The General Chat Thread

oscarBravo · 29-08-2017 05:29PM

arian wrote: »

They've just been (Sunday) in Aldi, so there may still be some locally. HOWEVER, I bought scales that look just like those, and they were poo. So poo they're now in the tip and we're using a Lidl scale.

The two main problems were that they would turn themselves off in the middle of actually adding ingredients (so no question of auto-off), and it wouldn't do tare properly: when you pressed tare, instead of going to zero it went to a previous weight - drove me wild.

Not recommended.

Yeah, I think the last one I got was from Lidl and has a glass top (with a coffee motif). It's definitely better than the one I had that looks like the one you've linked.

The Hill Billy · 29-08-2017 08:29PM

Dial Hard wrote: »

Blasphemy! The lovely vinegary tang is what makes your mouth go "sproing" when a lovely hot, fresh basket of wings arrives on the table.

I sometimes add vinegar to the mix when I'm making wings.

I know where you're coming from & I love the vinegar hit, but prefer heat & spicyness on my wings.

Loire · 30-08-2017 08:22AM

I was browsing the net yest and read somewhere about using a hand mixer for mash potatoes. I know a lot of you fine folk recommend a potato ricer but I've never gotten round to buying one. Anyway, last night I said I'd give the hand mixer a go - it was handed down to me by my mother and is a Kenwood and at least 30 years old. I cut up the potato into cubes and boiled until I could stick a fork through. Emptied into a collander as usual for a few minutes and then back into the pot. Put the mixer in the middle of the pot and wrapped a tea towl around it to stop anything flying out. A few minutes later I had the most perfect, creamy mash ever. I added butter as I went and it was just perfect. Knocked off the 2 mixer handle thingies, a rinse under the tap and all done!

Shenshen · 30-08-2017 08:31AM

Loire wrote: »

I was browsing the net yest and read somewhere about using a hand mixer for mash potatoes. I know a lot of you fine folk recommend a potato ricer but I've never gotten round to buying one. Anyway, last night I said I'd give the hand mixer a go - it was handed down to me by my mother and is a Kenwood and at least 30 years old. I cut up the potato into cubes and boiled until I could stick a fork through. Emptied into a collander as usual for a few minutes and then back into the pot. Put the mixer in the middle of the pot and wrapped a tea towl around it to stop anything flying out. A few minutes later I had the most perfect, creamy mash ever. I added butter as I went and it was just perfect. Knocked off the 2 mixer handle thingies, a rinse under the tap and all done!

:eek: Would never have occurred to me, but I will definitely give that a try, too!

I remember once as a student trying to use a hand-held stick blender, and that did not turn out well at all. But a hand mixer might just be the thing.

Maldesu · 30-08-2017 08:53AM

Shenshen wrote: »

:eek: Would never have occurred to me, but I will definitely give that a try, too!

Ditto. Now I need to get some spuds...

Dizzyblonde · 30-08-2017 09:40AM

The secret to using a hand blender for mash is to be very careful about adding liquid such as milk, because too much and it will go gloopy.

Markcheese · 30-08-2017 10:37AM

Dizzyblonde wrote:

The secret to using a hand blender for mash is to be very careful about adding liquid such as milk, because too much and it will go gloopy.

And the old cheffy answer to that was to have a can of smash on hand.. Salt, white pepper, butter and cream. And smash, . . In an industrial sized mixer.. Best mash I ever tasted.

kylith · 30-08-2017 10:57AM

The Ikea frozen mash is delicious. I always have some in the freezer because mash is one thing I just cannot make.

Loire · 30-08-2017 12:14PM

Dizzyblonde wrote: »

The secret to using a hand blender for mash is to be very careful about adding liquid such as milk, because too much and it will go gloopy.

Yeah, I didn't add any milk just mixed away and added cubes of butter as I went.

Bredabe · 30-08-2017 06:59PM

I bought a small bottle of rapeseed oil to make salad dressings ages ago, its wayyyyyyyyyyyy to heavy for my taste(even light olive oil is too heavy for me) anyone have any ideas on how to lighten it up so its more palatable?

the beer revolu · 30-08-2017 07:23PM

Bredabe wrote: »

I bought a small bottle of rapeseed oil to make salad dressings ages ago, its wayyyyyyyyyyyy to heavy for my taste(even light olive oil is too heavy for me) anyone have any ideas on how to lighten it up so its more palatable?

Cut it with sunflower oil or any other neutral tasting oil

rubadub · 30-08-2017 07:38PM

dibkins wrote: »

I think my scales is on its last legs. Anyone recommend a cheap and cheerful digital scales?

I have been happy enough with all salter brand scales I have used. Must have used 6-8 different types over the years.

They can be at good prices in argos, and if you buy there and take care of it (not scratch it etc) you should be able to return it easily enough if there is something about it you do not like.

the beer revolu wrote: »

Cut it with sunflower oil or any other neutral tasting oil

I read the most commonly available neutral oil should be extra light olive oil (ELOO), which is why I was surprised to see the poster say light olive oil was too "heavy". Maybe the extra light makes the difference -note this is not extra virgin light olive oil.

Bredabe · 30-08-2017 07:41PM

the beer revolu wrote: »

Cut it with sunflower oil or any other neutral tasting oil

What oils are neutral tasting?, I know nothing about oils at all.

BaZmO* · 30-08-2017 09:14PM

Shenshen wrote: »

:eek: Would never have occurred to me, but I will definitely give that a try, too!

I remember once as a student trying to use a hand-held stick blender, and that did not turn out well at all. But a hand mixer might just be the thing.

Stick blenders are a total no no as the blades cut open the starch pockets in the potato cells making the whole thing a gloopy mess. It can even turn green with oxidisation.

Years ago when over at in laws for dinner, my OH's cousin was making the mash for Shepherds Pie with a stick blender. The resulting dish was a total mess.

the beer revolu · 31-08-2017 10:19AM

Bredabe wrote: »

What oils are neutral tasting?, I know nothing about oils at all.

Sunflower, general vegetable oil is usually pretty neutral, peanut oil, grape seed oil.

Sunflower is cheap and readily available.

Loire · 31-08-2017 10:37AM

BaZmO* wrote: »

Stick blenders are a total no no as the blades cut open the starch pockets in the potato cells making the whole thing a gloopy mess. It can even turn green with oxidisation.

Years ago when over at in laws for dinner, my OH's cousin was making the mash for Shepherds Pie with a stick blender. The resulting dish was a total mess.

Yeah, I used the hand mixer - the one with those 2 mixy things that detach from the unit.

https://www.google.ie/search?q=kenwood+hand+mixer&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiTg6W2o4HWAhWnLcAKHUpsDVIQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=662

the beer revolu · 01-09-2017 06:09AM

Loire wrote: »

Yeah, I used the hand blender - the one with those 2 mixy things that detach from the unit.

https://www.google.ie/search?q=kenwood+hand+mixer&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiTg6W2o4HWAhWnLcAKHUpsDVIQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=662

You used a hand mixer, not a blender.
There was no confusion in your original post about it.

B0jangles · 01-09-2017 12:06PM

Just an fyi that Dealz have 3-packs of quite nice ramekins in white, sage green and camel in their Jane Asher range. I got a pack yesterday and I really like the shape - they are relatively tall and narrow, so good for dips and that sort of thing.

Whispered · 08-09-2017 12:26PM

I mentioned ages ago that we needed a new oven. Husband went and got a second hand one and wouldn't you know it, a year on and this one needs to be replaced too.

So definitely going brand new this time. Just not sure where to start, what to look out for, brands to avoid etc. Budget of €500max.

Does anywhere do a decent length of warranty? I don't seem to have much luck!

Any features you love about your oven, or thought you would use but don't really?

Are any easier to clean and maintain?

Dizzyblonde · 08-09-2017 12:45PM

I'd love a new oven! One thing I'd definitely look for is to be able to switch the fan off when I'm baking.

DavyD_83 · 08-09-2017 12:56PM

Whispered wrote: »

I mentioned ages ago that we needed a new oven. Husband went and got a second hand one and wouldn't you know it, a year on and this one needs to be replaced too.

So definitely going brand new this time. Just not sure where to start, what to look out for, brands to avoid etc. Budget of €500max.

Does anywhere do a decent length of warranty? I don't seem to have much luck!

Any features you love about your oven, or thought you would use but don't really?

Are any easier to clean and maintain?

Something I didn't know before going oven-shopping

Bosch, Siemens & Neff are all made in same factories and use the same innards in their ranges of ovens. (I presume it applies to their other appliances too)
So if looking at model with the save specs in each, the only differences are visible things like plastic versus chrome knobs.

Bosch double oven for 5 years now and still live it.
Mum has the Neff version, cost a lot extra, looks slightly nice, exact same functionality.

B0jangles · 08-09-2017 01:01PM

Is it just an oven you need or a stove/oven combo? Also gas or electric?

We just got a new dual fuel one after our overpriced (1300 bloody euro :mad::mad::mad: ) 9-year old smeg finally died after years of tottering along with dodgy igniters, wobbly oven door hinges and uneven heating in the fan oven. Would not recommend a smeg to anyone - over-priced, badly designed crap. Imagine designing an oven that has a grill you amost certainly won't be able to even turn on unless you've read the manual. No joke, you had to turn three different knobs to turn the grill on.

The new one is this: http://www.currys.ie/Product/kenwood-ck232dfa-dual-fuel-cooker-black/339810/395.3.12

and it is an absolute delight - the little oven is big enough to roast a chicken or bake a cake so the big one will probably only be used for roasting turkeys and that sort of thing. Stove has a wok burner which is something I won't do without any more. Only drawbacks is you can't turn off the fan in the big oven, but that's a pretty minor issue for me.

Whispered · 08-09-2017 01:47PM

Just an electric oven, it's a built in thing at the moment so will have to fit in there, but I think they're all standard.

YES! I love my wok ring. Even just from bringing a big pot of water to boil quickly. You reminded me, I need a good wok too.

EDIT: I'm looking on the Currys website now and cannot make heads nor tail of why one would be more expensive than the other. For example, two BEKO ovens, one with a 66l capacity, one with 71l, both multifunction, both 2 yr guarantee and A rated, the smaller one is €100 more expensive.

Sorry - another Q, is multi-function is better than fan?

Ikea ovens have a 5 year guarantee!

B0jangles · 08-09-2017 02:20PM

I ended up googling the model numbers of the ones I like the look of and seeing what kind of reviews people were giving them. It's not perfect though, since most of the reviews are along the lines of 'I got this oven yesterday and I love it!"; I want to know what you think about it after about 6 months, not 24 hours dammit!

No clue about multifunction I'm afraid, I don't even really know how to use the timer on mine

Shenshen · 08-09-2017 04:57PM

Whispered wrote: »

Just an electric oven, it's a built in thing at the moment so will have to fit in there, but I think they're all standard.

YES! I love my wok ring. Even just from bringing a big pot of water to boil quickly. You reminded me, I need a good wok too.

EDIT: I'm looking on the Currys website now and cannot make heads nor tail of why one would be more expensive than the other. For example, two BEKO ovens, one with a 66l capacity, one with 71l, both multifunction, both 2 yr guarantee and A rated, the smaller one is €100 more expensive.

Sorry - another Q, is multi-function is better than fan?

Ikea ovens have a 5 year guarantee!

I've no advise on the oven itself (I got myself one of the Neff ones with sliding door a few years back, and I still love it, but I don't know if there might be better ones out there now), but I would advise looking at online shops located in NI that deliver to Ireland. I did that when I got my oven and saved myself nearly €400, and that was when the pound was still going strong.

rubadub · 11-09-2017 11:30AM

Anybody have club orange super split flavour yet? worried it might be very artificial.

The "zero" version is 1.50 for 2L in tesco

https://www.tesco.ie/groceries/Product/Details/?id=296983828

think it is only available as "zero"

http://www.britvic.com/media-centre/brand-news/2017/03-07-2017

20294323_10154984236955326_515719560206933588_n.jpg?oh=3fd643b7b53595032e49d7f223b4d8bd&oe=5A5334E7

20294323_10154984236955326_515719560206933588_n.jpg?oh=3fd643b7b53595032e49d7f223b4d8bd&oe=5A5334E7

DavyD_83 · 11-09-2017 11:33AM

rubadub wrote: »

Anybody have club orange super split flavour yet? worried it might be very artificial.

The "zero" version is 1.50 for 2L in tesco

think it is only available as "zero"

http://www.britvic.com/media-centre/brand-news/2017/03-07-2017

They were handing out free scales of this near office a couple of weeks ago, I didn't even think it was worth crossing road to get one.
I've yet to taste a zero drink that has been remotely tasty. If I want boo calories or caffeine (and whatever else they've removed) I drink water

rubadub · 11-09-2017 12:08PM

DavyD_83 wrote: »

I've yet to taste a zero drink that has been remotely tasty.

diet club orange is OK, now called "light", it is 11% orange juice so not calorie free.

the zero stuff is 5% juice but strangely the info says zero carbs per 100ml, while the light one is 1.2g sugar.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 11-09-2017 09:22PM

Could anyone tell me where I might get a good sugar thermometer?

There's a variety online ranging from a fiver to €30/€40.

Not looking for anything fancy, just reliable.

beertons · 11-09-2017 09:27PM

I went to the fridge earlier to get black olives, to throw into a ragu sauce. Picked up red pesto and put that in instead. Wow.

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