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Post by braided-rug on Jul 25, 2006 9:38:02 GMT 10
I have been asked to choose the next Chef Of The Week. So... I choose violet!! Have fun violet!
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Post by braided-rug on Jul 25, 2006 16:13:53 GMT 10
I think you have been known to make bruscetta, what other kinds of starters have you made?
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Post by violet on Jul 25, 2006 20:40:17 GMT 10
Br, I'd be the world's worst cook - at least. We haven't had a three course meal here in years.
Because the kids seem to have breakfast and lunch from morning until dinner, I do lots of lunch/snack kind of stuff, and none of it interesting!
Bruschetta would be an easy starter as well as lunch or mid-afternoon snack. I use whatever crusty bread is available, although they all prefer Ciabatta, which probably isn't even the correct spelling! It's a 6" x 10" loaf which is only about 3/4" high, hard as a rock on the outside but quite light and sweet inside. I slice big chunks, split them in half and cook them, face down, in olive oil. Then they're turned and while the outside warms in the olive oil, I'll throw on whatever combination of spinach, cheese, finely chopped tomato, olives, feta, onion, basil, black pepper or ?? that they want and put the whole thing under the griller for a minute so that the cheese is soft and melted.
They do actually look nice if cut into smaller pieces.
Back in the dinner party days, I would often do good old soup. Pumpkin's a favorite, and there's a beautiful tomato soup in a French cookbook I've got. I'm also a big fan of antipasto, using whatever looks delicious when out shopping, but always including artichoke hearts and bocconcini cheese.
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Post by cara on Jul 26, 2006 7:44:35 GMT 10
Violet,
Do you enjoy cooking, and if so what type of dishes are your favourite to cook?
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Post by violet on Jul 26, 2006 8:32:25 GMT 10
I love making cookies best because I love eating them, Cara! Also caramels, brownies, anything sweet really. I do enjoy bread making as well, and probably do enjoy cooking overall but find the daily 3 meals a bit of a chore at times. Left to my own devices, as well as sweet things, I enjoy making things like frittatas, various pasta sauces from the tomatoes on up, anything with chick peas, some Mexican food - I suppose I enjoy eating smaller, fresh vegetable, pasta and legume-based dishes so that's what I enjoy cooking most. Good question, Cara. I find I can't separate the thought of cooking from the thought of eating lol.
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Post by braided-rug on Jul 26, 2006 10:29:33 GMT 10
Do you buy the specialist Mexican cheese? In our hometown they had it for a few weeks and that was it.
Now I use a bit of mozzerella.
I don't think I knew you liked Mexican. I love it too.
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Post by violet on Jul 26, 2006 15:25:19 GMT 10
I'm not a purist in many things, Br, so no Mexican cheese for me! I even make quesadillas (no idea how to spell that) using pita bread, jalapeno chilis from a jar, and Bega light cheese, then cook the lot in olive oil! They still taste good, if not authentic, I have the ingredients on hand most times, and I can still dip them in homemade refried beans.
I know you are supposed to ask the questions, but tell me what your favorite Mexican dish is, Br?
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Post by braided-rug on Jul 26, 2006 15:40:25 GMT 10
Your thread reminded me that I must have some nachos again soon. So great for watching something like Idol, maybe they will start again soon.
I had a fad probably six months ago and found a great Mexican site and tried the spoonbread and the sloppyjoes and all that kind of thing. I can't handle jalapenos, too hot. Maybe they are not Mexican? Anyway, I love sloppy joes made from taco sauce I think it was.
I grew up with cape gooseberries, they are Mexican I think. I think my fav is tacos. Hmm, must revisit this and get back to you. I haven't had Mexican in awhile.
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Post by braided-rug on Jul 26, 2006 15:47:37 GMT 10
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lynn
Regular Contributor
~Inspired To Be Far Above Rubies~
We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.
Posts: 1,572
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Post by lynn on Jul 27, 2006 4:09:45 GMT 10
What is your least favorite food, Violet?
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Post by violet on Jul 27, 2006 8:43:35 GMT 10
That's an easy one, lynn! I do not like parsnips, turnips or sea creatures, like crab, prawns, mussels, etc., nor do I eat offal.
Forgot one! Sausages. Don't know why, but I just do not like to eat them.
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lynn
Regular Contributor
~Inspired To Be Far Above Rubies~
We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.
Posts: 1,572
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Post by lynn on Jul 27, 2006 11:46:22 GMT 10
What is offal? ?
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Post by braided-rug on Jul 27, 2006 12:47:27 GMT 10
Lambs Fry and Bacon, Steak and Kidney Pie, maybe tripe. I am starting to forget things. The first one I love.
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Post by violet on Jul 27, 2006 21:11:57 GMT 10
lynn, over here "offal" is the term used to describe all those icky things that are behind where the steak comes from, lol, such as kidneys, liver, brains, etc. Br has given us the nice names for the dishes. There are more, but I can't remember them.
My Aunt loves to come to see us in Melbourne because she can find restaurants with fried brains on the menu.
I'm a bit squeamy about meat, which is why I don't eat that stuff. We don't even eat pork here, and ham and bacon are not in the house too often either. If it were up to me, we'd only eat meat once or twice a week. Perhaps it's the texture or the fattiness I don't like, because I rarely eat margarine either. Maybe I'm just weird!
On another track altogether, we had a nice chick pea and bean salad with dinner and this time I cooked the chick peas without soaking first. They turned out much nicer.
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Post by cara on Jul 28, 2006 8:52:36 GMT 10
Whoa Violet, I am coming over for that something with caramel in it..LOL.
Do you prepare your menus in advance?
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