'supporting each other through really tough times'

mcculloch29

Popperwell wrote: »

Here's a question I have stock cubes(allowing that they can be salty)but ok if used correctly. Are they good in stews/casseroles/soups as it always looks like all you are making is watery flavoured liquid that is very thin.

Whereas sauces or gravy is a bit thicker...even a creamy soup seems a better option...any opinions? I'm a novice on such matters...

I always use stock cubes in top of the stove stews/broths/ soups, zapped up with a bit of Worcester sauce usually or anything savoury that is in the cupboard - bit of Marmite, Marigold veggie powder, left over seasoning from ramen noodles (cheap Super Noodles) when I've used them in stir-fries... brown sauce, BBQ sauce, soy sauce, Tabasco (just a dash!) you name it, if it's savoury and suitable, it's gone in.
The salt probably doesn't do me that much good, but it all balances out eventually.

Oven casseroles I don't do so often, but I do like to make the stock slightly thicker for these, with gravy granules. I also use gravy granules to make a thicker gravy for shepherd's /cottage pie. HTH.

mcculloch29

I've missed saying Happy Birthday to thread stalwarts whose postings I so enjoy - belated HB's and HB for today too.
What happened to your Mum was horrible, Softstuff. I read a book on Rupert Murdoch and his shenanigans late last year, one Amazon offered me. A few times it had me swearing out loud at the sheer audacity of the Press.

Speaking of the Press, our live music club has appeared in a feature in the local paper.

Quite a few inaccuracies - it isn't a folk club, but that wouldn't have fitted the report. ("Nowt so funny?" as in "Nowt so funny as folk") .. and we get quite a few young performers, when he's painted the picture of the club being full of oldies, but again, Mike the writer had a line he wanted to follow.

2tonsils

Pops I use stock cubes to give flavour. If I want to thicken the sauce in something I use cornflour. I mix a couple of tablespoons (depending how thick you want it to be) with a little water then stir it in when the dish is nearly finished. It thickens up the sauce without adding any more salt or changing the flavour. It can be used to thicken stewed fruit as well to make a pie filling or for savoury things like soups and casseroles. I can't use most gravy granules as they have gluten in most of them. A pack of cornflour is usually a lot cheaper and you can use it instead of flour to dip sardines etc in before frying...it goes crispy and golden.

Popperwell

Thanks mcculloch29 and 2T for the help on the culinery question...You know though I thought that I don't have much to add to meals, from your suggestions I do have quite a few things that I can add for taste in my cupboard.

Hobsons_Choice

I also use cornflour, mixed the same as 2T says. I mix it with an oxo cube as well to make gravy. Me mom did it this way!

Popperwell

Thank you Hobson's Choice:)I have had cornflour in the house for ages and had no use for it, perhaps I have now:DI have a habit of buying something first and then finding a use for it...

I don't have all the herbs and accessories suggested but have many and they will all have a use now(Garlic, Bovril, Marmite, Soy Sauce, Cornflour, Worcester Sauce, Oyster Sauce, mixed herbs etc...)

The other day you may have seen I found a pressure cooker for £2.99 for use in a microwave...also works as a steamer...well for all who have halogen ovens there is accessory now...

http://www.coopersofstortford.co.uk/coopers-of-stortford-halogen-air-fry-accessory-prodst09240i/

mcculloch29

I'd forgotten that cornflour was what I used to use myself in pre- gravy granule days.
I do still use cornflour to do my own sweet and sour sauce (cornflour blended with a little juice then blended in with pineapple juice & water, sugar, and vinegar on the hob). Bring to boil until it clears and thickens. I usually use the pineapple juice from a tin of pineapple and add the pineapple to the sauce with pre-cooked meat and shredded carrot /peppers, if I use them.

GreyQueen

Evening all.

By golly, offline for nearly 24 hours (brilliant thriller to finish and then on an early shift today) and it takes me AGES to catch up.


:bdaycake:
Mrs LW, I missed note of your birthday! Wah! Sorry! And happy birthday today to 7WW.

Cream crackered today as the non-detachable baby carrier giving me grief, can only say with respect to the menopause - bring it on. My GP says the average age for menopause in this country is 51, meaning you've finished it by then. I know women who've had theirs any age from 30 to 59.

nuttyp, I used to be a Norton customer until the year when I did the auto-renewal with them online and found I could have bought the same software on the high street nearly £20 cheaper.

I was :mad: to put it mildly. Don't like to be dissed like that by a company I'd been with for several years and when they tried to auto-renew the following year I cancelled and went with Microsoft Essentials for free, a tip off this very website. Does me fine. Rounded up a coupla trojans in the autumn, I noticed.

A trick taught to me by the Computer Wizard is to put your own email address in your email program's address book but with the name "Scan for Viruses!!!". That way, if your address book is sending out spam, you'll get it too, and know what to do.

Came home to a water bill and the gas & leccy and an unaccountable lack of premium bond prizes, bouquets and luxury chocolates. This RL business is a bit drab, innit?

Righty, need a cuppa and maybe I'll do some dishes. Or maybe I won't.;):p

Mrs_Veg_Plot

Happy birthday 7WW :bdaycake:

[Deleted User]

I dunno GQ, give me real life anyday, I like mine it's comfy and it's friendly and it's ours, long may it continue, Happy Days, Cheers Lyn xxx.