Fed up with Cooking!

[Gemini]

I am a bit of a boring cook!
I make shepherd's pies, chicken casseroles, sausage and mash, salmon, various pasta dishes - either veggie or with chicken. Those are my main Go To dishes and I rarely try anything else!

[Oma]

B is a adventurous cook he likes to make things up as he goes along ,
I think there’s only a few things I didn’t like most are very tasty ,
GS1 is following in his footsteps, he’s becoming a good cook and trying different things .

[Daisy]

Oma, B enjoys cooking, doesn't he. I make things up as I go along, but it's more desperation than inspiration!

Gem, I was so bored with my own cooking that that's why I decided to try some new dishes. Even now, sometimes I really can't be bothered.

[Plantaholic]

Same here Gemini, not very adventurous. I used to go off piste when OH was alive.

[Daisy]

I forgot to mention last week's culinary delight - Baharat Chicken Shish. I think this is the bottom of the league - so far! I had never cooked anything on a skewer before and balanced the skewer with chicken and lemon slices over a pan that was too large, so the sauce and garlic bulbs which should have roasted actually got rather burnt. More than "crispy" if I'm honest! The baharat seasoning was quite nice. The recipe suggested serving with flatbreads, salads and pickles. Of course, I hadn't spotted that when I chose the recipe, so I made flatbreads (another first) from a super easy recipe I had. They were quite difficult and sticky to handle but turned out find once cooked.

Tonight's culinary feast was Turkish-inspired Pasta with glarlicky lamb mince, yoghurt and mint and pasta. I thought this was really tasty and something I will definitely do again. It makes a nice change from Shepherd's pie with lamb mince, and was quick, easy and didn't use every last pan and utensil in the kitchen!

[Gemini]

You are doing well Daisy!

DD1 makes flatbreads from just flour and yogurt and they are delicious! I mean to get the exact quantities from her and try making some.

[Daisy]

Thank you Gem. I've even made one recipe for the second time tonight - a very quick and easy chicken dish.

The flatbreads I made were flour and yoghurt and I think a little baking powder.

Gem, I was thinking of you last night when I made the dish with lamb mince. I know you don't eat beef and this was very tasty.

[Plantaholic]

They all sound very delicious Daisy.

[Daisy]

Last week's new recipe never got off the pages of the cookery book because I was ill in bed. I ended up having to throw the fish away. Then OH had the same bug, so what with that and having to get settled down with the new fridge and freezer I didn't do a food order until today. I'm going to have a couple of weeks off from anything new, but may revisit a couple of our recent favourites.

[Daisy]

Well, my "Learn new Dishes" promise fell by the wayside over Christmas and New Year. There was then the matter of things that needed to be used up, followed by going up to stay with the GSs while DS1 was in hospital. But I will get back into the groove soon.

One night last week GS2 and I decided to make egg fried rice. I was doing the meat, so I rather left GS to get on with it. So today I decided to have another go. I didn't think to look up a recipe, but this is what I did, and it was quite nice.

A cup of brown basmati rice in a pan of boiling water and a good pinch of salt. I grilled a packet of bacon till it was nice and crispy. Then I put a few finely chopped spring onions in a wok with coconut oil, followed by a few finely sliced mushrooms*, salt and pepper. A couple of minutes before the rice was done I added a handful of frozen peas. Drained the rice and peas and added them to the wok. Stirred in 2 beaten eggs. Added more seasoning and served it topped with the crispy bacon.

*Sorry, when I typed this last night my brain said "mushrooms" but my fingers typed "tomatoes"!!
I might try adding a more interesting flavour next time, but the bacon saved it from being too boring!

[Gemini]

How clever Daisy!

Might try that

Can I ask, how long did you cook it for after adding the beaten egg?

[Oma]

I worked in a Chinese restaurant they always added the eggs ready cooked a few minutes before serving ,
Beat the eggs together and season fry like a thick pancake then chop up with a fork,

Thats the way we have always done it , the eggs can be done before hand and kept in a bowl till you need them ,
Daisy strangely enough that’s the only way I can eat spring onion if they are stir fried , raw gives me stomach cramps ,

I do like a stir fry and adding bacon is my idea of heaven 😁

[Daisy]

Can I ask, how long did you cook it for after adding the beaten egg?

Just until the strands of egg looked cooked, Gem. Probably a couple of minutes.

Oma, I never thought of cooking the eggs separately. I just assumed the eggs would cook very quickly, which they did, but your authentic way means you can prepare ahead better. I often use spring onions in stir fries - just for a change. When I had the allotment I used to use shallots a lot as well.

[Plantaholic]

I must try that Daisy. I do cook stir fried vegetables. Waitrose sell a package deal, Veg, Meat or prawns, noodles and sauce.

[Gemini]

Tesco do similar Plant and we sometimes get that.