What's for Dinner?

[limey]

You should try a slow cooker. Dump a bag of prepared veg, two glugs of wine and a lump of meat in it in the morning. Eat a yummy dinner in the evening. Freeze another dinner or two for another time. Prep time 3 mins, cook time 7 hours. You can get fancier if you want, but you don't really have to.
Sent by thought transference.

[Sundae]

I wandered into Morrisons today. It's the only one of the Big Four supermarkets I rarely visit. Well, of of the three we have in town - I hardly ever get to Asda.

Only to find that the wonderful packet mix vegetarian meals I've been buying from Sainsburys are actually 20p cheaper in Morrisons! Hmmmm. Having stocked up on five recently I feel cheated out of a pound. Still - I know where to go in future.

Also got some chapattis for 65p - haven't seen them on sale in the other two places. Of course I should make my own but... well, I just can't be arsed. Much healthier for me than naan bread - much as I love it.

AND, best of all, I found Gits ready meals! And yes, we've pretty much exhausted all the jokes about the names in the last month I've been searching for them...
They are half the price of the packet meals I've been buying and only require reheating. Trouble is they are twice as high in fat. Still, given they are my main meal of the day, 18g of fat or lower is a lot better than I was consuming previously.

So I have Punjabi Chhole, Pau Bhaji and Methi Matar to try. And again, I know where to go to get more. Shame they don't carry the whole range - some are healthier than others. But most Indian vegetarian food carries benefits - not least the fibre and flavour. Better to consume fat this way than in a Big Mac.

Packet mix-wise I've been eating Simon Rimmer's meal range Si - Meat Free Cuisine. My restocked cupboard has the Mixed Bean Chilli which is GORGEOUS, Chickpea Tikka Masala which even Mum liked, even though she generally dislikes chickpeas and in the fridge is half a portion of Tomato Biryani leftover from tonight (that one's a two serving pack).

These all have to be cooked/ simmered in a pan. 15-20 minutes, so hardly "cooking". Just a little more washing up.

I will report back on my Gits meals for you.

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by Sundae

So I have Punjabi Chhole, Pau Bhaji and Methi Matar to try. And again, I know where to go to get more. Shame they don't carry the whole range - some are healthier than others. But most Indian vegetarian food carries benefits - not least the fibre and flavour. Better to consume fat this way than in a Big Mac.

I've always suspected that the whole British Empire thing wasn't so much about world domination as a country desperate for take-out.

I actually love Indian food myself. Right now my freezer is stocked with three different flavors of frozen samosas. Never heard of Gits. For ready made Indian I buy MTR, Tasty Bite, Kitchens of India, and one other I can't remember.

The pouches are OK, but really more of a sauce with some chunks of veggies or cheese than a stew. I usually pour over chicken strips or turkey meatballs and microwave.

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by Sundae

Packet mix-wise I've been eating Simon Rimmer's meal range

I prefer Dave Lister's meal range, myself.

Not so sure I'd want him to cook for me, though.

Captain Frank Hollister: For crying out loud, Rimmer!
Arnold Rimmer (alive): - the outcome of which was a proposal by the aforementioned Lister to the aforementioned Rimmer to cook him breakfast.
Captain Frank Hollister: Okay, I'm getting the picture.
Arnold Rimmer (alive): Breakfast comprised of two eggs, three rashers of bacon, a grilled tomato, two sausages, a small portion of fried potatoes... and a large quantity of _mushrooms_. Having consumed this repast, second technician Rimmer, Arnold J. experienced what can only be described as a voyage to trip-out city. To whit, a major hallucinogenic fit.
Captain Frank Hollister: Lister, is this true?
Lister: No, sir. I'm sure it was only one egg.
Arnold Rimmer (alive): The aforementioned Rimmer, to whit, me, then attended inspection parade. He was totally naked except for a pair of mock-leather driving gloves and some blue swimming goggles. Under the influence of this psychadelic breakfast he went on to attack two senior officers, believing them to be giraffes who were armed and dangerous.

[Rimmer is drunk]
Rimmer: I want a triple fried egg sandwich with...
Lister: With chili sauce and chutney.
Holly: You what?
Lister: It's a state-of-the-art sarnie.
Holly: It's the state of the floor I'm worried about. All right, okay.
[the sarnie appears in Rimmer's hand]
Lister: Trust me.
[several conflicting emotions cross Rimmer's face]
Rimmer: I think I'm having a baby.
Lister: It's good, innit?
Rimmer: It's incredible. Where did you get the recipe?
Lister: I can't remember. I think it was a book on bacteriological warfare.
Rimmer: It's like a cross between food and bowel surgery.

[DanaC]

Are going veggie?

[bluecuracao]

All your talk of Indian food made me crave paprika.

I have some salmon in the freezer, so I searched for paprika and salmon recipes. Think I will try this tonight:

Smoked Paprika Roasted Salmon with Wilted Spinach

• Low Calorie • Low Carbohydrates • Low Fat • Low Sodium

1/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon olive oil, divided
2 teaspoons thyme, divided
2 pounds salmon fillets
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon paprika, smoked
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 bag (10 ounces) fresh spinach leaves

I'm out of smoked paprika but regular should be OK.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by DanaC

Are going veggie?

Are going low fat. I have veggie intervals anyway.

Originally Posted by bluecuracao

2 pounds salmon fillets

The recipe sounds teh yummy, but that's a LOT of salmon!

[bluecuracao]

It is! I have less than half that, so will make do.

[Sundae]

I'm just jeal because it costs so much here - 2lb is nearly 1kg and the average price for that would be £12.50. Not putting it in the realm of Kobe beef, just making it something you keep for special occasions.

[DanaC]

Yeah, if I buy salmon, I buy one or two fillet portions. And that's a treat.

[bluecuracao]

If that equals about $20, then it's the same price here. I paid 7 bucks for 0.7 lbs. of sockeye salmon. Blegh.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by bluecuracao

If that equals about $20, then it's the same price here. I paid 7 bucks for 0.7 lbs. of sockeye salmon. Blegh.

Saw an advert in the paper today. Tesco are doing whole salmon half price.
Must remember to ask Mum to get some in. I'd love to make your recipe.

Nothing to eat again tonight.
I really should try
Haven't eaten since Monday which I know is very unhealthy.

Still - will be offered a breakfast pack on the coach, and have dinner at Bibis with the girls on Saturday night.
Even if I can only manage a starter.
OOH! Must take a take-away box just in case!!

ETA - snickering at the idea of an adopted Jewish Granny laying into a Dr on Choc's behalf.
I have no grandparents left now (not unusual at 40). Can I adopt one too? I'd like an American one.

[bluecuracao]

Originally Posted by Sundae

Saw an advert in the paper today. Tesco are doing whole salmon half price.
Must remember to ask Mum to get some in. I'd love to make your recipe.

Half price salmon...yessss!

[Sundae]

Ah there you go then.
I suppose the difference is that Dani and I generally cook for ourselves.
If I had £12.50 to spend on one ingredient I'd probably go out for a meal

[Trilby]

Made a very salty/peppery home-made chicken and rice (with hausenpfeffer! [carrotts]) soup today. And triple choco chip cookies; may make hamber/cheese/salsa mix-up for later. Nothing to do today but cook and laundry.

ugh. clouds and rain coming. could use a good book.