The Cookery Thread

[Bunnylump]

I don't have a cheese muffin recipe, but K was the same. She used to take Oatcakes or crackers and either cheese or ham and some mini tomatoes and cucumber instead.

[maisie ladybird]

I've found a recipe on the internet and am going to try that.
With her being at home, it's easy just to make her eggy bread or cheese on toast. She likes crackers so I'm sure she'll take them some days, I was just trying to think of other ideas as well.

[LAT]

would she eat pitta breads as another alternative?

[gill216]

Does she eat pastry?

Homemade pizza from a packet of the pastry. Just coat the pastry with whatever she likes - no tomato, no problem, use spready cheese instead. stick some meat or egg or fish on the top and off you go. Put curry on it if thats what takes her fancy. Cook it , freeze it in portions, stick it in her luchbox and come lunch time it will be defrosted. Make it into pastry sandwiches if that would suit her too.

What about dough balls? or cheese dumplings? Gnocchi?

[maisie ladybird]

I like the idea of mini pizza - I could get her making her own at the weekend and give it her through the week - and I could get her stuffing her own pittas too.

I've just made the cheese muffins (listening to Billy Ray Cyrus - Gill will know what I'm on about ). When I got them out of the oven they didn't smell too good and I tried a bit of one when they had cooled - they tasted awful (well they did to me, my husband thought the same, my elder son took one bite and pulled a face, his friend wouldn't even try one) so I thought I'd have to throw away 24 muffins. Guess what? She tried one and loves them! So they've gone in the freezer all ready for the next few weeks.

Thanks for the ideas.

[gill216]

What about "dinner pie" as well? I stick any any leftovers (not from plates I hasten to add!) into a pastry lined ramekin and cook them. I do give the leftovers a bit of a mash up before filling, stick a lid on them and I have pork pie sized pies in all sorts of flavours ready to go. You can line the ramekins with tortilla bread wraps too. They come out crispy after cooking if you do that and don't take much oven time.

[tricia]

What about "dinner pie" as well? I stick any any leftovers (not from plates I hasten to add!) into a pastry lined ramekin and cook them. I do give the leftovers a bit of a mash up before filling, stick a lid on them and I have pork pie sized pies in all sorts of flavours ready to go. You can line the ramekins with tortilla bread wraps too. They come out crispy after cooking if you do that and don't take much oven time.

I like the sound of the bread wraps - could you send me a few examples of what you did.

Thanks
Tricia

[gill216]

Just a PS and nothing to do with cokkery.

Did you like "Some gave all" by Billy Ray Cyrus? (For those who are wondering why Maisie happened to be listening to him)

[maisie ladybird]

Ooh that sounds nice. I'm doing a roast tomorrow, I could do extra for that. Would you put in a bit of gravy or would it be too soggy?

Ps. Gill - yes I did, I'm going to take the time to listen to some more of his songs. I usually veer towards more bluegrass style - have you listened to Alison Krauss and Union Station, their new album is my favourite right now.

[gill216]

For Tricia.

Examples:

Chicken leek & cream, sometimes mushrooms as well as - or instead of.
Leftover stew.
Mince & tatties
Pork and whatever I've got. Black bean or soya sauce always adds the chinese flavour.
Mild curry with a tad of rice.

Anything you can think of really. They just come out as a crispy pie instead of a wrap.

[gill216]

Maisie, I always add gravy or whatever but then let it cool so I can see whether its going be a soggy mess or not. If you cant spoon it out of the pan in a decent lump don't pie it for either pastry or wraps!!

And I have an Alison Krauss CD. I love it. I'm off to investigate Union Station right now.

[maisie ladybird]

My gravy is always thick and lumpy!

Paper Airplane is their most recent one, but their previous ones are just as good.

[Laura]

How about a little pot of pasta? You can add grated cheese or tuna or bits of chopped ham that might normally be used for sandwich fillings.

[giraffe]

Have you tried cutting the sandwiches into shapes with pastry cutters? That was the only way to get one of mine to eat them. Also used to put currant buns, croissants, sausage rolls, cocktail sausages etc in. I know they aren't the nice healthy things we'd like them to eat, but my attitude was that they were better with something inside them than hungry and I would deal with healthy eating and balanced meals at home. School wouldn't let them have yoghurts / anything messy like pasta.

[maisie ladybird]

Thanks everyone for all those ideas, I'm going to try them out over the next few weeks.

[Biscuit]

really enjoying the great British bake off - has anyone else seen this

[Laura]

I love it!!! This week I'm baking apple pie in honour of the pie theme. And eating it of course!!!

[Bunnylump]

Anyone got any good recipes involving cooking apples? I'm OVERWHELMED with cooking apples and have so many I don't know what to do with them all!

[gill216]

Top of the list - Apple brandy. Bit late for xmas but you could keep it until next year or special occasions. It needs to sit for about 4 months. Slice up a couple of bramley sized apples, Stick them in a jar with half a bottle of brandy a couple of tablespoons of castor sugar and screw the lid on tight. Shake it every day until the sugar dissolves. It can take 4 weeks or more for that to happen. When the 4 months minimum are up, sieve it through a fine strainer and drink. If all else fails a pop sock works just as well (i have a jelly bag). Lethal. I have strawberry brandy and blackcurrant gin happily brewing away. Don't cheat and unscrew the lid and have tasters

I stew all my spare apples and put them in portion sized freezer bags. Tarte tatin, crumbles, apple iced cream, mint jelly etc.

[Bunnylump]

OOOo I have never tried making apple brandy. I'll give that a go. Thanks.