swearswearswear

Stephen_Leak

Trust me, we all have our culinary mishaps. IIRC, there was an entire thread of these on here a while back. My new fish pie recipe didn't quite turn out as planned last time, but I think I've fixed the problem and will be taking the Mk.2 version for a test drive this weekend.

PS. And the mushroom curry where I think I might have curdled my yoghurt.

mardatha

:rotfl:OK thanks.. will try again yes. Its a newish fan oven, elect, when I was always used to gas and it burns everything. I've never heard of an oven thermostat, will see if I can get one. Is just the husband is a virgo pain in the !!! who goes on and on about mistakes LOL
I made a mess of the flapjack recipe, it said 4 tablesp syrup and I thought that was far too much and only put in 2 ! I will add it to the cereal thats a good idea.

Stephen_Leak

It's an oven thermometer. They are designed to withstand the high temperatures in an oven and the basic dial type ones look like this ...



One of these will allow you to see if the temperature inside actually matches the numbers on the control knob.

If there is a discrepancy, it could be, as stated above that the oven's thermostat is faulty. A thermostat is basically a heat-operated switch, which should turn the oven on or off at a certain temperature.

Also fan ovens behave very differently, as they blow the hot air around everywhere.

As far as hubby is concerned, if he hasn't cooked it, he's in no position to critisise it. If he gives you any more trouble, you just tell him that if he's not careful, Mr. BadExample, Benthosboy and I could be introducing him to our friend, the meat grinder! :shocked:

Addiscomber

mardatha wrote: »

:rotfl:OK thanks.. will try again yes. Its a newish fan oven, elect, when I was always used to gas and it burns everything.

A fan oven will definitely need to be set lower than your recipes say, anywhere between 10 and 20 degrees C lower. I would try setting between the two and adjust by experience. There is hardly anything that will be ruined by a lower temperature, and you can always cook a further few minutes if necessary. On the other hand, as you have discovered, too high a temperature and you can get an unwelcome outcome that you can struggle to disguise.

mardatha wrote: »

I made a mess of the flapjack recipe, it said 4 tablesp syrup and I thought that was far too much and only put in 2 ! I will add it to the cereal thats a good idea.

Golden rule for any inexperienced cook - the first time you make a recipe do it exactly as given. Unfortunately you left out a lot of the "glue" element of the recipe, but I guess you have worked that out for yourself :T

Welcome to the frustrating (but oh so rewarding) world of baking, and cooking in general. By the way I second telling hubby to put up or shut up. And he really should not risk a visit from the Moneysaving OS boys :eek:


tylersbabe
Good luck! I have my fingers crossed for you - even if it does make doing things somewhat tricky.

mardatha

could be introducing him to our friend, the meat grinder! :shocked:
OOOOOOH I LIKE THIS FORUM A LOT !!
Ok from now on I will use a lower temp for baking. the flapjacks are actually ok now they are cold, apart from looking like building rubble. The banana loaf/bread thing I cut off the blackest bits
Am now investigating adding oatmeal/porridge oats to his mince. Listen carefully for howls.

all_hours

the fruit cobbler from black saturns menu planner should have a gooey texture. it doesnt go cakey.

i have a fan oven and reduce the time + temp by about 10 percent. i also check a few times throughout the cooking time.

Valjk

I thought I had lost the ability to bake when I moved a few years ago, or simply unable to cook with an electric oven ( I'd always had gas). The oven always took at least an hour to heat and I didn't know this was not normal, and food always took twice as long to cook and often then be burnt at the bottom.
Since buying a new cooker I am much happier in the kitchen. I hope you sort your oven out soon.

billieboy_2

try these microwave flapjacks. They're brill!

floyd

Stephen_Leak wrote: »

the mushroom curry where I think I might have curdled my yoghurt.

Been there, done that, the one and only time where OH turned his nose up and asked if we could go to the chippy :rotfl: We now have an agreement that if a new recipe is s#*t we go to the chippy and write it off as a failed experiment

Stephen_Leak

floyd wrote: »

Been there, done that, the one and only time where OH turned his nose up and asked if we could go to the chippy :rotfl: We now have an agreement that if a new recipe is s#*t we go to the chippy and write it off as a failed experiment

It tasted OK, it just looked a bit odd. It was the first time I'd done it, so for all I know it was meant to be like that. Next time around, I'll try to remember to take the pan off and turn the heat down first.

I felt so much better posting that, though. It was sort of like a culinary confessional. "Forgive me, chef, for I have sinned". "Go, my commis, and do 3 Hail Mary Rose sauces". :laugh: