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

weezl74

Sian_the_Green wrote: »

Coolio. Got it. I think I was on the right kind of track in my head. So... I am thinking tart tatin with onions in balsamic for the vegans. Only now I have not a clue how to make the pastry vegan? Eek, help. Or shall I just make pastry and assume that we can work out the vegan type later if it works?

The other version, with no balsamic might be nice with a sconey base? Will try that one too.

We'd have to say 'adorable bonkers pregnant woman' but apart from that, I like that title!

Bought some ready brek type stuff from the shops too, not sure why people don't like it, seems fairly harmless to me

aw shucks

sconey base sounds nommy

veganised pastry is visible in the chicken and onion pie in the other place....

shanks77

weezl74 wrote: »

I love an honest response! Shanks you have my special permission to just have pea soup

Thanks that sounds much better

shanks77

Weezl is there other things that need tested as am losing track (think its my tired mind at least that is my excuse) happy to try out most things (you know my downfalls) dont mind if it is snacky, main meals, dessert, cakey or even veggie let me know

weezl74

since bob and shirl are pretty near ready, the next thing is for a few folk to consider if they'd like to follow Bob and Shirley for a month.

My vision for how this might look would be for this thread to pause, but perhaps still create some veggie and vegan recipes... but perhaps at a slower pace, and the lovely bob and shirley volunteers could start a new diary thread, of how things are, as B and S. They can take a week to look at the shopping lists and get their heads round any new recipes or techniques or kit required, and maybe try out something they feel looks a bit daunting ie bread if not made it before...

and then a bit of a batch cooking day - a saturday? where all the shirleys (with help I hope from the Bobs ) get a head start on lots of the faffy stuff, so that the weeks aren't too onerous...

and then maybe you could all eat the same things on the same days, which would help lots with general hand holding and sudden realisations that weezl has made a typo and you don't have to cook 5000 potatoes :rotfl:.

Well feel free to laugh, it is a big undertaking I realise. I may well be out of action, but there are lots of skilled cooks here, who would help in a jam

And I guess 80p a day is quite an incentive! But do think it through really carefully because I'd hate anyone to overstretch themselves or do it but land up resenting the project! Do it if you like the sound of the food, the vision and the finances (but perhaps have an emergency fun fund for fish and chips on the day the shirley planner goes pear shaped )

Well there you go, there is my challenge!

Anyone up for it?

xxx

weezl74

shanks77 wrote: »

Weezl is there other things that need tested as am losing track (think its my tired mind at least that is my excuse) happy to try out most things (you know my downfalls) dont mind if it is snacky, main meals, dessert, cakey or even veggie let me know

that list of main meals I posted earlier today late afternoonish...

any of those would be welcome (I don't think fruit appears as a savoury ) oh unless chutney similarly yucks you out! xxx

artybear

Can I just check weezl-would you like me to put all your lovely recipes on the index from your blog or are there some that only for your personal use?

hmmm...dont think I worded that quite right it sounds like you are taking drugs rather than frugalising recipes:rotfl:;)
artybearxxx

shanks77

Ok will try the bean pate and the liver pate tomorrow. Is there a particular reason for the pigs liver or would chicken liver be acceptable dont mind just curious

weezl74

artybear wrote: »

Can I just check weezl-would you like me to put all your lovely recipes on the index from your blog or are there some that only for your personal use?

hmmm...dont think I worded that quite right it sounds like you are taking drugs rather than frugalising recipes:rotfl:;)
artybearxxx

I'm happy for others to go on the index, if people might like to use them :)

Arty I've been wondering if there's a way we can show which recipes are on month one (Bob and Shirley) just for ease of reference...

Perhaps using a different colour/font size?

What do you think?

LOL at for my personal use only!

shanks, the pigs liver is quite a bit cheaper, but IMHO very nice.

Ox liver is the very cheapest, but although nice and edible, I discounted it because some people think it is something they would only buy for their pet dog. So I didn't want to upset shirley :rotfl:

Murrell

weezl74 wrote: »

Murrell, could you post the shortbread recipe with your tweaks suggested perhaps in another colour, sorry my tired brain can't seem to equate the recipe with your suggestions, and I wondered if you'd be prepared to pop them both in the one post?!

I made the shortbread as per your recipe exact including the optional garam masala, but used polenta instead of cornmeal. Unfortunately I overcooked it, cooked for 45mins. I just think its too sweet, but thats probably because I only make sugar free (raisins or agave syrup usually) or low sugar desserts. If I manage to find any cornmeal in morrisons, I will try it again with a bit less sugar. I know you don't want to change sugar amounts though because of the calories. I am not so sure about using sugar for the vegan calories though. In our little vegan family we have 2 diabetics and so if we was to follow this plan, those 2 wouldn't get enough calories, calcium or omegas because of the snacks with sugar!
re: grainy texture in the rissoles... I think this can be an issue with cornmeal... I wonder if I need to pre cook the mix first a little in a sauce pan before finally shaping into patties, adding stock and oil and baked bean juices...

Whaddya think?

Would be worth a try, I will make again if I manage to find cornmeal in morrisons. If I don't I will shop further on my day off. I hope shirley will be able to get cornmeal, I know someone mentioned it being difficult to find.
I fried 5 more today and they were still lovely. The others are in the freezer. I forgot to say the other day. that the grainy texture is more obvious if you let them go cold, my last one went lukewarm, as I was interupted during eating. I do hope we will manage to get them less grainy as I am going to be doing some freezer meals for a busy vegan relative and hope to use some of these recipes to keep the cost down, hoping that they will like and follow recipes to save money.

Thanks for all your help with the vegan planner, I know twinklestar has lovely wedding plans to make, and so I'm delighted we have another vegan willing to step into the breech! :A

Anytime. I am on here on my days off and in the evenings on work days. Will read every day if possible, even if I don't get time to reply straight away.

Better read some more, have catching up to do with being out yesterday and at work today.

Sandra
x

aless02

weezl, i'm having major bread issues. U used to make ur recipe with wholemeal, right? The past 2 tries i've used half,half wholemeal white and my loaves aren't rising properly (using allinson's yeast, 2tbsp in water). They'll peak above the tins after about 1hr rise time but then shrink and dense up during cooking. Honestly i think i need to absndon ur no knead recipe n go back to my ol' reliable as i never had rising probs before. Is wasteful as the slices come out so small that i have to give dh 2 sandwiches for lunch