Weezl and friends Phase 3 - sitting pretty with Kitty

Allegra

Potty, the Crimbo nutroast for you to test (and of course, anyone else who fancies having a go, all testers, as always, welcome):

http://www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk/recipe-cranberrynutroast.html


This is a Christmas standalone recipe which is also suitable for vegetarians, and as such not part of the Christmas week shopping list and planner - just an alternative that, hopefully, veggies and vegans will also love

Everyone very busy and a li'l bit stressy today, so please forgive us if we're not 100% on the ball and there as soon as you need us, but all the things we promised to do for last few days are all on the to-do list and getting slowly ticked off !

MadDogWoman_2

Hi,

Not done any recipes yet today, but the good news is that CFR is still voluntary instead of being mandatory following this mornings meeting. Phew, I was in the right and managed to get employers seeing sense too.

This afternoon after collecting DD from playgroup will be houmous, savoury scones and carrot cake.

I do have pictures to post but I'll do that on my return from playgroup

poohbear59

Hi All,
We had 'Christmas Day' here yesterday. The overall verdict on the main plan was that it was easy to follow and a very tasty and filling meal.

First thing in the morning our internet went off so I guessed on what to do with the pork. It turned out well, despite me not putting foil on it at first. I also cooked all the sausages and then discovered that I needed uncooked sausages for the couchons.

Mushroom soup got 10/10 from all 5 who had it.

Pork 10/10 from all 8!

Yorkshire puddings I cheated and used plain flour as we like them light. DS3 prepared and cooked them 10/10 again

Stuffing. DD made this and it got 6/10,4/10, 0/10, 0/10, and four wouldn't try it. They would eat it without the fruit. DS3 said it tasted like tea cakes.

Roast potatoes and carrots got 10/10 from all 8!

Sprouts 0/10 from all but I don't think they were cooked. A mistake having too many cooks spoiling the sprouts!

GravyDD made this too. 5/10s all round. I didn't try it as I had fat free gravy:)They said it tasted like cider and not a lot else. I hope DD isn't reading this but I would have done more tasting/seasoning.

Cochons Made with cooked sausages because I cooked them all in the morning. All liked them except DB and someone else ate his too. Results on cochons, 9/10, 7/10, 5/10, 6/10, 0/10, 3/10, 6/10, 8/10.

Breakfast was filling and all gave 10/10 for it.

Everyone was too full for soup in the evening except DS3 who made a huge pork sandwich. Which he will be replacing!!

DSIL made the potatoes and carrots and he said that as he was able to follow the instructions the meal was a winner for him.

Today we haven't managed to follow the planner as I have been out but I would be here on Christmas day to follow the plan.

I gave the leftover mushroom soup to the men to have for lunch today. I have just read the planner and it says to use leftover soup with stuffed tortillas. Maybe a mention of that in the planner early on would be a good idea.

We are swapping a few of the other days around now as I didn't buy eggs and am waiting for a few from my new girls. 3 eggs today!

weezl74

MadDogWoman wrote: »

Hi,

Not done any recipes yet today, but the good news is that CFR is still voluntary instead of being mandatory

YAY


Poohbear! wow thanks for all that amazing feedback. What a good point about the mushroom soup (blush) I will add that now.

The lower feedback about the cochons, what do you think that was about? can I improve them?

nopot2pin

Allegra wrote: »

Potty, the Crimbo nutroast for you to test (and of course, anyone else who fancies having a go, all testers, as always, welcome):

http://www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk/recipe-cranberrynutroast.html


This is a Christmas standalone recipe for vegetarians, and as such not part of the Christmas week shopping list and planner - just a veggie alternative

Everyone very busy and a li'l bit stressy today, so please forgive us if we're not 100% on the ball and there as soon as you need us, but all the things we promised to do for last few days are all on the to-do list and getting slowly ticked off !

Smashing I will give this a bash on Wednesday, I think, possibly Thursday. I have everything in... though, I dont think I have the full amount of cashews, so I can pop into Asda on my break tomorrow for these

A couple of things.... that may make the recipe read a little better
The title says "cashew nut and cranberry nut roast" - it might look better as "Cranberry and cashew nut roast " ??

The other thing, which may be just me ...... I would put the stock cube as being "vegetable" instead of "chicken or veg"...only because as previously stated, its a standalone veggie recipe .. I hope thats ok

EDIT... I take it its just the normal xmas type veg to be served with this... or is there a specific something or other to go along with it ??

I am going to have the salmon pasta tonight... but with mussels instead of salmon... only cos I have some mussels that I got on a whoopsie
I will make the full amount of sauce, and freeze 3 portions (If I can juggle some room in the freezer )

Allegra

nopot2pin wrote: »

EDIT... I take it its just the normal xmas type veg to be served with this... or is there a specific something or other to go along with it ??

I believe it'd be the veg and trimmings (minus the sausage stuffed onions) from this recipe: http://www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk/recipe-porkshoulder.html?opt=pc

Claw_back_money

weezl74 wrote: »

CBM, I asked Tia, whose poaching method it is, and she said:

'Partly because it's not hygienic to wash the chicken under the tap (spread of bacteria) but mostly the first boil pulls out a lot of the yucky stuff from the chickens skin and what not. It also means that the end stock will be clear rather than grey-brown.

Don't know the more technical explanation thats how it was explained to me.

ETA Google says that the froth at the top is coagulated protein that appears at the first boil. So I think that just emptying out the water is the easier way to get rid of it, rather than skimming it off. Then you can just leave it to simmer slowly and don't have to go back to it as often.'

Weezl thanks for this - very interesting.
The verdict was that the chicken was lovely, albeit less flavoursome than they were used to - I'm not sure if they maybe had too much water in the pan. Apparently they didn't do the works, but enjoyed cooking in a new way and somehow they saw it as healthier. I wish she was a bit nearer so I could have popped round to help - its hard helping cook over the phone!

Cheers
Cbm

queen_of_string

I have been a busy testing person today. OH has gone fishing so I am here puppy minding ( akin to twin toddlers atm !!!). I have made some fruity pancakes, which I have had to freeze quickly to stop me eating any more of them! Did waffles in the waffle iron, also yum and now in the freezer, the sugar in the mix gives them that lovely crisp edge. The only word of warning for someone with a waffle iron, usually with mine, I wait until it stops steaming and they're done to perfection, with this mix, that isn't the case. They are done way before they stop steaming so you have to keep any eye on them.

I have frozen this type of thing many times before and I dont envision any problems with dumping them in the toaster to reheat them.

I have also made a 1/3 batch of french onion soup. Very nom, a little sweet but I think I can rectify that with some bitterness from garlic croutons, and probably down to me using a "soft" non alcoholic cider ( like apple juice). Just to note, the french soup recipe doesn't tell you how to make the croutons, only the mushroom one does.

We had the pork last night, this is so the only way to cook pork. We always use that method these days. Kids have taken wraps for lunch with the remainder. So, so far, a joint of just over 2kg, has fed 5 of us for dinner, the puppies some bits with their kibbles and 3 kids for wraps with enough left for me and OH to have wraps or risotto or something yet to be decided :-)

queen_of_string

Oh, forgot, getting up at 5 am with whiny dog has addled my brain ( are you seeing a theme developing here? Yes, normally would leave him to whine, but had 3 kids who had to get up for school, so got up to get them some more sleep :-( ).

Looking at the potato salad recipe. I think the basics are there for sure. I have, in the past, made a version where the cooked potatoes are fried in the sausage fat with the onions then the whole thing tossed together with a little vinegar. But I dont think the main planner people have vinegar :-(. Even a blob of mustard or some soy or worcestershire would work, anything to cut the grease. Adding apple is nice and sage leaves fry to crisp and add a lovely flavour for anyone who was doing the whole planner and had indulged in some sage. This version is nice cold too, like the original.

HTH

nopot2pin

I really liked the sauce for the salmon pasta.
Will definately use that recipe for white sauce again.
It really is quite a versatile sauce.... as it could take cheese, sun dried toms, mussels, ham, salmon..... whatever you wish ...
It was lovely

I have 3 portions for the freezer.... and I have just liberated some space in there for them :j by finishing off the icecream :rotfl: