General Chat Thread II

Snowcast · 25-04-2026 11:15AM

Hi folks,

I'm looking for recommendations for an electric chopper - mainly for veg (but sometimes fruit too).

I was looking at this one, but haven't pulled the plug on it yet - just wondering if there are better ones out there?

Would be used for large amounts (which would need be done in small batches as I can't find a large chopper anywhere).

My knife skills are terrible, and I don't have great knives anyway, so just for the time being, I want to get a chopper. I don't want anything crazy expensive.

I would really appreciate any recommendations you have!

Thanks!

Bredabe · 25-04-2026 12:13PM

Has anyone seen the Primula range of dips around, pref the cheese one. Loved in our house but no sign instore. If anyone has an easy recipe for something similar would be welcomed too.

SineadSpears · 25-04-2026 12:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124420674#Comment_124420674

The Primula dips were the only ones I really liked, both the cheese and the garlic - but they can be quite hard to find.

I’ve never seen them in Tesco. Dunnes used to be my best bet, but I checked recently and couldn’t find them there either. SuperValu in Swords Pavilions used to stock them as well.

I just hope they haven’t been discontinued, because I’ve never liked the Doritos dip, and Eddie Rockets sells a carton of it too but it’s not great. It’s very runny and doesn’t have much flavour

Ryath · 25-04-2026 01:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124420587#Comment_124420587

600W isn't much for size of bowl. Will probably be fine if you keep to small batches but I'd pay more for a recognised brand.

Have a version of this a few years and very happy with it. Has been down to £37 recently. Stick blender is excellent and food processor is decent. Can chop an onion, make salsa, guacamole, small batch of breadcrumbs easily. I do have a larger food processor attachment for my Kenwood mixer though if I'm doing a big batch. I don't tend to break them out though unless I'm doing a lot of prep I can't do with a knife. I like chopping, slicing and dicing with a knife! Stick blender is the most used part.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tefal-adjustable-Technology-Dishwasher-HB643842/dp/B0D31XL7LJ/

Snowcast · 26-04-2026 11:21AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124420812#Comment_124420812

Thanks so much. I don't mind that it's a small bowl, I'd definitely prefer a larger one but can work with a small one.

I do have a hand blender that came with a whisk and other bits so I don't need those, but I will definitely keep an eye out for a branded chopper.

Thanks so much for your reply and your help, I appreciate you taking the time.

oscarBravo · 26-04-2026 10:31PM

We've had a Lidl-branded (Silvercrest?) mini chopper for years and couldn't be without it. It's the one with the glass bowl; the ones with the plastic bowls never seem to last. The Lidl ones come up once or twice a year.

Bredabe · 27-04-2026 09:47AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124420740#Comment_124420740

I did a quick online search and on their(I assume uk page) they mention Tesco and Iceland as stockist there, maybe keep an eye on your stores or Iceland sections to see if it turns up.

magicbastarder · 27-04-2026 09:59AM

does anyone have an idea of what he means by 'heating gently' here?

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/wild-garlic-a-herb-good-enough-to-bring-europe-back-together-1.3908398

Wild garlic oil is another good way of preserving the herb. Place 100g of wild garlic and 300ml of light oil in a food processor and blend. Heat gently and then pass it through a fine sieve to remove the solids.

also, any oil they'd recommend?

Dial Hard · 27-04-2026 01:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124424677#Comment_124424677

You want it just warm enough to infuse the oil, you don't want to fry the leaves. The same temperature you'd heat milk to if you were infusing it before making a bechemel, basically.

I'd use a neutral oil - rapeseed or similar. If you go with a really good olive or something the wild garlic is going to have to compete with the taste of that.

magicbastarder · 27-04-2026 02:04PM

cheers - so about the sort of heat where you'd be able to touch the side of the pan without burning your finger?

SineadSpears · 27-04-2026 08:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124424633#Comment_124424633

Thanks Bredabe. I've never seen them in any Tesco before.

Tbh, it's more around Christmas time that I buy them & only a couple of times throughout the year so I'm not sure where regularly stocks them.

Sometimes I find them, sometimes I don't.. I'm determined to search for these now 😄

Gloomtastic! · 29-04-2026 05:42PM

Potato peelings in the air fryer for 10 minutes at 190c, then sprinkled with salt and vinegar.

Won’t fill you up but good way of getting some roughage and using up something you’d normally throw away.

Snowcast · 29-04-2026 10:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124420587#Comment_124420587

I went with this one in the end. Going to give it a whirl at the weekend. Hopefully it's a good one.

Dial Hard · 30-04-2026 05:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124430414#Comment_124430414

I very rarely bother peeling potatoes but when I do, I love doing this with them. Toss them in a bit of oil with dried garlic and rosemary before they go in and they're 🤌

igCorcaigh · 09-05-2026 02:11PM

My body has been generating so much heat the last few days... I don't think it's fever, I'm not sick.

I've been eating a lot of different vegetables in the form of slow simmered soup. I added a strip of dried kelp to the soup for iodine. Lots of oily fish too, and 25 mg zinc supplement.

Could this have shifted my metabolism I wonder?

It's like an energetic heat. I was lying in bed with no duvet, window open and 4C outside. The heat! Very odd.

New Home · 09-05-2026 05:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124455526#Comment_124455526

Not sure if it's applicable to you, but could it be menopause?

igCorcaigh · 09-05-2026 05:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124455987#Comment_124455987

Definitely not :)

SineadSpears · 12-05-2026 07:19PM

@igCorcaigh (or anyone else in Cork) is there still a stall that sells nuts and dates in The English Market?

From what I remember, I think it was down towards the area with the foundation

igCorcaigh · 12-05-2026 08:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124463483#Comment_124463483

Hmm… not really? There is My Goodness on the Princes Street entrance, there is the olive stall… but nuts and dates specifically does not ring a bell for me :/

SineadSpears · 12-05-2026 09:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124463618#Comment_124463618

That's no problem, it's been a really long time since I was there. Probably been many changes since.

Just the excuse I need to go on a little trip and visit there again 🤗.

igCorcaigh · 13-05-2026 09:48AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124463911#Comment_124463911

Oh, do go! There are some new stalls. I haven't tried Uncle's yet, but the sandwiches look good.

Is the pie shop still there? @sporina

sporina · 13-05-2026 10:20AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124464473#Comment_124464473

yep…

Uncles seems to be popular with the men of this world

sporina · 13-05-2026 10:23AM

the health store opposite Mr. Bells have loose dates…

magicbastarder · 16-05-2026 02:54PM

last night, we learned (on gardener's world) that hostas are not only edible, they're commonly consumed in japan.

must try that now, we've a decent showing of them in the garden.

New Home · 18-05-2026 10:12PM

..

road_high · 18-05-2026 11:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124407861#Comment_124407861

good to see TK Maxx stocking food items again- they were missing for a long time after brexit

thesandeman · 19-05-2026 01:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124480608#Comment_124480608

Sounds like the Burke family.

magicbastarder · 19-05-2026 08:28AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124480782#Comment_124480782

In Blanchardstown they'd moved the food items to the home sense outlet the other side of the retail park.

If they've taken food items out of your local tk maxx I'd be curious if there's a home sense nearby?

They used to do Dorset tea bags, my wife's favourite tea. They stopped stocking that. Probably Brexit related.

road_high · 19-05-2026 12:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124481105#Comment_124481105

no it’s a standard TK Maxx with the homewares etc all in one store.
Good to see them back

SineadSpears · 19-05-2026 12:31PM

I normally don't have the patience for TK Maxx and am rarely in there. But the store that I got the pasta was in the Ilac Dublin. So they at least are still doing some food items.

General Chat Thread II

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