter cup of kidney beans...
70g or 2 1/2 oz.
ETA: I see weezl has meanwhile given more accurate figures.

purpleivy

SusanC wrote: »

I don't know how accurate it is but I usually reckon one cup cooked is equivalent to a tin and one cup dried makes about four cups cooked (which is very annoying when your hummous recipe uses three cups). Will go and weigh a quarter cup of kidney beans...
70g or 2 1/2 oz.
ETA: I see weezl has meanwhile given more accurate figures.

When I first started doing my own beans from scratch i weighed a reg 400g tin after it had been drained. SOme cans of stuff have drained weight on them. I usually reckon to bag into somewhere in the region of 220-250g. Flexible so I don't end up with a few spoons full left over.

artybear

It all sounds yummy to me- the Neanderthal, Bob, (he is getting worse in my mind) will be happy with the roast dinner.

The only thing I would not be able to eat is the sweetcorn fritters-this is because when I was little and went to play with a little girl her mum put sweetcorn with EVERYTHING-pasta, pizza, lasagne, fry up, roast dinner, even a portion in her packed lunch! And she always made me eat it even though I hated it. My brother used to go and play there too and we both have a massive aversion to sweetcorn because of this lady!!! (Also she always said I had to be the 'slave' whilst her daughter was the 'princess' in games!)

Goodness I think I may have some anger over this-may need counselling lol!!!!!!!!!

But anyone it look lovely and as long as Shirl doesnt force them to eat sweetcorn no one will be traumatised!

Now off to a Real Ale Festival so if a post anything silly later ignore me!

artybearXXXXXXXX