River Cottage take 2

[Birdie Wife]

I really enjoy HFW's programmes in general, and agree with his philosophy. But is it just me, or is he getting a bit 'preachy', bit like Rick Stein? I used to watch Rick Stein's programmes and enjoy them, but he really annoys me now, and I hope Hugh doesn't start going down that line! Maybe controversial!

[Waffler]

Hmm. I know what you mean BW - kind of like I was saying about making your own pasta. OK, so buying ready mashed potato is a bit lazy: you peel your spuds, you boil them, you mash them. But making pasta is a little more involved, and he did seem to be suggesting that people go down the route of self-sufficiency a little bit.
Still liked the prog. though!

[yoanbob]

making your own pasta and cooking it takes as long as boiling and mashing spuds, its not hard, i'm not fully converted tho, i quite like the taste and texture of dried pasta.

[JennieAtkinson]

I also dry my pasta (tagliatelle only) and have it over the next two weeks. Works very nicely.

Have passed the technical spec for a pasta hanger on to OH. Hope I might have one by next week! Thanks Waffler. We'll call it the waffler hanger!

[Alice]

I thought home made pasta was for domestic Goddesses - not the merely competent. Am I missing out on something. Everybody do tell.

[JennieAtkinson]

Oooh can I be a pasta goddess! It really is quite simple.

[Mrs Dobby]

I'm with you Mrs D. I'm not vegetarian but do think we have to have meat in a responsible way. Animals have to be reared and killed in a right and proper way, and if that means it has to be more expensive, then so be it. The cheap meat policy has led to abominable practises in animal husbundary. People should be forced to confront how it is produced. See if they would buy anything in McD or KFC then. I'll get off my soap box now . All I'm saying is - eat less, reared in better conditions and pay more.

I did once try to become vegetarian for a while, whilst exploring my spirituality and looking into Buddhism, but I missed my bacon butties too much! Sorry to those that are vegetarian / vegan, I admire you for your commitment and resolve, but its not for me, I'd much rather take some responsibility for the fact that I eat meat and buy meat that has been ethically produced!

Blimey, there's a memory for you Mrs D!

Kirsty

Yep Kirsty, it is! Mind you, I was ever so glad that none of the boys in my school found out what I'd done, could you imagine the reputation I'd have had?

[Sunbeam]

I have a pasta machine, once regularly used, but which is currently sitting in the kitchen window like some trendy kitchen accessory ( ) with my basil plants! Having watched the delightful Hugh, I shall rescue it from it's resting place and use it once more! In fact we are having friends over for a pre-xmas get together & I think a Lasagne with home made pasta may just be on the cards!

I caught his program the other night and thougth that it was superb - a real eye-opener for those who refuse to accept that what they eat on a daily basis was one a living creature - and it is about time too!

[Nicos]

I'm really enjoying the homemade pasta! Homemade bread and tomato sauces made from home grown toms and basil.
In Italy this year, we had a lasagna made with pasta rolled to the thinnest setting ( probably hand rolled) and it was folded on itself a little like filo pastry. The mince was finely ground too. Was like satin!That'll be next on my 'to do list'!
Alice....easy!! Ask Santa to put a machine on your list!

[Dobby]

[QUOTE=Mrs Dobby;42859]

As a youngster I used to work weekends on my Grans farm, mucking out the cows and generally helping out, one day I remember that stuck in my mind was when the vet came to castrate the 2 bullocks they had for beef, and as I was good at biology (as my overly proud Nan was quick to point out to the vet) it was I that had to wield the tool (like a cross between a great big pair of pliers and a nut cracker, it clamped the blood vessels without cutting the skin) that would cut the blood supply to their testes!
QUOTE]

thats news to me Im hiding the pliers and any thing else

[Dobby]

I agree with Hugh's way of life if we won the lotto we would do it and spend less money on food as much as we can we buy organic
the thing that makes me mad is this kosher meat, I have no problem with peoples religon but the way kosher meat is produced is cruel in the maner of the animals death. I feel the anial suffers a long time as it dies especially as it is blead to death wile awake
I dont wont to offend anyone but thats how i feel I would never eat kosher meat at leats the animal is stuned first and feels no pain

[Nicos]

As a teenager,I had a colt castrated, and the vet chucked the 'bits' into the midden. A couple of days later I noticed one of the farm dogs digging away there and proudly emerged with 'baked' testicles for his lunch!!!
Nature eh????

[lyndap]

Mrs Dobby,I've been veggie for 19yrs and I still crave bacon buttys and fish from the chip shop!my 22yr old son used to wave his butty under my nose to try and get me to crack(brat!!!)I did give in a few times in the early years I've got to admit!

[monkeybum]

Well I did it! I threw my microwave out......well passed it on anyway. I haven't eaten ready meals for a couple of years now and used it for defrosting meat and the odd baked potato but no longer. And it has freed up counter space in the kitchen which I desperately needed. No more lazy excuses....back to basics for me. It is frightening to think that a couple of years ago I pretty much lived off those 70 second burgers....yeuch!

[Waffler]

Oooo! YUK! Well done you!
As I've said elsewhere, when our microwave dies we shan't replace it as it's mainly used as a cupboard and for very occasional defrosting or reheating.