Cooking in a difficult situation

[Rich1986]

Hi all,
I was just wondering if you could float some ideas around recipe wise.
Currently living in China and was hoping to do some home cooking but I am struggling recipe wise on what to cook.

We have one of these in our appartment http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=zh-CN&newwindo...

Basically an electric hob which you can set in either degrees celcius or power output (watts). We also have a microwave and rice cooker.

Ingredients wise there are lots of market stools selling noodles/fresh vegetables eg potatoes/sweet potatoes/ cabbage/ garlic/ carrots/ eggs/ tomatoes. There is also a supermarket with a fairly decent selection of spices/meat/ herbs. Basically what you would expect to find in China - Most notably missing cheese (apart from mozarella), butter.

Just wondering if anyone had any ideas for easyish recipes that could be cooked with the equipment and food available.

Thanks in advance

Rich

[zcacogp]

Rich1986 said:

... lots of market stools ...

Sounds like a shi ty situation you've got yourself into there, Rich.

What do the locals cook and eat? I'm a firm believer in the notion of trying the local grub, and cooking it as well if you have the facilities. Ask around, see what the locals recommend.

(No cheese. Ouch! No butter either. I'd starve.)


Oli.

[yorky500]

My guess it would have to be something in which you chuck all the ingredients into a pan and let it bubble away e.g. Chili, stew or such like. You could do a nice fried rice too.

As you will know, they all use woks in which everything is thrown into, tossed around and served with steamed rice!

PS: I take it you have a wok?

ETA: I bet your kitchen is about the same size as a shower cubicle???

[Rich1986]

Its not a bad situation the food at the markets is awesome and cheap! 2 vegetable dumplings for 1 yuan (10 pence).
I just wouldnt mind cooking some things myself, we do have a gas cooker but we were told not to use it as it is dangerous!
Stews and the like are a good idea hadn't thought of that we dont really have a wok more saucepans etc

[yorky500]

Rich1986 said:

Its not a bad situation the food at the markets is awesome and cheap! 2 vegetable dumplings for 1 yuan (10 pence).
I just wouldnt mind cooking some things myself, we do have a gas cooker but we were told not to use it as it is dangerous!
Stews and the like are a good idea hadn't thought of that we dont really have a wok more saucepans etc

I think that's why kitchens are so pathetic in China, everybody eats out.

What "cooking utensil" is also very common is a pressure cooker.

[shirt]

have you got a balcony? i would buy a bbq and get your gas cooker inspected. on the rare days i wasn't suffing myself full of local food i'd use those.

i cannot abide electric hobs. my building is fully electric so i bought a heavy frying pan and use the gas bbq on the balcony.

[yorky500]

shirt said:

... use the gas bbq on the balcony.

and that's illegal as well! hahahaha

[Rich1986]

No balcony im afraid might try and make a chilli or something later on this week!

[Mobile Chicane]

Some rice cookers double as slow cookers. If yours has a 'low' setting, it should work.

[jas xjr]

fairly easy to make your own butter

[calibrax]

jas xjr said:

fairly easy to make your own butter

I'd imagine cream is just as difficult to obtain as butter...

[jas xjr]

calibrax said:

I'd imagine cream is just as difficult to obtain as butter...

You can make it from full fat milk

[shirt]

yorky500 said:

shirt said:

... use the gas bbq on the balcony.

and that's illegal as well! hahahaha

i'm in the penthouse dear boy