Its tough, it will get better and guess what its freezing brrrrr!

maryb

I can't get long grain rice right whatever I do but basmati always turns out right for me. 1/3 cup per person into plenty of fast boiling water, turn heat down to simmer and cook for exactly 10 minutes then turn heat off, drain and return to pan. You don't need to put the lid on but just leaving it in the hot pan until you are ready to serve seems to help keep it from clogging.

I know it's more expensive than long grain but I waste much less if I stick to basmati

alice-mary

jackieglasgow wrote: »

Nuala I like to think I am a really good cook, but rice beats me every time! I have given up and get OH to make a vat of it once a fortnight, and freeze it in meal sized portions.

I can't remember where I originally heard this but I have been using the following method for YEARS.....

Put the rice in a large microwavable bowl, cover with LOADS of water and microwave on high for 20mins, leave for 2 mins then drain and use.

It leaves space on the hob, doesn't boil over or boil dry and the bowl is really easy to wash! This method has never failed me and in the past, I too used to burn pans, almost destroy cooker tops etc as well as waste time and food, so I hope this helps!

Alice
xx

ifonlyitwaseasier

hey peeps,

well the snow got here at last, and is still falling, not settling on the roads but the garden looks lovely

i've seen Sammy on FB and she seems ok, i'll let her know you're asking after her

so plan for today to stay warm, make twinks maybe make some bread too as all i want to be doing is staying warm!!!!!!!!!!

ioiwe

ps i've done all but 1 person for my xmas shopping and they are all in budget!!!!!

jackieglasgow

I am embarrassed to say I studied cooking for two years at college, and worked in a professional kitchen So thanks for all your rice cooking tips, but I think I may be a lost cause :rotfl: Hopefully someone else will be able to use them though

CRANKY40

NualaBuala wrote: »

:rotfl:
Cranky, your cat cracks me up!

Hmmm, try living with it. Last winter when it snowed she had to have her own mini hot water bottle otherwise every time a child's backside touched a chair she sat on the child. The children were complaining :rotfl::rotfl:

The only time she's moved this morning was to come and help me make ham sandwiches for the house elf's packed lunch. She parked her behind on the radiator and yowled until the ham went back in the fridge.

This is how it mostly spends an evening..... and we don't put her there - she does it herself.

ifonlyitwaseasier

awwwwwwwwww cranky that is toooooooo cute!!!!!

and edited to add a message from Sammy:

am about but keep getting side tracked every time i manage to get near mse to post - we are all full of cold still so no fun and plenty of trying to snooze on the sofa as a 5 month old with a col dis the grumpiest little thing going, not to mention ben is full of it as well as me and owen has apparently gotten man flu so its a million times worse! .

dollydaydream07

it is freezing here, no more snow has fallen but we did have some weird weather last night - it was snowing/sleet and thunder and lightening!!!!!!!!!!! really strange!!
i must have looked so funny last night when i went to bed - i don't wear pj's, i get too warm, but last night i was freezing so i got in bed with my socks on, wrapped my shawl around me and got in bed :rotfl: - oh it was heaven within 10 minutes i was toasty warm so i slowly got out of the shawl and took my socks off and i stayed warm all night!!! i don't care how funny i looked :rotfl: - i was warm!!!!!!!!!!!!

DD is back at school today so while she is out i think i shall order her xmas pressies off the net as DH got paid today - will also sort out our food budget till next pat day and try and do some sort of meal plan, might make some twinks or fairy cakes or something - the rocky road we made yesterday is pretty much gone!!

really don't know what to make for tea - i've got 2 pieces of sea bass in the fridge but not sure what to have with them - DD won't eat it so will have to find something else for the fussy little madam to have

no idea why she is so fussy all of a sudden - we had sausages and pasta last night, she was pushing it round her plate for ages, said she didn't like it but she used to love pasta but now won't eat it - well i made her eat it, she didn't eat all of it and the deal was if she ate it all then she could have pudding - well DH:mad: let her have pudding:mad: so i was not impressed - told hims he will eat whats put in front of her and i am not cooking different meals for her every day - if he wants to pander to her fussiness then he can blooming well cook for her!!!!

right i am off to go and do some housework before i spend the day researching Abiane's xmas pressies!!!

janb5

jackieglasgow wrote: »

I am embarrassed to say I studied cooking for two years at college, and worked in a professional kitchen So thanks for all your rice cooking tips, but I think I may be a lost cause :rotfl: Hopefully someone else will be able to use them though

Hi Jackie - I make a pint of Marigold stock bouilon to a cup of rice. I`d use 2 cups to 2 pints of rice for four people. Once added to the rice, do not stir as it releases starch and spoils the rice. I usually find it takes about 15 - 20 mins on a low heat. Once you can see it has absorbed then decant into a bowl . You can also add peas etc at the end of the cooking time if wished. I also find it best to be picky as to what pan you use - something like stainless steel etc is fine. Hope that helps.:j

Kittikins

Cranky - love your kittie, I want a cat now!! (but being sensible, I can barely afford to keep me and DD, so shall content myself with cuddling other people's cats for a while longer.....)

gailey_2

charlies-aunt wrote: »

Your post made me smile - all I can say is its a mystery how some people manage...we are long term married, we both work (although not in high paid jobs nowadays) we don't smoke or go out or go away on holidays or drive expensive cars or wear expensive clothes - our luxuries are our pets...but we have acquaintances where either the wife or they both have not worked for years but seem to be able to do everything (holidays,cars, designer clothes, pubbing & clubbing, eating out etc) that we can't afford to . . . they wear T-shirts all year long cos they superheat their homes whilst we sit watching TV with the heating off or as low as it will go ? . ? . . . . I'd love to know where we are going wrong! !

Hubby keeps saying that what we doing wrong.
I think that too at times.
But keep reminding myself better to live within means than accrue more debt.

I like living a simpler life think we appreciate our family more when not worrying about materialistic things like new cars and hols.

kittie you made me chuckle 30kg flour!:eek:what you going to do with it all.

I got nothing against online ordering just never been for me plus some fb freinds leaving themselves at mercy of tesco in bad weather and having no food in house with family just makes me think better planning.

well we got some snow overnight.
it snowing at moment but not heavy.
Hubby drove eldest into school.
He also tried to fix pram punture.

My 15month olds refusing to go down for morning nap.

I washed up cleaned kitchen, got washing on.

hopefully making pasties later and lasagne.
Really want to achieve today not looking foward to school run later.

Need to start listing stuff on ebay as got few bills to pay.

Feel glad to be in warm and lots of food in cupboards/freezer.

Decided to make the mince meat minus the almonds as cant get supermarket to get them.