Help me choose....

mummyjane

Dh has asked me what I would like for our anniversary, not very romantic I know but he knows I am getting into cooking/baking in a big way and wants me to have something I couldn't buy myself but would love iyswim The trouble is there are so many things I would love, I haven't been given an amount but realistically I would think he would go up to around £50 (he saves a little bit himself, seperate to our normal budget etc).

I don't want to end up with another gadget that isn't used, I would love something that helps me in my OS quest (we are in rented accom and are not allowed to have compost bin/veg patch etc or do diy as such). I already have a slow cooker and a kenwood prospero (like a chef), I also have a few bits for baking.

I have been toying with the idea of a pressure cooker but have never had nor used one before. I would love to know what you would all recommend, especially those of you who are more experienced with OS pretty please

cooking-mama

For around the £50 mark i would try and choose between a pressure cooker and a halogen oven...i have both and love them both for different reasons,each are used almost daily.
pressure cooker is this one, http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/8612012/Trail/searchtext%3EPRESSURE+COOKER.htm

and Halogen oven is this one http://www.idealworld.tv/Cookshop_Large_11L_Halogen_Oven_with_5L_Extension_Ring_163088.aspx?fh_location=//idealworld/en_GB/$s=halogen oven

mummyjane

I will read up on the old threads I think as I am not 100% sure what can be cooked in each of them Definitely food for thought though(if you'll pardon the pun :rotfl:)

sonnythecat

Happy anniversary!

for xmas someone gave me a book on making curry (Anjun Anand - Curry Made Easy) and a big box full of brand new spices that she'd bought from an Asian supermarket.

I've repeated this gift to somebody as I really loved it - cost about £40 altogether.

I've made loads of curries from the book, which has saved us quite a bit as we used to have a takeaway once a week.

A truly welcome gift which has given me hours of OS enjoyment and saved us pennies.

quintwins

for £50 i'd be sending oh to tkmaxx to get me a le creuset casarole dish they have decent size ones for £40 i keep lusting after them but can't justify that kind of money

caitybabes

Ooh yeah I agree with the le creuset casserole pot... got mine in a charity shop for £15 (I am a regular charity shop shopper and this is the first time I've seen one so they're pretty rare) and I am using it for everything these days. Made risotto in it the other night, carbonara, coq au vin last night. Awesome

meritaten

I would go for a really really good casserole dish too!
I used to have a pressure cooker and found that I didnt like the taste of meat cooked in it (or most veg tbh - It was great for stock but I found myself using it less and less so gave it away).
I make do with cheapo bakeware usually but a really good roasting tin is to my mind - essential! I have just replaced mine which was a wedding pressie (34 years ago!!! the tin wasnt the most exciting gift, but the giver was dead right - it was worth its wieght in gold and served me well!).
I suppose it depends upon whether you love stews and casseroles or baking cakes what you go for?

mummyjane

Thanks, it's not actually our anniversary until 31 March but dh likes to be organised. He told me that he has a surprise meal booked so I need to organise a babysitter (not easy with ds who has autism, he hates change so it's either my Mum or a close friend who 'gets' him and whom he knows well). I already have a le crueset casserole dish, my dear old Nan left me one which she used to deep fry her chips in :eek: It must have taken me 3 hours of hard scrubbing to clean it up but it does look much better now I use it all the time now just not for chips! Could never have afforded one otherwise.

I have a cupboard full of herbs and spices, couldn't be without them. I picked up a curry recipe book from a charity shop a few months ago and have been gradually building up my collection Saves us a fortune in takeaways now as we both love Indian food.

I should add that in our rented accom we have the smallest oven ever and really struggle to fit decent sized trays in it.

Pink.

Hi mummyjane,

These threads may help you to choose:

Must have kitchen gadgets

Unused kitchen gadgets

OS wedding list

I'll add your thread to the first link later.

Pink

Turkishdreamer

I would buy a breadmaker, invaluable to me as I had intolerances to shop bought bread.

An electric steamer is also a safe bet. You say you have a small oven, you can steam so many things, saving time, electricity and money,

Just a couple of ideas.

vivw_2

Lakeland sell smaller size baking tins and I absolutely love their silicone lined ones - expensive but worth it