A thread to discuss cookery and all the gadgets that none of us need but have to buy! I keep thinking about a Ninja foodie - do I really need it? My larder is already full of unused equipment
Cat Chat Cookery Thread
BarneyBobCat
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I never considered my coffee machine as a gadget but I guess it is! We have a Magimix too - its a CitiZ and I love it. We actually find Aldi pods are our favourite for it so although the machine wasn't cheap the coffee is 
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What about a roulade, HB? Or cheesecake?
There's some good freezable make ahead recipes here:
Freezable dessert recipes
Make a fabulous pudding in advance with our freezable dessert recipes. Bake a simple sponge cake, a rich chocolate torte or a show-stopping roulade.
www.bbcgoodfood.com
I think the chocolate pear pudding looks good (and easy too, with tinned pears!).
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Husband likes his "drip" coffee machine and coffee grinder. All started because of our Hawaii trips...! Cheap coffee machine, more expensive grinder and even more expensive coffee.
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This is the recipe I followed tonight for my carbonara - was really lovely:
www.jamieoliver.com
Im not much of a pudding person but I made these Chocolate Brownies once HB and they went down really well with my whole family:
Rich Chocolate Brownies
Serves 12
Ingredients
Italian carbonara | Jamie Oliver pasta recipes
A spaghetti carbonara recipe is a failsafe classic. This Italian carbonara uses the traditional guanciale and pecorino cheese for a real taste of Italy.
www.jamieoliver.com
Im not much of a pudding person but I made these Chocolate Brownies once HB and they went down really well with my whole family:
Rich Chocolate Brownies
Serves 12
Ingredients
- 140g/5oz Cadburys Bourneville dark chocolate
- 225g/8oz butter
- 5 free-range eggs
- 450g/1lb caster sugar (or a mix of dark sugars
- 110g/4oz plain flour
- 55g/2oz Cadburys Bourneville cocoa powder
- Optional - chopped up Glacia Cherries
- Heat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5. Line a 20x30cm/8x12in baking tin with baking parchment.
- Gently melt the butter and the sugar together in a large pan.
- Take off the heat and beat in the rest of the ingredients.
- Turn into the baking tin and bake for 30-40 minutes until the top of the brownie is firm but the inside still feels soft.
- Take out of the oven and cool in the tin. Cut into 5cm/2in squares when cool. Perfect with a cup of tea.
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I didn't consider coffee machines as gadgets either actually. That increases the number of gadgets significantly...I never considered my coffee machine as a gadget but I guess it is! We have a Magimix too - its a CitiZ and I love it. We actually find Aldi pods are our favourite for it so although the machine wasn't cheap the coffee is
I have an aeropress, a sage bambino espresso machine, a drip cold brew jar, various cafetieres, and a grinder 😂 currently looking for a pod machine too to put in my office.
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Thanks @Mrs Funkin and @BarneyBobCat
I reckon a cheesecake and chocolate brownies would work - then would serve with fresh strawberries and cream so everyone could help themselves!
I might have to have a practice run of those brownies @BarneyBobCat do you think they would freeze ok?
Bearing in mind it would be chocolate brownies and strawberries what “flavour” cheesecake would you go for or would you just stick to NY???
I reckon a cheesecake and chocolate brownies would work - then would serve with fresh strawberries and cream so everyone could help themselves!
I might have to have a practice run of those brownies @BarneyBobCat do you think they would freeze ok?
Bearing in mind it would be chocolate brownies and strawberries what “flavour” cheesecake would you go for or would you just stick to NY???
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I probably just do a vanilla cheesecake, if you anticipated that folk might have a bit of everything HB.
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I'm not really a gadget girl. I mean, what's the point when you can do the same with a knife that is easier and quicker to clean? I do have a julienne speed peeler for carrots in coleslaw and a hand held spiraliser (sp?) For courgette noodles though.
As for slow cookers, having just eaten a previously made Bolognese where I lovingly sweated down the onions, carrots and celery then cooked out the tomato puree, reduced the red wine for depth of flavour... would it really be as nice if I just bunged it all in a pot?
One thing I could not do without is my mini chopper/processor. I use it at least once a week for making curry paste/herby pesto type sauce/piri-piri sauce and at other times fresh breadcrumbs etc
As for slow cookers, having just eaten a previously made Bolognese where I lovingly sweated down the onions, carrots and celery then cooked out the tomato puree, reduced the red wine for depth of flavour... would it really be as nice if I just bunged it all in a pot?
One thing I could not do without is my mini chopper/processor. I use it at least once a week for making curry paste/herby pesto type sauce/piri-piri sauce and at other times fresh breadcrumbs etc
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I'm not a sweet person but love a baked cheesecake 😍
Having made it a couple of times, I realise why is a treat food though!
Having made it a couple of times, I realise why is a treat food though!
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Not sure about freezing sorry - but they do last well. I made a batch and took it on holiday with us and people ate them over a few days
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6,262 Posts
Definitely just NY cheesecake @huckybuck
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I'd very much doubt it, GN. I don't do Thai or Bolognese in a slow cooker. Anything casserole-y/Indian based curry goes in though. I also generally only use chicken thigh fillets in the slow cooker, not chicken breast, as they are much less dry.I'm not really a gadget girl. I mean, what's the point when you can do the same with a knife that is easier and quicker to clean? I do have a julienne speed peeler for carrots in coleslaw and a hand held spiraliser (sp?) For courgette noodles though.
As for slow cookers, having just eaten a previously made Bolognese where I lovingly sweated down the onions, carrots and celery then cooked out the tomato puree, reduced the red wine for depth of flavour... would it really be as nice if I just bunged it all in a pot?
One thing I could not do without is my mini chopper/processor. I use it at least once a week for making curry paste/herby pesto type sauce/piri-piri sauce and at other times fresh breadcrumbs etc
All of this kitchen talk makes me realise I need to tidy up the cupboards! You never know what you might find...!
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Thank you @Mrs Funkin @BarneyBobCat I'm half inclined to get that grill.
The only thing stopping me is wondering whether I'll use it regularly or if it'll be a one use wonder then left to gather dust, like my Sandwich toast maker.
Gadgets I use all the time - microwave and slow cooker.
Frequently - rice cooker, jar opener
Sometimes - bigger slow cooker
The only thing stopping me is wondering whether I'll use it regularly or if it'll be a one use wonder then left to gather dust, like my Sandwich toast maker.
Gadgets I use all the time - microwave and slow cooker.
Frequently - rice cooker, jar opener
Sometimes - bigger slow cooker
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16,490 Posts
They freeze beautifully and Much Nicer eaten straight out of the freezer!😋
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Im going to attempt a tomato based chicken and chorizo risotto today. Ate it at a local restaurant lately and it was absolutely amazing
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So hubby was right and it's crap? 😹
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Annoyingly yes he was right 🙄
I think my coffee machine is my favourite kitchen gadget, I don't think I could live without it now! I have a Sage Barista Express which my OH bought me for my birthday in the 2020 lockdown. It was expensive, but I've used it pretty much every day since then. There's something quite wonderful about being able to make coffee shop type coffees at home plus it saves me so much money as I don't feel the need to stop at a coffee shop on the way to work now.
plus it saves me so much money as I don't feel the need to stop at a coffee shop on the way to work now.21 - 40 of 2,973 Posts
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