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Food/recipes

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Original poster

Things that you'd never thought were easy to make at home - Please share your recipes with me!

48 replies

Theicingontop · 28/03/2013 07:41

I do apologise if this has been done to death!

Last night I made a curry, and I didn't have time to pop to the shop to get some naan bread. A quick google and I came across Anjum Anand's recipe for naan without yeast (I'd run out). It took minutes to prepare and was absolutely delicious. I've had a lightbulb moment and will never be buying naan again. I've had similar experiences with things like tortillas, yorkshire puddings, enchilada sauce etc.

So I'm asking; what have been your revelatory recipes? Things that you thought were too complicated to make at home on a weeknight, but turned out to be easier and better than the shop-bought version?

OP posts:

Montybojangles · 28/03/2013 08:02

No recipes off hand sorry, the naans look great and will give them a go, but I generally cheat and always keep pitta breads in the freezer and just use those in place of naans for midweek currys.

Montybojangles · 28/03/2013 08:04

I mean I generally cheat regarding naans, not all cooking. I like to make my own food in general, so that I know what's in there. Bread is the one thing I don't do.

StealthPolarBear · 28/03/2013 08:20

thanks OP I have gone from buying in ready meal curry to making my own, but naan is one thing I do still buy. So looking forward to trying this.

MrsPennyapple · 28/03/2013 08:28

Sweet and sour chicken! I tried the Hairy Dieters recipe the other night, if I'd realised it was that easy I honestly would have done it years ago! Will link or type it out later when I'm on the laptop.

ItsallisnowaFeegle · 28/03/2013 08:43

My 'really easy but you wouldn't think it recipe' is lemon meringue cup cakes.

This recipe is enough for 12 cupcakes.

Pre-heat the oven to 180degrees. Line a baking sheet or cupcake sheet with paper cupcake liners.

Cream together 100g of unsalted butter and 100g of caster sugar until pale.

Add 2 eggs, mixing well.

Add the zest of 2 lemons and the juice of 1.

Fold in 100g of self raising flour.

Put a dessert spoon of mix in each case and add a teaspoonful of lemon curd on top then cover the lemon curd with another dessert spoonful of the cake mix.

Pop in the oven for 10 mins.

While the cakes are part baking, it's time to make the meringue. Lots of people worry about meringue but quite honestly, I just throw everything in at the same time and get the electric whisk on full.

You'll need two egg whites, 100g of caster sugar and a spot of white wine vinegar. Blitz with an electric whisk until thick and glossy.

If you don't have a piping bag; Take a sandwich bag or a freezer bag, spoon the meringue mix in, tie it securely at the top, in a knot.

Take the part-baked cupcakes out of the oven. Snip the tiniest corner of the bag and begin piping the meringue onto the cupcakes.

Pop back in the oven for 10-15 mins and there you have it!

Leave these to cool before attempting to eat, enjoy!

pregnantpause · 28/03/2013 08:54

It's probably obvious to everybody else, but steak at home was a revelation for me! It's easy and needn't cost 15quid in a resteraunt! Crusted lamb rack is the same! In fact the posh food that you generally go out to eat- it's easier than the sheperds pie you make at home! I was flabbergasted when I discovered this

snoworneahva · 28/03/2013 10:09

Mint sauce for lamb - and home made tastes so much better and takes seconds.

BerryBlast · 04/04/2013 08:29

Snow could you please post your recipe for mint sauce, I've never ever been able to get it right

sashh · 05/04/2013 06:15

After a holiday in Mauritius I discovered french bread goes really well with curry.

Whitewineformeplease · 05/04/2013 07:44

Chocolate fudge! Unbelievably, ridiculously easy! 500 gms chocolate, 60gms butter, tin condensed milk, melt in saucepan, then add tsp flavouring of your choice, vanilla, orange, etc., (or leave out altogether), pour into lined tin, chill, cut into squares and scoff.

Curioustiger · 05/04/2013 10:07

Sassh French bread goes well with everything!

mrsvilliers · 05/04/2013 21:18

Pesto for me, less than five minutes to make and so much tastier and less salty.

oinkment · 06/04/2013 07:15

Pesto. Takes minutes and it's so much nicer.

Also bagels - although I cheated and used a mixer for the kneading. They were surprisingly simple and turned out delicious. Not a 2 minute cheat, but definitely worth making if you have the inclination.

AnimatedDad · 06/04/2013 10:05

Humus and flat bread.
Flour and water for the bread then fry it. Half a tin of chickpeas, garlic, lemon and olive oil in the blender

For a kids tea it's faster to make than grilling fish fingers.

Also if There's any humus left you can mix with flour and make into veggie burgers next day.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 06/04/2013 13:03

Yes to homemade pesto.

Bought guacamole is horrible and it's dead easy to make; ditto salsa.

I'm also making rocky road a lot lately. It would make fantastic little gifts for much, much less than buying chocolates.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 06/04/2013 13:03

And homemade hoummus makes the bought stuff taste like cat sick in comparison.

JulesJules · 06/04/2013 13:17

Caramel shortbread, so easy and looks fantastic with dark/white choc marbling on top. A really good one to make for presents.
Recipe here

VictorTango · 06/04/2013 13:19

Would also love mint sauce recipe.

CSLewis · 08/04/2013 09:23

Please could you share your recipes for home-made houmous? That is one thing I've been intending to make FOR YEARS and have never plucked up courage to...

AnimatedDad · 08/04/2013 09:50

Mine tends to be for when I've nothing much in the house so a bit basic and a bit random.

A tin of chickpeas, the juice of a lemon, salt, garlic and olive oil.

I usually add the oil while its in the blender so I get the consistency right.

I like it a bit chunky, but that's up to you.

Traditional recipes always use tahini (sesame paste) but I don't like it so I leave it out.

Ive also tried making it with butter beans instead of chickpeas and that works well too

AnimatedDad · 08/04/2013 09:50

Mine tends to be for when I've nothing much in the house so a bit basic and a bit random.

A tin of chickpeas, the juice of a lemon, salt, garlic and olive oil.

I usually add the oil while its in the blender so I get the consistency right.

I like it a bit chunky, but that's up to you.

Traditional recipes always use tahini (sesame paste) but I don't like it so I leave it out.

Ive also tried making it with butter beans instead of chickpeas and that works well too

JamNan · 08/04/2013 09:58

ItsallisnowaFeegle that's a lovely recipe for lemon meringue cupcakes I'm going to try that.

WhispersOfWickedness · 08/04/2013 10:00

Wow, some great ideas here
I just came onto say chapattis and flatbreads, they are so easy! If you buy a bag of chapatti flour, there is a recipe on the bag
I'm definitely going to try the lemon meringue upthread, sounds delicious

trikken · 08/04/2013 10:17

Onion bajjis if thats spelt right. Much easier than I thought.

SpacegirlRevisited · 08/04/2013 18:33

I would really love the recipe for Rocky Road and Onions Bhajis if you both have time?

Thanks for the chocolate fudge one too-I may have just found my wedding favours solution

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