Prepping for Brexit thread

AndyCF

Primrose wrote: »

I'd never thought of actually using tinned potatoes as a quick standby for those odd occasions when saute potatoes are required, so thank you for that suggestion. Have reached a stage in my life where short cuts and easy options are always worth knowing about. There's a lot of collective good advice and wisdom on this forum!

I must admit I have on a few (well, more than a few) occasions done the 'instant student tinned meal' thing. Empty some veg (tinned or fresh) into a pot along with tinned potato's. Although general advice is to keep the water within the tins, I prefer to throw that out and use fresh, unlikely its brine-content but best to be sure*** , FC Blog has said 'instant recipe'

The 'instructions' say to add stock cubes here and boil and simmer etc, however I tend to skip this bit, having granules rather than cubes usually so previous experiments showed with granules instead of stock cubes they don't really like this. It is possible it may of been down to 'cheapy brand' granules though instead of one of the two major well known brands, not sure.

Anyway once its boiling and had at least 10 mins simmering time, drain + serve. At this stage I make a bit of gravy in a cup via those granules.

Depending on what is in the tins/fresh/frozen (tend to use frozen peas when I can, tinned sweetcorn when I can) I may either add some cold slices of meat or suchlike alongside.

The 'easy lazy' way is to just empty a tin of potato's / mixed veg or a can or two of other veg and boil + serve but i can manage the extra two minutes to make it nicer! :rotfl:

Exceptionally useful for camping too!

*** The brine thing. A few years ago I do not know why but I emptied a tin of those mini hot dogs into a pot and added some mixed veg into it. I'd completely forgotten the fact that the mini-dogs were in brine. Lets just say the veg tasted 'interesting' after that. On the rare (twice a year maybe?) occasion I will have hot-dogs I do prefer to do them in their own brine content but in their own pot! I can't recall if I've thrown their water out and just used fresh with them+other bits, I must of done otherwise I'd remember why not to repeat it.

[Deleted User]

I've recently picked up a copy of Tin Can Cook by Jack Monroe and had until last evening only glanced through it thinking it might be useful if I needed to use my stores for any period of time. I did read through it last night and realised that the recipes are far more interesting than 'emergency only' food and sound delicious. I am going to play with it this week and I rather think our flavour factor might just go up a notch or two. If you come across it in a shop have a leaf through and see what you think, I am of the opinion that IF we ever do have to use our stocks in earnest this will be a most useful tool in the 'feel good' factor of life.

C_J

Yes Mrs LW, I’d agree with that. I have been meaning to buy Tin Can Cook, as I have already tried a few of the recipes from it (some are available online). Thank you for the reminder, I’ll order one online now!

AndyCF

That looks worth of probably grabbing a copy of. A very quick online search shows it can be had for around £4 for a 'real paper' copy. I'm not really keen on the online 'read' ones even if they are a bit cheaper.

Don't get me wrong I like a 'a bit of tech' however a book is better here, a bit like online catalogues, they have excellent advantages (provided you know what you want etc) but if you just want an erm 'casual leaf through' then little beats paper.

Its always nice to read others ideas on these things too, even if you don't follow them it can sometimes lead to inspiration or other thoughts such as say "That's a good idea in general but I'll do xyz with abc instead"

EDIT... There's a few of those 'meal mug' type books too if I am correct although I've not seen any locally, its more for me at least of seeing something when I am out/about then getting it, rather than 'go hunting' for it.

D&DD

I looked into buying her book MrsL but she drives me nuts now since she got 'famous' she's got a bit ranty ..


I have similar books from the US which are of the same vein, which also cover more things like making your own seasoning mixes etc.These fit better to the stores I have at the moment.


I think anything that assists you to use what you have is a good thing though

Primrose

I think all these "meals In one pan" guides are an excellent idea. One of the disadvantages of getting older.....and this can creep up on you imperceptibly.... is that that one simply no longer has the patience or stamina for standing endlessly over a stove cooking complicated meals.

So anything nutritious that can be cooked with minimum utensils, preparation and without the need for a lot of washing up afterwards gets a tick in my book!

So

D&DD

Definitely Primrose
My mum and Dad have always cooked from scratch as Mum was a school cook and dad a cook in the army before being a postie!
In recent years though their health has really impacted on how they can cook and especially prep food.
I usually prep them a huge batch of veg for their freezer but it's difficult when neither can stand for long now and their dexterity and strength isn't what it used to be sadly.

GreyQueen

Primrose wrote: »

I think all these "meals In one pan" guides are an excellent idea. One of the disadvantages of getting older.....and this can creep up on you imperceptibly.... is that that one simply no longer has the patience or stamina for standing endlessly over a stove cooking complicated meals.

So anything nutritious that can be cooked with minimum utensils, preparation and without the need for a lot of washing up afterwards gets a tick in my book!

So

Ever before the ole arthritis took its toll, I temperamentally lacked patience for standing over a hot stove or slogging at the sink washing eleven hundred and eleventy crocks and utensils. Applying the little grey cells to the task of achieving the necessary without over-tiring oneself is a worthy pastime.


I find that cook person a PITA but might scope the book in the library to see what it has to say.

maryb

Funny how she used to go off on a jaw droppingly foul mouthed rant at people stocking up for Brexit but that all changed when she had a book to sell

Still, if it's useful, it's useful.

D&DD

sorry cooking dinner so its a quick one..
see if you can find The New Home Larder by Judith Wills its a really good book along the same lines I'll post later with some others I have so you can have a hunt at the library etc