<<<out of cheese error>>>

greenbee

I want to make florentines but still have my bedroom and my office to sort out as everything has been dumped in them

MrsChaos

Thank you for taking the time to help me out, redo and greenbee. I was in the dairy aisle when I checked my phone - great timing.
All the recipes sound gorgeous and make me want to spend time in the kitchen, when I really should be cleaning, tidying and wrapping.
Today hasn't gone to plan so far. I spent all morning shopping, instead of a couple of hours, and spent the afternoon taking DS2 to a walk-in centre. He has an ear infection.
Time for pie, peas and gravy, followed by cooking and wrapping.

Sun_Addict

That biriyani looks amazing, will try that. The pouch rice is great and I freeze what I don't use, probably not meant to but I'm still here

My wrapping starts off fine then gradually goes pear shaped as I lose the plot

HairyHandofDartmoor

I wish I could cook too redo. Your food always sounds lovely. I have too much cleaning, de-cluttering and wrapping of presents to do though

redofromstart

I haven't done a huge amount today beyond cleaning the kitchen and holding things while OH repaired the water damaged cupboards. This meant I could put everything away so the back worktop is no longer full, hurrah. I do like cooking in a nice clear work space, so I can now crack on with the baking happily tomorrow on 'free' electricity day..

Dinner was a green curry - chicken, potatoes and peas with some of the bargain green thai paste and a small tin of coconut milk, topped with coriander. Must remember to freeze the last of the coriander in the morning.

Need to have a quick clear of the snug table tomorrow, and then we can eat there rather than trying to clear the dining room of doom which I have been working on clearing for several years now. I've scrubbed out the bucket ready to brine the turkey. Still need to get the boys to wrap bits for us and for each other but that's a job for tomorrow.

greenbee

I've got a smoked gammon for boxing day and need to do it in the SC. Any experience/suggestions?

My bedroom and the office still are disastrous. I need to decide to sort one at a time. I have, however, started migrating the kitchen stuff I won't need in the next 2 weeks up to the kids room which is now mostly empty of things from the rest of the house, so it shouldn't be quite so horrific when I have to clear it out for the builders (just before my birthday...)

redofromstart

Not really, beyond the obvious one of full sugar coke for the liquid, and I assume that its more of a pot roast than a cover in water job. I've used brown sugar in the water before when I haven't had any coke to hand or my mum always uses a good glug of white wine. She's one of those strange people who has 'leftover' wine!

greenbee

Thanks. My mum has leftover wine too, as she doesn't drink but does provide wine for her guests. I don't...

I think I should be able to do brown sugar - the recipes I've found don't have liquid but I can't see that working (or at least, I can see a lot of it sticking to the pot). The plan is to put it in when we get back (or later) or Christmas day so its done for boxing day.

I've just made some arrabiata soup from ingredients that have been hanging around since last week's veg box, and have realised I have some jerusalem artichokes to deal with too. One lot of breadcrumbs blitzed and the rest of the loaf put out to get stale overnight. Bread sauce will be done first thing tomorrow, and then I need to make some stuffing. I have sausage meat, chestnuts, plenty of dried fruit and apples. But seem to be meeting resistance from my mother to doing anything other than sausagemeat and chestnut. I would quite like to do something different...

MrsChaos

I used to pre-cook gammon in a pan, then finish in the oven - first wrapped in foil and then open to brown/crisp.

Then I tried it in the SC in cola and nobody was particularly bothered about it. Now I use a veg trivet and stick the gammon on top , which works fine. The lack of liquid doesn't seem to be a problem, especially since we use most of it for hot gammon sandwiches on Christmas Eve. So far, I've not had issues with it sticking.

Tonight I've made two lots of choc fudge (mainly for presents) and attempted Florentines with mixed success. The outside was nice and crisp and came of the baking parchment well, but the centres stuck. I now have a lot of Florentine brittle which tastes good, but doesn't look pretty (also doesn't require brushing with chocolate).

Possible issues: shouldn't have used baking paper, didn't melt butter first before adding sugar, paste didn't form a ball in the pan, baked too hot and not long enough. I have enough cream to attempt a second lot at some point, but probably not tomorrow.

My to-do list is scarily long and I'm not happy that there's so little time for friends. I really thought I was doing better this year. Early start tomorrow, then.

redofromstart

How frustrating mrschaos, I use baking paper too. Where they warm when you moved them? I use the fish slice while they are still warm. I'm going to make some later so I hope I have more success this time. Hope his ear infection clears up quickly for him.

Not a huge fan of stuffing green bee, even before the bread was an issue. I should just ignore your mother and make whatever you fancy. I've got some fartichokes too, haven't had them for years. Think I just peeled and roasted them last time. I've also got some kohl rabi which is my favourite green veg.