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Original poster

Junk food thread has got me thinking - so help needed in replacing gravy granules in our diet

22 replies

Bozza · 05/01/2006 22:07

It has occurred to me that instant gravy is junk food (and salt levels etc have bothered me for a while). Now its OK making proper gravy if you have a beef joint or something, but take tonight for instance. We had grilled pork chops, mashed potato and green beans and instant gravy. What could I do instead of the gravy?

Also why is dairylea junk food? I don't buy it but that's because I think philadelphia is fine for us all but just wondered.

OP posts:

hoxtonchick · 05/01/2006 22:08

creme fraiche heated with wholegrain mustard is yummy, very easy & goes really well with chicken (i don't eat pork, but suspect it would work too). just put a bit of mustard in for the children.

starlover · 05/01/2006 22:09

not totally sure as i am a veggie so don't make a lot of gravy... but could you not use a low-salt stock cube and then mix with cornflour or arrowroot or something?

northerner · 05/01/2006 22:09

Will follow this with interest. I am an instant gravy user too.

It is low fat though.

colditz · 05/01/2006 22:11

I don't think dairylea is junk, just the dippers, dunkers, lunchable crap they make as well. The actual cheese spread is ok, I think.

Original poster

Bozza · 05/01/2006 22:14

I know its low fat northerner - and I'm quite happy with it for me, but feel as though its not good for the kids.

I just feel like I am going to all this effort - forgot to mention we also had apple sauce and I didn't get in from work until 5.50 so did most of the prep last night - then I am spoiling it with the gravy.

OP posts:

Original poster

Bozza · 05/01/2006 22:15

PS Colditz thanks for that on the cheese. It was just a curiousity thing.

OP posts:

colditz · 05/01/2006 22:15

make it weaker and add cornflour to thicken it. It's not too salty at all then, but still thick and brown

colditz · 05/01/2006 22:16

Oooo, Bozza, don't quote me, I know nothing about food, just my opinion. Because I like it, it is NOT junk!

moondog · 10/01/2006 11:29

Bozza,gravy granules are the work of the devil.
Fry your chops then when you have taken them out of the pan,add a little wine or sherry to loosen the juices and crispy bits (if you are worried about alcohol don't be-it will burn off) and a dollop of mustard.
You could also put in a few shakes of soy sauce for colour and depth and if you want more volume,add a spoonfull or two of the water you did your veggiesin.

Original poster

Bozza · 10/01/2006 11:44

Not worried about the alcohol at all moondog. Actually do use wine/beer in cooking from time to time.

Last night I experimented with making Jamie Oliver's red onion gravy. It was OK but a little salty because he said use two stockcubes and I decided to use some Marigold instead and rather than using a spoon just tipped it in and a huge lump came out. Tried to spoon some of it off but obviously not enough.

OP posts:

Enid · 10/01/2006 11:47

we had grilled pork chops, mash and green beans on Friday night bozza.

I made a sauce from a bit of white wine, a splash of double cream, a heaped spoon of dijon, a heaped spoon of wholegrain and some chopped up cornichons

yummy

but you could just do the wine, cream and seasoning with a tiny bit of mustard if you prefer

Kelly1978 · 10/01/2006 11:55

veg stock, creme fraice, wholegrain mustard and philadephia makes a really nice sauce to go with chicken a an alternative to gravy. Suppose the philadelphia is 'bad' too tho?

crunchie · 10/01/2006 11:57

Which junk food thread???

MrsSpoon · 10/01/2006 11:58

I quite often put a little honey and grainy mustard on chops before grilling them and don't bother with gravy.

Original poster

Bozza · 10/01/2006 12:02

Its just the mash that calls out for gravy though, isn't it?

Hmmm these ideas all sound fine for the kids but not for my loose 10lbs by the beginning of March....

Kelly is philly bad? It's just cream cheese isn't it? will have to read the packet now.

Crunchie there was a thread last week about what junk food you allow your kids to eat and in what situation eg crisps allowed at parties but you don't buy them in, that kind of thing.

OP posts:

Mercy · 10/01/2006 12:05

I'ms sure Philadelphia is just cream cheese

Mercy · 10/01/2006 12:06

Delia has a roast onion gravy recipe

FrannyandZooey · 10/01/2006 12:07

A simple tomato sauce (just fried onions, with maybe some mushrooms, herbs and a tin of tomatoes) is fine with many meals and you can freeze in small portions so you don't have to make it from scratch each time.

tracyk · 10/01/2006 12:08

On Diet Doctors the otehr night they put red dots on all bad food in the persons fridge and they put a red dot on the philly!

Enid · 10/01/2006 12:11

nowt wrong with philly

i suppose it might be fattening

FrannyandZooey · 10/01/2006 12:21

Yeah, it's just cheese, it's not junk food. Saturated animal fat is not a great food but it's not full of additives or anything.

popmum · 10/01/2006 12:31

In good food mag for jan they had something about this - not with pork chops but in casseroles & other dishes with adding prunes instead?? this is one recipe. Not tried it myself - lamb and prunes

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