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I have a couple of questions I'm hoping someone can help me with . . . . . form an orderly queue

54 replies

lucysmam · 13/09/2008 21:23

Right, here goes . . .
1, I've only ever made dahl using a curry paste but, now I'm a bit more confident in the kitchen I'd like to try it using some spices, could I have some guidance as to what to use and in what sorts of quantities please

2, How do I make a creamy tomato sauce to go over pasta? Do I just add cream to a sauce made out of tomatoes/herbs/peppers and mushrooms?

3, Can I freeze fresh ginger?

4, can I freeze bananas that are starting to look past their best & use at a later date?

That's it for now, sure they've all been done to death! Thought someone may be able to guide me a bit though, thanks

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HarryAndRon · 13/09/2008 21:25

banana's cannot be frozen...I know that one

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lucysmam · 13/09/2008 21:27

oh, and I've just thought of another while I'm asking random stuff . . . what can I use coconut milk for? Mil gave me a tin of the stuff today but I've only used it once in a thai curry type dish which my oh wasn't too keen on

Harry, cheers! Oh can take them to footy tomorrow then

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janeite · 13/09/2008 21:28

Bananas can be frozen in their skins, then used in cakes etc.

Creamy tomato sauce: add a dollop of marscapone or cream cheese to a basic tomato sauce.

Fresh ginger can be frozen: grate it first.

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EachPeachPearMum · 13/09/2008 21:29

lucysmam - I always love your threads!

1- can't answer, as haven't made dahl, sorry

2- haven't made creamy tom sauce- but I know if you mix a tomato sauce and a cheese sauce, it tastes DIVINE!

3- dunno, never tried sorry

4- nope!

I eagerly await people who are far more well- informed than myself

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janeite · 13/09/2008 21:29

Coconut milk is gorgeous in lentil soup or to make a curry sauce. Jamie Oliver has a good, easy recipe for a curry sauce with coconut milk. You can also cook basmati rice in it to make coconut rice.

I love your threads, Lucy.

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EachPeachPearMum · 13/09/2008 21:30

x-post Janeite! (who is obviously more informed than I!)

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janeite · 13/09/2008 21:30

Oops - snap, EachPeach!

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EachPeachPearMum · 13/09/2008 21:30

You can also use coconut milk in a rice pudding type dessert.

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janeite · 13/09/2008 21:31
Smile
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castille · 13/09/2008 21:31
  1. no idea
  2. yes you can - it's very nice
  3. yes - freeze it whole, ten I grate it on a large hole grater straight into the pan
  4. no, don't freeze bananas


coconut milk - in curries, add it towards the end of cooking time, yum.
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janeite · 13/09/2008 21:31

Oooh - that sounds lovely.

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captainmummy · 13/09/2008 21:31

Bananas CAN be frozen, but they go black and mushy, so can only be used for making banana muffins. Which they do with ease.

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WhirlingStirling · 13/09/2008 21:31

Here's my Dhal recipe - I do use paste or a madras curry powder, but also some other spices - Hope this helps....

Dhal Curry

225g red lentils
2 tspn ground ginger
1 tspn cumin
1tspn turmeric
2 potatoes, peeled & diced
2 tbsp butter
1 onion, sliced
1 green pepper, chopped
madras curry powder or paste
1 clove garlic
tin chopped tomatoes

1.5 pts water in large pan, add spices & salt & bring to boil.
Add lentils, stir & bring back to boil. Boil for 5 mins then add potatoes & cook till lentils mushy.
In separate pan (I use large frying pan) heat butter & fry onions & pepper until soft.
Add curry powder/paste to taste & garlic & chopped tomatoes.
After a minute or two, add lentil mixture.
Cook for 5-10 more minutes then serve.

This is the only recipe I have used and it is lovely. Very moreish - Beware!!

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HarryAndRon · 13/09/2008 21:32

how do you freeze banana's without them going slimy then???

I cannot even eat banana's that have been in the fridge as that sends them brown and slimy too

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jennifersofia · 13/09/2008 21:32

My dd's hate 'fresh' bananas, but will happily gnaw on frozen ones for dessert. They also blend up nicely to make a cold smoothy if you cut them up first. I just take their skins off, pop them in to a plastic bag and freeze.

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lucysmam · 13/09/2008 21:35

lol EachPeach, I'm just learning & have hundreds of questions!

janeite, cheers for the tip about grate ginger first! Never thought of that one. Do I have to peel it before I grate? (daft question alert!!!)

love marscapone, made a note in my book to try that in my tommy sauce next time!

& to try coconut milk in rice pud, I assume just substitue it for normal milk? & coconut rice would be along the same lines but to go with a main meal rather than as dessert?

will chop bananas to freeze in morning if oh doesn't want to take to footy

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RupertTheBear · 13/09/2008 21:36

We have tomato and marscapone pasta sauce all the time. Just warm a jar of passata up in a pan then stir in a tub of marscapone cheese till it melts. Then mix into pasta. It's lovely on its own or with any veg or chopped up bacon. It freezes well too.

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GrimmaTheNome · 13/09/2008 21:36

Bananas can be frozen in slices and then eaten still frozen. I would imagine that when thawed you could still mush them up to go in banana bread or suchlike.

Coconut milk is lovely in non-thai curries. I did a chickpea one on monday which was iirc 1 onion browned then added couple of cloves garlic ,1 cubed potato and carrot, then a good inch of grated ginger, 2tsps tumeric, 3 tsps coriander, 2 tsps cumin, a few crushed cardamoms. oh, and about 1/2 tsp crushed chillis (maybe less, I was hoping DD would eat it) Then added 1/2 tin coconut milk and tin of chickpeas. some lime juice near the end.

similar spicing but with a couple of diced toms instead of the coconut milk would work
for dahl I think. Might bung in some garam masala at the end too.

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WhirlingStirling · 13/09/2008 21:36
  1. I would make a normal tomato sauce and then add some creme fraiche or philly soft cheese.


  1. Yes you can freeze fresh ginger and you can grate it and add it to food from frozen.


  1. You can freeze bananas but they will turn to mush when defrosted but fine for using in cakes etc


  1. Coconut milk - can make rice puddings or reduce heat in a curry. Your oh must be weird if he doesn't like thai curries!!
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lucysmam · 13/09/2008 21:37

thank-you WhirlingStirling will make a note of that in my book to try out next time I make a dahl

There are some good points about black slimy bananas being made though, do they really go yucky? If they do I'll pass n oh can have the lot for footy team, since it was him who bought so many in the first place

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EachPeachPearMum · 13/09/2008 21:37

lucysmam- we are ALL learning! Thats the great thing about your threads- there's great tips on them for all of us. I have picked up loads of recipes/ideas from them, and I've been catering for myself for nearly 20 years!

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Cappuccino · 13/09/2008 21:39

I keep ginger in teh fridge unpeeled and then just grate it in stuff frozen and sttick it back in freezer

Delia said it so must be good

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lucysmam · 13/09/2008 21:39

Grimma thanks for recipe, that's gone in my book too. Coconut milk actually sounds like it's quite versatile! Can't believe I've not used it for anything else ever!

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janeite · 13/09/2008 21:39

Link to Jamie Oliver recipe

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trefusis · 13/09/2008 21:41

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