Made me a casserole tonight

Graham_Devon

Ok, so it was a really simple one, and may sound gross to some.

Was potatoes, diced up, some rancid streaky bacon I had, disected the fat and then cut up, added some veggies (I had a couple of leeks) and some then covered with chicken stock (I didnt know which to use).

In the oven for around an hour and it was lovely!

To anyone reading, this is only the second ever thing I have made from scratch.

Made a mistake with the stock though, used 2 cubes for about 3 quarters of a pint, which made it a bit salty, so want to have another go.

T'was nice though, but I'm just wondering...

What veg's can I freeze if any? I would like to get some, things like leeks, onions, parnsips etc. I can't eat them all before they go off though, so can I dice them up all, put them in freezer bags and then freeze them? Would this work?

And is this what slow cookers are for? Cus this would have eaten up quick a bit of electric just for that one little casserole?

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there

:T on your second cooking from scratch.... the meals made up from odds n sods usually turn out the tastiest..
Next time if your casserole is a bit salty..throw in a bit more potato..it helps draw some of the salt out;)

You can freeze most veg... i tend to cut them up as i would want to use them.. drop them into a pan of boiling water for a couple of mins, then plunge into cold water... drain them and when the water had evaporated..wang them into bags and freeze....
Although some people just freeze them raw....

Slow cookers are great for making larger amounts..and then you just freeze up the portions..but they are really economical on the electricity...

hope to hear what you make next :j

Andybez38

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Ok, so it was a really simple one, and may sound gross to some.

Your right. GROSS. I think i prefer chips.

kittyscarlett

Hooray !!!! :T :j :T

I am so pleased you didn't gve up on cooking, Graham, well done !

MrsM is right - once you get into the swing of it, the inspired odds and sods casseroles are often the best. If you're slicing up and blanching veg to freeze, to avoid some of them clumping together in the bags, you can open freeze them on trays ( like baking trays lines with foil or clingfilm first ) and then put into bags. But if you're going to be using them in soups or stews, probably doesnt matter.

Don't worry about the stock cube thing - the main thing is a) you know now how much to put in b) you also now know what to do if you do make something oversalty c) you didn't get fazed/put off by it

That would have worked fine in a slow cooker. They are excellent implements, I'd get used to doing a few things in pans or the oven first though.

Once again, well done, when are you inviting us all round to yours for dinner then ?

Graham_Devon

kittyscarlett wrote: »

Once again, well done, when are you inviting us all round to yours for dinner then ?

Yes, are you cooking!?

Right, so I can get some veggies and freeze. Reason I asked it cus last time I did do it, they all clumped together like a brick and I couldnt seperate them, so were no good. So stick them in water first...cool! See, new trick!

I don't mind doing all this, if it's gonna work, but when it doesnt I can't be arised

I thought slow cookers were meant to be economical? Oh well, probably just me. Just seemed like a waste of electric having me oven on for over an hour just for that lil casserole.

Need to get a proper dish I can put in the microwave (sorry editing...oven! So used to saying microwave!!) now then, I only got a small baking thing with higher sides, so was using that, can't fit that much in it though!

Was rather nice, certainly made a difference from the usual.

Graham_Devon

Andybez38 wrote: »

Your right. GROSS. I think i prefer chips.

S'not! I'm a chip conniseur, but this was nice!

Bogof_Babe

I think it was the word "rancid" wot dunnit Graham. "Mature" might have conjoured up a pleasanter eating experience .

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there... you could try corned beef hash next...

another great "throw it in creation"... we had it for dinner tonight with dumplings...

you can alter the basic veg to suit what you like and what you have..

Ours was:-
potato, carrot, onions, celeriac, swede (parsnips are great too)
peel and cut them all into chunks..varying sizes -so the smaller ones break up and thicken it... put a lid pour in water -about 1/2 way up the veg...put a lid on,bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer until cooked, throw in a tin of processed peas, i throw the liquid in too, and some chunks of corned beef..great for using up those half tins...
keep on a low heat -without the lid and cook so the liquid reduces down... so its nice and thick.then just season and your done..
It is better still if you warm it up the day after - it thickens...
we had dumplings... but you can also do it with yorkshire pud, or stick a pastry lid on it..

It is a seriously cheap, tasty and easy meal...and you can freeze it too

Its something we had as kids.... and we all still love it... hope you have a go... give me a yell if you have any questions...

by the way..take a look in the charity shops..casserole dishes are always in there really cheap and great for whacking stuff in the oven and in the freezer..and you would probably find a SC in there...

skintlass

well done Graham :beer:- I've overdone it myself with stockcubes in the past so I learned something too - thank you :j.Will wait to hear about your next cooking exploits.

twink

you get frozen veg quite cheap from farmfoods including leeks, hope no one sees this post apart from you graham

Andybez38

Graham_Devon wrote: »

S'not! I'm a chip conniseur, but this was nice!

It didn't sound too bad Graham, I might even try that myself. Im a novice as you are. But i have found i dont go far wrong with chips.