Ye Olde Style Coffee Shoppe

moggins

I'm saving my wine until later as dh is going to a works leaving do without me, I've found 2 pots of something in the freezer, I think one is bolognese and the other is chili, so I am combining the two with some rice (also frozen leftovers) some garlic bread (Tesco Bogof) and a bottle of the wine delivered today.

Curry_Queen

I prefer having my couple of glasses in the afternoon as I don't drink when I've eaten dinner, only water! (mornings=coffee, after lunch=wine, evenings=water)

I've got the makings of a Shepherds Pie on the go at the moment, having defrosted a lump of mince and had some carrots, a leek and a couple of onions that needed using up. I seriously thought I'd gone overboard on the amount of veggies versus mince at first, but it all seems to be cooking down nicely now

I've also managed to use up a portion of celeriac that's been sitting in the fridge a while and boiled it with some spuds to make mash

I'll leave assembling it all till I know DS is on his way here then cook it off in the oven. Trouble is I'm starving now (not eaten yet) so probably not a good idea to be guzzling wine on an empty stomach


PS Just noticed it's only 10% vol so I should be ok :j

spendaholic

We're having our first home made chips in ages. They smell GRRRRReat! I've also popped some peas - the first still in their pods I've been able to get. Next year I'll have my own - in a pot if I have to.

Curry_Queen

spendaholic wrote:

We're having our first home made chips in ages. They smell GRRRRReat! I've also popped some peas - the first still in their pods I've been able to get. Next year I'll have my own - in a pot if I have to.

I always remember my mum buying podded peas and we used to help her shell them, eating tons while we did it of course LOL! I just stick to frozen peas as they tend to be much fresher than fresh these days


We even used to nick the pods as they were growing when my dad went through a stage of growing his own veggies :rotfl:

spendaholic

I keep frozen peas in cos I like the taste, and tinned peas cos Misterholic likes the taste. But we've both just agreed that these fresh podded ones were probably the nicest we've had in a while.

The chips were luvverly, but Misterholic thought they were a bit "soft" (read "soggy"). I've delved into my memory but can't remember if this is because of the way they're fried, the potatoes used, the fat used, or just plain bad luck. Any suggestions?

moggins

I remember reading somewhere to fry HM chips twice, put them in for about a minute, then remove the basket and allow the oil to come back up to temperature and then put them back in again.

Although I did this and mine still came out soggy

Curry_Queen

I've only made them a couple times myself, as we rarely eat chips, but I do know the nicer ones were made with red potatoes, think they were called Desiree? and they had a sweeter taste and firmer texture. I cooked them in the oven raw, drizzled in olive oil and sprinkled with seasoning, and they worked really well! i know some people suggest par-boiling or microwaving first so I think it's a case of experimenting

Ticklemouse

Oooh, no - got to have soggy chips

foreverskint

O.k, i will now give you the ultimate chip.

1.
use a good chipping potato, maris piper are lovely.

2.peel chip and wash in several changes of water to get rid of the starch.
dry really well in a clean teatowel or kitchen paper
3. Heat the oil to about 140o

4 blanch the chips. in batches ie cook without colouring, until a shapr point of a knife slides through easily.

5. remove the chips from the oil. reheat oil to 180o.

drop the chips in to crisp and colour.#

sounds faffy but they really will be the best chips you've ever tasted.

well my oh says so anyway;)

moggins

Oooh, I was right about the cooking twice lark. Nice to know I'm not totally thick