Two Threads & Cooking

[Marmora Man]

Interesting article on food, class and what Jamie is up to this time

Jamie Oliver

And cspencer77 said they would like to help out in spare time Volunteering

I watched the Jamie programme on Virgin's "on demand" TV after reading about his ideas and was both appalled and encouraged; appalled by the lack of cooking knowledge and encouraged by Jamie O's enthusiasm.

Many of the EDF are interested in food and cooking - that much is obvious from the criticism and praise dished out to various food emporia and restaurants. How many of us are prepared to engage with Jamie Oliver's crusade and teach two people how to cook?

I would be happy to do so but in my immediate circle and extended circle of friends and acquaintances I know of no-one that cannot cook. Can anyone put me in touch with someone that I could teach to cook?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

I found that programme a little unbelievable. Who has a huge range cooker and can't even boil water? No one's that barbaric, surely?

[Moos]

I can't cook, but it's more a 'won't cook' attitude - I hate cooking and find it really stressful, and therefore do as little as I can get away with. If you could teach me to love cooking - now that would be wonderful: imagine the idea that one could actually find the half-hour of preparing dinner pleasant and relaxing! But I fear it is beyond the agency of mortal man.

[SeanMacGabhann]

I'm shocked Moos - stressful? It's the most relaxing thing in the world (for the most part- no getting away from the stress of looming doorbell and a problem with the oven!)

[Keef]

I enjoy cooking but can find t stressful as I effectively have to do two versions of each meal, one with meat, one with something else. This can make timings complicated! Surely anyone can do a bit of pasta or something, I suspect it's more a case of can't be bothered with lots of these people.

[SteveT]

The people who cannot cook have never gone hungry.

A day or two without a morsel would be their best cure, to cook and eat, would then be a pleasure.

[Brendan]

I also love cooking. I find it really relaxing and fun. It?s a little bit of me time where I get to be creative, think up novel things to do with chillies and play with knives.

I fucking hate washing up though.

Like M? Man I don?t think I know anyone who can?t cook at all. Even my father-in-law, who comes from one of those traditional Irish families where the men don?t even know where the stove is, has managed to master such complex concepts as, potatoes + hot oil = chips.

[Moos]

I know it's shameful, but I'd honestly rather wash up.

[Applespider]

Moos Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I know it's shameful, but I'd honestly rather wash

> up.

Whereas I love cooking and loathe washing up. When are you coming round? :p

[Jeremy]

The only person I know who can't cook is my dad. He refuses... when he's left to his own devices, he just eats microwave meals or beans on toast.

[Strawbs]

I love to cook, I find it very relaxing and enjoyable.. Nothing better on a sunday than pottering and cooking up a storm for peeps you love.. My best friend on the other hand cannot cook other than heating up so we are working on a few things and I show her how to do it, honestly though she now just wants to come to my house so she doesnt have to..

different strokes and all that...

[Cassius]

I love the actual cooking, it's the thinking of different things to make every night of the week that gets me and when I ask for suggestions I always get 'anything will do' or 'everything you make is nice', which is kind but not very helpful.

[Bellenden Belle]

Oh Moos - thank God you are here.

I can cook... but I find it terribly stressful. I once took an entire day off work to cook homemade burgers when someone requested them as a birthday treat.

Some people are just naturals in the kitchen - they come over all Edward Scissorhands (the ballet version) with knives as if the instruments in their hands are a mere extension of themselves. They embrace ingredients, taste things like it's a first kiss, and generally have the time of their lives.

With me people flinch when they see me chopping as if at any moment I might do myself or them damage; my eyes stay glued to the recipe book and somehow I can never find the pan I need, which of course I only realise I need when I have read the third instruction in the darn book - leaving my timing in tatters.

But I can slice an onion beautifully....my year of home economics served me well. So if anyone fancies a single onion served on a plate, I'm your girl!

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

I hate cooking but the men in my life have always been great cooks - so I've never gone hungry!

[Cassius]

I ended up at A&E after lack on concentration meant that the knive meant to be slicing the pumpkin in half almost severed my thumb!

[Moos]

Thanks Belle, was starting to feel rather lonely on this thread.

[Keef]

I sliced my thumb really badly as a young kid stupidly trying to use a kitchen knife to open a particularly sticky wham bar (bright pink fizzy chew bar), so am mega careful with knives to this day. The lessons of youth huh. Let him play with the lighter, he'll soon learn! :-)

[PeckhamRose]

Oh Bellenden Belle but I am sure it would be the most beautiful onion perfectly chopped anyone in the whole world was ever presented with.

I was partly forced into learning how to cook through being broke. I did do cooking at school (or domestic science and home eceonomics as it was called then). And although the teacher was a prize b!tch and sneered a lot, I did not realise just how much I had remembered. About ten years ago when I was really really broke I realised I actually had the time to think about cooking again, so decided to follow a recipe in a book I had had from when I was a kid. It worked. Whilst I do not have a nice fitted kitchen, I do have enough space to make things and sometimes it all goes wrong but it's going wrong less and less and I am feeling prouder each time. I admit if I had a full time job and enough money I probably would buy more ready to eat stuff, but there really is very little to go wrong in properly following a recipe and the instructions. As long as you know the terms like "cream" when it is used as a verb, or "fold" which is just plainly daft when used with mushy stuff that can't possibly fold!

But it's the gadgets you can buy that make it more fun and encouraging. For example through this very forum I found a bread machine. Fabulous. And got a blender from someone for a fiver. Home made Smoothies!!!! And a coffee machine which makes cappuccino and espresso and regular filter, from eBay for ?40. And now there's no space in the kitchen to roll out pastry. Which is just as well. Hate pie making. But the carrot cakes are wonderful and I felt so proud presenting one to the Peckham Rye Park fete in September. I used to HATE cooking! Not that I do it every day though. Mmm fish cheese bake tonight I think.

[SeanMacGabhann]

I've severed many a digit over the years. Then I learned a very valuable lesson

Good sharp knives!

DO not use any inherited knives found knocking around in the house/flat. It's asking for a trouble. The first time I spend money on a good knife and used it I nearly cried... "so it is THAT easy????"

[Keef]

Agree about knives Sean, but the better the knife, the more likely it is to take off a carelessly placed digit.

[PeckhamRose]

Clean cut though. Easier to stitch back on. So always have frozen peas in the freezer. Not for cooking, but for accidents. Tho I have just written "Kings A&E" under "Hell Is" thread. So be careful out there. Don't most household accidents happen in the kitchen?

Now where's the recipe for the fish and cheese bake for tonight? I am always impressed at people who can remember recipes without looking, or who can successfully estimate what a pint of liquid or an ounce of flour (sorry, the metric equivalent) looks like.

[Ted Max]

I think the theory is, sharp knife = less force required = knife less likely to slip off veg onto hand.

And at least you get a nice clean cut if you do happen to self-dice.

[SeanMacGabhann]

well that's true as well I guess Keef - you can cut yourself without even knowing it with those bad boys

But usually I cut myself with a blunt knife, pressing too hard on on a slippery onion

And the language!!!

[Cassius]

I think it was when I realised I could see the bone that I worried. I've never cut myself before or since but when door bells go loudly just before the point of contact............

[SteveT]

The best ever cooking programme in my opinion was on channel 4 and it was called 'Get Stuffed'

They were five minute shorts and began very basically by saying and showing how to wash your hands before starting.

Then they would show you how to produce a meal for a couple of quid.

Great shows and simple format and aimed at students in their first teetering steps of adulthood.

If anyone has a video copy or book they wish to sell I will pay full price, no question.