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Original poster

Whats your cheat ingredient or recipe you would be ashamed to reveal?

155 replies

notamumyetbutoneday · 14/04/2009 12:09

Mine is pasta caronara- with the sauce bit made from adding any old grated cheese (usually cheddar ) to creme fraiche til it melts. Absolutely gorgeous, everyone loves it but I would be soo ashamed to reveal that my carbonara sauce contains cheddar cheese!

Whats your secret?!

OP posts:
spicemonster · 15/04/2009 13:07

I add chinese five spice to my mince. It's really nice

spiderinthebath · 15/04/2009 13:46

Discovered last night if you add roast butternut squash to macaroni cheese the kids think it is just cheese! how cool!

Original poster
notamumyetbutoneday · 15/04/2009 13:59

I think its fair to say it was a new low for the thread, Frizzbath! Very credit-crunchesque though.

OP posts:
Astrophe · 15/04/2009 14:09

The philly and sweet chili dip mentioned below is even better with chopped corriander sprinkled over it, and works best with rice crackers (the little round brittle, flat ones, not big puffed rice cakes).

neverwasswedishanyway · 15/04/2009 14:17

bought lemon sorbet with a slug of vodka on top. Or warm defrosted raspberries, vanilla ice cream and a slug of vodka.

Easy puddings in our house (not for the kids though!)

TheOtherMaryPoppinsDiets · 15/04/2009 14:23

Chicken breasts or pork steaks with a jar of sweet chilli dipping sauce or BBQ sauce ( the ketchupy bottle type ones) = HEAVEN!

The butternut squash in mac and cheese thing, saw that on a foodie programme and looked divine will have to try that, does it taste overly of BNS though?

TheOtherMaryPoppinsDiets · 15/04/2009 14:24

^^ sauce poured over and roasted in the oven

OrmIrian · 15/04/2009 14:25

Ermm.... I have used gravy granules in the past

ilovemydogandMrObama · 15/04/2009 14:26

cocoa powder in chilli con carne

TracyK · 15/04/2009 14:32

Tilda flavoured basmati rice for the microwave - makes a lovely paella.

Can add chopped chicken or salmon or prawns and some chopped chillies from a jar if you like it spicy and a wee bit more paprika. Sometimes add a beaten egg through it too - to add a chinese dimension.

janeite · 15/04/2009 14:34

I do the cocoa powder in chilli thing: has to be Green and Blacks though or tis not the same! A square of really dark choc is good too.

DD1 has a bit of a thing for packets of Ainsley Harriet cous cous .

Original poster
notamumyetbutoneday · 15/04/2009 14:37

Im intrigued by the cocoa powder or chocolate in chilli con carne thing- what does it add to it? Does it give a sweet flavour?

OP posts:
LaaDeDa · 15/04/2009 14:48

Easy chicken and mushroom pie -
fry some onion, add chopped mushrooms, add leftover roast chicken and a tin of condensed mushroom soup and heat through. Put in oven dish and top with ready rolled puff pastry. Delish!

Cosmosis · 15/04/2009 15:16

I always do my white sauce the way stayingsunnygirl says - even Delia says to do it that way now! It's foolproof.

mrsmaidamess · 15/04/2009 15:20

I make a mean pasta sauce with fried onion, tinned tuna and Campbells condensed Tomato soup.

I also add said soup to Chilli, Bolognese to make it go further.

Ahh, it's uses are manyfold.

BlingDreaming · 15/04/2009 16:59

Ooh, I like the chicken and mushroom pie cheat.

And sadly, am going to adopt the wine thing - I hate wasting wine!

ilovemydogandMrObama · 15/04/2009 17:13

cocoa powder (unsweetened) adds depth of flavor and is traditionally Mexican

maddy73 · 15/04/2009 17:15

think all your cheats sound great. i'm a big fan of soy sauce in everything,brown sauce in mince dishes is also very tasty.

TracyK · 15/04/2009 17:18

I buy meatballs from supermarket - squash them and put them in small rolls - for quick mini burgers for kids.

MrsMattie · 15/04/2009 17:23

Cheats 'baked' mac and cheese - stir Philadelphia into hot pasta, add grated cheese on top and bung under grill. My DS loves this.

I also add a squirt of ketchup to my (homemade!) tomato-based sauce when making spaghetti & meatballs.

A tablespoon of milk in with the mince when you are browning it for bolognese / Cottage pie tec - tenderises the meat. My stepdad taught me that and it works. Yoghurt as a marinade base for chicken - same principle. Add any spice you like to yoghurt and marinate chicken in it. Especially good for kebabs or BBQ. No 'milky' flavour at all, either.

Caribbean all purpose seasoning goes well in most things, too

Soured cream in potato (or creme fraiche, fromage frais, plain yoghurt) instead of butter & milk to make nice, creamy mash.

BlingDreaming · 15/04/2009 17:29

Is it just me or is this turning into a "when you need to cheat, use Philly" thread? Maybe we should start a "we love philly" thread?

Am totally planning to use almost every philly idea on here, including the mac and cheese (I'll add tomatoe slices to mine to up the nutritional content!) hahaha.

Scootergrrrl · 15/04/2009 17:49

A truly fabulous dip - a packet of Philly spread over the bottom of a baking disg, a jar of salsa on top and grated cheese. Bake til bubbling and serve with tortilla chips.

lucysmam · 15/04/2009 17:50

oooh Scooter, that sounds yummy!!

Ewe · 15/04/2009 17:54

I just gave DD pasta mixed with beans, chopped sausages and cheese for dinner, it's all her favourite things and dead easy to make (obviously) but I always feel totally ashamed when doing it and it is considered a Wednesday (my day off) treat

maddy73 · 15/04/2009 17:55

don't know about u but i'm getting hungry,give me some philly now!