Jamie's 30 minute meals

[sparklyjewlz]

Have you cooked anything from this book? Which recipes? Were you pleased with the results?

pregnant pasta - was ok, DH loved it, I was less convinced.

piri piri chicken - nice, managed in 30 mins

sticky scallops with chilli rice - I substituted chicken for scallops, but otherwise followed it to a T - all components were AMAZING, the rice was perfect.

sausage with horseradish mash and baked apples - yummy! apples were great.

cauliflower macaroni cheese - yummy yummy, making it tomorrow again.

I've managed all in 30 mins or less, when DH has kept DS out the kitchen!

does anyone know where you can get the pastry cases from? can't find them anywhere!

I haven't tried the book but I've done a couple he did on TV and found it took me 30 mins. I enjoyed the thai red curry, and the rogan josh - but I was a bit annoyed about that one, how you had to go out and buy a rogan josh paste when he says you're making it from scratch.

ahhhh! Yes, Oliver uses too much chilli. Just put half a seeded chilli in it. That will be plenty for most childrne. And choose a sweet mild balsamic.

I tried out the green curry and I must say the paste recipe is fantastic!! But as other people have said I didn't put in as much chilli as he suggested as I do think it would be too much.

I think he uses too much of a lot of ingredients. Definitely too much salt and olive oil. And I can't see the need for the huge amount of herbs he puts in everything. I love adding herbs, but he goes over the top. And I find he puts lemon in absolutely everything, which will always be a problem for me as DP claims citrus fruits give him migraines.

My DH has asked if there is a recipe in the book that does not use

lemon
garlic
chili
olive oil

I don't think there is.

I read of Uni students doing a drinking game. Watch JO show and every time he says, "Olive oil" you have to down a tequila.

Spinach and feta pie has worked perfectly for me 3 times now. I find it really enjoyable to make. I usually take my time though, rather than trying to rush it. It takes me 45 mins at a casual, clearing up as I go pace (that includes the 20 mins in oven).

Definitely a lot of salt, chilli and olive oil but that's not just Jamie, it seems to be all recipies at the moment. Most recipes are fine without the chilli IMO.

beef hash is divine (although I wouldn't add olive oil to the beans just before serving next time, as suggested - it made them taste funny)(it was filippo berio)

piri piri chicken blew my head off. I think I should have removed the seeds from the chillies

TV chefs seem to be trying to get us all hooked on salt. I don't even like the stuff. But they're obviously more concerned about taste than anything else, and I can't honestly believe Jamie Oliver or Gordon Ramsay (Ramsey?) really wants their kids to eat as much salt as they use.

I was surprised that it says to add salt to mince before browning it - I thought that was supposed to make it tough?

Peri peri chick too hot. Jerk chick, rice n peas lovely. Vanilla paste is revelation (see portugese custard pies) and should be added to Oliver recipe bingo card.

Ponders
I read recently that some chefs think that adding salt before cooking beef makes it tough, some don't. I don't salt mince but do salt steaks.

I made the cauliflower macaroni cheese and the chicken pie. Both lovely! I think he's either lying about Jools Pregnant pasta, or Jools has the constitution of an ox- with that chilli and vinegar, I'd have heartburn for a week if I ate that when I was pregnant!

MmeLindt - I thought I'd invented that drinking game! It's a finger of wine in our house though. Gutted.

at the JO drinking game!

I've done the beef hash - yummy and very easy, and the risotto, also nice but I find the constant stirring a bot of a pain. Both only took 30 minutes, but I didn't do the deserts. And neither of those used chilli .

Chicken pie dish - yum!

Also tried the Indian rump steak meal last wk end very tasty (naan breads,salad)

Going to try the moroccan roasted lamb cutlets together with hummous, yogurts and flat breads and salads. Looked lovely on TV earlier on this week. I find its great when you've actually seen him make it on TV before you try it out yourself.

I dont bother with the desserts mostly, so can just about make the meal in the 30 mins which is fantastic!

I've also made the hash and beans (with only a small amount of oil in teh beans). I loved it but the dds not keen unfortunately.

I've made the little sausage rolls too. Nothing to it, you could make it up yourself. Except I never did.

Please don't make the tommy soup and put 4 tablespooons of balsamic vinegar in to the mix - it will then taste disgusting and you trhow away Put juts a little drop to taste and I am sure it will trun out lovely then.

I am now thinking of doing the macoroni cheese for tea on sunday

ivy - i think he must have some really expensive, matured balsamic, i put loads in pasta as he said, was disgusting. He really should say you have to use good stuff, i'm a cheap skate so use just use sainsburys bog-standard stuff!

If your balsamic is too acidic, then you've definitely bought an inferior one (is it even balsamic?!). Balsamic should be deep, rounded and actually quite sweet.

yes the balsamic we have is sweet, but its up to you, the warning is there