weezl and friends Phase 4 - recipe testing christmas treats!

nopot2pin

queen_of_string wrote: »

We so loved the carrot cake and its throw it all in one bowl method, I have been experimenting with it today .

Instead of orange, raisins and carrot, I used 3, previously frozen, over ripe, bananas, mashed with 50g of walnut bits, chopped small. I also used half wholemeal and half white flour.

Cooked as per recipe, omg this is nom! The house also smells fabulous :T.

I know the planners, followed strictly, dont have bananas, still, might help someone. We often have one sad banana left at the end of the week and I bung them in the freezer until there's enough to bake with.

Tomorrow, spiced apple version :-).

Thats a great idea, for using up bananas
I have accumulated quite a few in the freezer, so will give this a try soon

queen_of_string wrote: »

Allegra, do those big pumpkins sold for carving make good eating? Everywhere is selling them off now, but I had it in my head they were bleurgh to eat and I had to buy sugar pumpkins. I'll be delighted if I am wrong!

I buy the big pumpkins and roast them.
Then I whizz up the flesh with my stick blender.
I then put the flesh into a strainer, over a large bowl, and let the juice strain off, stirring every now and then to let more juice out.
I use the juice as a stock in whatever.
The pulp, I freeze, in a silicon muffin tray, for use in cakes, soups, risotto, whatever, whenever I need it.
I have 2 muffin size portions left from last years pumpkins still in the freezer :rotfl:

maltesers_2

Allegra wrote: »

They have it with the chillies though, Weezlie. It does make a difference

The 'good olive oil' probably makes a lot of difference too.

Allegra

maltesers wrote: »

The 'good olive oil' probably makes a lot of difference too.

LOL. I bet it does to Avocet, yeah - she hates the taste of rapeseed ! I am a philistine though, I'm afraid - I actually like the neutral taste of rapeseed. Plus I could not use olive oil in anything I hope DD to try (so, as I am a great one for allowing hope to triumph over experience, this'd be anything veggie) as she utterly detests it.

weezl74

allegra/sami I have vinegar and tomato puree? Will either of those help?

Allegra

I doubt it. I really don't think there is anything actually wrong with the meal as it is - it's just that it'd be far nicer with chillies and herbs.

I'd just leave it as it is, and perhaps add a tip saying that if you have any chiilies/chilli flakes/ parsley/basil in the house, then they would be really nice added to this dish After all, by Christmas time, our Shirl might be a proper convert and grow masses of her own stuff on windowsills

queen_of_string

Thanks for the replies about the pumkins, they're selling them off at 2 for about £3 in one place, might chuck a couple in the oven and freeze them.

Can I put in a vote for the humble anchovie, on the list of things that might be added to the pasta, I adore all things salty, including anchovies and they tend to come in olive oil.

aless02

queen_of_string wrote: »

Thanks for the replies about the pumkins, they're selling them off at 2 for about £3 in one place, might chuck a couple in the oven and freeze them.

Can I put in a vote for the humble anchovie, on the list of things that might be added to the pasta, I adore all things salty, including anchovies and they tend to come in olive oil.

Or capers, nomnomnom.

weezl, to be fair about my comments on this dish...we haven't ACTUALLY tried it. I think it was just the thought of a huge bowl of pasta with nothing in it (like no "bits") just wouldn't feel like a family dinner. However, Sami does make a good point that during the gluttony at Christmastime, this might be rather nice . So maybe you should just ignore me!

Allegra

Ohhhhhh the dinner tonight..... ohhhhhhh :drool: And so easy to make from leftovers, too !

Tortillas: (no way can I get mine to go round, sorry :rotfl:)



The filling:



The finished article:



Yeah, I know, I'm cack-handed Tasted heavenly, though.

I really want to try it out now with the alternative meats, as well - so next time I roast a chicken or gammon, some of the leftovers are definitely getting mushroomed and tortillaed ! :T

Allegra

aless02 wrote: »

However, Sami does make a good point that during the gluttony at Christmastime, this might be rather nice .

Actually, I was thinking something similar today - we all have a tendency (me included) to just evaluate the dish we are testing as a dish in itself, without looking at the bigger picture and how it fits into the rest of the plan.

And if I look at my monthly menu plans from the last few months, for instance, I can see that I have an almost automatic tendency to alternate a "fave" with a "filler", filler usually being something dead plain and simple that showcases the nicer meals that preceded and followed it all the better. So I do think that spaghetti should stay (but I am still putting chillies on mine, sorry :rotfl:)

Sami_Bee

weezl74 wrote: »

allegra/sami I have vinegar and tomato puree? Will either of those help?

to be honest I don't think either can help, it taste fine its just the lack of bits like Aless said.
I think its fine in the Christmas week plan but not really a regular thing, maybe once a month I personally would be happy with.