The General Chat Thread

the beer revolu

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Sorry BR, misunderstood, thought you were talkin about existing thread, and you weren't

No way, that thread is just fine the way it is.;)

Animord

I think if it were run from a positive point of view - only constructive criticism allowed then it might be fun but definitely zero tolerance for "urg that looks disgusting" or "so unhealthy" or whatever.

iwantmydinner

I don't see a need for it, and I wouldn't get involved with it. Personally, If I was disappointed with a meal and wanted suggestions on where it might have gone wrong I'd simply post the pic on HWIHFD and ask for them.

Loire

Animord wrote: »

I think if it were run from a positive point of view - only constructive criticism allowed then it might be fun but definitely zero tolerance for "urg that looks disgusting" or "so unhealthy" or whatever.

+1 ...big believers in positive mental attitude in our house (and yes, we're happy being delusional!!)

Seriously though, if the criticism was positive I think it could be quite educational. I also don't think the posts would require photos in all cases either, it could be something along the lines of "I made a thai curry last night but the flavour was a bit off - I added x,y,z", or "I cooked lentils but they were bland..any tips to add complimentary flavours" - A sort of "How could I make this better" thread ?

Loire

Lovely Bloke

Alun wrote: »

Aldi have haggis from next Thursday ready for the 25th,

https://www.aldi.ie/en/specialbuys/thursday-16th-january/products-detail-page/ps/p/fresh-haggis/

I LOVE haggis. thanks for that.

Animord

Loire wrote: »

+1 ...big believers in positive mental attitude in our house (and yes, we're happy being delusional!!)

Seriously though, if the criticism was positive I think it could be quite educational. I also don't think the posts would require photos in all cases either, it could be something along the lines of "I made a thai curry last night but the flavour was a bit off - I added x,y,z", or "I cooked lentils but they were bland..any tips to add complimentary flavours" - A sort of "How could I make this better" thread ?

Loire

It all kind of happens anyway in the current "What I had" threads, doesn't it?

The Hill Billy

the beer revolu wrote: »

It shouldn't require any extra work - it would just be another thread.

I meant for the Dev team to give a smell & taste experience to the site users.

the beer revolu wrote: »

There would be no place for hurt feeling in this thread - if you post your meal you take what ever is dished out!

How are you supposed to adequately critique a meal based on just a pic or a description?

Again, those coming out best would be the good writers/photographers - not necessarily those who make good, tasty dishes.

Why not start a separate thread with a poll to discuss & get feedback from the forum users?

leahyl

Does anybody have an omelette maker? I see they're on sale in Aldi from Sunday and wondering if they are any good - I find when I make omlettes they always fall apart in the pan!

emaleth

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Can you guys help me?

Need to make (a relatively cheap) meal for someone I'm trying to impress (:D) problem is it'll have to be something that doesn't require the oven or microwave, as ill be in my house share (I live with 4 boys) and the oven is a complete health hazzard. So, to avoid chronic food poisoning it'll be as well to stick to just hob cooking. I want to stay away from the boring standard bolognaise too

Mussels would be nice - they're dirt cheap, nice and light, made on the stove top and you eat them with your fingers, putting them firmly (heheheheh) in the sexy food category

All you need is an onion or a couple of shallots, butter, white wine, cream, mussels and a baguette. Dice the onion very finely and soften in an ounce of butter. Pour in a big glass of white wine and bring to a boil over a high heat. When it's boiling away like mad, put in your kilo bag of (scrubbed) mussels and clap the lid on the pot. Leave it for three minutes or so, then shake the pot up and down and around about, keeping the lid on. Give it another two minutes and have a look inside. The mussels should be open. If not, give them two more minutes, or until they are all steamed open. Then pour in half a cup of cream, give it all a shake again and serve in big deep bowls with the baguette on the side. Chopped flat leaf parsley on top if you like.

I put garlic in mine but am leaving it out in this instance

On the food poisoning note - throw out any of them that are open when you get them, and that don't close when tapped off the edge of the sink.

iwantmydinner

leahyl wrote: »

Does anybody have an omelette maker? I see they're on sale in Aldi from Sunday and wondering if they are any good - I find when I make omlettes they always fall apart in the pan!

I've never heard of one - but my mom says the key to omelettes is a very good non-stick frying pan. She makes them quite often. Mine fall apart too but that's because I've a crappy pan.

Loire

Animord wrote: »

It all kind of happens anyway in the current "What I had" threads, doesn't it?

That's true. If people have a question outside of what they made for dinner, such as a general question they can open a new thread for this anyway. Maybe a general "Advice" thread might be good.

Gloomtastic!

leahyl wrote: »

Does anybody have an omelette maker? I see they're on sale in Aldi from Sunday and wondering if they are any good - I find when I make omlettes they always fall apart in the pan!

Get a small non-stick omelette pan. There's only so much space in a kitchen with all the 'makers' you can buy!

gg2

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Can you guys help me?

Need to make (a relatively cheap) meal for someone I'm trying to impress (:D) problem is it'll have to be something that doesn't require the oven or microwave, as ill be in my house share (I live with 4 boys) and the oven is a complete health hazzard. So, to avoid chronic food poisoning it'll be as well to stick to just hob cooking. I want to stay away from the boring standard bolognaise too

What about a really good homemade curry? Made from scratch. Cannot be beaten imho

The Black Oil

Any cooking plans for 2014? I might try to do another cookery class (half day, or something), and try a few things that are more out of my comfort zone. Will probably avoid most of the food related TV...

iwantmydinner

The Black Oil wrote: »

Any cooking plans for 2014? I might try to do another cookery class (half day, or something), and try a few things that are more out of my comfort zone. Will probably avoid most of the food related TV...

Try out as many new things as possible! Vague but enough for now!

beertons

The Black Oil wrote: »

Any cooking plans for 2014? I might try to do another cookery class (half day, or something), and try a few things that are more out of my comfort zone. Will probably avoid most of the food related TV...

Pulled pork. It's been on my to do list for ages.

GrahamThomas

The Black Oil wrote: »

Any cooking plans for 2014? I might try to do another cookery class (half day, or something), and try a few things that are more out of my comfort zone. Will probably avoid most of the food related TV...

I got a Nigel Slater book for Christmas, so going to cook loads of things from that! Have a few recipe ideas that I want to tinker and experiment with too (e.g candied bacon & maple ice cream)

Gloomtastic!

Looking for a new sticky thread?

The fruit/veg specials in the supermarkets. Post your favourite recipes to utilise these bargains to their full potential.

Sounds good to me!

The Hill Billy

People don't read the stickied threads for a start.

Regarding the veg 'specials' - I have a real problem with these because they are killing Irish crop farming. Irish crops are being left in the ground to rot because they cannot be sold due to these price wars.

Farmers are losing their livelihoods & farm workers are losing their jobs so the big chains can tempt people in the door with an 8c bag of carrots on a stick, only to fleece them on other products. It is a disgrace.

kenco

The Hill Billy wrote: »

People don't read the stickied threads for a start.

Regarding the veg 'specials' - I have a real problem with these because they are killing Irish crop farming. Irish crops are being left in the ground to rot because they cannot be sold due to these price wars.

Farmers are losing their livelihoods & farm workers are losing their jobs so the big chains can tempt people in the door with an 8c bag of carrots on a stick, only to fleece them on other products. It is a disgrace.

Agree here. Dont get me wrong we all have to cut corners and getting the best deal possible is right but in my experience (might have been unlucky) a lot of the veg in the special deals doesnt keep more than a day or barely tastes of anything.

I know this is close to tHB heart and to be honest its only in the last couple of years its kicked in but if you can and if you have a local fruit and veg shop try them for value as you would be surprised. Obviously they cant compete with the multiples for everything but if you want something that wont break the bank and actually tastes like it should give them a go.

This applies even more for butchers. Definitely in thev last 3 years - again not in all areas - the multiples have increased their prices significantly and are now in some cases more expensive than your local butcher. Ok convenience is key and multiple trips is not for everyone but if you are looking for value dont assume (as I used to) that the small local options dont have good value

Animord

The Hill Billy wrote: »

People don't read the stickied threads for a start.

Regarding the veg 'specials' - I have a real problem with these because they are killing Irish crop farming. Irish crops are being left in the ground to rot because they cannot be sold due to these price wars.

Farmers are losing their livelihoods & farm workers are losing their jobs so the big chains can tempt people in the door with an 8c bag of carrots on a stick, only to fleece them on other products. It is a disgrace.

I have a thread idea that I would love to see here. One promoting/reviewing small Irish food producers.

We have some really excellent producers out there of cheeses, chutneys, pork, sauces etc who are local and provide community employment and make really good quality food products. Some that spring to mind are Mella's fudge, Arbutus Breads and Gubbeen Cheeses and smoked meats.

Most of these people are people who have farming backgrounds and have diversified into food production.

The ones I have mentioned are all doing well and are quite widely known but there are many more of them out there who deserve wider recognition for the quality of their produce.

Loire

Animord wrote: »

I have a thread idea that I would love to see here. One promoting/reviewing small Irish food

I think that's a great idea.

THB....do we have any proof that farmersare leaving crop in the ground? If so this would be very newsworthy indeed.

Loire

iwantmydinner

Loire wrote: »

I think that's a great idea.

THB....do we have any proof that farmersare leaving crop in the ground? If so this would be very newsworthy indeed.

Loire

I have nothing to hand, but I work in the ag sector (dealing with farmers every day) and can tell you it happens all the time. Literally a regular occurrence.

Animord

I can't find it but I am sure Nationwide or one of those programmes did an entire episode on it a few years ago. There was a man in Louth area who was ploughing back celery because he couldn't compete.

The Hill Billy

Loire wrote: »

I think that's a great idea.

THB....do we have any proof that farmersare leaving crop in the ground? If so this would be very newsworthy indeed.

Loire

Yes, my neighbour has had to just plough most of his winter crops back into the ground. A whole season wasted & nothing to show for it.

And that is just one. There are many more like him.

Animord

Loire you could try asking in the Farming Forum? Though they do seem to be mainly beef/dairy in there.

Loire

That must be heart-breaking.

I was speaking to someone about this during the week. He's in a senior position in a beverage multinational. He reckons that we could end up with a two-tier food market where we export our top produce whilst at the same time import lower quality produce...all great news for the environment too:rolleyes: I can see this happening with beef - the japanese have recently agreed importing Irish beef again I think, and the Chinese are probably going to follow. This increase in demand will inevitably push up prices of Irish beef locally. The supermarkets will just bring in more & more cheap beef from abroad to meet the demand.

The laws of supply & demand will ultimately kick-in for the celery farmer above (and others)...they will just have to produce something else. This could be enough to push some over the edge and others to produce more for export. Again....the good stuff goes and the cheap & nasty stuff is imported offered to us and we're happy because it's cheap.

Loire

Favourite part of the week coming up.....about to drag the two smallees into the English Market for the weekly meat shop. They get to see the lobsters & have a gingerbread man, whilst I get to have a coffee and a nose around

Animord

I believe that we spend in the region of 5% - 10% of our salaries on food where previously we would have spent in the region of 30%. We are already totally hooked on cheap food. Quality is of vital importance to me personally when buying food, but if you look into the average trolley in Tesco's et al it is apparent that not everyone feels the same way. Whether it is through choice or ignorance I don't know. I suspect that ignorance is the greater contributing factor.

For instance, I bang on about Lidl's Glensallagh Irish Beef sausages. If you check the small print on the back it says that they are produced in Northern Ireland, which gives them the right to use 'Irish' in the name. But they are actually made of EU beef.

Now I am pretty sure that most people think they are buying Irish and supporting the economy when they buy them, but of course they are not - they are supporting the Romanian horse industry :P

Just in case of board legal problems - that was a joke about the horse meat! I am sure they are pure EU beef.

The Hill Billy

Am off to the farmers market here in Bern shortly myself. It is a real treat just to see the vast array of produce they have. Purple, yellow & white carrots. A dozen types of cabbage. Homemade sausages & salamis galore. Many things that I have no clue what they are.