More(or is it mare) to come

[VirginVegGrower]

That is very funny!

What was funnier was the day we were invited around for a meal, we met up once a week. At ours we always had roast beef in the main, because her husband loved it and she wouldn't/couldn't cook it. Normally at theirs they brought a takeaway in, but this one day, bless her, she made a lamb stew a la Ramsay. It had taken her half an hour, we were told. Her son told her he wasn't eating it after one mouthful, her daughter curled her lip. My daughter looked at me, but ate slowly. My son said it was lovely. Reality was it had all the flavour of hard lumps (you know how long you have to cook meat in a stew for) in dirty dish water - her words, not mine. I told her to put the bl**dy book on her bookshelf, make sandwiches and I took all the plates back, chucking it all in the pot. An hour and a half later after a long slow cook and the addition of seasoning, herbs and some decent stock, we had a rather lovely stew. I showed her what I had done to rejig it. We still have takeaways though when at theirs.

[VirginVegGrower]

Can't believe you think this - there's lots of people out there who can't follow simple instructions. No doubt many more who just think the instructions aren't meant for them and others who don't need instructions! My money would be on the fact that none of them could cook!

When kids think milk comes from Tesco's etc how on earth do you expect them to be able to cook? This 'horsemeat fiasco' is a sure sign that people have no idea how food is produced nor why it is so valuable, let alone how to cook it...

No such word as can't, I was always told. I am afraid I agree with Hazel at the Hill.

[julesapple]

We'd all love to go organic. Personally, we can't because it costs far too much. The only viable option for us would be vegetarianism if this doesn't sort itself out satisfactorily.

I'm only thankful we don't buy things like burgers or ready meals.

[redser]

Could be that less is more. Meat should probably be regarded as a treat, and eaten far less often, but what we would eat would be of far greater quality. Eating animals has always bothered me since I was a kid, but it's just what most of us do. How arrogant human beings are to farm animals. Maybe someday I'll have the guts to quit it.

[VirginVegGrower]

Could be that less is more. Meat should probably be regarded as a treat, and eaten far less often, but what we would eat would be of far greater quality. Eating animals has always bothered me since I was a kid, but it's just what most of us do. How arrogant human beings are to farm animals. Maybe someday I'll have the guts to quit it.

Totally agree - you and me both. In many cases organic is half the price of a pint of beer more. I am definitely going to introduce some meat free days. I want that bean bake recipe, because it was fantastic.
I was a vegetarian long ago for about ten years or so. I blame Mr VVG and pregnancy/kids.

[julesapple]

In many cases organic is half the price of a pint of beer more.

Would you like to expand on that?

[Madasafish]

I am just a simple male who has always been able to cook - but rarely did more than Sunday lunch.

Last January my wife had a bad fall, and basically became unable to walk until one hip op in May and now is little better as she needs the other hip done .

So basically for the past 13 months I have done all the food shopping and about 60% of all cooking..

(I am not looking for sympathy but setting a scene).

My experience
Basically if you opt for simplish meals you can cook a main meal with at most 25 mins preparation and about 1-2 hours actual cooking time - where the cook can drink for about 3/4 of the time...


Curries, stews, casseroles can all be prepared 24 hours before and cooked either in advance -or with about 1 hours effort..

You just need to be organised and make lists.

It's as difficult as cleaning but less hard work,

And it is not expensive if you want meat cheap - buy less popular cuts and slow cook them...

If I as a crotchety OAP can do it for 4 , anyone can...if they can be bothered..

Don't ask about washing up tho :-)

[Hazel at the Hill]

Can't believe you think this - there's lots of people out there who can't follow simple instructions. No doubt many more who just think the instructions aren't meant for them and others who don't need instructions! My money would be on the fact that none of them could cook!

If you can work out how to turn on the gamestation on and play the latest whizz-bang game; or if you've learned to drive a car; or worked out how to use the microwave, you can turn the oven on, unwrap a pork chop and peel a couple of spuds!

Or perhaps there are people who have no interest in what they are eating? Although this seems hugely odd to me.

[veggiechicken]

Well done Madasafish.
When I worked I gave myself 30 minutes to prepare, cook and serve our evening meal. It was easy once you knew the order in which to start cooking. Roots first, then greens.....that sort of thing. Cooking in bulk also give you a "ready meal" for another day.
Cooking from scratch is often as quick as trying to understand the instructions on the microwave labels!

[Hazel at the Hill]

My experience
Basically if you opt for simplish meals you can cook a main meal with at most 25 mins preparation and about 1-2 hours actual cooking time - where the cook can drink for about 3/4 of the time...

Curries, stews, casseroles can all be prepared 24 hours before and cooked either in advance -or with about 1 hours effort..

You just need to be organised and make lists.

It's as difficult as cleaning but less hard work,

And it is not expensive if you want meat cheap - buy less popular cuts and slow cook them...

Well done you.

I would say that a mid week meal (chop/spuds/veg etc) from scratch is on the table within 30-40mins of walking in the kitchen.

Made ahead stews/curries/cottage pies etc take longer to make, but you can make a load at a time when you have a couple of ours and just chuck em in the oven/microwave when you need them. Cooked ahead meat (or left over more or less anything) can be heated in the oven or mic if needed and served with salad & couscous or pasta - in both of these instances you will have a simple home made meal on the table within - say - 15 minutes.

Yes, it takes a bit of organisation, but it's not difficult or take great skill.

[VirginVegGrower]

Would you like to expand on that?

Hey? About £1, maybe if on offer - sometimes I find it on offer it's about 50-60p difference.

[VirginVegGrower]

Well done you.

I would say that a mid week meal (chop/spuds/veg etc) from scratch is on the table within 30-40mins of walking in the kitchen.

Made ahead stews/curries/cottage pies etc take longer to make, but you can make a load at a time when you have a couple of ours and just chuck em in the oven/microwave when you need them. Cooked ahead meat (or left over more or less anything) can be heated in the oven or mic if needed and served with salad & couscous or pasta - in both of these instances you will have a simple home made meal on the table within - say - 15 minutes.

Yes, it takes a bit of organisation, but it's not difficult or take great skill.

I think it's the needing to decide in advance what you are having probably that throws it out. As you say advance prep. Although I said we would have sausages tonight, but then forgot to take them out of the freezer last night so now we are having jacket spuds with cheese, sardines and salad instead.

[julesapple]

My mother has always cooked for my father (they're late in their late 70s, it just how it is for them) but when they lived abroad my Ma fell and shattered her wrist. We lived in Aberdeenshire, they lived in Cyprus. I got a phone call from Pa, asking me to fly out so that I could cook for him (not look after Ma, but look after him) I was outraged and lost it with him completely.

I had just had a baby, and there was no way I was abandoning my new baby, other three children and husband. The BH was a chef working unsociable hours and he would have had to have used up his annual leave to look after the children.

Anyhoo, the result of my losing it with Pa was him getting a cookery book out and following the instructions. If he didn't know what a cookery term meant he would then ask mum. He's had to fend for himself when Mum came back to the UK for three or four weeks at a time on lots of occasions. He will never admit to being able to cook in case he gets asked to do it! But he just picked up a book and followed the instructions. He's done this for lots of things - his policy is that there will be written info somewhere that will tell him what he needs to know. Even easier these days with lots of tutorials on gurgle.

I think a lot of the problem is time. And organisation - few people are willing to give up precious down time from work to spend a day batch cooking for the freezer or menu planning for the following week.

[julesapple]

Hey? About £1, maybe if on offer - sometimes I find it on offer it's about 50-60p difference.

I've never bought a pint, so I didn't know how much we were talking about.

[alldigging]

You see, I don't think it does. E.g. put pork chops in oven; drizzle with honey/squirt of jif lemon/shake of balsamic/smear or mustard/blob of sweet chili sauce if you are feeling adventurous. Peel & boil potatoes. Cook birds eye peas/veg. Make bisto gravy. Repeat with chicken for tomorrow. And even if it's for something daring that needs a recipe to follow, it's step by step. Do this, then do that. Not hard.

People have no idea how to use a knife.
Or a potato peeler.
Or how long to cook things for or how hot to have the oven. Or how to take things out of the oven without burning themselves.

Jamie's ministry of food is a great book and tv program - and his idea was to teach a few who could then go and share skills. Probably one of the most sensible foodie shows they've had for a long time.

Still I think we have mastercake or something on at the moment.