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

weezl74

FrankieM wrote: »

Glad you're back on the 'up' weezl I've already got dinner cooking and have my meals planned for the next couple of days, but I can give the Spanish Omlette a go on Monday evening, if that's not too late.
Unfortunately, I don't have anything other than porridge oats, though I could pick some ready oats up on Saturday and give the hobnobs a go then??

Sorry I can't be more help.

thanks frankie

no rush, the weekend's great and monday's good for the omelette

I had a nap this afternoon and a hotwater bottle so I am a much refreshed weezl x

Fivenations

Re Risi e Bisi

I had a quick look at the photo on your web page. It looks tasty but a little on the dry side which may be why it may not be as good as you hoped. The traditional recipe has a texture half way between a risotto and a soup and this may give it a better "mouthfeel" though it may also require some stock as opposed to water which will add a little to the cost.

I just remembered I used to cook a marrowfat pea curry when I was a student from an M&S Curry cook book. I think it was ana African recipe. I cant recall the exact ingredients but it wasn't far from off those in this , minus the cheese, and with the addition of curry powder. A possible addition to ring the changes?

FrankieM

Ok, is there a recipe for the frugalised hobnobs somewhere?

ceridwen

aless02 wrote: »

also, buttermilk can EASILY be created with milk + lemon juice and leaving for 10 minutes. Or milk + vinegar. It makes baked things dellightfully full and fluffy, so really is a worthy addition to any recipe (try it with scones next time, people, it's beautiful). They do sell it in ASDA/Tesco/Sbury's, but it's obviously pricier than milk.

Would that be any type of vinegar - malt, cider, balsamic (okay - NOT balsamic in the case of Bob & Shirley:)) - or is it necessary to be specific as to which type of vinegar that would be?

weezl74

Fivenations wrote: »

Re Risi e Bisi

I had a quick look at the photo on your web page. It looks tasty but a little on the dry side which may be why it may not be as good as you hoped. The traditional recipe has a texture half way between a risotto and a soup and this may give it a better "mouthfeel" though it may also require some stock as opposed to water which will add a little to the cost.

I just remembered I used to cook a marrowfat pea curry when I was a student from an M&S Curry cook book. I think it was ana African recipe. I cant recall the exact ingredients but it wasn't far from off those in this , minus the cheese, and with the addition of curry powder. A possible addition to ring the changes?

thanks! yes the recipe would be fab So I kinda needed more stock?

Should the peas have mulched down a little more too? :D

weezl74

FrankieM wrote: »

Ok, is there a recipe for the frugalised hobnobssomewhere?

ok, well, twinks original is:

8oz sr flour
8oz sugar
8oz porridge oats
8oz margarine
1tbsp golden syrup
1tbsp hot water
1/2 tsp bic soda

the good news: we have most of these things!

Bad news, i'd like to get away with oil in place of butter/marg and no golden syrup

Are you wishing you hadn't asked frankie?

FrankieM

lol, no, not all!

I've not ever made these...so not sure where to start.

How much oil do you think I'll need?

FrankieM

Also, should I use white sugar?

taka

Awwww... have a hug Weezl :grouphug:(sorry its a dodgy one ). I'm amazed at you, your energy, dedication and passion for this project. You need to be kind to yourself - despite appearances you are not superwoman and nor do we think you should be!

I love this project and it is already helping people even before it is finished. Its just a huge task and one that none of us has tried to do before now so we are all learning as we go. :T

I saw that programme too and was in tears. Fiona (I think her name was?) is exactly who something like this could really, really, really help. I wanted to reach into the TV and point her here already... and thats before this project is finished! For £5.75 a week (yes really... I double and triple checked! Wow! :eek:) She could be eating healthy and bluming yummy sounding food!

The additional skill I'm really needing at the moment is probably quite a quiet behind the scenes sort of task.:o I have a fabulous spreadsheet designed by lesley following my dodgy initial attempts :rotfl:, which needs quite a bit of info putting in it still and checking with the latest versions of the recipes. Calories added etc.

If anyone feels they can give a bit of time to that it would be great. Lesley and I were joking the other night that I am not really a completer-finisher and I'd hate the project to fizzle because I can't dot the 'i's and cross the 't's of the project

I'm up for doing that if you want Weezl? I won't be able to have a go till Saturday afternoon though. I'm a sad scientist who actually likes data entry/collating! :rotfl:

It'll hopefully save me from wanting to kill the Rugby fans singing Swing low sweet chariot (badly!) every 10 secs outside my window (for hours!). Oh and the random bagpipe player we always get at the end of my street on rugby international days whose bagpipe I generally want to insert where the sun don't shine after 30 mins of the same song repeated! :eek:

Oooopppppssss... rugby stress! And breathe... :rotfl:

I could get some Hot oat cereal on Sat if you want another bod to try the vegan twinks? Ermmmm do we have syrup on the shopping list?

ceridwen

weezl74 wrote: »

aw thanks Mrs B.

To be honest I just feel pretty rubbish about my abilities at this challenge at all at the moment.

Sorry to be so candid, but I figured it was best to be honest with all of you my lovely team, rather than bottle it up.

I feel a bit embarrassed and sad that I just had this month to try to do something signficant and of value and help people. And I feel like I've wasted it by not being clever enough or thought-through enough.

Frankly I obviously bit off more than I could chew.:o

That's ok, no-one needs to worry I'm feeling needy or low self-esteemy I'm not, I know I'm not the prime minister and I never thought I could be.:D

I just don't think I realised how hard this would be or how ill-equipped I am to be all that this project would need me to be. I'd need to be Alistair Darling, plus Delia Smith plus experts on subsistence, plus have a degree in dietetics (probably one in chemistry too!) and even then, it's really hard because there's so much controversy about so many foods in the supermarket and so many other things I hadn't realised.

Anyhow there it is, the painful truth. I can't deliver this thing I thought I could. I still can in a way which seems meaningful and healthy and ok and normal TO ME. But I understand that I can't do it for anyone else to help them.

GAH! I'm just so frustrated with myself.

Think I'd better have a little rest. Shouldn't get this upset.

Please don't anyone think I feel anyone has hurt me. It's not any of you. It's me being brought up short by my inadequacies.

Weezl

Did anyone ever tell you that the most productive/etc people are the ones most likely to be tormented by self-doubt?:cool:

Well - I'm telling you that one right now.

People who arent up to creating much/dont do much/etc/etc - seem to have few if any moments of self-criticism. They just carry right on....blundering through.....

Those - on the other hand - who ARE trying hard/more likely to turn out a good "end product" have a tendence to be much more self-critical.

....and I know that you are a perfectionist our Weezl....so its hardly surprising that you are going in for a bout of "self-criticism" right now....
I watch you doing this at intervals - and its part of your temperament I guess - rather than any accurate reflection on the "state of play" IYSWIM:)

Keep at it lass...and dinna fash yersel....:)