Thread: Warning: Food talk inside. Kitchen Supply shops for Jam/Jelly/Canning supplies?

[Post EDIT: This has turned into quite a lot of discussion about foods, so if you are sensitive or easily swayed - just be warned. ]


Man, I have got the cooking bug bad. Have now found a recipe for a Christmas Cake - your fault SB! - that I can make now, and feed with rum every month or so - whoo hooo!! Drunken cake!!

I have never had CC before, the recipe I found sounds lovely - full of mango, cranberrry and currants. Yummmm!!!

I have never made an english cake, full on with Marzipan and ROyal icing, etc.

I think its about time I did!!


I've got the fever!!...

You so have the fever BL. Christmas cake is amazing, it is one of our serious family traditions. We always make that, the xmas pud and the xmas mince meat in about September. The whole family has to stir the mixture and make a wish for the coming year. We also then put a lucky penny in the xmas pud. We then feed the cake with brandy and rum and inject it with it too!!! it is absolutely divine, and lasts for months and months. My mom usually ices it with the whole plastic icing and marzipan bit. I do love a cake tho, with almonds, and glace fruit on top as the garnish and wrapped with a pretty tartan ribbon, it looks uber seasonal! That recipe sounds divine tho BL I have never had one with mango in it so would love to try it for a seasonal twist this year since I will deffo be eating by that point!!!

SB your chutney sounds divine, I will absolutely make some tomorrow, just wish I had a garden with lovely bits in it. We all sound very WI (womens instutue as opposed weigh in) but it would be great to swap some of our makings with each other.

Re the sourdough, I usually make a culture, which can be kept in the fridge to be kept domant and taken out to be fed when you fancy making a loaf. I will pop on the link of where I found the recipe for how you make a starter. There is also a SF sourdough company that will send out sourdough yeasts for you to use as starters. Totally amazing. I do like making my own though as each one has a slightly different flavour depending where you make it. It is also fab for blinis, pancakes etc.

Basic starter recipe: Home Made Sourdough Starter: Naturally Leavened Sour Dough Bread Culture from Wild Yeasts | Suite101.com

I usually store mine in the fridge in a sealed kilner jar, and just take it out, let it come to room temp feed it and off I go.

Sourdough Cultures <-- This company is amazing and well worth buying a culture from, especially if you want that authentic SF culture.

PS: can we keep this as a foodie chat area, I adore talking food with fellow foodies???

PPS: found the most amazing random hardware store today that has loads of preserving jars of all shapes and sizes. Have the blackberries and the preserving sugar so tomorrow we are "jammin"

Jez
xx

Hey girl!

Fine by me if we talk foodie stuff here! THat is why I edited the title of the thread, as the tide was turning, and I couldnt see it going back to just jars and pots!! LOL

I will look into that Sourdough stuff. SOurdougn pancakes are the best!!! Oh my god, was raised on them!!! Thats cool to know you can make it dormant, and pull out as needed.

Ya know what - I realllly miss American Fridges!!! I think I not only need a bigger wardrobe but I am going to need a bigger fridge and freezer and a pantry wouldnt hurt either!!! LOL

I think tomorrow I may make some cupcakes for the ladies at work. I of course wont be having any, but would be fun to do SOMETHING. I really miss my days in the kitchen.

Oooh I would love a huge old american style fridge and a walk in pantry and big ole kitchen with a huge wooden table in the middle.Cupcakes sound divine, one of my fave things to make, infact ooh now I remember why I became a chef in the first place!!! Funny I was almost bored by food before I started LL, now I am so in love with it again. We shall all have to meet up one day and each bring a course and have a fabby healthy party! Please post some pics of the cupcakes when you have made them

Jez
xx

JEz, when I was a youngster, my parents gave me the opportunity to go to a College (University equivellant I think) - they knew I was not a scholasticly inclined person, so my choices were the Culinary Institute, or Art School, as I either wanted to be a chef myself, or an artist.

I started cooking when I was about 16, and I love it. Its been one of my few regrets in life, that "I knew better" and thought just getting out into life, and living life, was a better choice then further education.

I would have loved to do what you do. Good for you!!

I have a friend back home and we used to alternated dinner parties, and we really went to town, we created some wonderful things. We still throw the idea around about having a small cafe one day, though its more whimsy then reality - we are too old and tired! LOL BUt I would have loved it, I know.

SO good on ya!

I like the dinner party idea!! Where are you anyway??

x

I am in London, but will drive miles for good food! I also want to open my own little cafe and trust me hun you are never too old or too tired. This is all part of my master plan for moving to the country and getting the hell out of the rat race!! Find a job for 1 year to learn the area, the find me a premesis and then open my little venture. You could always supply me with jams and cupcakes to sell in there <G>

Btw found the most amazing things in the charity shop today!!! They have so much more good stuff in the smaller sizes - phase 8 black linen trousers £4 and warehouse dress trousers £5, a gorgeous black winter fabric pencil skirt £4 and an amethyst coloured jacked for £7!!! woohoo, also snuck in a little grey woolen short sleeve jumper from elsewhere, but it was only £6 so don't feel too guilty about it!!

Jez
xx

Never feel guilty about shopping in Charity shops - you are helping others after all!! Sounds like a great haul!!

Your country cafe sounds like a wonderful venture!!! Can't wait to hear as that unfolds - I hope it goes just the way you want it to. Sounds like a brilliant move.

The other thing I am getting ready for, when I come off the packs is learning to cook proper chinese food, authentically as opposed to just throwing things ins a Wok.

I have been watching that cooking show with the young girl, I think her name is Ching? Anyway, she has shown some really healthy ways to do things, and I have always loved cooking in my work, but never had real ingredients.

I love Chinese takeaway, but she showed how much fat and oil is in them. HOW MUCH!!!!!?????? I was shocked!!! lol

So I placed an order through Wing Yip and got a lot of sauced, and cooking wines, differenty types of Soy, etc., and can't wait to get started on that too. Bought a lot of prawns, and fish and chicken - popped in the freezer, so its all there waiting for me!

Jam jars ordered andon the way too. Chunky Marmalades the first go - sounds nice and easy.

Its funny - when you have to cook, sometimes it feels a chore - when you can;t cook, its all you want to do!!! LOL

Oh well.

Well, I am going to watch some TC with my OH now as he has just come in from working on my car all day. Bless him.

Have a good night, and I'm sure we'll be carrying on about all this yummy stuff tomorrow!!!

Nite now.

XXX

I'm back....lol....I think I have ADD

These look nice and simple!

Frozen Yogurt Pops - Recipe - AOL Food

OOOh totally yummy!!! I saw some moulds for those up near my mom's in a kitchen shop, must ask her to send some down for me. It looks so fabulous and summery. You could also make it in a terrine mould with frozen berries on the top for a dinner party and serve slices.. OOOh god I can't wait to cook again!!!

Jez
xx

Do you have COrn Syrup here in the UK? I brought some back from the states once cause I could never find it. Maybe its called something else? I suppose Treacle or Golden Syrup coul dbe substituted?

You can get liquid glucose which should work in place, but I have seen corn syrup about somewhere, just for the life of me can't remember where!!!corn syrup uk - Google Product Search



Jez
xx

I'll leave this thread to you 2 for now - you are building up to a frenzy!
I'm going to the beach today - still managed to get a Charity Shop fix in on
thursday.
Went out with my mum yesterday. She said "no veering off into charity shops."
I was known as Vera for the rest of the afternoon.........!

Frenzy??? Just getting some good tips and having fun talking about cooking.

Hence the added warnings, as it did not start out this way!!

Hope you have a good day Vera!

Seeyou tomorrow!!!

XXX

I substituted frenzy for a more sexual word! I know I could just get so sucked in to this thread I wouldn't do anytihng else all day.
Happy baking. C U 2 morrow.
Jez - you have truly got the charity shop bug now. Isn't it incredible what some people give away?
I got 2 pairs of shoes the other day. 1 x Kurt Geiger £3.50,
1 x Schuh £3.95. There was anotherlovely pair, but I coluldn't cram my feet into them!!

Originally Posted by slendablenda

I substituted frenzy for a more sexual word! I know I could just get so sucked in to this thread I wouldn't do anytihng else all day.
Happy baking. C U 2 morrow.

!!

Ohhhhhh!!! hahahaha that makes more sense!!!

Its a vicarious thrill I tell you! (The cooking part that is. )

You have fun too lovey!!!

xxx