Proper cooking

[veracity]

I do the cooking in our house and cook most nights apart from Friday which is takeaway night.

I had a very depressing conversation with the man on the till in Kwik Save today. I went into buy lentils, onions and yoghourt for my curried lentil soup later, he said 'what you cooking with those vegetables?' so I told him and he asked who I was cooking for, 'Just me' (Mr S is out tonight watching the City game).
'Oh that's unusual' he said 'fancy cooking for just yourself!'

 

[mr steev]

Virtually all 'proper' cooking for me.
We do have the odd take away curry or frozen pizza occasionally, but I'm going to start making my own pizzas from now on, which is what I almost do anyway because most readymade veggie pizzas have crap toppings and never any olives

 

[moomoo]

I cook proper food all the time, except on alternate Wednesdays when I have to ferry children around so that is 'something on toast' night The only thing I have a real problem with is boiled eggs, can never get them quite right!

We have takeaways on birthdays and Christmas Eve and possibly a couple of other nights in the year Curry or Chinese.

I don't like ready meals, they never have any taste and are far too salty.

I find it incredibly depressing when I see other people in the supermarket with trolleys full of crap, especially when they have children with them. No wonder people don't learn how to cook these days! And who needs a ready mix for shepherd pie for gods sake! Bit of tomato puree, soy sauce, worcester sauce and a few herbs and that is it!

My children are picking up cooking tips all the time, my daughter makes a mean vinagrette dressing

 

[lyra_k]

Never buy pre-made food (except decent frozen pizzas ), but I only cook about half the time - the rest of the time we eat out.

 

[remedial_gash]

Another for the 'cook proper' gang...

having, regrettfully had to move back with the parents for a bit - which is most embaressing as I'm 28 - have taken it upon myself to cook every blood meal, all the time. I tried to relinquish control but have discovered that the dear old ma is a dreadful cook, I tried to educate her, but she wouldn't listen...

I'd make a lovely housewife me.

Gash
x

 

[dumbo]

Proper cooking...

I cook proper meals mostly, but when the kids aren't around, I eat junk more often. We have more of a problem with who's going to clean up after....

 

[ddraig]

where's the chips option?

 

[WasGeri]

I cook from proper food mostly, but have a pizza from Asda on Saturday nights and the occasional Indian takeway.

BTW - I voted only once but my name is in there twice in two different options.

 

[WasGeri]

most readymade veggie pizzas have crap toppings and never any olives

You need to go to the fresh pizza counter in Asda! I get an Italian-style stonebake pizza with mushrooms, sweetcorn, chillies and black olives. Sometimes they're stingy and only put 5 olives on but if you get a generous person, they put loads of them on!

 

[felixthecat]

I don't buy ready meals because
1. they don't taste right
2. too expensive
3. I like cooking

Mr felixthecat will occasionally cook, but he's got a very limited repetoire . Miss Felixthekitten loves cooking and is very adventurous in her use of spices and herbs, sometimes with very peculiar results . The son doesn't cook becos he's too damn lazy and would live happily on cereal and toast if necessary.

Now and again we'll get a takeaway, but on the days no-one really wants to cook we'll do the something on toast or something on baked potato option.

 

[chriswill]

Every bloody day.


Trouble is none of its for me.

 

[felixthecat]

We have more of a problem with who's going to clean up after....

I feel your pain because I suffer this too.

 

[Geriberry]

I do as I love cooking and I think fresh food has health benefits,I make my own bread too.

 

[pennimania]

I mainly cook from scratch but I do use Patak's tandoori sauce regularly. When I worked full time I used to use ready made much more.

When I am in London we do eat out a LOT can't afford the nearest local cafe - £200 a meal (B&B £195 a head)

 

[mentalchik]

Due to my work hours and the fact that we are never all in the house at the same time these days, i actually hardly do any cooking at all !

Sometimes i do some at the weekend but even that is becoming a rare event !


I don't actually eat meals very often now !

 

[onenameshelley]

I love cooking and find it a nice way to unwind, during the week i eat odd crap that i like such as veggies and gravy or something else simple. I prefer cooking from scratch anyway because i know exactly what i am getting. The weekend is normally when i cook big meals for everyone in the flat but we do have a takeaway twice a month as well.

 

[mr steev]

You need to go to the fresh pizza counter in Asda! I get an Italian-style stonebake pizza with mushrooms, sweetcorn, chillies and black olives. Sometimes they're stingy and only put 5 olives on but if you get a generous person, they put loads of them on!

Are they any good though? I remember having a few a few years ago and they weren't very nice iirc. Same as their takeaway curries and their idea of pakora. I should just pull my finger out and make my own bases and freeze them really

 

[tarannau]

Asda Pizzas are minging - I wouldn't trust the quality of any of the toppings they use either, there's too much bottom of the barrel, poorly sourced stuff all round the store.

On the other hand, they are far better an option than Asda's curries, which have to be one of the most abysmal insults to the Indian sub-continent I've ever experienced. You're quite right about the pakoras too Mr S

Stupid thing is that I keep giving them the benefit of the doubt and sampling them again, only to be sadly disappointed. I just keep conning myself that the whopping mark downs they put on the meals make it worthwhile. it's when you're leaving work late (after 8) that all those heavily-reduced ready meal packs seem to look like a good idea, whatever your past experiences.

 

[Epona]

I love cooking and would love to cook every night. Nate isn't quite as enthusiastic as me, but he cooks some good dishes when the mood takes him (his tuna casserole is legendary, and he's bought some lovely looking tomatoes which he's going to do something with over the weekend).

Unfortunately both of us are too knackered most of the time, and the take away options round here are cheap and really bloody good.

 

[Schmetterling]

I also love cooking and prefer savoury food. My mother was good in that she would let me experiment. I only ever remember once being told off as she had planned something else with the meat I had cooked.

I cook as much from scratch as possible. But I have realised that I am trying to do too much. I work full-time. I can't come home and cook every night. Even with the best of intentions and the quickest of meals. About a year ago I started buying frozen veg regularly rather than always cooking them fresh. I just need to cut down on time spent on preparing them.

My friend and I said that we would not want to go out with a man who doesn't like food and eating. On reflection we said that we don't even want friends who don't like food and eating.

But I am shite at yorkshire puddings? I keep trying and I just down get it. The best efforts rise upside down (upside down bowl; convex, not concave). Any hints?

 

[wtfftw]

We cook all the time. Including making our own wholemeal pizza base.
My bloke does most of it, I get everything out and clear up we go while making dressing and marinades.
We didnt eat fresh stuff all the time until we started the GI diet. It's lovely.

 

[parallelepipete]

But I am shite at yorkshire puddings? I keep trying and I just down get it. The best efforts rise upside down (upside down bowl; convex, not concave). Any hints?

I imagine you've already heard of these two?

1. Make the batter using ice-cold water;
2. Pre-heat the tin in the oven, add the fat to the tin and then on high heat on the hob until smoking, add batter and immediately whack it back in the oven.

They've improved my success rate (still a bit hit-and-miss for me as well though )

 

[tobyjug]

I am a really sad person I have just got a signed copy of Rick Stein's latest book, French Odyssey.

 

[parallelepipete]

I am a really sad person I have just got a signed copy of Rick Stein's latest book, French Odyssey.

A signed Rick Stein cookery book? Sad? Not unless you stalked him and threatened him with 'your autograph or your life'!

 

[tobyjug]

A signed Rick Stein cookery book? Sad? Not unless you stalked him and threatened him with 'your autograph or your life'!

It is my own fault. He stated on his new TV series he had never seen any artichokes growing in Cornwall so I e-mailed him a picture of me in my artichoke patch. (The picture was taken in June when the plants were nearly 10feet tall).

 

[dumbo]

I feel your pain because I suffer this too.

Isn't it terrible when they go away? You think you have the junk food beat, and try to show them healthy eating, but are a horrible example when they aren't around? The pounds,,,,Oh boy.
Or did you mean the cleaning up afterward?

 

[pinkmonkey]

I also love cooking and prefer savoury food. My mother was good in that she would let me experiment. I only ever remember once being told off as she had planned something else with the meat I had cooked.

I cook as much from scratch as possible. But I have realised that I am trying to do too much. I work full-time. I can't come home and cook every night. Even with the best of intentions and the quickest of meals. About a year ago I started buying frozen veg regularly rather than always cooking them fresh. I just need to cut down on time spent on preparing them.

My friend and I said that we would not want to go out with a man who doesn't like food and eating. On reflection we said that we don't even want friends who don't like food and eating.

But I am shite at yorkshire puddings? I keep trying and I just down get it. The best efforts rise upside down (upside down bowl; convex, not concave). Any hints?

Nigella Lawsons' /Jane Grigsons' 'Chinese' yorkshire pudding recipe is foolproof - you add the flour last of all - give it a try

http://www.stylenetwork.com/Shows/NigellaBites/Recipes/roastbeef.html

I cook from scratch most of the time and I really enjoy it. We don't get many takeaways. I doubt if I'd do this so often if we didn't work from home - wouldn't have time to shop most days or spend ages faffing. I recently stopped using cook-in sauces (mainly to save money, but also because they are full of rubbish!)

Don't get many takeaways either - tbh would rather make my own curry than spend £15 on something that's swimming in ghee.

If I don't scratch cook - I eat utter rubbish - packet noodles or those long life breakfasts in a foil packet. I also have a passion for those ready prepared filled yorkshire puddings. Yum!

 

[WasGeri]

Are they any good though?

I think they are - better than any of the boxed ones you get and better than Dominos and places like that (and cheaper!)

Make sure you get the stonebake though as the other bases are not as good.

 

[hendo]

But I am shite at yorkshire puddings? I keep trying and I just down get it. The best efforts rise upside down (upside down bowl; convex, not concave). Any hints?

Ms T posting:

I don't quite understand what you mean. They should puff up at the sides and have a hollow middle, for putting the gravy in. The most important thing is to make sure the fat you cook them in is really, really hot. I always use lard or beef dripping for the best result. I also let the batter rest for half an hour or so before cooking. And NEVER open the oven door half way through for a peek -- that way disaster lies!

(I'm from Yorkshire, so consider myself an expert on the pudding issue!)

 

[Schmetterling]

parallelepipete, pinkmonkey & hendo:
God, there are so many things to consider. I know about preparing in advance but have not left the batter in the fridge. I also know about the fat having to be very hot. Saw on Saturday Kitchen last week that I should not, repeat, should not open the door. I think that is still my downfall. Not resisting the peek.
I will have a look at the website suggested, follow your tips, dust the flower off and try again. Thanks!