Use it up! Don't throw it in the bin!

SuziQ

Have also posted this on the daily thread,
I wasn't sure where to post this being a newbie.
My dad used to make a yummy cheap and filling pie when I was kid,a recipe he got from a newspaper. It was basically parboiled potatoes,sliced,2 large onions sliced and cooked until browning, loads of cheese and a batter.the onions were on the bottom,then the potatoes,then the grated cheese and the batter poured over the top. When cooked it had a glorious brown cheesy crust on the top,which was set like a light cake all the way through,potatoes were cooked-it really was gorgeous and we used to eat with a big dollop of ketchup and then sit back stuffed to the gills,rubbing our tummies afterwards.

Trouble is I haven't got a proper recipe,ie what sort of batter mix-would it be like yorkshire batter consistency-or oven heat and timings. Every time I have tried to make it in the past the batter has been really undercooked although the top was brown. I can't afford to keep going wrong!

Anyone suggest what I am doing wrong (ooh my mouth is watering remembering it!)

Annie021063

Ok rhubarb/bread pudding is in oven........
Taste test around 6.30ish
(Not me cause i'm dieting but kids and hubbie will devour)
Bought a leek today to add to some carrots/pots and my spicy soup for veg soup.
I have pearl barley to add and some URDU beans??? (small and black) unsure of how to use them any ideas.

EssexHebridean

SuziQ wrote: »

Have also posted this on the daily thread,
I wasn't sure where to post this being a newbie.
My dad used to make a yummy cheap and filling pie when I was kid,a recipe he got from a newspaper. It was basically parboiled potatoes,sliced,2 large onions sliced and cooked until browning, loads of cheese and a batter.the onions were on the bottom,then the potatoes,then the grated cheese and the batter poured over the top. When cooked it had a glorious brown cheesy crust on the top,which was set like a light cake all the way through,potatoes were cooked-it really was gorgeous and we used to eat with a big dollop of ketchup and then sit back stuffed to the gills,rubbing our tummies afterwards.

Trouble is I haven't got a proper recipe,ie what sort of batter mix-would it be like yorkshire batter consistency-or oven heat and timings. Every time I have tried to make it in the past the batter has been really undercooked although the top was brown. I can't afford to keep going wrong!

Anyone suggest what I am doing wrong (ooh my mouth is watering remembering it!)

Ooh - that does sound tasty. Might have to give that a try!

Re the cooking probs, I'd stick with your yorkie style batter and reduce the cooking temp a bit. You could also try putting it in the cooking pan in the same way as you would for toad in the hole....so get some fat smoking hot in there first, then add your other ingredients nice and quickly and whack it in the oven. If the top is cooking before the underside is done that suggests too high a temperature though so try reducing that first, then you can fiddle with coking times if it still needs a bit of adjustment.

Mappygirl

Hi everyone,

That pie does sound very yummy! I been pretty good today, was going to have a sandwich for lunch but had some sad looking salad in the fridge so I had pasta salad instead. Then for tea I made corned beef hash as the tin of corned beef had been in the cupbaord for about 1 year and wanted to use potatos up before doing shopping on saturday. I've never made it before and it was lovely! There was some left over vegtables so they are now in fridge waiting for me to make a cheese sauce and add some pasta, will be lunch tomorrow!

alicemary - you could slice the lemon and freeze it, you'll never be short of ice and a slice in your G&T again!!!!

Tomorrow I have 2 pears and 2 apples to use up, think I'll puree them and add it to porridge and rice pudding.

I've also got pretty much a whole lettuce to use up - any idea's?

Annie021063

Success......
Rhubarb pudding was lovely ( I had spoonful) hubby loved it too. Jam made rhubarb taste glorious. Would have been better if it was served with cream or more custard..(remember for next time as 3 portions in freezer now)

Also made big load of soup tonight from some carrots, a leek, 2 potatoes, chicken stock, tub of spicy soup I got v. cheap and had frozen, pearl barley, herbs and some chick peas and berlotti beans I had left from a salad.
I cooked it for 2 hours on a simmer then liquidised half and mixed it with other half. Result 6/7 portions of delicious very low fat veggie soup.
Thanks guys as I would never have done this.
Oh.... the grapes and jelly went down a treat too and is gone.

EssexHebridean

Do you know, there's some really positive things I'm finding from this. First off is the challenge - I like having to really think about how to use stuff up - I'm so cross with myself when I have to throw something out now - it was a few spuds from the last veg box (fortnight ago) today - only realised they were in the back of the veg basket when I put todays ones in. :-( Biggest problem I have at the moment is lack of space in the freezer - until I re-learn my shopping habits I'm putting more in there than I'm taking out! I'm enjoying cooking again now too - probably because I'm doing more of it what with pureeing, stewing, a baking with the stuff I'm trying to use up! Second thing is that it's actually fun! Each evening I go to the freezer, fridge or larder with no real idea of what we're having for dinner the next day. I'm probaby bcooking more healthily than I would have been before as well - we've always eaten well and there's rarely a danger of us going short of our five a day, but I suspect we've been eating more variation of veggies with each meal this last week or so. The third thing is the money saving aspect of course. Spending on food this week has been minimal - a touch over £10 in Tesco on Tuesday evening (nothing over the weekend as we were away) - but £5.50 of that was water filter cartridges. The veg box was delivered today - we have one a fortnight which breaks down to £6.25 per week. I popped into Sainsbury's tonight as I wanted to make the most of their special offer on baby products (I use Johnsons Baby softwash as a shower gel). While in there I bought a pack of their basics white-fish fillets (which will make a white fish ingredient in a few fish pies or curries) and a couple of packs of Pate at £1 each - each of them will do us for two days lunches. I'm not expecting next week to be much more costly to be honest - aside from the regular milk, fruit etc, I have a freezer-full of bits that all need eating - it's just a case of working out what will go with what, and making meals from it!

As I said in my last post - thanks to all for inspiration and ideas - hopefully I can give some back also, and we can all enjoy this challenge whilst improving our cooking skills and saving a few pounds to boot!

Boomdocker

How about 'Barlotto'? I have a student recipe book here that recommends making essentially a risotto but switching the rice for pearl barley hence 'Barlotto'. Just adapt your usual recipe. Not tried it but thought of you when I read this. HTH

EmptyPurse

alicemary wrote: »

I have these lemons. 4 of them. Large ones too.
What on earth can i do with them? They are about to go off!
There's only so much G&T a girl can drink

Slice them up, put the slices in a bag and freeze. Then you've got instant lemon whenever you fancy a G&T for the next few months!

EmptyPurse

I'm thinking about completely changing the way I shop for fresh fruit/veg. At the moment I buy a heap of stuff at the weekend - usually far too much - and then end up throwing most of it out three or four weeks later. Meal planning just doesn't work for me. So I thought I might go back to the way our grandmothers cooked and shopped: i.e. planning on a daily basis. The idea is to plan my evening meal at the beginning of the day and then buy any veg that I need on the way to work (I have plenty of meat in the freezer). If I've got anything unused at the end of the meal (e.g. half a swede) then I can plan my meal the following day around whatever needs using up. Has anyone else done this? Does it work or will I end up spending more money?

kittykat500

Remember that shopping on a daily basis is fine but only if you're not using the car more every day - especially at today's prices!!