The General Chat Thread

iwantmydinner

So, I have an overripe mango that I've no idea what to do with. Any thoughts?

dee_mc

iwantmydinner wrote: »

So, I have an overripe mango that I've no idea what to do with. Any thoughts?

I've been wanting to try this, obviously would need to be scaled down quite a bit though!
http://www.marthastewart.com/978345/mango-lime-sorbet

Jezek

iwantmydinner wrote: »

So, I have an overripe mango that I've no idea what to do with. Any thoughts?

Mango Lassi! Perfect with any spicy dish

Faith

I'm thinking of trying to move towards a pescatarian diet for health reasons. Does anyone here cook with fish regularly? It's so easy and quick to cook, but I have it in my head that it's way more expensive than meat.

Animord

Faith wrote: »

I'm thinking of trying to move towards a pescatarian diet for health reasons. Does anyone here cook with fish regularly? It's so easy and quick to cook, but I have it in my head that it's way more expensive than meat.

Spooky! Me too. Well I have been thinking about vegetarian/vegan/pescatarian diets. Not sure I could do either the veg or vegan, but I don't each much meat myself, certainly by Irish standards I would eat very little. The last meat I had was bacon/sausage nearly three weeks ago I think :eek:

I don't think it is more expensive though. I bought half a salmon and a Sea Bass in K O'Connells last weekend. Got one meal from the sea bass and have eight portions of salmon - it cost me €22.00 I think. I guess it is same as anything - if you go for the less 'sexy' fishes and eat in season, you'd probably do quite well. And fish is delish.

On the cooking I must say I think it is a sin to ruin a good fish with too much crap - I am inclined to steam things like salmon and fry fishes like sea bass or mackerel/plaice. The more boring white fishes like cod I cook en papilllote with asiany flavours, lime and stuff. I eat a lot of cold smoked fish in summer and you can't beat a good fish pie on a cold night.

Faith

Ah, interesting to know I'm not the only one!

I bought 400g of hake last week for about €4.50, which is about the same as meat prices really. Fish is just so much healthier! Plus we're moving to Vancouver this summer, and I think they should have some pretty excellent seafood (and apparently meat is really pricy there).

I'm definitely interested in learning to cook with more Asian flavours too, so it works really nicely to start that with fish.

I do eat quite a lot of meat, but more out of habit. I'd love to eat more fish, I'm just lazy when it comes to it

Animord

Rick Stein has some lovely fish books. Or better still if you could fork out the millions you could do one of his cookery courses.... I'd love to do that - they sound great craic.

Boards outing anyone?

Four Day Course – from £780

Our four-day course is the ultimate seafood cookery experience and is a culmination of Rick’s forty-year enthusiasm for cooking fish and shellfish. Over the 4 days you will be immersed
into a culinary adventure, preparing, cooking and presenting the best seafood Cornwall has to offer. After a day’s cooking you can head back to one of our coastal inspired rooms to relax before enjoying evening meals at The Seafood Restaurant, St Petroc’s Bistro, Rick Stein’s Café and on the final evening a dinner party at Padstow Seafood School, from £1690

GalwayGuy2

Faith wrote: »

Ah, interesting to know I'm not the only one!

I bought 400g of hake last week for about €4.50, which is about the same as meat prices really. Fish is just so much healthier! Plus we're moving to Vancouver this summer, and I think they should have some pretty excellent seafood (and apparently meat is really pricy there).

I'm definitely interested in learning to cook with more Asian flavours too, so it works really nicely to start that with fish.

I do eat quite a lot of meat, but more out of habit. I'd love to eat more fish, I'm just lazy when it comes to it

I have a great cookbook. (the fish section is huge)

Pm me if you want me to send you any recipes.

Cedrus

Faith wrote: »

I'm thinking of trying to move towards a pescatarian diet for health reasons. Does anyone here cook with fish regularly? It's so easy and quick to cook, but I have it in my head that it's way more expensive than meat.

It's WAY cheaper so long as your idea of fish doesn't consist entirely of Salmon and Cod which ARE expensive (not stereotyping Irish diets at all ).

My OH doesn't like fish so it can actually be embarrassing in the fishmongers when my bill for two nights dinner of herrings, mackerel or sardines cost about €1.50 and the server takes ten minutes to look after me. I eat fish every day, oily fish for the Omega oils, White fish for the low fat and all and any for the great taste and simple cooking.

My favourite fish cookbook is Fish but even they say that Gurnard is "essentially a soup or stock fish" when in fact it is a divine tasting fish once you know how to dodge the bones.

fiddlechic

I buy fish from Kish Fish in Dublin. Works out very cheap as I only buy their specials. I want to be more adventurous with fish, and am planning to go do a fish cooking course in Donnybrook Fair.
I have cooked a good few of Kish's recipes - they've always worked out perfectly - http://kishfish.ie/?page_id=12

GalwayGuy2

Cedrus wrote: »

It's WAY cheaper so long as your idea of fish doesn't consist entirely of Salmon and Cod which ARE expensive (not stereotyping Irish diets at all ).

My OH doesn't like fish so it can actually be embarrassing in the fishmongers when my bill for two nights dinner of herrings, mackerel or sardines cost about €1.50 and the server takes ten minutes to look after me. I eat fish every day, oily fish for the Omega oils, White fish for the low fat and all and any for the great taste and simple cooking.

My favourite fish cookbook is Fish but even they say that Gurnard is "essentially a soup or stock fish" when in fact it is a divine tasting fish once you know how to dodge the bones.

Interesting. How many grammes?

I feel like starting a culinary adventure in cooking fish

dipdip

I just made chai tea for myself for the first time. I've drank it lots in restaurants but never made it myself. I followed this recipe, except that I left out the sugar, and put brown sugar out on the table to taste.

Wow it was so, so good. Had it with some baklava. Nom.

Cedrus

GalwayGuy2 wrote: »

Interesting. How many grammes?

I feel like starting a culinary adventure in cooking fish

I'd call a portion of Fish/meat as 200 - 250 grames. A a caterer I worked with years ago called it at 150 but i think that assumed a starter and dessert (and I'm a guzzleguts trying to be good).

Jezek

dipdip wrote: »

I just made chai tea for myself for the first time. I've drank it lots in restaurants but never made it myself. I followed this [URL="[/URL], except that I left out the sugar, and put brown sugar out on the table to taste.

Wow it was so, so good. Had it with some baklava. Nom.

Did you use any kind of special tea?

GalwayGuy2

Cedrus wrote: »

I'd call a portion of Fish/meat as 200 - 250 grames. A a caterer I worked with years ago called it at 150 but i think that assumed a starter and dessert (and I'm a guzzleguts trying to be good).

450 grammes for 1.50 :eek:

dipdip

Jezek wrote: »

Did you use any kind of special tea?

No, I just used normal black teabags (Lyons actually). The cinnamon, star anise and cardamom pods are what makes it taste special.

The Black Oil

Any suggestions on the afternoon snack at work department? I very much stick to fruit, but that can be lacking as I generally don't get home until 7, or sometimes 8. This cutting back on sugar thing is working pretty well. I had some ice cream I used to eat semi-regularly again lately and thought it was rank!

Jezek

The Black Oil wrote: »

Any suggestions on the afternoon snack at work department? I very much stick to fruit, but that can be lacking as I generally don't get home until 7, or sometimes 8. This cutting back on sugar thing is working pretty well. I had some ice cream I used to eat semi-regularly again lately and thought it was rank!

It might not work with your eating regimen/habits but I make some great oat bars that I can eat at work. http://www.katheats.com/favorite-foods/baked-oatmeal-snack-bars very healthy! but be careful if you try them, stick to the thickness shown in the link. I once doubled the thickness and ended up with raw in the middle bars. Otherwise, they are fantastic. oh, and she doesn't add any sugar, they ok this way but if you prefer a little more sweetness try adding some honey if you wanna avoid sugar.

The Black Oil

I make granola for breakfast at the moment. Had considered bars, but not the shop bought ones. Thanks. Forgot to add that hot food is out due to policy (in the event of other suggestions. 2 apples, 2 bananas and a sandwich is about it.

dipdip

The Black Oil wrote: »

Any suggestions on the afternoon snack at work department? I very much stick to fruit, but that can be lacking as I generally don't get home until 7, or sometimes 8. This cutting back on sugar thing is working pretty well. I had some ice cream I used to eat semi-regularly again lately and thought it was rank!

I am a big believer in protein dense snacks to keep you going. Very good for you as well.

Greek yoghurt with a spoonful of honey.
Hummus with things to dip in it - veggies or pitta
A cold hard boiled egg or two
A handful of nuts or seeds
A few slices of cold meat or a little tub of dressed chilled prawns

Animord

If you like tinned fish it is an excellent work snack - I like Lidl's Nixe Mackerel in tomato sauce - it is cheap, good for you and keeps forever. Well nearly forever.

leahyl

I'm planning on making the porridge bread and I'm just wondering, in the recipe it says 2 tubs of porridge oats - how much is 2 tubs?!

Animord

It is the yoghurt tub!

Basically it is just twice the amount of oats to yoghurt.

leahyl

Animord wrote: »

It is the yoghurt tub!

Basically it is just twice the amount of oats to yoghurt.

Doh!!! Awkward!! Thanks....!

Jezek

Also try oven baked eggs. sprinkle plenty salt on an egg, wrap in foil and pop in the oven for a while when cooking any other thing. Take to work and peel and eat when cold! (this is traditionally done in coals or wood ovens but the oven does in a pinch!)

dipdip

I just ate some wafer thin ham from a packet and it had a bit of bone in it.

Nauseating.

Faith

dipdip wrote: »

I just ate some wafer thin ham from a packet and it had a bit of bone in it.

Nauseating.

Oh god

The Black Oil

2:14am, Skynet ovens became self-aware.

Loire

Faith wrote: »

I'm thinking of trying to move towards a pescatarian diet for health reasons. Does anyone here cook with fish regularly? It's so easy and quick to cook, but I have it in my head that it's way more expensive than meat.

Hi Faith,

I find Good Fish in Cork very good. They have weekly specials and that's what I usually go for. I like their 3 Salmon darnes for 5e and these are both very nice and a decent size (unlike those slivers you get in Tesco). Their Hake is also really good.

I'd echo what other posters say about keeping it simple. I usually pan fry the fish for a minute or two on each side then finish in the oven.

For a dead-simply "sauce" here's what I usually do:

Add a good knob of butter to the frying pan. When it starts to foam add some mixed herbs (jar is fine). Then add a squeeze of lemon juice. Give it a stir and it's done..the whole thing takes about 30s. Just pour it over the fish and it's really nice.

Another thing I think goes well is sauteed leek (cooked in butter). When done add a bag of spinach and wilt down. Mix together and put on the bottom of the plate and then rest the fish on top.

Getting hungry for fish now and haven't eaten my breakfast yet!!

Loire.

Padraig Mor

Our neighbour has a boat and regularly goes fishing (we live in Cork harbour). He's a single guy so doesn't really need all the fish he catches - instead he goes around to local families with kids (my own included) doling out free super-fresh fish! I had to learn how to gut and fillet them but it's a handy skill to have. Got 4 jumbo sized mackerel from him the other day.