From: A would-be master chef
What a site you have! I am very interested on the topic but am a lousy cook.
Something occasionally comes off decently but what's the secret(s) of
consistently producing good culinary results? I think I have disappointed some
guests in the past ...
Help,
M
From the kitchen agony aunt:
The key to cooking for others is to cook something you've cooked many times before. Trying out untried recipes on guests is way too stressful. Something always goes wrong. I made the mistake of making an untested sauce to accompany a venison roast I did a couple of months ago. The sauce tasted vile but fortunately, because I had a bit of time on my side, I was able to start again.
Pre-prepare as much as you can so that chaos is kept to a minimum. That includes sauces and condiments.
Rather than try to co-ordinate several dishes for the main, go for a one-pot/dish meal (served with rice, cous cous, etc). Trying to time a multitude of things is a hassle you just don't need.
If you're doing a three or four course meal, plan it so that not every course depends on using the oven because, if your oven's like ours, it's quite small, and the heat isn't uniform. Trying to prepare both a starter, main and dessert that needs the oven will result in TRAUMA.
If your guests give you are hard time, make a mental note of it and never invite them back again.
Too many sausages, not enough thyme...
From: Mr B
Subject: the world needs more sausages
I am obsessed with the sausage and really can't get enough.
But I am sadly running out of ways to prepare them.
Please help me spice up my 'sausage life'.
By the way in those hat, you two look good enough to eat..........
From the kitchen agony aunt:
I hear what you're saying, Mr B. Sausages are vastly underrated and frequently left just for a hearty fry-up, but there are two excellent meals that we've just added to the website: Emergency Sausage Pasta and Sausage, Fetta, Aubergine Taste Sensation (can always be cooked sans fetta and aubergine if you're not that keen on cheese or vegetable matter). Or try Moki's Curried Sausage.
One in the oven but nothing on the plate...
From: Mrs Mel
I am pregnant and tired. My husband is sick of having to come home to no
dinner because I can't be bothered cooking.
Any suggestions on how I can create sexy tasty easy peasy meals to satisfy a
hungry husband and won't take too much effort for a tired wife.
From the kitchen agony aunt:
Uh oh! Cooking when you're knackered is generally a definite NO NO. I would suggest that you go for the quick and easy - nothing grand or complicated or new. The Tomato Lentil soup is an excellent meal in itself if served with bread as is Emergency Sausage Pasta which I just made tonight in fact (sans peas). Sausages are infinitely sexy, as is an omelette finished off under the grill, topped with cheese and ... bacon. You wouldn't believe how many pork products we consume here. It's because we're scared of the beef. But, as the old Australian advertising campaign urged: "Get some pork on your fork."
