The Cookery Thread

[Bunnylump]

OK people, I need some inspiration. I have my daughter and her boyfriend coming for tea (dinner) tomorrow, and I want to do something nice. The problem is that A has IBS which is brought on by ANY red meat (can't eat beef, pork, bacon, lamb). And just to be really irritating, the PIA doesn't like any fish. I'm sick of cooking them chicken, and was wondering about something like pigeon or quail or a really yummy vegetarian dish. Any suggestions / recommendations??

[LAT]

Duck? With a nice orange or cherry sauce?

[gill216]

Veggie Lasagne? Use sliced aubergines courgettes etc for the softer parts and chunky bits of diced carrot swede etc for crunch.

Will A eat processed chicken slices? Not ideal I know but you could try leeks wrapped in sliced meat (bacon for the rest of you), covered in a cheese sauce (the really sloppy kind) served with garlic bread to mop up the juices and cheesy baked potatoes and a bit of the green stuff to accompany.

[Bunnylump]

Not sure he can eat duck, sadly. It's too fatty. Wish she had a more ROBUST fiancee!! (Actually, that's not true. He is lovely).

I could try the leek idea. That might work. You can get turkey rashers, I believe....good thought. Ta.

[Redfraggle]

Pheasant ravioli - it's gorgeous - but dont ask me how to cook it - I dont do cooking

[Bunnylump]

I've never cooked pheasant. I suppose that might be a plan...

[Redfraggle]

Sainsbury's sell pheasant - so you could buy it and just chop it up and put it in the little pasta parcels - that's what i'd do

[LAT]

You don't have to eat the fat on the duck - we certainly don't! And surely no more fatty than a cheesy sauce?

See what the supermarket has that inspires you.

[Bunnylump]

Sorry, I phrased that badly. The thing which causes him all the problems is specifically animal fat from meat. I feel really sorry for him, because he actually loves things like pork, bacon etc. But if he eats it, even a TINY bit, he is laid up and out of action for three days. Duck meat (even with the obvious fat removed is still quite high in fat content. So he might be able to eat it without the absolutely dire consequences, but it would still upset him a bit.

Dibble's girlfriend is the exact polar opposite. She appears to be able to (and want to) eat ANYTHING. The other day I offered her a sandwich. I said "we have a choice of cheese, cream cheese, or bacon. You can have salad, butter or mayonnaise with it. "I'll have all of it, please," she said. And she did!!

[giraffe]

I have a mushroom casserole recipe, which doesn't give quantities. It says 2 lbs of mushrooms, bacon (but presumably you could use smoked turkey rashers) white wine, stock, parsley, shallot, a spoonful of flour, and croutons and lemon juice. You cook the bacon first , then add everything else and then add the croutons and lemon juice at the end.

I haven't cooked it for years as none of my lot eat mushrooms, and whilst I'm very fond of them I'm not sure they always agree with me.

[Bunnylump]

Well, I'm sure A would love that. However, fussy moo daughter hates mushrooms. They are a total flaming nightmare to cater for. I might try that though for us some time.

Thank you all for the suggestions. I will have a ponder.

[Wulfruna]

you could try leeks wrapped in sliced meat (bacon for the rest of you), covered in a cheese sauce

That was a wonderful Blue Peter recipe years ago wrapping the leeks in boiled ham, which I still use for a light supper sometimes. I can still see John Noakes waving his spoon at the TV!
Lightly parboil the leeks in a small amount of water first (cut into lengths about 3 inches) and then use the leek-flavoured water half-and-half with milk to make the sauce. Sprinkle cheese and breadcrumbs on the top and stick under the grill for a crispy topping...

[LAT]

Do let us know what you decide - and what does PIA mean?

[Laura]

I believe it may be an abbreviation for Pain In A....

[LAT]

Aah! Thanks.

[chazzie]

Do let us know what you decide

Reading across forums - I think it was Cucumber and Dandelion...for the men folk.... and wine for the ladies.....

[Bunnylump]

Naturally!!

[strep98]

OK I have 20 cook books on the shelf, but I'm having a pudding disaster.

People coming for dinner tomorrow need some ideas (just scrapped the creme caramel, burnt the caramel twice!)

[Bunnylump]

I made this at the weekend, and they all liked it.
http://www.waitrose.com/content/waitros ... ecake.html

[strep98]

Thanks I could make that for the guests, but I hate rhubarb. Mind you after two courses I probably won't want pudding anyway.