A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

katieowl_2

mardatha wrote: »

Which of the TV/famous chefs is the plainest and least frilly? Nothing puts me off more than looking at a recipe and seeing half a page of ingredients or pretenious garbage like "only use organic free range eggs and sun-dried pomodoro tomatoes and crushed wild lettuce". Gimme a break! :rotfl:

Hairy Bikers are usually pretty straightforward, but even they have their moments! In reality on the page of a cook book Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall have a fairly good 'you can use this instead' approach - but I think both of them will say free range eggs! LOL! (and occasional sundried tomatoes....but I would just fling in the ones from Aldi!)

Kate

Mrs_Chip

Oh yes please Kate - West indian is my favorite - jerk chicken with rice and peas is my particular speciality, having closely copied the dish our lovely lady Sandra used to make in the restaurant at work. She used to serve two hot sauces - hot sauce and 'White Man' hot sauce :rotfl:- the hot sauce was searingly hot, but I loved it! She did 'Jerk chicken' days once a month, the queues started before the canteen opened, and people used to take extra home to have it again!
Jamaican curry is yummy too, slightly different to asian curries. A good goat curry is delicious, not sure if the fine folk of Pembs are ready for it yet though.

Mrs_Chip

I would say forget the TV chefs, they all have their quirks and are always looking at ways to outchef each other. It drives me to distraction when they say 'I am going to make MY chocolate brownies, or MY chicken pie' I stopped watching Nigella as it was driving me mad!

For good basic cooking I don't think you can beat Good Housekeeping recipes - straight forward and no nonsence.

mardatha

I'm currently on the wartime rationing cook books and enjoying them. I just wondered, not into cooking at all. I got a low fat cookbook on Amazon for 1p (its huge!) but out of the whole book I only fancy 5 recipes

Byatt

I've heard of jerk chicken, but what is it exactly? Would love to have a recipe to do something different with chicken.

All this talk of cafes reminded me of the time my parents had a shop and also started a transport cafe (sadly it didn't have permission so was eventually closed). My dad was famous for making faggots and peas and people came from far and wide. How things change. Does anyone remember those potato peelers that would work by attaching to cold water tap? My dad forgot about it one day and the pots were turned into pea size!

Mrs_Chip

Sort of guessed cooking was not your favorite occupation Mard !:rotfl: In clearing the house I Lhave found several old cookery books MIL used before she was married, I am looking forward to reading them. I like finding nice old basic recipes that stick to the ribs!

Mrs_Chip

Here's a link to a recipe and history Byatt. I usually use chicken legs. it need quite a few ingredients, but you can buy the marinade in a jar, Walkerswood is the best imho. It's very hot! but I find it addictive, my mouth is watering thinking about it!

Ladyshopper

Whilst I am a lover of pasta sauce jars, I have to confess I definitely don't feel the same way about curry sauce, and haven't found a jar one that I like. If anyone has an easy curry sauce recipe that would be fab (I am veggie, so would be vegetables or quorn or both going in).

I am a lazy cook, and am the first to admit it. My "excuse" if you like is that I'm a single Mum, I work, and therefore a lot of the time after a full on day at work I'm just too knackered to cook, even if it is something as simple as a pasta sauce!

I do try and cook batches of stuff to go in the freezer though. I am also currently teaching my DD to cook basic stuff like tomato sauce that can be used as a base for pasta sauces, chilli, lasagne etc. She made a lovely veggie lasagne this week complete with cheese sauce from scratch, and really enjoyed it.

paidinchickens

mardatha wrote: »

Which of the TV/famous chefs is the plainest and least frilly? Nothing puts me off more than looking at a recipe and seeing half a page of ingredients or pretenious garbage like "only use organic free range eggs and sun-dried pomodoro tomatoes and crushed wild lettuce". Gimme a break! :rotfl:

katieowl wrote: »

My experience has been that a lot of younger women (and I guess men too) do not have the confidence in their cooking abilities to cook from scratch. They think there is some special trick to it, and I guess seeing TV chefs making stuff with loads of ingredients might make them think it's difficult to do. (No names mentioned but can I just say DELIA 'why use one cheese when I can use five' is top of my list)

I've bought jars once or twice when we've been on holiday usually but my kids don't like it and won't eat it as they've been bought up on fresh. My friend at work who I've shown how to make Tomato sauces and curries went home and cooked them and HER kids say we like these best mummy, don't get the other stuff again. I guess it's lucky her kids would try new things, as I know lots won't.

I totally get why when you live alone, you might want to not bother and would use a jar...but I do think it's nicer and cheaper to make from scratch. JMHO but I'd rather spend an extra half hour in the kitchen and eat a nice dinner, than flump down in front of Eastenders.

Kate

Bought a delia christmas book from the charity shop for 50p the other day, had a look through and it is full of extravagant ingredients

I much prefer recipes people put up on here as I know they will be reasonably priced, a good family favourite and easy ish to cook.

The only problem is I like the pudding, cake and biscuit posts the best :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

We are all into jacket potatoes done in the remoska at the moment. The kids never really were keen on jacket pots but done in the remoska (got just before crimbo) they love them.

Just watching a programme on C4 catch up about integrating Bradford and the Muslim blokey on it is quite funny even though he is washing his feet in the sink :eek::eek:

PIC x

westcoastscot

mardatha wrote: »

I'm currently on the wartime rationing cook books and enjoying them. I just wondered, not into cooking at all. I got a low fat cookbook on Amazon for 1p (its huge!) but out of the whole book I only fancy 5 recipes

Mar if you don't really like cooking but need new low fat recipes can you tell us what sort of things you like eating? we might between us have recipes that you could try???