Oldstylers: Could I be your greatest ever challenge?

southernscouser

falady wrote: »

hi SS,

Nice to see you on this board - I enjoyed your posts on DFW!

If you're anywhere near Halifax, West Yorks, OH and I have loads of old plates, bowls, cutlery collecting dust (well, they're in a cupboard, so not too dusty ) if you want them.

Some are a bit chipped, but fine really. We kept them after doing up our kitchen and buying new ones lst year 'just in case' but have never used them.....

Ali x

Awww thanks Ali, that's really kind of you. Sadly I'm down in Essex but I'm very grateful for the offer. I'll let you cook for me instead if I'm ever in the area!

jinky67

I have just subscribed to this...I get the impression it will highly amusing:rotfl: :rotfl:
I dont have anything useful to add at all...but I am sure all these experienced peeps will keep you in check;)
Its about bloody time you moved out anyway:rolleyes:

southernscouser

jinky67 wrote: »

I have just subscribed to this...I get the impression it will highly amusing:rotfl: :rotfl:
I dont have anything useful to add at all...but I am sure all these experienced peeps will keep you in check;)
Its about bloody time you moved out anyway:rolleyes:

People maybe laughing now but when I can't get it to rise (the bread :rolleyes: ) there will be tears and not just from me.

I know it's about time. It's horrible living in a cheap hotel. Oh hang on.................! :doh:

misskool

southernscouser wrote: »

Ali, don't be daft. It's not patronising at all. I can't even get myself out of bed in the morning!

Bathmat? Do I need one of them? :rotfl:

My god, this all sounds like hardwork. I'm thinking I might be better off staying at home! :rolleyes:

:rotfl: you don't really need a bathmat, I used an old towel for ages and ages folded up (be careful as it gets a bit slippy!) until I could afford to upgrade for one.

Don't forget dishcloths, and washing up things!

Also, don't go mad buying loads and loads of stuff for your first shop as it'll be really expensive so just buy what you want to cook with and then work your way up from there.

Also, if you a tea towel for mopping up things, you'll save loads on kitchen roll.

Stephen_Leak

OK. Lets start at the beginning ...

PASTA

Per Person

INGREDIENTS

200ml of water
¼ of a teaspoon of salt
100g of pasta
Ground pepper to taste

METHOD

Put the water and salt into a saucepan on a medium heat. Bring to the boil. Add the pasta. Stir it to stop it sticking to the bottom of the pan. Bring back to the boil and continue to cook. Stir frequently to stop it sticking.

Begin testing it about 2 minutes before the packet instructions say it should be done. The best way to judge if pasta is cooked is to bite it. This is tricky, because if you fish out a bit and stick in your mouth you may burn your mouth on the boiling water. Wait a bit and blow on it, then bite it. If it is hard it needs longer. If it is chewy (or al dente, Italian for "to the teeth") it is ready. If it is soft it is overcooked.

Drain the pasta in a sieve or colander. Season with the pepper.

TIPS

If you use enough water, add the pasta when the water is boiling, stir the pasta frequently and don’t wander off (Gli spaghetti amano la compagnia, spaghetti loves company) and don’t overcook it, adding olive oil to the water to stop it sticking is totally unnecessary.

Always "take the pasta to the sauce". Put the pasta in the pan with the sauce and stir together until thoroughly coated.

ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE

Enough for pasta for 2

INGREDIENTS
2 cloves of garlic
2 onions
2 tablespoons of olive oil
400g tin of plum tomatoes*
2 teaspoons of basil, oregano or mixed herbs
Salt and ground pepper to taste

METHOD

Peel the garlic and chop it into tiny pieces. Peel the onions and chop them into tiny pieces.
Put the oil into a frying pan on a medium heat. Add the garlic and onion. Fry the garlic and onion for about 2 minutes. Stir frequently to stop it sticking.

Open the tin of tomatoes. Put the juice into the pan. Chop the tomatoes while they are still in the can (it’s easier than chasing them around the pan).

Put the chopped tomatoes into the pan. Add the herbs. Continue to cook, stirring as the mixture boils. Season with the salt and pepper. Continue to cook, stirring as the mixture boils, until the sauce has reduced.

ADDITIONS & ALTERNATIVES

Add ¼ of a teaspoon of chilli powder to make it into an Arrabbiata sauce, which is usually served with penne pasta.

TIPS

Always "take the pasta to the sauce". Put the cooked pasta in the pan with the sauce and stir together until thoroughly coated.

* Plum tomatoes can be used either whole or chopped. It is difficult to stick chopped tomatoes back together again if you need to use them whole.

southernscouser

misskool wrote: »

:rotfl: you don't really need a bathmat, I used an old towel for ages and ages folded up (be careful as it gets a bit slippy!) until I could afford to upgrade for one.

Don't forget dishcloths, and washing up things!

Also, don't go mad buying loads and loads of stuff for your first shop as it'll be really expensive so just buy what you want to cook with and then work your way up from there.

Also, if you a tea towel for mopping up things, you'll save loads on kitchen roll.

The only reason I ask is we don't have a bath at home. I was in the kitchen sink.

Nah, we ripped the bath out and put a shower cubicle. Oh how I miss laying in my own wee. :rotfl:

Didn't even think of tea towels. In my house if you leave the dirty dishes in the kitchen over night they appear all clean in the cupboards by the morning! :T

jinky67

Stephen I thought you werent supposed to stir pasta because it makes it stick?

Churchmouse

southernscouser wrote: »

Didn't even think of tea towels. In my house if you leave the dirty dishes in the kitchen over night they appear all clean in the cupboards by the morning! :T

Hate to break it to you SS, but those particular fairies may not have your address on their list:rotfl:

Good luck, you've had some great advice so far. I'd definitely go with buying a few bits each week ( shower gel etc) before you move. I did it for DSs when they moved out and it saved them a small fortune:D Maybe you could mention to your Mum that I did this, could be even more moneysaving;)

jinky67

I agree ...before I moved out I bought up things like utensils,bedding,pots and pans etc....bit here bit there.
I am sure your parents will donate you some stuff

mute_posting

jinky67 wrote: »

Stephen I thought you werent supposed to stir pasta because it makes it stick?

I know that is true with rice but I don't think pasta suffers as badly.

I always add a dash of oil to the water anyway (and only stir at start until the strands have "sunk" into the pan) - never have problems