Ingredient of the week thread - Feedback wanted!

Tayla

What would you all think of having a thread where we chose one main ingredient a week and we all post our favourite recipes which include that ingredient as a main part of the recipe?

It would be great to find ideas to make more meals out of our favourite foods or as a way to use up leftovers.

If it was successful a mod could update the original post every so often with links to the pages of each new week for easy reference.

Apologies if there is already something similar but I did a search and couldn't see any.

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Mod Edit: Poll added - Please vote...

Ta,

HB
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puffishoes

Sounds like an interesting idea

Faith

That's actually a very clever idea. I love it!

We'd need to have a new thread every week for every ingredient. How are you imagining the ingredient for each week would be selected? It would need to be more casual than the cooking club because I'm not sure we have the man power for another undertaking of that proportion!

_blank_

Faith wrote: »

I'm not sure we have the woman power for another undertaking of that proportion!

FYP

EZ24GET

...'Surprise' you each Monday with the next IOTW thread

I think it sounds fun and very helpful as I tend to do things in the same old way. Who picks the ingredient?

Darkginger

However we pick the ingredients (and I think this is a great idea!) can we try to stick to seasonal ones? No strawberries in December etc.? Please?

EZ24GET

...'Surprise' you each Monday with the next IOTW thread

That would probably be wise, but let's figure this out pretty soon because it's such a good idea. Somehow alphabetically or follow an already written index ? i'm not very smart at organizing these things but I know you guys are, c'mon I I can't wait to get some variety into my standard fare. Please?

mickgotsick

This website has a list of vegetables/fruits/herbs and when they're in season in Ireland:

http://www.bestinseason.ie/whats-in-season/

EZ24GET

...'Surprise' you each Monday with the next IOTW thread

So could we just sort of kidnap their list and add in some meats alphabetically ? Have this be the master thread and at the end of each week just check off and go on to the next? When we run through we could start over? Each week could be a different thread so that the ingredient had a different title so really no index needed? Would that work? Maybe post the list and let people add to this list, as really didn't cover it all.

Back again- took a look at that veg list and added just a few other things and we're well above 52 items. Think there will have to be some shuffling and condensing into one category of some things. ex. individual herbs might be condensed into just "herbs" or "fresh herbs" Fruits might be "berries" "Citrus" " Apples, peaches and pears" (oh my:D) I'm going to think about this. see ya later

Faith

If people start posting ideas now for ingredients (and specifying when they're in season, if appropriate), then I'm happy to create a list and look after it from there. I'll be the one who posts up the new thread every week, but I don't have the time or energy to draw up 52 ingredients.

EZ24GET

...'Surprise' you each Monday with the next IOTW thread

Maybe start with vegetables as now is sort of harvest time?
- leafy green
- dark green
- potatoes (lots of these recipes?)
- tomatoes
- root vegetables
- veg that doesn't fit in any other category

we could start there?
maybe next might be fruits, then milk and dairy, grains and cereals, meats and meat alternatives ? With sub categories that should cover a lot? Will check back to see how you do this. Thankyou It is a great idea OP.

Qualitymark

Ingredients that are cheap and delicious and in season?

Minder

There is a list of seasonal ingredients at the British larder website. The Autumn ingredients are here.

http://www.britishlarder.co.uk/flavours-of-autumn/#axzz24U2ppKBL

At it’s best during September…

Apples, Apricots, Bilberries, Borlotti Beans, Butternut Squash, Blackberries, Beetroot, Blueberries, Brill, Cabbages, Chard, Chicory, Clams, Cockles, Cod, Crab, Cobnuts, Celeriac, Cucumbers, Dover Sole, Figs, Flounder, Fennel, Grey Mullet, Guinea Fowl, Greengages, Garlic, Halibut, Herring, Kohlrabi, Lemon Sole, Lobster, Leeks, Langoustines, Mackerel, Mussels, New Potatoes, Oysters, Onions, Pollack, Potatoes, Plums, Pumpkin, Pears, Plaice, Swiss Chard, Sea Bream, Skate, Squid, Scallops, Sea Bass, Sweetcorn, Salmon, Spinach, Turbot, Turnips, Tomatoes, Whelks, Winkles, Watercress.

At it’s best during October…

Apples, Beetroot, Fresh Borlotti Beans, Brill, Black Cabbage, Butternut Squash, Curley Kale, Chestnuts, Chard, Cabbages, Cardoons, Clams, Celeriac, Cockle, Cod, Crabs, Dover Sole, Duck, Eel, Fennel, Figs, Grey Mullet, Goose, Haddock, Hake, Halibut, Hare, John Dory, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lemon Sole, Lobster, Mackerel, Monkfish, Mussels, Onions, Parsnips, Plaice, Plums, Pears, Pumpkins and Squashes, Quinces, Red Kale, Salsify, Spinach, Sweetcorn, Scallops, Squid, Sea Bass, Swiss Chard, Skate, Swede, Sea bream, Oysters, Turnips, Thyme, Turbot, Whinkles, Watercress.

At it’s best during November…

Butternut Squash, Brill, Brussels Sprouts, Beetroot, Clementine’s, Chicory, Clams, Cabbages, Celeriac, Celery, Chard, Cranberries, Crab, Dover Sole, Duck, Eel, Goose, Halibut, Hake, Haddock, John Dory, Jerusalem Artichokes, Kale, Kohlrabi, Langoustine, Lemon Sole, Leeks, Lobster, Monkfish, Mussels, Mussels, Oysters, Onions, Pears, Pumpkins, Pomegranate, Pollack, Parsnips, Plaice, Quince, Swede, Skate, Satsuma’s, Scallops, Squid, Sea Bass, Swiss Chard, Salsify, Turnips, Tangerines, Turbot, Winkles.

A lot of overlap there and not all ingredients would suit everyone, but it could be tailored to suit.

Qualitymark

I wouldn't trust any website that spells a possessive pronoun "it's"

What about starting with, say, Black Tuscan kale, which I've seen in Superquinn in the last week or so - their package has a lovely recipe for cooking it with onions.

EZ24GET

...'Surprise' you each Monday with the next IOTW thread

If we are that item specific does it not limit our responses? Couldn't it just be kale and cover it all?

Qualitymark

EZ24GET wrote: »

If we are that item specific does it not limit our responses? Couldn't it just be kale and cover it all?

I don't know - I've tried it with the black stuff and it was yum. I don't know if it would be the same with curly kale.

EZ24GET

...'Surprise' you each Monday with the next IOTW thread

no, didn't mean to switch off the ingredient just the topic could be "kale" and then you could post that recipe but I could post a recipe for seasoned kale (around here they just call them "greens" ) and someone else could post their fav. i only meant that if we just say a specific kind of a specific kind it might limit responses. I probably am talking too much. sorry.

Faith

Ah no, there's no point in picking extremely specific ingredients. We want people to contribute as many recipes as possible for each ingredient, so it should be pretty broad like "chicken thighs" or "tomatoes". Things that are easily bought in most major supermarkets, because not everyone is near a speciality shop, or has the time or money to buy speciality ingredients. There's no point in doing this if the majority can't take part.

Qualitymark

EZ24GET wrote: »

no, didn't mean to switch off the ingredient just the topic could be "kale" and then you could post that recipe but I could post a recipe for seasoned kale (around here they just call them "greens" ) and someone else could post their fav. i only meant that if we just say a specific kind of a specific kind it might limit responses. I probably am talking too much. sorry.

Oh, that sounds good!

Dinkie

I really like this idea. Due to dietary restrictions I can't usually make the cookery club stuff any more... i'm looking for new challenges in the kitchen - apart from trying to make bad for you stuff healthier!

Minder

Rather than trying to predetermine a list of ingredients for 52 weeks, why not let the next recipe be chosen by the poster of the most popular recipe in the previous thread? Or some other random selection process?

Also a list of seasonal ingredients available in Ireland will exclude many store cupboard ingredients and many regional ingredients. The idea for suitable ingredients needs to be as broad as possible.

Faith

Minder wrote: »

Rather than trying to predetermine a list of ingredients for 52 weeks, why not let the next recipe be chosen by the poster of the most popular recipe in the previous thread? Or some other random selection process?

From years of experience with the cooking club, people will forget/won't be bothered unless you chase them repeatedly about it. I'm certainly not undertaking another job of those proportions, and I doubt any of my co-mods will either.

It's possible it would work week to week like you suggest, but the moment one poster doesnt bother posting an ingredient, the whole thing falls apart because there's no way to select someone for the next week.

EZ24GET

...'Surprise' you each Monday with the next IOTW thread

so perhaps a sort of master list, that could also serve as an index of sorts. A list of 52 ingredients - each week a new thread - old thread retired to archive ? Mod would still have to retire (close) and possibly open new thread but would not be responsible for eliciting any posts, No one would be required to post and possibly if there weren't any posts in a chosen ingredient by say Wednesday we could just go to next ingredient and expand that ingredients week. Maybe master list would be stickied and mod would tick off the ingerdients used- or not?I don't want to make it harder on any of the mods. At the end of a year we should have a really great, easily accessible cooking resource.
I really love the idea of finding new ways of using different foods, I get tired of my own cooking as I tend to rely on stuff I have done in the past. I hope my suggestions are of some help.

Faith

Yep, I think you've nailed it, EZ24GET. We'd have a master thread of all the ingredients stickied, and we'd use that thread to link to each related thread every week, like the main threads in the cooking club. The onus is on the posters then to keep it going.

Darkginger

Minder wrote: »

Rather than trying to predetermine a list of ingredients for 52 weeks, why not let the next recipe be chosen by the poster of the most popular recipe in the previous thread? Or some other random selection process?

Also a list of seasonal ingredients available in Ireland will exclude many store cupboard ingredients and many regional ingredients. The idea for suitable ingredients needs to be as broad as possible.

By seasonal ingredients, what I really meant was no out-of-season ingredients That doesn't exclude things like eggs or say, paprika, but it does exclude brussels sprouts in June, and oysters in July, for example.

I think it'll work best with a master list, 'cos as Faith said, it'd all fall apart if someone didn't do their 'duty' for whatever reason. Maybe we could suggest ingredients here, and then someone (the OP?) might like to arrange them in a roughly seasonal way, so we can get started? My suggestions below...

Courgettes and other squash (it's the glut season right now)
Mackerel
White fish other than cod or haddock
Lamb
Pork
Beef
Lentils and other pulses
Apples and pears
Blackberries (glut approaching!)
Salmon
Cheese other than grated cheddar types
Bacon and ham
Lemons and limes
Poultry other than chicken
Venison
Cauliflower
Peppers of all types, maybe to include chilis?
Offal (liver, kidneys, hearts, tripe, whatever)
Plums, sloes, medlar
Exotic fruit (lychees, mangoes, passion fruit, kiwis etc.)
Salads
Black pudding, white pudding, sausages and salamis
Seafood
Root vegetables (potatoes, carrots, swede, turnip, beetroot)


Can't come up with 52...but those are my suggestions for now

EZ24GET

...'Surprise' you each Monday with the next IOTW thread

good list. here's mine maybe we could shuffle. i sort of put them in categories and placed ingredients under each to just get a few ideas to start from.

Milk and milk products

milk, cream, butter
cheese
cottage cheese, sour creams, cream cheeses yogurts
ice cream

Grains and Cereals

whole grains
cereal grains
ground meals
flours

Fruits

citrus
melons
berries
apples, peaches, pears
other fruits

Vegetables

leafy
dark green
potatoes
tomatoes
other root vegetables
other vegetables

Meat and meat alternatives

Beef
Lamb
Pork
Legumes
Nuts
Poultry and Fowl
Wild Game
Misc. protiens

Convenience foods


Just some ideas.

EZ24GET

...'Surprise' you each Monday with the next IOTW thread

Is this still being worked out? I would hate to see such a good idea fade into the back wash of the forum.

hardCopy

Following thread.

This sounds like a great idea. Although I won't have much to contribute if the ingredients are too obscure.

GastroBoy

...'Surprise' you each Monday with the next IOTW thread

Anyone else subscribe to this website??

http://eattheseasons.co.uk/

They send out a weekly email, with an ingredient of the week thats bang in season, and also gives a list of other ingredients that are also in season.
This week its plums.

Might be good for ideas!

GB

Faith

EZ24GET wrote: »

Is this still being worked out? I would hate to see such a good idea fade into the back wash of the forum.

As would I. A few people have made suggestions, but the forum users need to work this out themselves before it will get off the ground. I'm in the middle of a move to a new country and about to start an MSc, so I really don't have time to do anything other than facilitate this. Between darkginger's post and your own, I'm sure 52 ingredients could be listed and worked with . Once that happens, I'll get the ball rolling.

The Hill Billy

Roughly speaking, a combination of Darkginger's & EZ24GET's lists give us this so far:

Dairy

Cheese
Cottage cheese, sour creams, cream cheeses yogurts
Ice cream

Fish

Mackerel
Salmon
Lobster
Crab
Shellfish
White fish other than cod or haddock

Fruit

Apples, peaches, pears
Berries
Citrus fruits
Exotic fruit (lychees, mangoes, passion fruit, kiwis etc.)
Melons
Nuts
Plums, sloes, medlar

Meat

Bacon, ham
Beef
Black pudding, white pudding, sausages
Salamis & cured meats
Lamb
Offal (liver, kidneys, hearts, tripe, whatever)
Pork
Poultry, fowl
Venison
Wild Game

Veg

Courgettes, squashes
Dark green vegetables
Leafy vegetables
Legumes
Lentils, pulses
Peppers, chillis
Root vegetables (potatoes, carrots, swede, turnip, beetroot)
Salads
Tomatoes
Brassicas

Other

Flours, ground meals
Cereal grains, seeds

We need a few more ingredients to have 52 in the list if anyone cares to give further suggestions...

Also, any takers for determining the seasonality of the above (where relevant)?

When this is provided Faith or I can put together the schedule for you. Please be aware that it will be up to the posters to ensure that this works as there is enough effort (by Faith) already going in to making The Cooking Club run to schedule.

tHB

Curry Addict

herbs and maybe spices could be a good addition imho

Darkginger

I'm still very interested in this - was hoping the OP would come back and take charge, and certainly don't want to step on any toes, but it would be good to get started. Can I propose we kick off with berries, since the hedges are currently heavy with blackberries, but they won't last more than a couple of weeks. Still loads of Irish raspberries, strawberries and blueberries in the shops, too. If people are in agreement, we could even get going today, as it's a Monday - what say you?

Qualitymark

Darkginger wrote: »

I'm still very interested in this - was hoping the OP would come back and take charge, and certainly don't want to step on any toes, but it would be good to get started. Can I propose we kick off with berries, since the hedges are currently heavy with blackberries, but they won't last more than a couple of weeks. Still loads of Irish raspberries, strawberries and blueberries in the shops, too. If people are in agreement, we could even get going today, as it's a Monday - what say you?

Mmmm. Read recently that people used to dry fraughans and use them like raisins.

Blackberry and apple crumble, yum, any good recipes?

i've also got a surplus of pears - what about some chutney recipes?

The Hill Billy

Darkginger - away you go! Thread started here.

tHB

Darkginger

Many thanks, off to..erm..look at it, I suppose (not having a recipe to hand!) now.

The Hill Billy

That's a great start to the IOTW thread. Please don't forget to provide suggestions for more ingredients. I would also appreciate it if someone would 'seasonalise' the list in my post above.

When this is done I will put together the IOTW Schedule.

tHB

EZ24GET

...'Surprise' you each Monday with the next IOTW thread

Maybe a section on convenience foods? Canned, boxed - that sort of thing. I've often had to take a look in the cupboard to find dinner. You know the night you planned to have that dab of left over tuna salad and a couple of cookies, putting off the trip to the grocery until tomorrow and someone shows up at the door that needs to be fed and all you can find is a can of roast beef hash and a can of peaches. Or maybe a rice mix? Recipes that begin: start with a box of macaroni cheese... Or maybe that's a theme for a different thread. Might be called "Cooking by the seat of your pants" just an idea

The Hill Billy

It is nearly Monday & time for IOTW Week 2. If I get no response to my earlier post I'll just go ahead with a random ingredient on Monday.

tHB

Darkginger

There's already a question about courgettes on the forum, and I know many people will have veggie gardens overflowing with them and other squashes - perhaps that would be good for next week? I'm working on 'seasonalising' the list, will see what I can come up with. September's also the first post-summer month with an 'r' in it - so oysters and other seafood would be an alternative option! Feel free to ignore me though, it wasn't my intention to take over this thread

The Hill Billy

Thanks Darkginger - far from ignoring you, this is exactly the postet input that we need for this thread. Many, many thanks!

tHB

EZ24GET

...'Surprise' you each Monday with the next IOTW thread

so Monday brings courgettes (zucchini) ? So would include all squashes? I am in the US so don't know when things would be in season there exactly. But zucchini is plentiful now.

The Hill Billy

The thread is just for courgette/zucchini. It is up now.

Tayla

I am delighted this took off! I was unable to get online for a couple of weeks and then I forgot all about it

Darkginger

It's that time of week again! If you're looking for suggestions for next week's ingredient, could I suggest seafood? Mussels, oysters, razor clams, squid, crab, scallops, - all good at this time of year, plus it gets us away from garden/hedgerow produce for a week Alternatively, goose and game birds are good now, and we're coming into the fungi season, though that's always a dodgy one once you get away from plain white supermarket mushrooms!

Faith

Ones I'd personally like to see, because I love the ingredients and would love more recipes for them: Quail, venison, prawns, lamb.

Qualitymark

I'd love to see this vary between 'normal' ingredients - beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots - and occasionally more abstruse foods such as quinoa, kasha, pak choi and so on - with occasional forays as well into general terms: sponge cake, scones, etc.

The Hill Billy

Thanks for the suggestions for Week 3. I'll give it some thought tonight (for the rest of the year also) & post up the IOTW 3 tomorrow morning.

tHB

The Hill Billy

Sorry folks, I've been on planes, trains, automobiles & buses most of today & haven't had time to think about this week's thread. If anyone has any suggestions for IOTW 4 pop them up here & I'll make a call on it later this evening.

Ta,

tHB

GastroBoy

...'Surprise' you each Monday with the next IOTW thread

The Hill Billy wrote: »

Sorry folks, I've been on planes, trains, automobiles & buses most of today & haven't had time to think about this week's thread. If anyone has any suggestions for IOTW 4 pop them up here & I'll make a call on it later this evening.

Ta,

tHB

Lots of squash at the markets these days, so perhaps ingredients based on pumpkin and butternut squash etc....
Just an idea.

The Hill Billy

Hi All:

I've put together the list of ingredients for the weekly IOTW threads from now until Christmas Eve.

You have the option of me publishing the list now, or keeping it a secret & 'surprising' you each Monday with a new ingredient.

Please use the poll that I've added to the thread to let me know what way you want to play it.

Take care,

tHB