Can you cook?

[steve jones]

Sounds like this mans fancies the vindaloo 

My old man has his Balti vindaloo... but Im pretty sure he has lost 95% of his taste as a result!

SJ

[pianowelsh]

Anyone hear cook Iranian food - I love it! im quite new to it and havent tried making it myself but I have a friend whose iranian and a very good cook and Im getting fatter already!! Some really light delicate herbs and spices used very aromatic cuisine.. Lots of lamb and mint and marinaded foods -mmm delicious!

[lau]

guess what, i am making that long croissant recipe as we speak..    it takes 13 hours.

[lichristine]

13 hours? I'm sorry, I like food and all, but that's ridiculous!

[tds]

yes

[beethoven2]

I cook........










..................








desserts 

[rach n bach]

It's a good start...

I did that for about 3 years, and then I really began to get serious.

The nice thing is that you get everyone on your good side....   

RnB

[lau]

well i just finished the croissants...it was going good until i almost burned down our house. There is so much butter in those beasts that the butter leaked off of the pan and started burning in the oven. so right now i have the windows open and a fan blowing in some air..and it's winter outside and it's cold enough in here.

[pianowolfi]

Lol yes that's how it can go. I remember when I tried to do this I was watching "The Shining" on TV and it was very cold too. And these frigging croissants never rose as they were supposed to do argh.  

[pianistimo]

heat up the oven to 'warm' and leave them in the oven - dear wolfi.  and, make sure you don't pour boiling water over the yeast.  that can do it, too.

i'm a good bread baker - but terrible with meat.  i leave that to hubby.  although i tend to fry or bake fish really well.  probably from growing up in alaska. i've cooked successfully huligan, trout, halibut, salmon - and whatever fish is available. 

my favorite addition to bread is cardamom.  it just adds this really nice aroma to the bread.   one trick i read to make sure you don't kill the yeast - is to add just a little cold water to your warm water - so that it's not so warm to kill the yeast.  stir.  say 2/3 hot and 1/3 cold water or something like that.

[lau]

actually the best way to get the right temperature is just to put some of the water on the wrist..it should feel neither hot or cold..it should feel like nothing.

and to make sure you have a warm spot for the rising to take place, preheat the oven to about 200 degrees for 5 minutes then shut off the oven. and put your creation in the oven.

[pianistimo]

yes.  i used to be patient and wait for the water to 'warm' down.  now - i just mix hot with cold.  it's faster.

[lichristine]

I was watching "The Shining"

AMAZING MOVIE.
Wait, was it the original, with Jack Nicholson.

[lau]

yes. i used to be patient and wait for the water to 'warm' down. now - i just mix hot with cold. it's faster.

actually my way is quicker...your telling me it takes time for your water to cool down?? it takes time for water to heat up..and by having warm water you don't have to heat the water up all the way and then cool it down again which i guess you say takes time. even if your right that it takes time for water to cool down...then you are still wrong in your case. it's common sense.

[pianowolfi]

AMAZING MOVIE.
Wait, was it the original, with Jack Nicholson.

Yes and it scared me to death

[pianistimo]

we have a water dispenser that puts out already hot and cold water - but yes - if you take the route of boiling the water - waiting for it to cool down is probably what one would have to do unless you add cold water and speed the process.  in any case - it has to cool off.

kudo's to patience.  i just like to get it done fast.  so i take my recipie and just mix the hot/cold water to the right proportions and voila - warm water - right temp. 

what really matters is kneading it down and letting it rise the second time, too, right?! once i tried to see if the oven would just rise it and bake it at the same time the second go around.  it actually works after only 30 minutes of second rising (cutting 1/2 hour - off th ehour of box time) on boxed bread mixes - but with whole wheat bread - you have to wait the entire time for rising so that it won't be a stone hard piece of rock.  also, i've learned to maybe put 1 c of whole wheat to 3 cups of white.  it just makes the rising faster and the taste good.  although - i sometimes like really wheaty bread for crusty soup breads with fresh herbs.

[pianistimo]

lau- this one's for you:

st paddy's soup

3 1/8 inch thick slices cooked corn beef
2 turkish bay leaves
2 large parsnips (peeled and coarsely chopped)
2 c chopped onions
3 c chicken broth
3 large savoy cabbage leaves (centers removed)
1/4 c heavy whipping cream

saute 2 tsp corned beef fat and bay leaves in large saucepan over medium-high heat until fat renders, about two minutes.  stir in parsnips and onions.  add 3 cups chicken broth.  cover; simmer until parsnips are tender, about 10 minutes.

meanwhile, cut cabbage and corend beef slices crosswise into very thin strips.  melt 1 tbsp fat in medium skillet over medium-high heat.  add cabbage and corned beef.  sprinkle with salt and pepper.  toss until cabbage wilts, about 3 minutes.

working in batches, puree soup with bay leaves and cream in blender until smooth.  return to same pan.  rewarm soup, thinning with more broth if too thick.  season with salt and pepper.  ladle into bowls.  mound with corned beef and cabbage in center.

[lichristine]

Yes and it scared me to death

^_^ I loved it!!!!
Except for the wife. I kind of wanted her to die in the movie. In the book, not at all, but yeah that actress was perfect as Olive Oil in Popeye, and nothing else. (imo)

[pianowolfi]

redrum.

btt right now I am cooking pizza. And this dough does always rise. Yummy! 

[lichristine]

haha come and play with us Danny.
Come and play with us
forever
and ever
and
ever.

[pianistimo]

?  are you ok, lichristine?

[rach n bach]

Come on pianistimo... 

Of course she isn't.   

It's just that if there is pizza involved, well...   

[thalbergmad]

redrum.

You like horse?

Thal

[lichristine]

pianowolfi and I were talking about things from the movie The Shining.

[ihatepop]

lau is a chef. 

i used to cook a lot.  would have random people over from hubby's work, my friends, church people, family - and 12 was ok.  now - i would scream if 12 people came over.  too much work.  too much cleaning up.

don't like microwaves - but i only really feel like cooking a good meal about 3 times a week.  my husband is putting up with this.  for instance - i feign sickness if i haven't cooked.  then, when everyone leaves and goes out to eat - i practice piano.

my favorite thing to eat is moussaka.  i haven't found an adequate recipie to match this restaurant that i had it in. 

BTW, pianistimo, about those recipies you have been providing...are they what you invented yourself, or are they from books? Just curious...

ihatepop

[pianistimo]

the st. paddy's soup was from a magazine.  but, i do tend to often improvise if i don't have all the ingredients - or if it just sounds good to combine 2-3 recipies together.  sometimes surprising things can be invented out of necessity ,too. 

just like that show where budding interior designers are given two flip flops (shoes), several pencils - a couple of scraps of fabric - and told to 'make something.'  these three people made a cute cabana with them.  i thought it was quite ingenious.  the hard thing is then they were told to make it a reality.

[lau]

that soup recipe sounds gross. it's not for me

[pianistimo]

oh.  sorry!  do you like anything irish - or you have low tolerance for things that are green and corned beef?

i'm making some lentil soup right now.  it's got the basic veggies/onion/meat/sausage in it.  but, am wondering if adding some tomatoes would be ok.  or ruin it.  what do you think?

[thalbergmad]

do you like anything irish

Only the Corr Sisters and Guiness.

Thal

[ahinton]

Only the Corr Sisters and Guiness.

Thal

Then for de Lor' Cheesus sakes, put a second "n" in it, will ya? It's no wonder that you'll burn in hell if you spell Guinness with only one "n"...(not that I can stand the stuff, mind...)

Best,

Alistair

[lau]

my recipe for imitation poop


Ingredients:

milk chocolate chips
water
peanuts
bacon bits
random things you would find in poop

Directions

mix about maybe a tablespoon of water in with 1/2 cups of melted chocolate chips. It should instantly become solid as you stir the water in. add the random crap and peanuts and stuff in it. now  take the dough and break it up and shape it into individual poops. put in refridgerator for a half hour. take out and put in a bag of crushed puffed rice cereal. then eat it.

it's actually pretty good, some people can't eat it do to how gross it looks (but that depends on how well you shape them into crap of course)

[rach n bach]

Gotta love it!   

RnB

[steve jones]

Ok, my new favorite ingredient is lemon grass. I have to tell you, cuz my girl and I had this Thai soup over the weekend. I was basically a prawn stock with corriander, chilli and lemon grass (with other bits of veg and seafood etc). But they were the main flavors. It was so good... my mouth is still watering!

Off to the 'land of smiles' for me, I think!

SJ

[pianistimo]

mmm.  thai food IS good.  one dessert is really good, too.  mango sticky rice.  try it when you go back to the restaurant!

here's recipe for lau:  peanut butter cream brulee.  just adding to his 'other' recipie collection.

i'm trying something from bon apetit tonight - -asian barbecue chicken salad

poppy seed dressing
1/4 C sugar
1/4 C unseasoned rice vinegar
1/4 C chopped onion
3/4 tsp dry mustard powder
1/2 C canola oil
1 1/2 tsp poppy seeds

asian barbecue sauce
1/3 C hoisin sauce
1/2 C olive oil
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp minced peeled fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 tsp dried crushed red pepper

croutons
1 tbsp butter
1/2 garlic clove minced
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 C 1/3 inch cubes (crustless)

salad
4  6-7 oz skinless boneless chicken breast halves
olive oil for brushing
8 C. chpped romain lettuce
6 plum tomatoes quartered
1 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted

[beethoven2]

I LOOOOOOOVE THIS RECIPE!!!!!  The best part is the icing. 

Mayonnaise Cake

Ingredients: Cake- 2 cups flour
                             2 teaspoons soda
                             one and one fourth a cup of sugar
                             4 Tablespoons of cocoa
                             1 cup mayonnaise
                             1 cup cold water
                             2 teaspoons vanilla
Icing- 1 stick butter
          6 Tablespoons of milk
         4 Tablespoons of cocoa
          1 box of powdered sugar
          1 cup of walnuts, chopped (optional)

Instructions: Cake- Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Sift together flour, soda, and cocoa; add sugar and stir.  Add mayo, cold water, and vanilla and beat until well mixed.  Pour into an 8x8 inch greased pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Icing- Bring butter, milk, and cocoa to a boil.  In a separate bowl, pour boiled ingredients over powdered sugar and nuts, stirring constantly.  Work puickly because icing thickens very quickly.

[steve jones]

I looked a basical Italian tomato sauce with meatballs lastnight. Was so good! Iv always used a little tomato puree, but lastnight I took a tip from a friend of mine and used some Heinz ketchup. Throw the book at me if you like, but this was to die for. I skimmed it about five times so there was no hint of acidity in there. The meat balls we minced steak with a little sausage meat, and along with the usual stuff I use a little paprika. Very nice aswell!

This is the kind of food that I like - hearty grub, nothing too fancy tasty as hell. Good stuff!


Pianistimo, will try that one out, thanks! Yeah, I agree, Thai is amazing stuff. My cousin is actually married to a Thai lady and lives there as we speak. But apparently he doesnt like the food! He lives on take outs and sticky rice, lol. Crazy man.

SJ

[pianistimo]

mmm.  i love basic stuff like meatballs, too.  homemade is best and the catsup sounds like a good idea.  btw, costco has some tasty sweet and sour meatballs, too.

that man must be crazy to live in thailand and not eat the food.  i guess you ahve to get used to the spices.  some are hot!  i remember a soup that had ginger and some kind of hot pepper in it.  if it goes down the wrong pipe - you're holding your hands up for water really quick. 

recently in pennsyvania and minnesota?  they've had recalls of peanut butter.  some kind of salmonella or something got into the peanut butter and has made people very sick.  not sure if it is the manufacturer or the fact that sometimes people leave it out on the counter and put it away later.  or stick a knife into it that has something on it.