CAN COOK, MUST COOK! My challenge: Stop Eating Out! Anyone else?!

wok_boy

lunar wrote: »

If you use one of the pans with holes in the bottom it will cook more evenly, and keep the pizza in the middle of the oven not the top.

Thanks for the tip

earwig

well yesterday the unthinkable happened we went to see the firworks at southend and always have dinner there at the brewers fair well yesterday before we went i cooked us dinner so saving us 45 pounds :j :j :j on the downside though i spent 20 pound on a bag in next:o but thats still 25 up on what i would of been well done everyone who resist the takeaway urge yesterday:T :T :T

pandapaws

Elantan - that course sounds great! I know there's a big Chinese restaurant in Hull that do cookery classes, but it's a bit difficult to commit with work. Do you have any idea how they make chicken satay? Not the really thick peanutty one with chicken on skewers, but the slightly spicy one in a sauce you sometimes get as a main course? That'd save us a fortune, if we could get it nailed, but all cookbooks just seem to have the skewer kind!

I totally agree about pizza. I hate it when they're crispy underneath, and bought ones always go crispy in the oven. Lunar, do the holey oven trays make them more or less crispy?

We sort-of fell off the wagon this morning, but it was planned so not too bad. We decided that we'd have a decent big Sunday 'brunch' before hubby went to work at 2, but when we thought about it, to buy pack of bacon, eggs, sausages, mushrooms, tomatoes would have come to well over a fiver, plus all the time and effort in both buying and cooking it (plus the extra money I'd have spent just because I was in Tesco!). So as a measured decision, we went to McDonalds and had one double cheeseburger each, a Lg fries between us and we took our own drink. DS (nearly 3) is a little poorly and fell asleep the second we put him in the car, so we even saved the 2 quid a happy meal would have cost!! Total spend £3.17. Admittedly not very healthy, but cheaper than the alternatives and it did satisfy my greasy food craving!

Dumb_Blonde_3

I love this tread - and am so proud of myself - we didn't have our 'usual' last night - I bet the Chinese must have thought we were away on holiday or that we were ill or something ................. cooked a massive roast instead.

Now will have to be strong for the mid-week 'I'm too tired to cook' Indian ...

All this talk of food though makes me think of the chinese - didn't have any lunch today as was at a 2 year olds birthday party with son - in big soft play place - so feeling a bit weak and feeble at the moment ...... what number is the New Swan on speed dial ?!?!?!?!?!

pandapaws

If you're like us, it's probably Number 1, followed by the Indian at No 2, pizza at No 3.....!!!

elantan

mmmm i can make the sauce but getting the chicken to have the coating on i never could manage (didnt do the part two course) the sauce is jimmy's satey sauce (honest it is )with beleive it or not peanut butter and honey we add in some thai sauce to make it a bit spicey i think there is more but hubby ususally makes it and hes been called back to the hospital for his uncle it aint looking good will ask him when he gets in

lunar

the tray with the holes makes it more crispy. if you use one of the 10" cake pans for your base and rub oil on it before you make the pizza then cook it at 180 the base doesnt end up too crispy, its more like the pizza hut deep pan pizza then. I normally just top with a tomato and garlic sauce that i make myself and mozarella slices. I think i will have to make one tomorrow now its making me so hungry!

JoKay_2

angchris wrote: »

asda`s curry pot is fantastic!! their takeaway indian/chinese really are to die for, def the best tasting supermarket takeaway imho...just slop it on a plate, lob it in micro...bing done

Absolutely agree - these curries are as good as or if not better than restaurant ones, and at a fraction of the price!

pandapaws

Thanks! What is or where do you get Jimmy's sauce? And Thai sauce? Sorry, very ignorant! No hurry anyway - don't bother hubby about it if he's had a rough afternoon.
Once again this thread is making me hungry! Think it might be dinner time, another date with Loyd Grossman in the kitchen for me tonight I think!

pandapaws

lunar wrote: »

the tray with the holes makes it more crispy. if you use one of the 10" cake pans for your base and rub oil on it before you make the pizza then cook it at 180 the base doesnt end up too crispy, its more like the pizza hut deep pan pizza then. I normally just top with a tomato and garlic sauce that i make myself and mozarella slices. I think i will have to make one tomorrow now its making me so hungry!

Wow, you're a closet pizza professional!!! Thanks for the tip (note to self - buy cake tin!)

When you make your own pizzas, what sort of base do you use? Do you make your own from the dough, or buy readymade ones somewhere? I've bought those plain round pizza bases before in the supermarket, the ones with the dimples in them, but thought they were like cardboard!

Pizza Hut Deep Pan is definitely the sort of base I'd be going for, although I absolutely hate the tomato sauce they put on it, so PH is one of the few restaurants that isn't one of my vices!