What we cooking this week BMN?

[JingsMahBucket]

Hey folks. After the heat wave last week, I’m a bit lost for ideas. Thankfully it’s cooling down now this week but my brain isn’t ready yet. To top it off, we just moved house and fridge/cupboard is a bit bare.

I pulled out a package of skin on bone chicken thighs from the freezer and I’m about to jerk them overnight :)

I’ll roast them tomorrow evening when it’s cooler but still a bit stumped for other food this week though. This afternoon I made a vegetable couscous salad but Mr. Jings and I plowed through with gusto.

Anyway, what are y’all cooking this week? What are you eating cold as a full meal, etc?

[JingsMahBucket]

@EchoNan and @Maggiethecat thanks for the home congratulations! One our neighbours in the building slipped a “welcome to the neighbourhood” card through the mail slot today. It’s so sweet and I’m glad to now they’re possibly nice people. My husband I were thinking of introducing ourselves anyway in the next week or so. This just confirms that it’ll be well received. Whew!

@maggiethecat I swear by the Cafe Delites lady! My favourite recipe of hers is this Mediterranean chicken salad. The marinade and seasoning is SO on point. I love it. cafedelites.com/grilled-lemon-herb-mediterranean-chicken-salad-recipe/ I’ve also just fried the thighs in a pan if I didn’t have BBQ access and they still came out well.

[NLisa]

I needed some inspiration 😁
I made roti today and feel a bit blank regarding the rest of the week.
@JingsMahBucket congratulations on the new house. I love stocking a new kitchen

[JingsMahBucket]

Everyone’s food this week sounds so good. The second mention of plantain now makes me want to go buy some to fry. I think the halal market in this small town has some.

@C130 same thing for me. Totally in a rut right now and I want to get vegetables back into my body. @Orchidflower1 I’m used to having variety in veg boxes a few years back to wake up my senses and I’d like to start some locally again if possible.

[JingsMahBucket]

@Maggiethecat

If you fancy a fruit diet especially exotic ones you can try this place
myexoticfruit.com

I discovered them after hearing that Jamaican mangoes were being pushed heavily for export to the UK. Was in mango heaven with Julies and East Indians 🤤

Oh my god woman, you have changed my life. I want to order EVERYTHING.

[Maggiethecat]

Yep - changed my life too! If you're a mango lover then get in there quick as the season will end soon!

Dh's first love is (unashamedly) food and will go to extreme lengths to find it! The other website is
www.ebonimarkets.co.uk/fresh-tropical-produce#/pageSize=6&viewMode=grid&orderBy=0&pageNumber=7

I think she sources the food and posts them to you. Didn't get mangoes from her but got (roasting) breadfruit and yam for ackee and saltfish breakfast - could have been on my mum's verandah in Jamaica 😂

Some things are pricey by the time you factor in postage costs but I consider them to be occasional treats.

Dh says that Beta curry powder is his 'go to' for authentic curry goat flavour, available on Amazon
www.amazon.co.uk/Betapac-Curry-Powder-Large-450g/dp/B003SDKM0O/ref=asc_df_B003SDKM0O/?hvlocphy=1007326&linkCode=df0&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=310821094462&hvdev=c&hvtargid=pla-699149890253&hvrand=14824711906943533244&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

There is also a smaller 100g pack I think.

Enjoy your curry goat! what will you have it with - (plain) rice or rice and peas? Green bananas, yam? Avocado? Lord, don't get me started......

[Maggiethecat]

[quote EchoNan]This is what I'm having this evening, really fast, and using up the bits in the fridge. (Pan must be really hot to quick braise the meat!)

Some great recipes on this site, from around the world. I look at it quite often as it isn't full of pop up ads!

the.ismaili/nutrition/recipe/beef-salad-chilli-onion-and-cucumber[/quote]
@EchoNan - I'd love to be able to do a good stir fry beef but I never get the texture right - never soft and juicy. Wonder if I'm using wrong cut of beef, not slicing right, wrong temp - or all of the above? 😅

[EchoNan]

@Maggiethecat I use sirloin or rump, but prefer eye fillet, we don't have a lot of it in a portion.
Avoid the ready cut strips! I buy from a little local butcher who knows his meat.

Really thin cut, and be sure to cut across the grain of the meat. I'm sure you do all this already Maggie!

It can help if you marinade the strips before hand.
Some people tenderise the meat before hand the Chinese way, I do.You can use baking soda if no cornstarch. Here's a youtube clip.I was taught how to cook by a Chinese boyfriend back in the day!

But don't stir fry for too long. ! Hot and fast.

(You might want to do the veg separate from the meat and add towards the end. If it's broccoli for instance)
I'm a bit hit and miss myself sometimes, too Maggie!

[Orchidflower1]

Morning all,

So the fruit and veg box has arrived. Contents are…
Red grapes
Curly lettuce
Beetroot( raw with stalks)
Yellow peppers
Cabbage
Courgette
Paper bag of jersey royals
Mushrooms ( button)
Mango
Apricots ( paper bag full)
Cucumber
Radish ( with tops)

No clue what to do with the beetroot - any suggestions??

Going to roast the courgette, peppers and mushrooms with some onions and green peppers I already have. We’re going to have spatchcock chicken and Mediterranean veg for tea.

[EchoNan]

www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/how_to_cook_beetroot_24214

Great veg box Orchid. I love beetroot!

[JingsMahBucket]

@Orchidflower1 I've used beets raw in a salad before. Peel the beets, then slice it thinly into sticks. Mix the sticks with cilantro (coriander for you lot), EVOO, lemon juice or red vinegar, salt, and pepper. It was hailed as a delicious salad especially at a brunch where other food was heavier or sweeter.

[Maggiethecat]

[quote EchoNan]**@Maggiethecat I use sirloin or rump, but prefer eye fillet, we don't have a lot of it in a portion.
Avoid the ready cut strips! I buy from a little local butcher who knows his meat.

Really thin cut, and be sure to cut across the grain of the meat. I'm sure you do all this already Maggie!

It can help if you marinade the strips before hand.
Some people tenderise the meat before hand the Chinese way, I do.You can use baking soda if no cornstarch. Here's a youtube clip.I was taught how to cook by a Chinese boyfriend back in the day!

But don't stir fry for too long. ! Hot and fast.

(You might want to do the veg separate from the meat and add towards the end. If it's broccoli for instance)
I'm a bit hit and miss myself sometimes, too Maggie![/quote]
Right! I'm going to try these suggestions. The one thing surprising from the clip was the deep frying the beef first before stir frying - never done that before.

Trying to reduce meat intake so stir frys like these will be good as not full on steaks

Will let you know how I get on 🤞🏽

[NurseButtercup]

[quote Maggiethecat]cafedelites.com/oven-baked-chicken-breast/#wprm-recipe-container-64690[/quote]
Have you tried the cornbread recipe it's delicious. We had this last week with BBQ chicken, BBQ corn on the cob and salad yum.

cafedelites.com/cornbread-recipe/

[NurseButtercup]

WHO is responsible for starting this thread and tagging me in?!?? I HATE you for planting the idea of tasty delicious food in my mind! I was supposed to be starting my diet this week - my plan was to eat boring bland food such as porridge, soup and salad.

I read this thread then went shopping last night. It's cooled down so I'm turning on my oven and I'm cooking enough for the next three days:
Roast lamb chops with baby roast potatoes & steamed green vegetables.
Roast chicken thighs, rice n peas, plaintain & mixed vegetables.
On Friday I'm cooking Mackerel and making macaroni cheese to go with it.

I guess the soup, salad and porridge regime can start next week lol.

[JingsMahBucket]

WHO is responsible for starting this thread and tagging me in?!??

That would be me evil cackle

It's also cooled down here and I'm roasting the jerk chicken thighs now along with a tray of onions + red & yellow peppers and a tray of purple sprouting broccoli. I have some basmati rice going in the instant pot right now. My lunch is going to be GOODT.

[Orchidflower1]

Thanks @EchoNan and @JingsMahBucket for the beetroot tips. I’m going to try the roasted one that echo linked. I’ll let you know later how it goes. I shall substitute fri light for the olive oil though for the sake of my back side!

I hear you @NurseButtercup today is by second ( actually third) go at beginning weight watchers. I’m going to try my best and live vicariously through this lovely lot! Let’s see if I last until the weekend this time!

[EchoNan]

I'm going to try NurseButtercup's cornbread recipe later in the week.
Yum

[EchoNan]

@NLisa

I needed some inspiration 😁
I made roti today and feel a bit blank regarding the rest of the week.
*@JingsMahBucket* congratulations on the new house. I love stocking a new kitchen

*@NLisa* Hey there!. Hello! My eyes missed your post.

But my stomach didn't miss your roti !

[Maggiethecat]

[quote EchoNan]**@Maggiethecat I use sirloin or rump, but prefer eye fillet, we don't have a lot of it in a portion.
Avoid the ready cut strips! I buy from a little local butcher who knows his meat.

Really thin cut, and be sure to cut across the grain of the meat. I'm sure you do all this already Maggie!

It can help if you marinade the strips before hand.
Some people tenderise the meat before hand the Chinese way, I do.You can use baking soda if no cornstarch. Here's a youtube clip.I was taught how to cook by a Chinese boyfriend back in the day!

But don't stir fry for too long. ! Hot and fast.

(You might want to do the veg separate from the meat and add towards the end. If it's broccoli for instance)
I'm a bit hit and miss myself sometimes, too Maggie![/quote]
@EchoNan - reporting back! Made that beef stir fry tonight and it was amazing!! Was sceptical that even with the video I could get restaurant style tender beef - but I did
Had it with fried rice and broccoli.
Thank you!

[EchoNan]

Oh well done '@Maggiethecat. Yay!
I'm thrilled to hear it!

[NurseButtercup]

@JingsMahBucket

WHO is responsible for starting this thread and tagging me in?!??

That would be me evil cackle

It's also cooled down here and I'm roasting the jerk chicken thighs now along with a tray of onions + red & yellow peppers and a tray of purple sprouting broccoli. I have some basmati rice going in the instant pot right now. My lunch is going to be GOODT.

I'm slumped on my sofa in a food coma...I thoroughly enjoyed my lamb chops.

I was scrolling through IG and Original Flava have posted a reel for red pea soup. Looks like I'm going re-establish Saturday soup this weekend.

@orchidflower1 This thread has reminded me, that I really really can't give up food, I'm going to step-up my exercise regime instead. I've joined my local walking group and I'm going to start lifting weights.

www.instagram.com/reel/CR1FjqzhWxo/?utm_medium=copy_link

[Orchidflower1]

Evening all, just to report back that the roasted beetroot was soooo tasty! It was a bunch of six and I did half. The remaining three I’m going to bake tomorrow with feta and peppers and a side of coloured cous cous.

On the diet note, eldest dc decided today would be a good day to make brownies! I had one and they are very good.

[Lndnmummy]

You ladies are a bad influences. I’m so jealous of all this delicious food you are talking about. I made cinnamon and walnut banana bread today with ds, it was lovely - and all gone now

[EchoNan]

I've never had much luck with banana bread. I've tried quite a few recipes but I seem to be jinxed with it. Which is a great shame because I love it. Any tips?

[Maggiethecat]

@EchoNan
www.nigella.com/recipes/banana-bread
Easy and fool proof - make sure you use the ripest bananas you have (I never throw out even black skinned bananas - if I can't use them straight away I peel them and freeze them to bake with later but the sugar content in the over ripe ones is going to make for a fabulous cake).
After this you'll be dubbed a baking goddess!