The Brand Spanking New Cooking Thread

[Ivelliis]

Just an idea I got whilst thinking of what to make for tea tonight. I'm not sure if we have any chefs in the house, professional or just at home, but here would be a good place to bounce ideas/recipes off each other?

Now I like to think I'm good, but I base that on the fact that at school the fat cooking teacher said my pizza was "the best she's ever seen", and I can cook some things, but nothing over the top or fancy...yet.

Let's share the good, the bad, the healthy, the not-so-healthy!

[Bungleau]

Hmmmm... interesting. Well, these days I focus more on the healthy side of things, and have been looking for ways to make my favorite foods less costly, so to speak.

I had a hankering for chili recently, and here's my recipe:

1 can chili beans (spicy level... your preference)
1 can white beans, drained
1 can black beans, drained (I like color )
1 can diced tomatoes and green chiles
1 bottle chili sauce
1 pound meat (or substitute... boca crumbles!)
1 green pepper, cut somewhat large (so others can remove)
Other assorted veggies as desired (onions, etc.)
Assorted seasonings and spices to taste... chili powder, etc.

If using meat, brown and drain. If using boca, skip and go to next step.

Mix all ingredients together, bring to a boil, and simmer for a long time (about an hour, I think), stirring periodically. Makes about 12 cups IIRC, so depending on your serving size...

And I know there are those who think beans don't belong in chili. To them, I say go make your own. You'll notice that mine all has simple units of measure - one can, one pound, one bottle. That's bachelor-style cooking...

*edit* for my WW compadres, that worked out to 3 points per cup last time I made it...

[Dragonshadow]

I can only really cook a strawberry flan. And there is no actual cooking involved. Just get a flan base, some strawberries and some strawberry jelly. Chope strawberries, arrange on teh flan and pour jelly over teh top. Then put in teh fridge for a bit. Ta-da.

[Sever]

Sounds yummy, B. Volatile too.

[Stratos]

Well, I can follow recipes without messing it up...

[Felix The Assassin]

Walk out into back yard; Pick fresh tomatoes and lettuce; Wash fresh tomatoes and lettuce under running cold water; Slice tomatoes into 1/2" thick slices; Arrange slices into a circular pattern on plate; Pop center of lettuce out and pull off first layer of leaves and discard; Remove next two or three layers and arrange similar to tomatoes.

Next: Toast some day old plain bread in toaster to desired setting; While bread is toasting: Prepare two bacon strips per four slices of bread to your desired crispness and color.

Next: Liberally apply mayonnaise to one piece of toast, lay down on plate. Place one slice of tomato onto toast; Cover with a leaf of lettuce; Repeat twice; Place two slices of bacon on top of final layer; Place second slice of toast over the bacon.

Next: Slice diagonally from corner to corner.

Enjoy!

[robertthebard]

On a tight budget? Ramen noodles rock. Well, not out of the package they don't, but:

4 packages of Chicken Ramen Noodles
1 Family size can of Cream of chicken soup Use your fav variety...
8 slices of American, or your favorite cheese.

Boil the noodles for 3 minutes, and drain, save the sauce packs.
Simmer the Cream of Chicken soup, along with 1/2 of a can of milk until it's not chunky. Add the noodles to the soup. Pour the mix into a 9x13 baking dish and smooth it out with a wooden spoon or spatula. Lay the cheese across the top of the soup mix, evenly, so you end up with 8 "portions".
Bake at 350 degrees, for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melty.
Presto, poor man's Chicken Tetrazzini.

[Aelia Jusa]

I'm just giggling at the similar threads feature that suggests two threads to do with spanking as ones readers of this thread might also enjoy

Anyway...

This recipe is for the best cookies in the world. Like seriously, whatever cookie recipe you may have that you're all, 'no MY recipe makes the best cookies', make this one and realise how wrong you've been all this time .

Choc Craisin Cookies
(this quantity makes a lot of cookies, but you can freeze them so they won't go stale)

180g butter
300g dark chocolate
1 ½ cups brown sugar
4 eggs, beaten
2 tsp vanilla essence
2 ¼ cups plain flour
¾ cup cocoa
250g dark chocolate, chopped
1 cup craisins (dried cranberries)

Melt butter and 300g chocolate, pour into large mixing bowl. Add sugar, eggs, and vanilla to butter and chocolate, mix to combine. Add flour and cocoa into chocolate mixture. Stir in chopped chocolate and craisins and mix to combine.
Drop 1 tablespoon of mixture onto trays lined with baking paper. Bake for 10mins-15mins in 200 degrees celcius until tops feel firm. They won't be completely cooked through but they will firm up as they cool. Leave cookies on trays to cool for 5-10mins before transferring to wire racks.

[Beaumanoir]

Crash Diet Tasty Soup

Water (Negligable Calories)
Vegetable Stock Cube (7 Calories)
Veg (Half A Red Pepper, Quarter Of An Onion, Some Carrot, Some Bean Sprouts - 50 Calories)
Ginger, Lemon Grass, Dried Chilli's, Thai Basil (Negligable Calories)
Handful O' Noodles (200 Calories)

Make the stock, throw in the veg, throw in the noodles, make hot. Eat.

Bloody gorgeous, amazingly filling and about 250 Calories for a entire Panful.

Lost about 2 and a bit stone on this baby.

[johnny]

Originally Posted by robertthebard On a tight budget? Ramen noodles rock. Well, not out of the package they don't, but: 4 packages of Chicken Ramen Noodles 1 Family size can of Cream of chicken soup Use your fav variety... 8 slices of American, or your favorite cheese. Boil the noodles for 3 minutes, and drain, save the sauce packs. Simmer the Cream of Chicken soup, along with 1/2 of a can of milk until it's not chunky. Add the noodles to the soup. Pour the mix into a 9x13 baking dish and smooth it out with a wooden spoon or spatula. Lay the cheese across the top of the soup mix, evenly, so you end up with 8 "portions". Bake at 350 degrees, for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melty. Presto, poor man's Chicken Tetrazzini.

Thanks, that just gave me the green apple splatters.