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[GLADIATOR]

WREN, made a post in 'Show us your face' and she mentioned her 2nd hobby was cooking.
Now although she seems to be an expert, I am a 'true' beginner.

Now I love cooking myself dinners (usually spicy) like Chilli con Carne, Currys, Spagetti Bolognese, or simple 'liver on butterfly pasta'

I am no expert, I am not so interested in gathering 65 ingredients.

I chop onions + garlic + peppers + tomatoes + various spices + Balsamic Vinegar--cook first
then
ADD the meat (usually chicken, lamb or beef mince)
Then a sauce (Like 'sweet and sour chicken, or curry or chilli)

Served on a bed of GOOD rice or pasta = BRILLIANT

My Beginners question?
Any VERY simple tips for either:
1) Quick great meals (keep it simple)
2) Spices that really add to a taste

I also make a great salad -> Any tips there? Me I use Lettuce + Sliced Tomatoes + Sliced Cucumbers + Chopped red onion.
THEN I put big 'dollops' of 'Natural Greek Yogurt' and pepper

Then I sit on my Veranda
Lots of wine, my PC answering forum or SKYPE questions or chatting to Ike and take 2 hrs to eat.

Finish with a coffee and cigar!

What about you people. Even if you do NOT cook. How you take your meal

[CometHunter]

Any VERY simple tips for either:
1) Quick great meals (keep it simple)

Stock up on cans of Cream of Mushroom Soup.

Pan-cook your meat, throw in veggies. With 10 minutes left, pour the can over the whole thing. When done, sprinkle on crumbled bacon, grated cheese, whatever.
It don't get no simpler than that!

[GLADIATOR]

Stock up on cans of Cream of Mushroom Soup.

Pan-cook your meat, throw in veggies. With 10 minutes left, pour the can over the whole thing. When done, sprinkle on crumbled bacon, grated cheese, whatever.
It don't get no simpler than that!

That sounds good.
will try that pronto

Thanks

[Ike]

My Beginners question?
Any VERY simple tips for either:
1) Quick great meals (keep it simple)
2) Spices that really add to a taste


What about you people. Even if you do NOT cook. How you take your meal

Well, I put freshly ground pepper on just about EVERYTHING--which I learned from YOU! And it really perks up the taste of just about any food....well OK, maybe not my morning yogurt, but you get the idea LOL

For a quick and easy meal, I sometimes do a stir-fry (using little or no oil, in a deep non-stick pan or wok)--starting with chopped onion and minced garlic (as you do), then adding cut-up veggies (any kind, or whatever I have in the fridge ) until they're just barely tender, then put them aside and cook the meat (it's usually chicken for me, or maybe shrimp or other seafood), and finally put the veggies back in and simmer with whatever sauce seems good at the moment (e.g one of the many kinds of curries they sell in the grocery across the street). Voila--a meal in one pan!

For spices I like cilantro and/or ginger in almost anything!

And since I do a lot of low-fat cooking, I use fruit juices or wine as a substitute for cooking with oil (e.g. salmon with apricot sauce, one of my favorites, as you know )


This promises to be one VERY interesting thread!! Thanks, GLADIATOR!!

[bazzab]

Dont what you called it Scotland
Toad in the "ole
Real easy to make Served with Mashed Spuds
And OXO gravy. you live in Spain you must be able to get OXO
The other thing, Get a Paella recipe, I sure you will find every body there will have one!

[GLADIATOR]

Dont what you called it Scotland
Toad in the "ole
Real easy to make Served with Mashed Spuds
And OXO gravy. you live in Spain you must be able to get OXO
The other thing, Get a Paella recipe, I sure you will find every body there will have one!

I have OXO gravy, I make a mean meat with roast potatoes.

Got NO idea how Toad in the Hole is made

Yes, I think I need to try a Paella, but with chicken

What I can d

1) Roast Meat
2) Roasted Potatoes
3) Pasta Bake
4) Fantastic Curries
5) Chilli Con Carne
6) Liver with Pasta
7) Spagetti Bolognese
8) Salad with Yogurt

Thats is about my lot, so far

[bazzab]

Toad, is sausages cooked in a Yorkshire pudding Old English filled food
You can put what ever you like in the Paella, some good Spanish sausages will go with that Chicken

[Valtyr]

Here is the best possible way to make Asparagus. I wrote the recipe myself and have never shared but it is near perfect!

1 Clove of Garlic
1 Fresh Lime
1 Bushel of Asparagus
1 Table Spoon of Herb de Provence
1 Lid of Black Pepper
1/2 Table Spoon of Sea Salt
1/2 Cup of Red Pepper Olive Oil
1/2 Cup of Basil Olive Oil
1 Spoon full of Smart Balance (optional)

Finely chop Garlic and add to bag, mix all ingredients (squeeze lime juice into bag). Use Smart Balance for flavor if preferred apply before asparagus hits skillet or grill. Throw on grill or stove skillet until asparagus have grill marks and then flip. (Stove on high) Ideally, the asparagus should still be crisp but not hard or undercooked.


Normally I just cook something and never write it down, it almost always is delicious but it can't be made a second time.

[Valtyr]

Being a bachelor and all I generally just eat whatever is easy for me. I tend to make anything and everything, but I do not consume animal products so I'm sure my eating style is different than most. I really enjoy grilling and flavoring foods, I think it might be one of the things that I'm pretty good at.

This is a really good thread Adam. Wren, thank you for the inspiration.

I'll post on here more stuff soon.

[GLADIATOR]

Here is the best possible way to make Asparagus. I wrote the recipe myself and have never shared but it is near perfect!

1 Clove of Garlic
1 Fresh Lime
1 Bushel of Asparagus
1 Table Spoon of Herb de Provence
1 Lid of Black Pepper
1/2 Table Spoon of Sea Salt
1/2 Cup of Red Pepper Olive Oil
1/2 Cup of Basil Olive Oil
1 Spoon full of Smart Balance (optional)

Finely chop Garlic and add to bag, mix all ingredients (squeeze lime juice into bag). Use Smart Balance for flavor if preferred apply before asparagus hits skillet or grill. Throw on grill or stove skillet until asparagus have grill marks and then flip. (Stove on high) Ideally, the asparagus should still be crisp but not hard or undercooked.


Normally I just cook something and never write it down, it almost always is delicious but it can't be made a second time.

Cool.
OK
I have a couple of questions
Asparagus is very good in Spain and cheap. Good Start!!!

1 clove of Garlic: Is that a whole garlic or the segment of one. I usually, break/peel a Garlic and use about 3 segments per meal.

2) What this means:
and add to bag, mix all ingredients (squeeze lime juice into bag).

I NEVER cooked Asparagus before so elaborate!!

PS: I eat a LOT of meat, but Spain is the home of Fish, so I love Sardines (big) and Salmon, and Squid (Calamari) ect!!!!

Yummy!!

@Bazzab
Thanks too. Understand that, and could do it