Ready, Steady... Cook!

[DrunkJam_UK]

I thought, while we might be struggling with limited food choices given the availability of things in the supermarkets, it might be useful, and fun, for people to let us know a few ingredients they have so we can see if we can make a good meal out of those things.

Maybe we can all learn some new dishes, and take the stress out of feeding families with perhaps new, or fewer things.

So, go ahead, share your ingredient options, and we'll see if we can turn them into something yummy.

(don't forget to add in whether you need a particular diet / have allergies / etc)

[2003UK Champion]

Hi, I like your thinking, I can make a meal out of anything and never waste a morsel or left overs. I am a slow cooker or casserole girl and I always rinse all suitable sauce containers or a generous squirt ketchups into them. I often add sultanas or other dried fruit to bulk meals out. These type of meals are good for disguising any veg as well. Most types of meat can be used, tinned tomatoes, soup, different beans, or cook in sauces give different flavours, Tins or frozen mince are versatile from adding to pasta dishes, having different types of potato topping or rices. Sausages are also versatile from having with any side of potatoes, in a butty, taco, pasta dishes, with eggs or being used in any of the meat ideas above. Yes, let's get the ideas going, I am always trying to think of new ideas, Also perhaps we have got to shop in a different way, we have been spoilt for choice for too long, perhaps it is seeing what you can get and thinking how to make a meal out of it.

[DrunkJam_UK Administrator in reply to 2003UK]

I just got a three pot slow cooker recently, to hep teach my son to make food for himself. He is scared of the hob, and not very confident generally, and I thought it would be easier for him to manage. So, we'll see how that goes.

To be fair, we had roast chicken on Sunday, as a family of four, and then, my son and I had some of it on Monday as risotto, some more on tuesday as curry, and I put the left over stock in the freezer for later use.

I also stocked us up on herbs and spices, since, you can make the most boring thing a bit more cheery with some of those (although have to be careful as some are not recommended during a neutropenic diet - such as uncooked black pepper). Also, I put a squeeze of marmite in things such as stocks, or risotto or gravy or casserole etc if it feels a bit bland, and that helps a lot. Plus, it has a lot of B vitamins!

[DrunkJam_UK Administrator in reply to DrunkJam_UK]

Also, can make a protein rich equivalent of mashed potatoes with butter beans.

And a can of any tip of beans will make a pot dish (stew, soup, casserole, curry etc) more filling and go further.

[Clarence45]

I’ve often got a pack of pearl barley knocking about in my cupboard, very useful to Chuck a handful of it into one of my slow cooker stews. Seeing as tinned soups are a bit thin on the ground in supermarkets at the moment, I often use up left over roasted or fresh veg and make my own. One favourite is a carrot soup. Loads of carrots, couple of sticks of celery, 1 small potato and a couple of onions all chopped up. A stock cube, water and blend. Yum

[HAIRBEAR_UK Administrator]

How is everyone doing ?

OK, just had a look in my fridge, it's not happy.

Have a little left: some onions, carrots, potatoes, pate, cheese, ham, 4 eggs and a smidge of milk but trying to save what I can for a coffee!!

Have tins in cupboard, 5 slices of bread, a little pasta, rice, an ounce of lentils, stock cubes, salt, pepper,spices. sugar, coffee, flour, butter, some oats, black current jam.

Any creative ideas for an interesting dinner and pudding?

Now also will look into guidance for the those shielding, to explore plans to get food in

[DrunkJam_UK Administrator in reply to HAIRBEAR_UK]

You can do a pretty yummy ham and egg fried rice (cook rice, set aside to cool, fry beaten egg, chopped ham, a chopped onion, add rice and stir in. If you cook your rice in water with an oxo cube crumbled into it, it's even tastier)

I just popped a treacle tart into the oven, which used up the ends of the loaf of bread grated into crumbs.

[HAIRBEAR_UK Administrator in reply to DrunkJam_UK]

Great idea thanks I like egg fried rice, simple but very filling.

Now you have me with the pudding,

Could do a jam tart , have flour, butter a little milk a tin of custard

How do you make the pastry?

[DrunkJam_UK Administrator in reply to HAIRBEAR_UK]

Basic pastry recipe

bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/bas...

put a teaspoon of sugar in it if its for a sweet thing.

[HAIRBEAR_UK Administrator]

Well here is the advice I was looking for to get plans and help during our isolation. Guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from COVID-19: gov.uk/government/publicati...

How can you get assistance with foods and medicines if you are shielding?

Ask family, friends and neighbours to support you and use online services. If this is not possible, then the public sector, business, charities, and the general public are gearing up to help those advised to stay at home. Please discuss your daily needs during this period of staying at home with carers, family, friends, neighbours or local community groups to see how they can support you. Please visit gov.uk/coronavirus-extremel... from Tuesday 24 March 2020 to register for the support that you need. This includes help with food, shopping deliveries and additional care you might need.

The government is helping pharmacies to deliver prescriptions. Prescriptions will continue to cover the same length of time as usual. If you do not currently have your prescriptions collected or delivered, you can arrange this by:

Asking someone who can pick up your prescription from the local pharmacy, (this is the best option, if possible).

Contacting your pharmacy to ask them to help you find a volunteer (who will have been ID checked) or deliver it to you.

You may also need to arrange for collection or delivery of hospital specialist medication that is prescribed to you by your hospital care team.

If you receive support from health and social care organisations, for example, if you have care provided for you through the local authority or health care system, this will continue as normal. Your health or social care provider will be asked to take additional precautions to make sure that you are protected. The advice for formal carers is included in the home care provisiongov.uk/government/publicati... .

[DrunkJam_UK Administrator in reply to HAIRBEAR_UK]

Thanks for this. The problem we have just discovered is that the vulnerable person registration scheme and support only exists in NHS England for now.

[HAIRBEAR_UK Administrator in reply to DrunkJam_UK]

Oh yes, I see the separate guidance for non England UK countries that differ at moment

Northern Ireland health-ni.gov.uk/coronavirus

Scotland gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19

Wales gov.wales/coronavirus

Will research and come back on progress in all

Nick

[DrunkJam_UK Administrator in reply to HAIRBEAR_UK]

Also, and this is not related to cooking OR the NHS advice. BUT.... Dh has had his blood tests cancelled! He is waiting for the Dr to ring him back. He can't swallow properly, he has ITP spots, excessive tiredness, even for him, and he looks pale etc. he is definitely, I would say, headed for a problem, which, without the blood tests no one will know, and it could be worse than last time, when he very nearly did not make it. Fingers crossed this can be resolved!

[HAIRBEAR_UK Administrator in reply to DrunkJam_UK]

Oh dear this is a challenge, I see you have updated in another thread will join you there. Stay strong Nick.