Weezl and friends Phase 2 -giving it a whirl for Shirl! Testing meal plan for a month

twinkle_star_2

Just about to cook the mushroom pasta but thought I should point out that the recipe doesn't state to cook the pasta at any point but then later says to mix cooked pasta with the sauce. Maybe just put 'cook pasta according to packet' as the first part of the method.

Also, 2 tsp of garlic - fresh, powder, that stuff in a tube/jar?

weezl74

twinkle_star wrote: »

Just about to cook the mushroom pasta but thought I should point out that the recipe doesn't state to cook the pasta at any point but then later says to mix cooked pasta with the sauce. Maybe just put 'cook pasta according to packet' as the first part of the method.

Also, 2 tsp of garlic - fresh, powder, that stuff in a tube/jar?

I used 2 tspns powder for 4 people, it was pretty garlicky, but we liked it that way! Reduce if you're concerned

I will tweak the web version as per your helpful feedback

Allegra, 6 mins ago I put 4 loaves of no knead on to prove, I'll post again when they've peeked above tin top, and that'll help with monday's timings?

xxx

weezl74

Twinkle, your changes are live now, does it read more clearly?

twinkle_star_2

Right, just finished my lunch of vegan pasta funghi.

Very filling and very garlicky! I used the powder but I think in future I'd reduce it a little (but that's just a personal preference).

I thought it was nice and tasty but a little too creamy/stodgy to eat frequently. Conversely OH loves it (as he prefers creamy sauces) and would it eat it a lot.

I have no children to test this on so I've no idea if kids would eat it but OH is generally like a big kid so I'd guess it would be a hit!

Me 5/10 (sorry!)
OH 9/10



Changes definitely read better.

weezl74

Brilliant, thanks

Would a garlic reduction have made it a 6 out of 10, or is that more about it being quite carb heavy?

Allegra, loaves have gone into the oven now. Hope that helps with your timings

twinkle_star_2

I think a garlic reduction would probably make it a 6.

I really liked it at first but it got a bit heavy for me - 'clarty' is the word my grandma uses but nobody outside my family seems to understand it!

Sian_the_Green

This is me making a personal opinion but on your nutrition page, the first thing that strikes me is the little pills. I think I would like to see a picture at the top of something that epitomises the high nutritional value of your plan, rather than something that suggests artificial nutrition. So, the pills do illustrate a point, but if I clicked on it, I would have assumed you were saying I needed them to be healthy. Just my impression

shanks77

I really liked it at first but it got a bit heavy for me - 'clarty' is the word my grandma uses but nobody outside my family seems to understand it![/QUOTE]

Clarty is a great word but in my neck of the woods it means a bit dirty or covered in something ie "I was clarted in mud"

Allegra

Thanks for the bread timings, Weezl - I'm afraid that my attempts needed far longer to prove, hence the relaxed timings in the guide. And it was never ever in any danger of overflowing.... Oh well It's warmer now, things might be different on Monday

Oh, and Twinkle made me think now - how long should the flour be warmed up for and on what temp ? Maybe I never did it for long enough....

Allegra

Further amendments done to the batch cooking list. Weezl, I've swapped the timings around to fit in with your proving time (I think !), and Twinkle, I think I did what you suggested - could you have a look and see if it makes more sense to you now ?

Kez, yep, happy to try synchronising the shopping and the batch cooking lists next week - and both you and Potty, I'm chuffed you are happy to give it a go on Monday ! The more of us try it, the more likely it is that we'll end up with a realistic, helpful guide with accurate timings, so the more the merrier

Helen, you are really very brave to go out on a limb and be the first one to test the batch cooking, especially as you are not really feeling all that happy about the amount of dishes you'll be making all at once ! You sure you wouldn't rather wait until I actually tested it out and made sure it does work in the real world ?

Oh, and Weezl (again) - what gas mark do you bake the scones and the bread at ? I have gas 6 from old versions of recipes, and 220 C on different version of the same recipes - yet Delia's conversion table tells me that 220 C is gas 7.....