recipies, hobbies and other distractions

[melanie345]

Hi,

I don't know how everyone else copes with trying to have a life in the
midst of NFH's and other nasty effects on one's life.
I am trying to start cooking again ( I am going back to my vegetarian
lifestyle). Anyone got any favourite recipes? Also, does anyone have hobbies
these days or are hobbies extinct (is everyone glued to the TV)?

I still plan to have a mini garden and I want to find out what type of
bird is making such beautiful noises in my new area (after moving).
I also like books and have to get back to reading. Anyone read any good
books lately? Even music is nice (not turned up loud of course) and some
music videos. A friend has ordered me some Catherine Cookson videos
as a present (now don't say soppy), produced by Time Life? if they ever
get here. Anyway, looking forward to any responses re recipes etc.

A friend of mine has gone on a 70 per cent raw veg diet and says she
has lost kilos and is now off blood pressure tablets. Pretty extreme but
when you consider how much cooking kills vitamins, who knows?
She also swears by her own herbal brews and eating fresh herbs as
keeping energy levels up. I don't know if I will ever get to that stage
but it sure sounds healthy.

Melanie

[Beth]

mmmmm......cooking

I was given a top tip this week

I have grown some tomatoes outside and due to the northeren winds the skins were very hard and they couldnt be eaten as salad

a friend suggested that I put them in an oven tray with some onoins garlic and a drop of oil and cooked them down into a pasta sauce

it was lovely, we had them last night for our tea

I am a veggie and I love to chomp on raw carrotts, especailly when I am on here!!

get a load of seasonal veg, part cook them in water, drain them, make a cheese sauce (home made is best) and cook them for another 10 mins in the sauce, serve up with rice......deliciuos!!

[sapphirelily10]

And with winter coming up here Melanie, I will be making vats of veggie soups/stews! May not be the weather for it in your neck of the woods though ;)

Like Beth's tomato idea though :D

Sapph

[vernon]

hello mel, everythng betterish yet there?

I have started reading "northern lights" part of the "his dark materials" trilogy books by philip pullman...seems good to me so far...
hobbies ay?...using interweb...watching films! :P

i know somewun who went on the ultra healthey fresh food and grain and low cholesterol diets...made weight go but they started feeling really weak and run down after a few months....maybe balance is the key...a salad followed by cadburys fruit and nut :P , with roast chicken on toast.

[melanie345]

Hi All,

Nice ideas for the veges and cheese sauce (yum).
I noticed the local supermarket is stocking fake bacon
("Not bacon") which is great with eggs (made from Soya).

Vernon, thanks for the note. We are surviving at present and
things are a little better since the move.
Re vegetarians, some of the fittest and healthiest people I know
are Vegans (one step more than vegetarians). A doctor I know
from overseas visited (he is Vegan) and I took him to look at
some of the local spots and I just could not keep up with him.
Same goes of a man I know in his 70's (also vegetarian).
He is fitter than most people I know. There is a balance to being
vegetarian which includes eating from all the food ranges
such as veges, legumes, nuts and wholemeal bread etc.
Some top athletes are vegetarian and vegetarianism leads to
a healthy heart (less cholesterol). My mum is veg and is on no
medication at all except for the occassional anti-histamine in Spring.
The doctors marvel at her health. We lapsed for a while and went
back to fish and chicken due to the stress in working through the
main part of our move (not much vegetarian takeaway).
I don't feel any healthier for eating dead animals
though and felt better when I was veg. Even MacDonalds is doing a
vegeburger now which is good.

I have a slow cooker I hope to start up again and a rice cooker
(guarantees perfect rice that doesn't burn and even manages brown
rice). Salads are nice and there are some yummy dressings.
Vegetarian lasagne is good too (I pre-cook the veges).

Your book sounds interesting Vernon. I hope to read again once I
am able to (I can't concentrate on reading as well as I once could
and this is part of a stress disorder). Still, I managed to watch
some movies this week which is progress for me.

The tomato idea sounds yummy. Everyone is in to sun-dried tomatoes
but I dont think they are that nice. I love tomatoes and cheese under the
grill. Tomatoes are also meant to be a good anti cancer preventative
so they say.

Melanie

[vernon]

maybe its me being cynical...but those veggie burgers at macdonalds...are they they cooked on there own special grill ;)

[Beth]

not in this country vern!

sometimes they tell you sometimes they dont!

I dont eat at McDs on principle but I will not rant about that here though!! :lol:

the vegies bacon is quite nice.....if you drown it in ketchup first!! :lol: I grill it rather than frying as they suggest, it makes it soggy if you fry it, smell is realistic

quorn people have come out with some lovely things recently, there are these to die for chunk thing which come in chinese and indian flavours, even the meat eaters at work enjoyed helping me eat those!

they are also great with rice or pasta

[Annabel]

;)

i am sure there was a big furore a while back about mcdonalds cooking the veggie burgers in the same oil as the nuggets and apparently they were suposed to have stopped all that and they are cooked separately. as are the chips.

does any one remember the myth about macdonalds apple pies actually being made of marrow, with apple flavouring added? and the chips actually being rice flour?

i used to be a veggie, melanie, but i fell off the wagon when i was expecting my daughter, and guess what caused me to lapse...yep ...big mac!

i still feel bad about it even now.

[hollygolightly]

Re: the tomatoes - add a dash of balsamic vinegar in with it all (onions - red are nicest, garlic, olive oil), marinate for about 30 minutes then roast. Yummy :D .

Just tried mashed sweet potato, mmm, very nice - also nice roasted. :)

Another fave is big mushrooms - chop stalks off & put in a bowl, mix with breadcrumbs, garlic, fresh herbs (whatever takes your fancy) and olice oil - stuff the mixture back into the mushrooms and roast until soft and squidgy. Mmmm. :D :lol: You can added grated cheese too - Emmental is the best one to use (IMO) :D

[Beth]

ok, if you are a veggie dont drink the shakes at McDs

they are made from pure cochnianal, beetles, that goes for the mc flurries as well

the chips are seasoned in a meat extract apart from the salt and yes the veggie burgers are cooked with the meat, which came from cows who lived in agentnia who were bought very cheaply as the land they were raised on was once the rain forest

sorry.....I ranted! :blush:

wether these practices have changed or not, its still too late for me to go eat there

[Beth]

Originally posted by hollygolightly@Sep 7 2003, 10:21 PM
Re: the tomatoes - add a dash of balsamic vinegar in with it all (onions - red are nicest, garlic, olive oil), marinate for about 30 minutes then roast. Yummy** :D .


sounds nice Holly!

not too keen on mushrooms though!

[sapphirelily10]

MMMMMmmm, stop it, making me hungry :lol:

NOT the McD's, I mean :P

[Neighboured]

Ok, Melanie, here's one of my fave recipes: Make some crumble mix, but do not add sugar. Then put some savoury stuff in an overnproof casserole style dish. (This can be a mix you'd use for a pie, or mixed veg and a sauce, etc.)

Then add the crumble and cook for as long as you would do a fruit crumble.

You can add grated cheese to the crumble mix and then add grated cheese to the top. You can also put cheese into the pie mix, too.

[freakyfun]

Mmmm .. food topic.

I do most of the cooking at home .. actually I do all the cooking at home come to think of it ;)

My fave recipes: (I don't use quantities much .. just do it how I feel at the time)

Starter - Tomato salad
Take 3 large plum tomatoes, and chop into 1 inch chunks.
Add cubes of fresh feta cheese.
Add a sprinkling of chopped olives.
Cover liberally with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Spoon onto a bed of washed lettuce.

Main course - Hot chilli!
Brown minced beef in hot oil in a large wok (or non-stick pan)
Add onion and one green chilli (finely chopped)
Cook until onion is soft.
Add chopped tomatoes (tinned or fresh - up to you)
Add tin of kidney beans
Add tin of baked beans (odd I know .. but it adds something scrummy)
Add a dash of cinnamon (spelling?)
Add some garlic paste and tomato paste
Cook until thick and bubbling.
Serve with big dollops of sour cream, rice and crunchy tacos

I'm trying to learn how to do curries properly at the moment (without having to use a bought sauce) - its hard getting the consistency right :(

Enjoy

FF

[hollygolightly]

The chilli sounds nice FF - will try it. :)

"proper" curry!:

brown onions (you can add 1 or two whole bits of the following at this stage: cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom (?) pods)
add:
fresh crushed ginger & garlic
chilli powder
salt
tumeric
ground coriander
ground cumin (no more than half a teaspoon)

and mix

add meat/veg of choice

cover and cook on a low heat for a while

add tomatoes

continue to cook (covered) on a low heat

add a bit of water if it starts sticking.

Mmmm Yummy! :D

[sapphirelily10]

MMMMmmmm...some nice recipes there!!

Very boring, but had 3 smoked mackerel for my tea, with sea salt and cracked pepper. Adventurous for a Monday evening :rolleyes: Cats had half of it, and loved it :lol:

Sapph

[freakyfun]

he he Sapph

Have you tried cod fillets in lime butter?

Soften some butter in a dish, add lime juice and a bit of the zest, then mix it all up into a paste.
Put the fillets into squares of cooking foil (big enough to wrap them up) then smear the lime butter over them add sprig of fresh coriander the seal the foil.
Stick in the oven for about 10 mins (if that .. you may want to experiment with your own oven)
Serve with sweet vegetables - carrots, sweet potatoes etc ... mmm

FF

[melanie345]

Hi,

Has anyone got any good ideas on how to use those instant
low fat noodles (ready made like egg noodles and such?).
You can get ready made sauces for them (some Italian ready
made sauces and Chinese ready made noodles, what a strange
combination but quick and easy especially for a midnight snack
eaten with chopsticks). Should add some veges of course.

Melanie

[sapphirelily10]

Hey FF....only just seen your post...Mmmmm, sounds good, and not too adventurous for a chef of my calibre :lol: Will have a go, and report back! Although it may take me a week or two to work up to it :lol:

Melanie, have bought ready-made Thai curry sauces in a large sachet at the supermarket, add baby sweet-corn/broccoli/water-chest-nuts/mushrooms to noodles.....lovely! And, of course, not too taxing for a chef of my calibre :rolleyes: :D

Sapph

[goosegirl]

Hi, noodles and veg is a good meal if dieting, just be carefull about which sauces to use.

GG.

[Blue Cow]

If you like pizza...

If you are veggie, then I've found homemade pizzas are a really good idea ('cos the veggie pizzas that you buy are always sooo boring). They are really easy to make too (would have to be for me to attempt - I can't even cook Supernoodles correctly).

The base is just about 8oz self raising flour, some salt and about 1/4 pint water - mix and knead with more flour to make a soft dough. Roll it out so it's quite thin (or you can make four smaller ones if you want).

To make the sauce, fry a thinly chopped onion, some garlic, tin of chopped tomatoes then a spoon of red wine vinegar (or just red wine) and another of sugar and season with herbs and "reduce" it so it goes really rich and thick.

For the topping - add whatever you want.

Cook on medium heat for about 10 minutes on a baking tray lined with g/proof paper.

They always come out really nice... :pizza:

[sapphirelily10]

Topping sounds good, Blue Cow! :D

However, for any other chefs of my calibre, you can buy some really nice stone-baked bases in a box :rolleyes:

Open the box, mix Blue Cow's sauce, throw on your veg, sprinkle on ready-grated mozzarella, drizzle a little olive oil on top.

How simple is that? :lol: :lol: Fool-proof, even for me ;)

Sapph

[Beth]

I love those minute noodles in tomatoe soup, it really fills you up!

I am so lazy in the kitchen....I try and leave the cooking to Matthew!!

he is far better at it than me as well! :lol:

[melanie345]

Hi,

The pizza idea sounds really good. The place I have moved to doesn't have
a nice "home made" Pizza shop like my old area did.
I think if one was using some raw veges on the pizza (if you make your own)
maybe it would be a good idea to pre cook them a little or blanche them
in hot water? Also, what is the best cheese if you put any cheese on
(I am on a diet so would only add a little cheeze). Maybe a mix of
a little Mozzarella and cheddar?. Any vege topping ideas? Maybe some
mushrooms, cauliflower tiny pieces, capsicum, sprouts?, (I'm sure the
old Pizza shop put on some weird things sometimes like egg plant perhaps
marinated and cooked (tinned?) artichokes), and they put fresh herbs
in the sauce which really gave that old fashioned home taste (sigh).
I think I need to buy a Pizza pan to do this right too. Many years ago I lived
near a wholefoods Pizza shop that used to put grated carrot on the pizza too
if I remember rightly.

Melanie

[hollygolightly]

I love homemade soup and if you make a huge pan it can last for ages :lol: .

A few favourites (always served with nice dollops of bread and butter) :D :

Spicy Parsnip

Dice about 4 parsnips and an onion. Finely chop about half a chilli.

In a big pan lightly fry the onion in oil, teaspoon tumeric, curry powder and chilli - add salt and pepper to taste. When the onion has softened, chuck in the parsnips, stir it all around so everything is coated. Add vegetable stock to almost the top of the pan and let simmer until the parsnips have gone soft.

When its cooked drain off the stock, whizz rest in a blender and re-introduce the stock to your desired consistency. You may want to add some more curry powder/chilli to taste.

(This is particularly nice for Halloween/Bonfire Night :D )

Courgette and Stilton

Dice courgettes, an onion - or two, finely chop a clove or two of garlic.

Fry and soften everything - add S&P - add veg stock - whizz in a blender - add chunks of stilton and stir until melted.

Exotic Beans and Tomato

Buy a bag of mixed "exotic" beans/pulses - Morrisons do a great bag! Soak then in plenty of water overnight.

Boil them up the next day and drain.

Lightly fry an onion, garlic, add S&P, herbs of your choice - chuck the beans in, add a can or two of chooped tomatos, add some veg stock.

I don't bother whizzing this one cos the pulses look all pretty when they're in one piece :lol: .


MMMM.... enjoy

I've probably forgotten some ingredients, but you get the general idea :D :rolleyes: :P

[sapphirelily10]

Hollygolightly, a soup chef of some calibre! :P :D

Sapphy :P

[hollygolightly]

Yes, not a sous chef :rolleyes: :lol: :P

[sapphirelily10]

So, is the opposite a sur chef then, Hol? :P

[mazza]

Just going back to the beginning and Quorn...

Very quick and easy meal, fills a family (we served three adults and two kids, but one adult has small appetite) quite easily - great for weekdays:

Bag of frozen Quorn pieces.

Jar of your fave ready made curry sauce (we used Korma ).

Sling the two into a pan, simmer away for half an hour. Just about 10 mins before the end, add water to make the consistency you like (as it tends to ge a bit too thick), bring back to simmer for the final few mins.

Serve with rice and naans! :eat:

I am never going to eat a meat curry again - these Quorn pieces are just brill.

Served it to my boys and the Husb'd and they didn't even realise it was Quorn.

It's much nicer than chicken, it is light to eat & has no horrid cloying taste to it :) .


Holly's soup - the courgette & stilton - v nice!!! I do a similar but use brie & cut off the rind to make a more mild tasting soup - mmmmm!

Soup's good for this time of year! :D

Mazza
:daisy:

[Blue Cow]

Hi Mazza

Quorn is excellent. You can also subsitute it for chicken in fajitas (with one of those DIY supermarket kits).

I'm thinking of trying pumpkin soup this year, as I always end up throwing the pumpkin flesh away when I do the lanterns.

I assume you just boil it up?? (I did say I can't cook for toffee!)

:geek:

Blue Cow

[hollygolightly]

Hi BC

I tried to make Pumpkin Soup once and it was a complete disaster :lol: .

Have done a search for you and found all these recipes!!! I may even try to do something with the pumpkin flesh one more time :rolleyes: :lol: ;) .

http://www.meals.com/Search/AdvancedSearch...in%20soup" ('http://www.meals.com/Search/AdvancedSearch.aspx?kwds="pumpkin%20soup"')

[Blue Cow]

Thanks Holly :D

You have been busy :lmao:

I'm going to try one of these soups. I'm assuming that "Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin" is the same as "Blue Cow's 100% hacked away at with an ice-cream scoop pumpkin(?)"

And preparation time 10 minutes (we'll see) :lol:

Thanks

Blue Cow

[melanie345]

Hi,

I saw Jamie Oliver do a Pizza on TV the other night.
I tried doing a similar thing and it turned out well.
I used a ready made Pizza base (cheap at the supermarket)
and copied Jamie's idea of using artichokes (mine were tinned
artichoke hearts), sliced mushrooms, capsicum and grated
cheese on top.
I put Tomato sauce on as a base because there was nothing
else in the cupboard. Only took about 10-15 minutes in the oven.
Yum. (Jamie put fresh greens on top, I still need to get some of
those growing, I think he used rocket leaves - like a lettuce)

Melanie

[melanie345]

HI,
Does anyone have any kitchen gadgets they find really useful?
My ex has an electric wok and it looks fun.
I thought I might get a wok because they seem to be good for stir fries.
Anyone have any success with juicers or any recipes for juice,vege and such?
My friend swears by vege juice helping her health.
I have a juicer but havent been using it. Must find some good
juice recipes.
Melanie

[Eskander]

I've used an electric wok and it was quite good - just didn't "feel" right somehow. Not exactly true to the tradition. Also, I don't think it got quite hot enough to be authentically quick. Having said that, it was good, and cheap - and I think you can buy them in Boots.

I am not a veggie (veggie sounds like a derogatory term - and I don't mean it to be) but most food processors have a juicer and I've found them ok.

When I say I'm not veggie, I have to admit that a lot of food which is vegetarian is superb - especially when being veggie is not its main purpose. I'm thinking pasta dishes and pizza.

[melanie345]

Hi,
A juicer is specifically designed just to make juice.
You can push carrots and celery through the hole with
the plastic prod and a fine cone with holes spins around
and creates juice. I don't know if blenders are so good with
carrots and such. My friend says she throws in a handful
of fresh herbs as well and pushes them through by putting
a piece of carrot through after them.

She says some vege juices are good for detoxing the kidneys
(carrot and celery?) and she even puts beetroot in her juicer
in a mix with other veges (she says that is good for the liver).
My juicer (not a new one) has trouble with oranges so you have
to use a juice press or citrus juicer or hand juicer for the citrus.
In cold weather, tomato juice is nice (some ppl add a little
vodka? is that a "bl**dy mary"?)
Melanie

[melanie345]

Hi,
Re woks, as I have a gas cooktop now, I might take your
advice and try a traditional wok rather than electric
(it should get really sizzling
with gas since the electric cooktop I had before took a lot
longer to get hot). Thanks for the tip :)
Melanie

[Blue Cow]

Hi Melanie


In cold weather, tomato juice is nice (some ppl add a little
vodka? is that a "bl**dy mary"?)


Yes if you add seasoning too (salt & pepper & tabasco sauce). Some also add Worcester sauce too (as if it wasn't hot enough!)

[melanie345]

Hi,

Re stir frying, we did a really nice one last night.
The supermarket sells ready made chopped up veges
for stir fries (I was tired and this looked a good idea).
Still havent got a wok yet but used a big pot
and added some curry paste (mild) and some soy sauce
and some white wine and extra mushrooms.
Also added some tofu.
At the last minute threw in a packet of egg noodles
(fresh, just heat and eat and low fat).
This was really yummy and fast to make and healthy.


Melanie

[Ogre]

Bit of a boring one, but I've not fed off red meat for over 15 yrs (burgers aren't meant to be green and ruuny when you bite them - but boy I stll miss the taste of my Grans Corned Beef, egg n' chips)

Get a 'Beanfeast' Soy mix. Take the minced stuff and cook with Onions, Carrot Slivers, Spud Chunks, hey whatever grabs you baby.

Use as pasty filling in the pastry of your choice. (mmmmmm pasties).

She who must be obeyed often used to send me off to the wax mine with one...

Ogre

[Neighboured]

You can slice the bean curd lumps you can buy and fry them up. They are very nice.

Also, if you are frying vegie stuff, throw and handful of rolled oats in a stir them up and fry them. Tasty! Believe it or not...