The General Chat Thread

StripedBoxers · 23-02-2015 03:34PM

I made a blackberry and strawberry pie, the filling is delicious, but the pastry is bland. Any ideas on how to make it less bland next time?

The recipe called for 225gm plain flour, 100gm butter, 6 table spoons of sugar and some water.

oscarBravo · 23-02-2015 07:45PM

StripedBoxers wrote: »

I made a blackberry and strawberry pie, the filling is delicious, but the pastry is bland. Any ideas on how to make it less bland next time?

The recipe called for 225gm plain flour, 100gm butter, 6 table spoons of sugar and some water.

Add a pinch of salt. It works wonders at bringing out the flavour of a sweet dish.

dee_mc · 23-02-2015 07:53PM

StripedBoxers wrote: »

I made a blackberry and strawberry pie, the filling is delicious, but the pastry is bland. Any ideas on how to make it less bland next time?

The recipe called for 225gm plain flour, 100gm butter, 6 table spoons of sugar and some water.

I often pop some grated lemon or orange zest to pastry, could add another dimension. Definitely salt though, as mentioned above.

Jezek · 23-02-2015 08:55PM

Same as above, I zest some citrus and add a little bit of salt. You could also add some essence to it. I usually chose something complementary to the filling, e.g. orange for a chocolate tart. For strawberry you could go with some vanilla.

StripedBoxers · 23-02-2015 10:59PM

Thanks everyone, I forgot to include that I did in fact put salt into the pastry.

I will try the vanilla extract the next time though, thanks so much, I never even thought to add it.

Dizzyblonde · 23-02-2015 11:18PM

Also, you could use an egg instead of water to bind the dough.

MissFlitworth · 24-02-2015 01:27PM

Finished my lunch & I am still hungry. Also I got a dose of the 'shoulda got TWO sandwiches' blues towards the end of my tuna melt that I can't shake. All I have left is this...

Woe. Woe is me.

fiddlechic · 25-02-2015 10:55AM

So, I made Yorkshire puddings on Sunday, but for some inexplicable reason didn't use all the batter - have about 200mls leftover. What to do with?
Pancakes? Has anyone made a massive Yorkshire pudding? Or could I use it to batter fish?

Alun · 25-02-2015 10:57AM

Over in the North of England it's quite common to see giant Yorkshire puds on pub / restaurant menus used as 'bowls' for stews and chilli.

Neyite · 25-02-2015 11:44AM

Alun wrote: »

Over in the North of England it's quite common to see giant Yorkshire puds on pub / restaurant menus used as 'bowls' for stews and chilli.

There was a medieval stew recipe in the cooking club where you baked the bread and hollowed out the centre for the stew. Big novelty to eat when I made it.

Tilly · 25-02-2015 11:48AM

Neyite wrote: »

There was a medieval stew recipe in the cooking club where you baked the bread and hollowed out the centre for the stew. Big novelty to eat when I made it.

They do that in some pubs around here but i'm always afraid to order the stew incase the bread gets soggy and the stew ends up on my lap

dibkins · 25-02-2015 11:51AM

Nigella does Yorkies with icecream and golden syrup.

hollster2 · 25-02-2015 11:54AM

First time making this today

Lemon meringue ðŸ°
The only thing id change is recipe says 3 lemons id only use two and not leave it in as long it still tastes fab though.

leahyl · 25-02-2015 04:08PM

hollster2 wrote: »

First time making this today
Lemon meringue ðŸ°
The only thing id change is recipe says 3 lemons id only use two and not leave it in as long it still tastes fab though.

Wow! So many things I want to make and this is one of them!

Loire · 25-02-2015 04:11PM

Boards had been blocked for me at work for the last few days

Luckily I work in IT

StripedBoxers · 27-02-2015 08:21PM

Guys I need your help - bf is taking me for a birthday lunch/dinner and had suggested Viewmount House, however the menu isn't that appealing (to me), so I'm looking for your suggestions on restaurants, we'll be in Dublin this weekend, so can grab dinner on Sat somewhere or on Sunday we can get lunch.

Someone has said to me about Cruzzo's in Malahide, I've never been, is it nice? Expensive?

Would appreciate any help/suggestions!

BaZmO* · 27-02-2015 08:33PM

StripedBoxers wrote: »

Guys I need your help - bf is taking me for a birthday lunch/dinner and had suggested Viewmount House, however the menu isn't that appealing (to me), so I'm looking for your suggestions on restaurants, we'll be in Dublin this weekend, so can grab dinner on Sat somewhere or on Sunday we can get lunch.

Someone has said to me about Cruzzo's in Malahide, I've never been, is it nice? Expensive?

Would appreciate any help/suggestions!

Viewmount House is amazing! We stayed there a couple of years ago and couldn't fault the place. The couple that run the place are so nice and the food is spectacular. Afaik, the menu that's on their website is only a sample menu and it changes as per the seasons, so I wouldn't write it off from what's on the website.

Tilly · 27-02-2015 08:55PM

Cruzzos is now geshia. It's an Asian restaurant now. Siam Thai is nicer in Malahide.

The Black Oil · 27-02-2015 09:02PM

I've not cooked a leg of lamb before. Was tempted to buy one the other day. What'd be your typical set up - 30 minutes per kg at 180, something like that?

Cedrus · 27-02-2015 10:40PM

The Black Oil wrote: »

I've not cooked a leg of lamb before. Was tempted to buy one the other day. What'd be your typical set up - 30 minutes per kg at 180, something like that?

I would cook a leg of lamb at 220C for 55 mins per kg + 20 mins, works out perfect for us, pink on the inner slices for me and "is it cooked properly" on the outer slices for the curvy wan, though the odd time she'll nuke hers to get the desiccation right.

StripedBoxers · 28-02-2015 01:27AM

Cheers guys, but having looked at the menu several times, it just doesn't appeal to me at all unfortunately. I don't doubt Viewmount is amazing, but the menu just doesn't appeal to me at all.

hardCopy · 28-02-2015 12:08PM

We got a slow cooker today.

Not sure where to start. Will wait till next weekend for pulled pork.

Any ideas for tomorrow's dinner?

beertons · 28-02-2015 12:12PM

hardCopy wrote: »

We got a slow cooker today.

Not sure where to start. Will wait till next weekend for pulled pork.

Any ideas for tomorrow's dinner?

Chicken Korma. It's the first one I think of every time I get mine out.

hardCopy · 01-03-2015 05:11PM

beertons wrote: »

Chicken Korma. It's the first one I think of every time I get mine out.

Have had a korma in the cooker all day. I cheated though and used a spice mix from green saffron. Should be ready within the hour.

Minder · 02-03-2015 08:18PM

Excellent account of how to make gnocchi

http://luckypeach.com/how-to-make-gnocchi/

Markcheese · 02-03-2015 10:44PM

hardCopy wrote: »

Have had a korma in the cooker all day. I cheated though and used a spice mix from green saffron. Should be ready within the hour.

Why is that cheating ? They're good spice blends !

MissFlitworth · 03-03-2015 09:54PM

Will someone come out and unpack my shopping please & thanking you? If you don't there's every chance it'll be sitting on the kitchen floor this time tomorrow, slowly decomposing.

Where's Mary Poppins when you need her

StripedBoxers · 03-03-2015 10:34PM

Any suggestions for a nice restaurant for a decent lunch in Dublin on Sunday please? Not looking for a carvery or anything though.

Have looked and looked and can't decide where we'd like to go, there is so much choice, we'd really appreciate any help.

Somewhere with a sea view/along the coastline might be nice, even if its a bit out.

Gloomtastic! · 03-03-2015 10:53PM

StripedBoxers wrote: »

Any suggestions for a nice restaurant for a decent lunch in Dublin on Sunday please? Not looking for a carvery or anything though.

Have looked and looked and can't decide where we'd like to go, there is so much choice, we'd really appreciate any help.

Somewhere with a sea view/along the coastline might be nice, even if its a bit out.

Get the Dart out to Howth. Loads of choice in the harbour. Tapas in The Oar House is really good if you like seafood. Nice walk round the harbour afterwards.

StripedBoxers · 03-03-2015 11:02PM

Thanks for the suggestion, I should have mentioned that we have been to Howth before for lunch and didn't end up finding anywhere that we liked, so we'd probably prefer to go somewhere else.

Not sure if himself will eat tapas but generally we like Italian, steaks, burgers, BBQ, roasts etc thing like that" . Mexican, seafood etc, we aren't really fans of and he is allergic to some sea foods too, mainly shell fish but there are others I think

Going to Bison on Sat evening so would prefer somewhere else on Sunday.

Edit: reading that back we sound really fussy, didn't think we were that bad!

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