EduCook: The Cookery Help and Ideas Thread

[Pink_Panda]

Returning to the asparagus theme from last year, I tried another combination at the weekend.

 

First, I blanched the asparagus for about two minutes. I then wrapped it in smoked salmon and drizzled a little olive oil before putting it in the air fryer for 5 minutes at 200°C. I served it on a bed of mixed salad leaves, chopped baby plum tomatoes, spring onions and diced soft Irish goats' cheese, all seasoned with some freshly ground black pepper, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

 

It was stunning!

 

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It's making me feel quite hungry!

 

@elsiegee40: I read the other day of a farm where you can pick your own asparagus, near Goudhurst. Have you heard of it?

[elsiegee40]

It's making me feel quite hungry!

 

@elsiegee40: I read the other day of a farm where you can pick your own asparagus, near Goudhurst. Have you heard of it?

 

I think we may have passed it on our way back from The Big Sanctuary last Friday. It was piddling down with rain so we didn’t stop!

Edited June 9, 2021 by elsiegee40

[Ditto]

My mum has a plum tree (opal variety) and this year has a bumper crop. I have a Plum sorbet that is simple yet stunningly wonderful.

Ingredients are:

750g plums

250g caster sugar

600ml water

1 cinnamon stick (I used Cassia Bark this year at it was good value in Sainsburys!)

Strip of lemon rind

 

Roast the halved and de-stoned plum for 40 mins at 200C or 180C Fan for a little less time.

Over a low heat, dissolve the caster sugar in the water along with the lemon rind and cinnamon stick. Then cook at medium heat for 20 minutes until slightly syrupy.

Add the cooked plums discarding lemon rind and cinnamon. Cook for a further 10 minutes.

Let the mixture cool a bit then purée.

I let it cool then put in fridge overnight.

Pour mixture in to ice-cream maker and mix until ready - goes a super lighter colour. If you don't have an ice-cream maker, 3 hours in freezer until just frozen, take out and give it a mash/churning with a fork, then freeze for a further 3 hours.

 

Spoon in to an old ice-cream tub and pop into a freezer until ready.

 

When serving, leave it out of freezer for 5-10 minutes to soften a little. A quarter or two of fresh plum and a sprig of mint gives it a bit if class. Here are some photos.

 

 

Isn't the colour of the final product just amazing!

[elsiegee40]

This dead simple Jamaica Ginger Cake recipe came from a friend recently.

 

It’s really squidgy and moist ; just as it should be. The batter is very liquid... I wasn’t expecting that.

 

I made the first yesterday and there’s only a tiny bit left now.

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I used this as a Ginger Pudding today. I made the vegan version due to son’s girlfriend (substitute 50ml veg oil for the butter, used egg substitute and alpro instead of cow’s milk)

 

I cut a couple of balls of ginger in syrup very small and put them in the bottom of the pan then spooned some ginger syrup from the jar in so the the bottom was entirely covered. The cake mix went on top and I baked it in the normal way.

 

It became a sort of ginger upside down cake and was delicious hot with creme fraiche (or vegan substitute). I can’t help feeling that @Ditto’s plum sorbet might have gone with it rather well too.

Edited August 1, 2021 by elsiegee40

[Ditto]

I did the Ginger cake soon after you posted - it disappeared quick! Perhaps I'll redo as a pudding in the next week or two and let you know how well it pairs with the sorbet.

[elsiegee40]

Simple flat breads

Great with curry, cheese or whatever.

Easily scaled to whatever size pot of dairy you have… or to use up the end of a pot.

These freeze well and can be reheated in the microwave.

 

300g creme fraiche or plain yoghurt or sour cream or greek yoghurt

300g self raising flour

Generous pinch of salt

 

Get stuck in with your hand and knead the ingredients together in a bowl until you have a smooth dough. It will be a bit sticky. Throw a clean towel over it and leave it to rest for 30 minutes (not a disaster if it rests for more or less time)

 

Flour your work surface.

Divide the dough into 3 or 4 equal sized balls.

Roll each ball out thinly to fit your frying pan.

 

Heat the frying pan with some oil in it.

Cook each flat bread for 4 or 5 minutes on each side until cooked and browned (it will bubble up)

You will need to add more oil to the pan between each bread being cooked.

[southhamster]

Courgette cake loaf.

First steal courgettes from @southamsters garden...

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/courgette-loaf-cake

[LeMarchand]

Just seen this on the BBC. Some cheap recipes there and lots of links to similar ideas down the side. Unfortunately that first page not much use at Château LeMarchand as Mlle LeMarchand is a veggie, which means we all have to be veggies (though she may be moving out!), Mme LeMarchand won't eat sausages and just the smell of fish makes me nauseous. https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/budget_family_meal_plan_for_four

[DalekSec]

@Ditto , Pumpkin recipe I followed

 

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/pumpkin-pie

[6Foot2]

For completeness, cross posting from "Things that could have been improved before being approved"

 

Link: Beef, coriander and lime chalupas recipe - BBC Food

[mikeprice]

For completeness, cross posting from "Things that could have been improved before being approved"

 

Link: Beef, coriander and lime chalupas recipe - BBC Food

 

Ahh

 

makes sense now

not that I'm going to make it but at least I know who - sorry what - one is

[HarryMonkey]

For those who maybe don't like their chilli as hot as the rest of the family ...

 

[Andrew_C]

Apparently - there is a glut of free-range turkeys. A bit of a flap over bird flu, and lots of people have bought frozen birds early.

[6Foot2]

5Foot2 was on the phone to her mum when the topic of "Pork Cheese" came up (M-I-L having seen it mentioned on a TV programme)

 

They (5Foot2 and M-I-L) asked me to look it up. The result is not something I would like to have put on my table:

 

Link 1: Foods of England - Pork Cheese

 

Link 2: Head cheese - Wikipedia

 

[elsiegee40]

This Christmas baklava is dead easy to make. You don’t really need the orange blossom water… and I have my doubts about the ground cloves and poppy seeds too.

 

You need 24 squares of Filo technically but, by piecing together bits trimmed for the squares and using 5 sheets per layer not 6, I kept it to a single pack of Filo. JusRol 7 sheet pack used.

 

It’s worth cutting into squares deeply before baking. Also, I poured the syrup over it before it had cooled completely.

 

I made it vegan (Son’s gf is staying) by using vegan block margarine in place of butter and vegan mincemeat. It will be our Christmas cake / mince pie alternative for the coming days.

 

Edited December 23, 2022 by elsiegee40

[6Foot2]

Haven't tried this myself, anyone care to comment?

 

 

It seems ... counterintuitive?

[LeMarchand]

Off eggs atm as we had a surfeit that i had to get through on my own. Gonna try it next time I'm cooking them, though!

[elsiegee40]

Haven't tried this myself, anyone care to comment?

 

 

It seems ... counterintuitive?

 

Funny how you can’t actually see it hit the deck. Somehow I doubt it works

[TechMonkey]

Comments i read elsewhere said it does depend on the quality and freshness of the egg, what the chickens have been feed and what surface it is dropped upon.

I might give it a go in the morning!

[jnfarmer]

I dropped an egg from a significant height the other day (counter top to floor) can confirm that the egg shell DEFINITELY got mixed in with the whites and yolk.

[6Foot2]

I dropped an egg from a significant height the other day (counter top to floor) can confirm that the egg shell DEFINITELY got mixed in with the whites and yolk.

 

A drop too far.

 

[Patrick]

I like to make this to use up a few bits from the fridge. Nice one pot wonder.

 

Sausage and rice:

 

• In a heavy bottom pan fry a sliced onion, red preferred but any will do
  
• Add one sliced pepper and some chopped garlic
  
• Take the sausages out the skin and add them to the pan breaking them up with your wooden spoon, fry until they have a nice colour
  
• Add any other veg, such as mushrooms or tender stem broccoli
  
• Add 1tsp paprika, 1/2tsp of cumin, 1/2 of chilli powder (to taste)
  
• Add one cup of uncooked rice and add two cups chicken stock
  
• Cover and cook on lowest heat for around 15-20 minutes. Check on it and top up with water if needed
  
• Server with fresh chopped parsley
  

 

We call it risotto but it quite clearly isn't

[LeMarchand]

Sounds gorgeous. Alas, Mme LeMarchand won't eat sausages .

[Patrick]

would work with veggie sausages and veg stock too! I also use Chorizo but you've to careful as a lot of oil will naturally come out the chorizo as it's cooking.

[LeMarchand]

would work with veggie sausages and veg stock too! I also use Chorizo but you've to careful as a lot of oil will naturally come out the chorizo as it's cooking.

 

Not even *spit* veggie sausages or other sausage-like food.