Cooking help :)

[lanciachris]

Right, doing a pretty standard veggie curry (balti specifically) tonight, cheating using made up sauce.. but, none of the stuff ive tried using as the main content has really done the job so far. Normally I use a mix of potato, carrots and green beans. I suspect potato is the way forward, but is there any particular trick to preparing it so it takes up the flavour better?

Random other information -
cooking for my vegan friend.
time is of the essence as I also have to clean house before she arrives :)

[rooster]

just bung it all in! and add chck peas they are lovely in a balti.
now get cleaning!

[Italiano]

If you're currying potatoes then fry them first, before boiling. This 'hardens'the outside a bit (like you get in a curryhouse) and means you can boil them pretty much all you want without them falling apart.

Top tip from a local indian!

[lotuslad]

lanciachris said:

is there any particular trick to preparing it so it takes up the flavour better?

Let it simmer for ages - tastes much better

Oh, and try making your own sauce next time - it's much easier than you'd think and tastes just like the restaurant stuff

[Gaffer]

I once had a veggie curry with brussel sprouts in it. They tasted fantastic.

Broccoli and sweetcorn are others to add. Maybe some Butternut squash as well.



Claire
Edited to add: make sure the sauce you have bought is vegan/vegetarian friendly. You will be surprised the amount of sauces that arnt..

>> Edited by Gaffer on Tuesday 14th June 17:46

[jas xjr]

if you wany a recipe for a curry email me . i am indian and i can cook! best if you avoid made up sauces. its harder to cook a full english than a curry

[Incorrigible]

Boil onions (a few) a couple of cloves of garlic with a touch of turmeric for half an hour

The mince that in the old magimix use instead of water when your boiling up the curry

Or is it too late for that

[miniman]

jas xjr said:

its harder to cook a full english than a curry

Surely not?!

My recipe for a full english:

1 x Large Frying Pan
4 x Sausages
4 x Bacon
2 x Flat mushrooms
1 x Tin Beans
3 x Eggs
1 x Tin Tomatoes

Empty all ingredients into pan. Add 1 x Litre Bottle Mazola

Heat until hot.

[tiga84]

miniman said:

jas xjr said: its harder to cook a full english than a curry Surely not?! My recipe for a full english: 1 x Large Frying Pan 4 x Sausages 4 x Bacon 2 x Flat mushrooms 1 x Tin Beans 3 x Eggs 1 x Tin Tomatoes Empty all ingredients into pan. Add 1 x Litre Bottle Mazola Heat until hot.

I think you're missing:

1x Large white loaf spread with 1x pack anchor.

8 x mugs of tea

20x Benson & Hedges Gold

[Gaffer]

And brown sauce.

You can take the meat out for me though and add fried bread.

Claire

[Incorrigible]

tiga84 said:

I think you're missing: 1x Large white loaf spread with 1x pack anchor. 8 x mugs of tea 20x Benson & Hedges Gold

Feel




Arteries




Hardennng




Hmmmmmm

[tiga84]

Incorrigible said:

tiga84 said: I think you're missing: 1x Large white loaf spread with 1x pack anchor. 8 x mugs of tea 20x Benson & Hedges Gold Feel Arteries Hardennng Hmmmmmm

Thats just indigestion, a couple of rennie's and you'll be fine.

Bakc to original question though, a few handfuls of fresh spinach 2-3 mins before the end, amake sure you grab a couple of Onion Bhajis' from the deli counter and a decent naan as well.

Or you could add some peppers, or aubergine, just make it up as you go along, but do make sure that things like potatoes etc are par cooked beforehand otherwise you'll end up with a very mushy mess.

Couple of chillies to spice it up?

[groucho]

miniman said:

jas xjr said: its harder to cook a full english than a curry Surely not?! My recipe for a full english: 1 x Large Frying Pan 4 x Sausages 4 x Bacon 2 x Flat mushrooms 1 x Tin Beans 3 x Eggs 1 x Tin Tomatoes Empty all ingredients into pan. Add 1 x Litre Bottle Mazola Heat until hot.

What do you do with the other 2 sausages and leftover bacon? Where's the toast.

[lanciachris]

Yahhh! mad running about the house. We now have a space to sit, and eat, a clean place to cook in, a bathroom that wont offend on sight, and a bedroom that well.... its liveable, but its just beyond optimism to have even bothered with that

20 minutes more cleaning then half an hour of cooking... I will try the tip about frying then boiling - always wondered how they did that! any hints on how long to fry them for?

Thanks everyone

[mxdi]

Probly too late now, but I normally bung in peppers, zuchini, sweet potato, onion, mushrooms,
Nothing that goes soggy or overcooked- most of these keep their shape and colour.

[lanciachris]

Well, it turned out fine, but I had to improvise a sauce in the end. However, I have to say that women are absolutely beyond my comprehension. Make it a christian woman and I struggle even more.

And this isnt even one im trying to pull.

in case anyone stumbles upon this and has any hints -
Long story short her topic of conversation for pre-dinner is christianity and how its hard to find a christian bloke. I offer the view that they dont have to be christian, if they just share similar ideals and beliefs about how people should act. Next thing I know its 'you doubt my reasons for being christian, why'.... I said I didnt want to go into it right now and eventually moved on but its going to come back up.

So how exactly do you explain to your must trusted friend that they ran to the church looking for reasons as to why her first serious relationship went horribly wrong, and was told everything she wanted to hear 'it wasnt your fault yadda yadda yadda', and has been hugging these christian beliefs as a comfort blanket for the last 6 years rather than facing the fact that shit happens...

bugger.

[simpo two]

lanciachris said:

Long story short her topic of conversation for pre-dinner is christianity and how its hard to find a christian bloke.... So how exactly do you explain to your must trusted friend that they ran to the church looking for reasons as to why her first serious relationship went horribly wrong, and was told everything she wanted to hear 'it wasnt your fault yadda yadda yadda', and has been hugging these christian beliefs as a comfort blanket for the last 6 years rather than facing the fact that shit happens...

Been there mate. The mind is very good at protecting itslef.

'To look outside is to dream
To look inside is to learn'.
(Jung)

Christian - vegan - what she needs, I'm afraid, is 6 months with a good clinical psychologist.

>> Edited by simpo two on Tuesday 14th June 22:56

[Don]

simpotwo said:

Christian - vegan - what she needs, I'm afraid, is 6 months with a good clinical psychologist.

Don't worry about the Christian thing. Some people get "moved" and "convert" - it is very rarely a bad thing. Most Brit Christians dislike the "in your face" evangelism that pees people off too - so its all a more low key, coffee-mornings-raise-funds-for-Africa/Donkeys/other-good-causes thing.

Vegan: Sorry - she does need that clinical psychologist...

[Jinx]

lanciachris said:

So how exactly do you explain to your must trusted friend that they ran to the church looking for reasons as to why her first serious relationship went horribly wrong, and was told everything she wanted to hear 'it wasnt your fault yadda yadda yadda', and has been hugging these christian beliefs as a comfort blanket for the last 6 years rather than facing the fact that shit happens... bugger.

We all have our "comfort blankets" most are based on shakey belief structures or an over grown sense of self worth. No one likes to take the blame for thier own pain and it is understandable why most people don't. The best thing you can do is listen and never directly criticise her beliefs - let her find her own answers (no one can do it for her). Keep an open mind especially if she can't - ultimately this example will help the most.

[lotuslad]

Gaffer said:

You can take the meat out for me though. Claire

:snigger: