i am starting to enjoy cooking . . .

[lucysmam]

could i trouble you for your fave recipes that are easy and fairly quick to whip up with minimum fuss to add to my repertoire, thanks

[lucysmam]

anyone?

[dandycandyjellybean]

Well done you, glad you're enjoying cooking, it's a wonderful, theraputic pastime. Any particular requirements? veggie, or pasta or what? or anything you absolutely hate?

[lucysmam]

no requirements whatsoever hairybikermummy, we'll try absolutely anything! nothing we hate either, apart from sprouts [yuk] [yuk] [yuk] but other than that anything.

I'd just like to keep trying out new things since I've actually started enjoying being in the kitchen making something rather than just bunging something in the oven from a packet

[BigBadMousey]

I am not a super-chef by any means but Mushroom risotto goes down well here. This is NOT how you are supposed to make it but this is how I end up doing it due to juggling baby DS and the DDs while cooking - the result is not far off that you achieve with doing it properly. This version uses a stock cube but it is even better (and far lower in salt) if you use your own chicken stock. Sorry, no quantities - just make it up as you go along. If you're not sure how much water to add to the rice then it is best to go for less than you think and top up as neccessary.

Finely chop some onion and fry gently in a saucepan until soft.

Meanwhile chop some muchrooms, grate some cheese and boil kettle of water

Once onion is softened add risotto (aka arborio) rice to pan and stir constantly so rice is coated in the onion juices for 1 minute - take it off the heat for a while if it starts to stick

Add boiling water to rice and onion and crumble chicken stock cube into mixture. stir

Simmer.

When rice is almost cooked add chopped mushrooms

When mushrooms cooked add some grated mature cheddar or other strongish cheese.

It holds its heat for ages so bear that in mind if you are making for little DCs.

[AbbaFan]

lucysmam - have you got any recipe books?

I love the newest Nigella one called Express. Great easy and quick recipes. I have made loads out of it.

[lucylue]

my friend has this new book 'chinese food made easy'
she enjoys it a lot.
but she told me the recipes are based on groundnut oil, so if any of you have nut allergy it may not be good.
i am not sure if you can substitute that oil with sunflower or vegetable oil.
but the recipes a re with simple ingredients, quick to prepare and healthy.

[lucylue]

thats a good idea AbbaFan.

[lucysmam]

AbbaFan, no books and can't really afford any atm. worked out exactly where our money goes today and in reality, once everything's paid for we have £40 a week left for food/nappies/any other stuff we may need so i thought i'd pick the brains of the MN ladies instead.

Will be asking for a couple for xmas though along with bits for planting some veggies next year

[Aitch]

what kind of thing do you like eating?

[lucysmam]

BigBadMousey, we've quite enjoyed risotto the past couple of times but your way sounds easier with kids around. I usually only do it if oh is here to watch lo while i cook

[Aitch]

have you googled for deliaonline? she has a baked risotto.

[lucysmam]

Aitch, didn't know you could bake risotto, will google later for that

we're not fussy eaters at all Aitch, and lo will try anything we're eating so no specific requirements just anything new to try really

[dandycandyjellybean]

will deffo share some recipes when I've got more time, but meantime, check out the bbc good food magazine website, it has masses and masses of recipes; I use it as a resource a great deal. Have had some fab recipes from there and quite a lot of them have comments from people who've tried them so that's always useful. It's like having a huge recipe book online. and if you've got a specific ingredient to use up you can enter that and it will come up with all the recipes that use that ingredient. it is brill. hth.