General Chat

Persephone,

This has aroused my taste buds, I shall make this tomorrow. Feeling very lazy today after a great evening with friends next door, the thunderstorm which was amazing and then having my third Ti Che lesson with the husband of a friend is teaching me.
Of to have a piece of my Guiness Cake now.
16.34 hrs Spain

Hi Bridget...

Turkish Lime and Vanilla Yoghurt Cake...
4 eggs separated~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2 cups vanilla yoghurt
3/4 cup castor sugar~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~1 lime zested and Juiced
2 tsp vanilla essence ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~icing sugar, for dusting
1/4 cup plain flour

Preheat oven 160 C, Grease and line base of 20cm springform tin with baking paper. Beat egg yolks, sugar and vanilla in small bowl until thick and creamy. Transfer to a large bowl, beat in flour with a wooden spoon, then add yoghurt, zest and juice and beat until smooth.
In a clean bowl beat egg whites until stiff peaks form....gently fold into yoghurt mixture until just combined. Pour into tin and bake for 50-60minutes until golden, puffed and set in the centre. Half way through cooking cover cake with foil to prevent over browning.

Set aside until cooled completely. Run a blunt knife around sides to loosen and remove from tin. Dust with icing sugar and serve.

Pxx

Anyone out there or is everyone on holiday. I have been given some new recipies and will try to post them tomorrow.

Good night everyone

00.44 hrs Spain

RISH POUND CAKE

================



Half a ib of Butter

Half a lb of Sugar



9 oz of flour

4 large eggs

Half a lemmon rind, grated

.25 teaspoon of baking powder

.5 lb of sultananas

.5 lb of currants

2 oz of red cherries

2 oz of chopped almonds

2 tablespoons of Irish Whiskey



Mix 1 egg and the sugar in a bowl and then add

the lemon rind. Add the other eggs, mixing very

well. Sieve the flour and baking powder into the

mixture and then add the fruit, mixing well.

Transfer the mix into a cake tin coated in

butter. Garnish the top with the chopped almonds.

Bake for 2.5 hours in moderate oven heat. When

cooked (the cake will begin to shrink away from

the side of the tin) remove from oven and coat

the top with the whiskey - leave to cool

completely before serving.


I am cooking this today instead of Guiness Cake.
Hope that you enjoy this one.
;-)

One of my favorites is Turmeric, for its vibrant yellow colour, aroma and flavor. It originates from South East Asia, and is well-known for its medicinal value.
One of my favorite recipies using Turmeric is Turmeric Chicken Soup, it it can boost the immune system, and is very easy to make.
It is easy to make,



1 whole chicken – leave the skin on – cut into 8 pieces
1 red onion
6 cloves of garlic
1 lemon grass, peel off the outer bark and bruised it in using the mortar and pestle
3 Bay Leaves
3 teaspoon of salt
2 teaspoon of Turmeric Powder
2 tablespoon of oil
2 litres of water

Method

In a food processor, add 1 onion and 6 cloves of garlic and a little bit of water and grind the ingredients to make a smooth paste. If you do not have a food processor then use a morta and Pessle
Add the oil in a heavy based pot
Heat up the oil on a medium heat
Add the garlic and onion paste and saute until fragrant
Add the salt, bay leaves, bruised lemon grass and turmeric and saute for further 2 minutes
Add the chicken and cook for further 10 minutes, adding water if necessary to prevent from burning
Add the remaining water and let it simmer on low heat for almost 1 hour
To serve garnished with 1/2 boiled egg, shredded pieces of chicken, some finely chopped celery and fried shalots then ladle the soup into a bowl

Happy Cooking

This is the traditional dish but if I run ouit of an item I simply look in my larder to see what else I can use.
That is the joy of cooking

Michael, your recipie is excellent, I gave it to a friend and she has called me this moring t ask if you have anymore to add to our tfread !!

This elegant and easy main dish recipe serves four people for very little money. If you're feeling flush, add some fresh herbs to the recipe. Thanks to M. Michael for this great suggestion!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients:

4 slices bacon
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 egg, beaten

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In medium pan, cook bacon until crisp; remove, drain on paper towels, crumble, and set aside. Drain pan; do not wipe out.

Add olive oil to pan and add chicken and onion. Cook together until onion is tender and chicken is no longer pink, about 7-8 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon to medium bowl.

Add cream cheese and bacon to chicken mixture and mix well; if you're adding fresh herbs, add them at this point. Roll out puff pastry to 12" square. Cut into four 6" squares. Divide chicken mixture among the squares and fold in half. Seal edges and press with fork. Place on baking sheet and brush with beaten egg.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until deep golden brown. Remove to wire rack and let cool 5 minutes before serving; the filling is very hot! Serves 4

Hope you like it.


:-)

I am going to start searchig for African food as I know absolutkey nothing about it !!!!!

Just noted that we have reached page 26, well done everyone. <3 <3 :-D :-0

Just a quick message to say that I have a few recipies to add later today.
Has anyone got any ideas about a recipe subject for this site. For example I wondered if we could try having ,
1. meals or recipies from Africa, China, Asia, Etc
2. Recipies handed down from family / friends.
3. Preserves, hmmm I would enjoy this one as I have only made jams.
4. A 3 course meal for 4 people for £5, £10, £20, £40, etc
5. The most expensive meal we have cooked
6. the first meal our children cooked for us
7. Healthy but delicious meals
And so on.

Please share your views about this,

Another idea is really from the book readers.
Each month we ask each other to submit a recipe or full meal for a special occasion. We then submit the recipe and each member votes for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd one.
No prizes I am afraid?

Looking forward to the responses,

09.07 Spain :-D <3

Greenfingers this sounds delicious. I shall try this sometime this week.

I have some more Irish recipies being sent to me in the next few weeks

and will add them as they arrive.

Today I made a small steak pie for both of us and we had the veg that was left from during the week, carrots, small amount of cabbage, onions of course, some fried courgette, peas, and home made gravy. It was in fact very tasty but definitely not POSH!?

Not sure yet what to have tomorrow, but out for lunch on Sunday, at our friends house.

.

Made this yesterday and it is gorgeous.

Moist Courgette and Carrot Teabread

Grease and line a 1lb loaf tin, set oven at 180oC

Stir together 6 oz plain flour and 4 oz caster sugar (sugar was originally 6 oz but I thought cake was too sweet so cut it down), 2 tsp baking powder, ALSO EITHER 3 oz Raisins (I prefer this) or 3 oz chopped walnuts. Then add 2 beaten eggs, 2 1/2 fluid oz veg or sunflower oil. Grate into this 4 oz courgettes and 2 oz grated carrots. Stir all until well mixed (I used gluten free flour and found it needed just a little more oil) Put mixture into loaf tin and cook for 45 mins to 1 hour. I found mine cooked quicker than that. Leave to cool. Had some for breakfast this morning Yum

Another way of using courgettes

Waky, Walky, everyone.

Beautiful day here,looks as if we are in for another very hot day.

Oh my goodness,I have just re read my entry for the Guiness Cake,must have eaten to much of it...of course the word Cameron should be Cake Tin ?.!,
Apologies for the error.

No one around for a coup,e of days ,I expect prop,e are either very busy,away on holiday,or out if ideas for the moment.
Our main meal today is fajitas, we do not have these very often, so hopefully I will enjoy them and maybe learn more about them. It iasi warm here no one really wants to spend to much time cooking.

If anyone is going abroad for their holidays or to an area they have not been to before,maybe you will find some new recipes or tips for cooking.

Well that is all for now,I hope you all have a great day

Bridget

08.21hr

Just had a thought for the thread..."my worst disaster when cooking" what are your views???

Nudge.will add again tomorrow. I seem to have developed a very sore throat...now where does that come from in such wonderful weather???

18.dismissive S
Spain

Sorry I have not been posting but all the computers have been down for several days, I was amazed at how much I missed it.
Fortunately when son and his friend came back from the motor rally in Valencia, they said they would sort it out, and they have done so....therefore I am back.

So now here is the Guiness Cake Recipie

6oz Butter
1 pound of mixed fruits, Ouse the best I cam afford for special occassionsbut the normal kind otherwise.
Zest andJuice of one Large orange.
6oz of muscovado sugar.
7 fluid oz of Guiness
1 tsp of bicarb
3eggs well beaten
10 oz of plain flour
2tsp of mixed spices.

Topping 2 tbl spoons of flakes of Almonds
2 t/l Demerara Sugat

Method.

Take the first 5 ingredientsandput them in a large saucepan, bring slowly to the boil stirring until the butter has completely melted and the simmer for 15 minutes.

Cool for 10 minutes.

Stir in the Bicarbonate of Sofa,this will fizz veryquicklu,then add the eggs an spices, flour and mix well.
The oven should be heating to 150c .

Grease and flour, the Cameron,I always line mine but my sister does not,so that isup to you.

Once poured into the Cameron smooth the top andsprincle the Almonds and sugar overthetop.

Bake in the oven for 1hr and 15 minutes to 1hr and 30minutes . Remove from oven and leave to cool for at least15 minutes.

I hope that you enjoy it.

Bridget
Spain 12.24hrs

MY QUICK LUNCH
NOW I COOKED THIS IN A CASTLE CAR PARK
FOR SEVEN
THIS WILL FEED 7-8..(OF JUST ME)
CHOP 2-3 ONIONS
SIMMER IN WOK WITH 4 OXO'S WATER TO COVER
FOR ABOUT 10 MINS..ADD
2 TINS BAKE BEANS OT 1 BEAN 1 TOMATO
HEAT TILL HOT
CHOP UP TIN OF CORN BEEF
STIR IN GENTLY
SPRINKLE ON CRUSHED CHILLI PEPPERS
TO TASTE...(LOTS)
STIR FOR FEW MINS
SERVE WITH CRUSTY BREAD

My daughter made this soup for us yesterday and it was delicious.


BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH BACON.

Ingredients:
1 large butternut squash, peeled and cut into large chunks.
3 Carrotts, peeled and cut into large chunks
1 and a half Tablespoons Olive Oil
1/2 pound bacon, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped
3 cups chicken stock
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste.

- Oven at 180 degrees Celsius.

- Toss the squash and carotts in olive oil, then arrange in a baking dish and roast uncovered for about 40 minutes or until tender.

- Cook the bacon in a large soup pot, until crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and reserve for the garnish.

- Add the onions to the pot and saute in the bacon drippings over a medium heat until tender.

- Add the roasted vegetables and the chicken stock to the pot and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat.

- Blend the soup in a blender or food processor until smooth. It is best to do this in small batches.

- Return the soup to the pot, bring to a simmer and season.

- Serve, garnish with the crisp bacon .

the worst meal I have ever had was a "Christmas" meal at a local pub (now not a pub but an Indian Restaurant ) and not only had they not got the table laid when all 20 of us arrived (this was near to Christmas not actually Christmas), but they brought so much veg served like we were in a transport cafe, but my meat was tough, my friend who had opted for a pasta dish, found it was literally just pasta cold,,with a non descript sauce which tasted of nothing.There was not one lady who enjoyed her meal, they were for the most part tastless and on a blind tasting you would not have known what you were eating !! They left us far too long between these culinary delights and we all went home to have a meal. Needless to say they did not get a tip,and we never went back...not a good advert for new owners as they were at the time

I am trying a couple of new recipes next week so will post them, when I am sure they are OK

Jan Norfolk UK

chicken wings are nice finger food. Need to chop off the wing tips at the last joint. Marinade them in sunflower oil,Indonesian soy sauce,juice of half a lemon,lemon rind of a whole lemon, a teaspoon each of ginger and lemon pepper then cook either in the oven or barbie.
I've just found my marinade recipe for steak that our Austrian Chef friend used to use.
Olive oil,bay leaves,touch of thyme,dry sherry, Indonesian soy sauce,lemon pepper,black pepper,sliced onions and garlic.
I got most of it right off the top of my head the other night. Indonesian soy sauce is quite thick and syrupy and has a sweet taste. It is nicer than the Asian kind.
We get all sorts of food here due to our multi cultural new Australians.
North African food seems to be the new thing. I am only a plain cook myself, not into little bits of whatever. Some different sorts of cheese, biscuits, olives,bits of Italian sausage,sun dried tomatoes would be my limit of finger food.
I can look through my recipe books to see what else there is.

Thank you Fairways 3. All types of BBQs spring to mind, from simple to the complicated. Your message sounds very laid back which is exactly makes Australians so easy to cook for.

Recently we went to a 50th wedding anniversary and the food was stunning including a roasted pig being cooked on a rotiserre burner. It was delicious but not sure that we will do anything along those lines.

However, I do have my son's friends coming to stay for a week so tomorrow we will be having another BBQ. We will be cooking for 8 adults and one 2 year old and I am trying to think of something slightly different to Cook, make etc.

Today we are having roast lamb with locally grown vegetables, all organic,, as the area we live in has 90 % organic food. We are not allowed to use many chemicals.
We used to BBQ quite a lot of fish, but it has become rather expensive and the fishermen only go out 3 or 4 days a week now due to decreasing stocks.
I would also like to have more finger foods for tomorrow, any ideas most welcome.

I have been racking what is left of my brain for some new ideas for this thread so if anyone would like to add please do so...

Perhaps we could start with " the worst meal I have ever had & why" .
I look forward to the replies,

Of to rack my brains, no pun intended, honest.
;-)

Whenever we have had a barbie here in West Aust. it is invariably steak,chops and sausages accompanied by lettuce leaves,sliced tomato and cucumber and a buttered barbecue bun,not forgetting the tomato sauce. As a gourmet touch fried onions are now added and mostly the salad is ignored.

If wishing to impress the steak can be marinated in olive oil,Indonesian Soy Sauce,garlic,onions,ginger,pepper and a touch of thyme for as long as you like without spoiling and things like potato salad or any other sort of salad can be substituted for the traditional barbie bread bun and the whole lot eaten on a plate with knives and forks sitting around the barbie of course.
Not too much trouble taken here. Men always cook the barbie which is the best part.

NUdge