What are you been cooking today

[baf65]

ive just made the chicken and leek pie out of the budget busters booklet
except leeks were expensive so didnt think they were budget busters, so instead used frozen sweetcorn, celery, onion, mushrooms and leftover chicken from last nights roast!
im not taking a picture as I didnt bother fitting the pastry to the pie dish properly so its more like a square pie in a round hole!

[brazen20au]

it's funny how one person's budget buster is another's budget breaker! i'm always  at the budget threads on eb where people in other states reocmmend things that cost twice as much here lol

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

Made our usual apple and orange brekkie juice this morning, some linseed rolls for lunch, Trudi's lovely ginger nuts (yummo) this afternoon and Baf's varoma chicken and veg meal for dinner.  The boys had leftover pumpkin and spinach risotto.

My boys had overlapping three hour naps - I made motherhood look so easy today.  I even had time to cut the pumpkin ready to make Judy's pumpkin pie tomorrow.  I bet they don't sleep a wink tonight!!!

Chelsea  

[I Love Bimby!]

You should go to bed ILB! How's young Grace anyway?

LOL!!! Yes Mum.... 

I had a boss once who was 5 years younger than me and he used to call me Mum too   Mum and Grandma are my favourite words though.

You just have this "mother duck" thing going JD.  It's lovely! 

[Kath]

Just made the hot chocolate from the Everyday Cooking book. Instead of cocoa powder I put in 40g of chocolate chips and ground them up before adding the milk and heating. So nice on a chilly evening!

[Amanda]

I have just made the Ultimate Very Chocolatey Brownies from the British Larder site and all I can say is ... OH, MY GOD!!!
These are serious heaven-sent brownies and not to be wasted on children.
If anyone has any sort of a sweet tooth, then I would urge you to get to the shop and buy the very best cooking chocolate that you can afford, preferably imported, and some decent Dutch cocoa - not Bourneville - and make these.  I would reduce the sugar by a little next time round, but make sure that you beat the eggs and sugar separately first and get them pale and creamy.  Then add to the melted chocolate and butter, Whizz on 4 for about 15 seconds, Add dry ingredients and whizz on 5 for 15 seconds then bake.

 Then, most importantly, hide them from the kids!!

[cookie1]

I managed to whip up some sweet potato soup last night but that is about all. May try to get some steamed puddings done for tonight. I'm way behind with everything at the moment, can't even find time to get on here!  I've allowed myself 30 minutes to check my emails and have a quick look here. Must get everything done as DD and I are off to thaw out in Singapore next Monday.  Leaving DH home to feed the birds!

[Amanda]

I managed to whip up some sweet potato soup last night but that is about all. May try to get some steamed puddings done for tonight. I'm way behind with everything at the moment, can't even find time to get on here!  I've allowed myself 30 minutes to check my emails and have a quick look here. Must get everything done as DD and I are off to thaw out in Singapore next Monday.  Leaving DH home to feed the birds!

Have fun, Cookie!
My husband and I are going there in August for our wedding anniversary.

[judydawn]

I managed to whip up some sweet potato soup last night but that is about all. May try to get some steamed puddings done for tonight. I'm way behind with everything at the moment, can't even find time to get on here!  I've allowed myself 30 minutes to check my emails and have a quick look here. Must get everything done as DD and I are off to thaw out in Singapore next Monday.  Leaving DH home to feed the birds!

I've had a day like that but I'm not off on a lovely holiday like you are Cookie.  Have a wonderful time, how long are you going to be missing? Thanks for the recipes by the way.   

[baf65]

I am cooking the lentil and chickpea curry out of the Budget Busters booklet
I'll let you know how it tastes!

[judydawn]

Today whilst babysitting at DD's place, I used her TMX to make a carrot and lentil soup then when I got home I converted a broccoli & zucchini risotto but it wasn't that successful - rice overcooked and vegies undercooked.  Decided I don't really like risotto anyhow so no wonder this is only the second time I have made it. DH thought it was OK but he doesn't like risotto either. No more risottos for me!

[riv_mum]

focaccia
choc fudgy wudgy cookies
lemon chicken stirfry
sweet chilli sauce
Quiet day really. 

[I Love Bimby!]

Today whilst babysitting at DD's place, I used her TMX to make a carrot and lentil soup then when I got home I converted a broccoli & zucchini risotto but it wasn't that successful - rice overcooked and vegies undercooked.  Decided I don't really like risotto anyhow so no wonder this is only the second time I have made it. DH thought it was OK but he doesn't like risotto either. No more risottos for me!

That's a shame JD. Did you use the Risotto recipe from the everyday cookbook? How much rice did you use?  The older versions have way too much rice. I usually try 410-420 grams and the more vegies or chicken I add I reduce the rice. So say Pumpkin and Chicken Risotto, I'd use about 380-390g.

And how are you cooking the vegies?  some like pumpkin will need to be added at the start while others like zucchini, asparagas and baby spinach can be added to the Thermoserver and then just pour the risotto in over top after 16 minutes to continue cooking for 5 minutes and it will cook these vegies at the same time.

[judydawn]

I used 380g rice ILB and added the vegies after 15 minutes for another 15 minutes but by then the rice was gluggy.  Made far too much for 2 people.  Thinking I might roll some of the leftovers into balls and coat with egg and breadcrumbs and fry but know I will throw most of it away.  Do you use the butterfly or not - the everyday cookbooks says to use it but someone else said not to and I found it just didn't seem to be turning at all.  Funny part was, when I originally did the mushroom one from the book and followed it to a T, DH didn't like it.  Tonights was terribly mushy and he said it was OK - men, can you ever work them out   It is not something we have regularly, maybe twice a year so it is not a huge problem.  There are plenty of other lovely things to cook which I prefer anyway.

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

I'm not overly keen on risotto either JD, but have finally found a combination that I (as well as hubby and kids) like.  I make a pumpkin and baby spinach risotto using the mushroom risotto recipe as the base (adding all ingredients except mushrooms).  I add about 200gms of pumpkin cubes when I add the stock (chicken stock is nice) and then I stir washed baby spinach leaves in when it is in the thermoserve.  I serve it with lots of grated parmesan and cracked pepper.  I don't use the butterfly, but occasionally have a slightly burnt base (perhaps I need too).  I use 350gms of rice and 80gms white wine (rather than the 50gms).
Hope this helps.
Chelsea