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The General Chat Thread

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Comments

  • #5762
    iwantmydinner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,246 ✭✭✭iwantmydinner


    OBSESSED with Chef's Table!

    I'm kinda slow in getting through the episodes though, deliberately, cos I don't want the series to be over.


  • #5763
    The Black Oil
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Regional East Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 19,487 CMod ✭✭✭✭The Black Oil


    The bottle of Ballymaloe relish did not last long.

    Moderator: Television, Psychology and Dublin County North.

    CMod: Entertainment



  • #5764
    Fakman87
    Closed Accounts Posts: 789 ✭✭✭Fakman87


    Lads I want to become a good cook but don't know where to start as I find it very overwhelming. Any advice?


  • #5765
    dee_mc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,212 ✭✭✭dee_mc


    Fakman87 wrote: »
    Lads I want to become a good cook but don't know where to start as I find it very overwhelming. Any advice?

    Find a couple of recipes that make your mouth water and perfect them one by one; that way you will build up a skillset and figure out what sort of dishes you like etc...
    Figure out what equipment you have and what you need - you don't need a kitchen full of gadgets for most things and you can build on your collection slowly :) Decent knives, pots, measuring spoons and a good chopping board would be a great place to start.
    Also follow the 'what I had for dinner' thread here, excellent source of inspiration and people are usually happy to share recipes and tips!


  • #5766
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 2,645 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Fakman87 wrote: »
    Lads I want to become a good cook but don't know where to start as I find it very overwhelming. Any advice?

    Name your three favourite things to eat. We will give you simple recipes and you can start from there!

    I would also say, don't worry about disasters. We all have 'em. :pac:


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  • #5767
    Fakman87
    Closed Accounts Posts: 789 ✭✭✭Fakman87


    Mystery Egg wrote: »
    Name your three favourite things to eat. We will give you simple recipes and you can start from there!

    I would also say, don't worry about disasters. We all have 'em. :pac:

    I like pasta, pizza and indian food the most I would say. My Italian friend thought me a good pizza and pasta recipe that I have been using. The pasta sauce is quite plain however (passata, olive oil, garlic, salt, cayenne pepper) and I would like to start making more recipes.

    I don't know how to make any curries but have been reading some great ones in this forum :)


  • #5768
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 2,645 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Fakman87 wrote: »
    I like pasta, pizza and indian food the most I would say. My Italian friend thought me a good pizza and pasta recipe that I have been using. The pasta sauce is quite plain however (passata, olive oil, garlic, salt, cayenne pepper) and I would like to start making more recipes.

    I don't know how to make any curries but have been reading some great ones in this forum :)

    It sounds as though you are already quite a decent cook if you can make homemade pizza and a basic tomato sauce! Well done.

    So you are sorted there. Have you had a look in the cooking club? Most of the recipes are listed step by step with photos.

    Or in the Easy Peasy Recipes thread? Loads of ideas. My tip is to make what you would like to eat, rather than overly complicated things. You can get more adventurous with time.


  • #5769
    Fakman87
    Closed Accounts Posts: 789 ✭✭✭Fakman87


    Mystery Egg wrote: »
    It sounds as though you are already quite a decent cook if you can make homemade pizza and a basic tomato sauce! Well done.

    So you are sorted there. Have you had a look in the cooking club? Most of the recipes are listed step by step with photos.

    Or in the Easy Peasy Recipes thread? Loads of ideas. My tip is to make what you would like to eat, rather than overly complicated things. You can get more adventurous with time.

    Thanks! I'll check out that easy thread as I would like to learn 5 simple recipes that I could make on a regular basis.


  • #5770
    Faith
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,661 Mod ✭✭✭✭Faith


    Fakman87 wrote: »
    Thanks! I'll check out that easy thread as I would like to learn 5 simple recipes that I could make on a regular basis.

    The Cooking Club is an awesome resource too. There's about 200 recipes in there that range from super easy to more advanced level. Plus, if you need help, you can just post in the recipe thread and someone will be along with guidance soon :)


  • #5771
    The Hill Billy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,859 ✭✭✭✭The Hill Billy


    Zelda247 wrote: »
    Can anyone recommend a ready made stir fry sauce?

    The Blue Dragon sachets were pretty good last time I used them. The black bean sauce was particularly good.


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  • #5772
    Dolbert
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,154 ✭✭✭Dolbert


    The Hill Billy wrote: »
    The Blue Dragon sachets were pretty good last time I used them. The black bean sauce was particularly good.

    The Aldi equivalents are decent too.


  • #5773
    Lovely Bloke
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,748 ✭✭✭✭Lovely Bloke


    This is crazy
    One in four dried oregano samples contains other ingredients

    Food fraud study reveals 19 out of 78 samples of herb from UK and Ireland retailers had 30% to 70% other ingredients, such as olive and myrtle leaves

    40% of the lamb takeaways it tested contained other meat and one in six of the fish it bought from chip shops was not what had been ordered.

    I knew about the Cod/Coley thing, but Oregano-gate takes it to a whole nother level.


  • #5774
    Shenshen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,453 ✭✭✭Shenshen


    Fakman87 wrote: »
    I like pasta, pizza and indian food the most I would say. My Italian friend thought me a good pizza and pasta recipe that I have been using. The pasta sauce is quite plain however (passata, olive oil, garlic, salt, cayenne pepper) and I would like to start making more recipes.

    I don't know how to make any curries but have been reading some great ones in this forum :)

    Curries can be daunting at first - so many spices that you wouldn't find in your local supermarket, preparing the spices before you use them, it all looks very complex from the outside.

    If you want to get started slowly, I would advise to get yourself some turmeric, some good curry power (not Schwartz, please. Find an Asian shop and get it there) and some cumin (whole, not ground). And while at the Asian shop, pick up some Garam Masala as well.

    That's going to set you up nicely for a basic Jalfrezi or a Balti, and these spices can be used in nearly every curry I can think of.

    To get your paste, fry up some finely chopped onions with grated garlic and grated ginger until the onions as soft, then add the spices and keep frying on a low heat until you can see the oil separating from your paste.
    Add whatever ingredients you want in your curry, and 1 tin of chopped tomatoes.
    If you want to make a Jalfrezi, add some chili and/or fresh chopped chilies. If you're more inclined towards a Balti, add a bit of sugar and lemon juice. Season to taste.

    Once you're happy with that, return to the Asian shop and look around for weirder spices and ingredients. I find the internet to be a well of inspiration where Indian cooking is concerned, so anytime I find something interesting in an Asian shop and don't know what to do with it, I'll google :)


  • #5775
    beertons
    Hosted Moderators Posts: 23,397 ✭✭✭✭beertons


    I wouldn't rush to an Asian shop to buy a big bottle of fish sauce. The small ones are fine. Last time I got a big bottle, I went off it, and it went out of date by the time I got it out again. Ok, so it might take a year, but it was practically full.


  • #5776
    The Hill Billy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,859 ✭✭✭✭The Hill Billy


    Shenshen wrote: »
    ...If you want to get started slowly, I would advise to get yourself some turmeric, some good curry power (not Schwartz, please. Find an Asian shop and get it there) and some cumin (whole, not ground). And while at the Asian shop, pick up some Garam Masala as well...
    If you don't have an Asian shop near you, try to get to a branch of Tiger - they have a great range of spices & are very good value.


  • #5777
    MissFlitworth
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,057 ✭✭✭MissFlitworth


    For Indian food for beginners I quite like this book 'Miss Masala: Real Indian Cooking for Busy Living', I got it in my local library a few years ago. You can skip the chatty blog parts and get straight to the recipes. Or have a mosey around the website

    http://www.mallikabasu.com/recipe-categories/

    This keema mattar (mince with peas) is the first recipe in the book cos it's a nice easy one to start out with and it's delicious

    +1 for Tiger for spices. Was pleasantly surprised by their range! Good selection of teas and sweets also.


  • #5778
    rubadub
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,387 ✭✭✭✭rubadub


    My tesco now has a section which is more like an asian supermarket, it's in the same aisle as the usual asian stuff but across from it and quite separate, brands you normally never see in tesco. They have 100g bags of east end brand spices at about the same prices as the asian shops. They have massive catering size bags of various rices, including tilda brand.


  • #5779
    Gloomtastic!
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,361 ✭✭✭Gloomtastic!


    Baldy Conscience wrote: »
    This is crazy



    I knew about the Cod/Coley thing, but Oregano-gate takes it to a whole nother level.

    We used to sell little bags of Oregano to the juniors as marijuana! I also remember getting the Principal's son high as a kite on FLO (that's flour to you and me). :rolleyes:


  • #5780
    Alun
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 21,534 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    Baldy Conscience wrote: »
    This is crazy
    I knew about the Cod/Coley thing, but Oregano-gate takes it to a whole nother level.
    Especially as it isn't exactly difficult to grow proper oregano. Once established it grows like crazy.


  • #5781
    MissFlitworth
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,057 ✭✭✭MissFlitworth


    Gloomtastic! wrote: »
    We used to sell little bags of Oregano to the juniors as marijuana!

    Some kids stopped me on my walk home on Monday, half giggling, half hard man poker face, to ask me if I was looking for 'any smoke'. I think they were planning on herbe de provencing/oreganoing me too. Bless their little entrepreneurial hearts.


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  • #5782
    kylith
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,745 ✭✭✭✭kylith


    MissFlitworth wrote: »
    Some kids stopped me on my walk home on Monday, half giggling, half hard man poker face, to ask me if I was looking for 'any smoke'. I think they were planning on herbe de provencing/oreganoing me too. Bless their little entrepreneurial hearts.
    A bloke I knew in my misspent youth used to sell bits of briquette as hash. Really pity anyone who ever tried to smoke it.


  • #5783
    BaZmO*
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,625 ✭✭✭✭BaZmO*


    kylith wrote: »
    A bloke I knew in my misspent youth used to sell bits of briquette as hash. Really pity anyone who ever tried to smoke it.

    Be grand on a cold night though.


  • #5784
    Lovely Bloke
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,748 ✭✭✭✭Lovely Bloke


    Alun wrote: »
    Especially as it isn't exactly difficult to grow proper oregano. Once established it grows like crazy.

    it's always died on me over winter in the garden.

    Banana skins are where the real legal highs are lads. Dry them first.


  • #5785
    Alun
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 21,534 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    Baldy Conscience wrote: »
    it's always died on me over winter in the garden.
    Oregano, like many herbs, is a perennial in it's native habitat, but in colder climes it will die back to varying degrees in winter and reappear in the spring. A particularly cold winter may kill it off completely especially if it's in an exposed area.


  • #5786
    The Hill Billy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,859 ✭✭✭✭The Hill Billy


    kylith wrote: »
    A bloke I knew in my misspent youth used to sell bits of briquette as hash. Really pity anyone who ever tried to smoke it.

    I want his name! That was the worst £20 I ever spent! :o


  • #5787
    Gloomtastic!
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,361 ✭✭✭Gloomtastic!


    kylith wrote: »
    A bloke I knew in my misspent youth used to sell bits of briquette as hash. Really pity anyone who ever tried to smoke it.

    I have to admit to buying blocks of licorice on occassion. Oh the disappointment. :mad:


  • #5788
    B0jangles
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,950 ✭✭✭B0jangles


    kylith wrote: »
    A bloke I knew in my misspent youth used to sell bits of briquette as hash. Really pity anyone who ever tried to smoke it.

    If he was fairly tall, thin and had short red hair then I think we might have known the same guy! :P


  • #5789
    Kovu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,241 ✭✭✭✭Kovu


    Helped out a friend of my Dads with a bit of work he's stuck at and he gave me a homegrown 10lb Muscovy duck this morning :pac:

    Yum!


  • #5790
    Tilly
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,987 ✭✭✭Tilly


    Picked this up in Musgraves today. How do I use it? Haven't opened it yet, it says put in warm water. Do I put a bit or the whole lot?


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  • #5791
    Minder
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,774 ✭✭✭Minder


    About half the block in a pint of water will give you the same result as a can of coconut milk. Add more if you want a richer coconut flavour. Easier to add more than take it away.


This discussion has been closed.
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