mALX, thank you for the rice tutorial! I am doing all of those things wrong. I’m usually making the rest of the meal, answering the afternoon’s emails, and refereeing kid interactions while the rice is cooking, so the rice gets my pimp hand rather than the loving touch it deserves. Next time I'll start it a little earlier on a lower heat. The extra few minutes will also reduce the risk of one of my fingertips getting mixed in with the vegetables.

For the Chorrol fanfic table, here’s haute ecole rider’s recipe for Cloud Ruler Temple stew served in her story Old Habits Die Hard. I imagine Julian by that big fireplace every time I think of it!


Cloud Ruler Temple Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Ingredients

5 pounds boneless beef chuck-eye roast, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes
pinch salt
pepper
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 medium onion(s), chopped fine
6 ounces tomato paste
2 cups low-sodium beef broth
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 pound carrots, peeled, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 pound parsnips, peeled, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 pound red potatoes, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme, minced
2 leaves bay leaves
2 tablespoons Minute Tapioca
2 cups frozen peas, thawed


Method

Dry beef with paper towels, then season with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add half of beef and brown on all sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer to slow-cooker insert and repeat with remaining beef (you shouldn't need more oil).

Add 1 tablespoon oil, onions, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to empty skillet and cook until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring well, for 2 minutes. Add broth and soy sauce, bring to simmer, and transfer to slow-cooker insert.

Toss carrots, parsnips, potatoes, 1/2 teaspoon thyme and remaining 1 tablespoon oil in bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Wrap vegetables in foil packet that will fit in the slow cooker. Stir bay leaves and tapioca into slow-cooker insert; set vegetable packet on top of beef.

Set slow cooker to high, cover and cook for 6 to 7 hours (or cook on low for 10 or 11 hours). Transfer vegetable packet to plate. Carefully open packet and stir vegetables and juices into stew. Add remaining 1 teaspoon thyme and peas and let stand until heated through. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Notes

You can make ahead through step 2 and refrigerate the beef separately from the onion mixture. Just transfer to the crock pot the next day, and go on to step 3. The time will be at the high end of the ranges.

Servings: 8
Source: Haute Ecole’s sister

I got a steamer as a "gift" from my credit card a few years back. The only thing I use it for is rice, but you can't wrong with that. It turns itself off when the time's up, and the rice doesn't need draining or anything.

If I had storage space the first one-hit wonder I’d buy would be a rice cooker. We eat a lot of brown rice, which means I spend a lot of time at the stove with my head in the exhaust fan. Plus it’s a nightmare to cook while friends are over (everyone stays in the kitchen), so I never get to show off my awesome recipes that go with rice. Come to think of it, I just tossed my medium-sized slow cooker and haven’t replaced it yet. That means there’s an empty spot on the bottom shelf behind the toaster, assuming Mr. Grits hasn’t stuffed something back there yet. Hmm…

Awful, awful act of threadomancy, I know, but a bunch of friends and myself tried to make cookies today. We failed spectacularly, but we did end up with a really nice caramelised wafery thing that we're calling Leeds Mishap. We're experimenting with recipes for it right now, but if you want to give it a try yourself and help refine it, please do so.


150g butter, softened
120g caster sugar
75g plain flour

• Cream butter in a mixing dish until soft
• Beat in sugar and beat together to create a fluffy mixture
• Add flour and fold in until entirely mixed
• Roll into walnut-sized balls and place evenly on clean baking tray - do NOT use foil or greaseproof paper, it comes off it dead easily

• Cook for 15 minutes until brown in centre and dark around edges
• Stand for 15 minutes for cooling
• Pour grease off into sink before consumption

• Break surface with fork and divide into chips</h5>

Scottish shortbread! I love it, my grandmother used to make it for us.

Mmmmm....fooooooood..... I'll post my recipe for Vegetarian Chili one day :]

Here's mine: "Leave out the meat..."

Bahaha! Apparently it's more complicated than that. I tried that once and it didn't taste so great. Unf, I wanna make that stuff again. It was delicious...

It wasn't Scottish shortbread; I know my Scottish Shortbread, and while this was surprsigingly delicious, Scottish shortbread it was not. More like a caramelly wafery thing, really.

Hmmm, the ingredients are the same (minus the colored sugar sprinkles on top) - could it be the baking pan had leftover residue of carmel apples? ROFL !!! (Obviously kidding).

Leeds Mishap haha? What inspired that name?

England or Massechusetts? Last name? Colonel Mustard Leeds?

Wow, Mustard. It’s hard for me to tell because I use cup measures instead of grams, but was there more butter than flour involved in your mishap? Sounds like it was fun and tasty, though. It’s hard to go wrong with butter, sugar, and flour.

I am still burning/overboiling the rice even after mALX’s expert coaching. New steamer arrives Wednesday. I love free shipping.

My friends and I are currently in Leeds (where our abortive attempt to make cookies occured), and the process that caused its creation was somewhat of a mishap. Hence the name.

I'm afraid that 'Leeds' is nothing close to my actual surname.

Edit for Grits: Definitely more butter than flour, no doubt about that. My friend who dealt with the flour messed that one up, not myself; I'm actually fairly competent when it comes to cooking. Butter, flour and sugar are very hard to get wrong, though, I'll agree.

I'm gonna necro this thread anyway.....


Would anybody here be interested in making cheese mashed potatoes? It's the one thing I can actually cook without burning, and I'd be glad to share it.

Me!!!

It's very simple, so don't laugh at me.

You cook mashed potatoes(if you don't know how, I'll explain it)

You take a handful of shredded cheese, and while the mash is still hot, you mix it in. Putting it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds might help melt the cheese better.

If you really like cheese(like me) you can put in more than one handful...

KOB! If you clicked on any of those links you had better do a thorough antivirus scan immediately! Delete all cookies and tmp files, then run the scan!

That’s a good idea, KoB.

I made really good barbecue chicken last night in the style of Eastern North Carolina pulled pork. I was pushed for time so I just used boneless chicken breasts from the freezer roasted in the oven (without thawing first), then put the whole pieces in the crockpot with the mopping sauce (vinegar based, I use Scott’s). Then when I got home about 3 hours before dinner I got the meat out and pulled it apart with two forks (You could chop it if you prefer it to be finer and not chunky), then put it back in the crockpot with some Carolina Treet (another vinegar based sauce, but thicker). Then I just made the slaw right before dinner, done. It lacked the greasy appeal of pork barbecue, but that was kind of the point of using chicken. Also it was much quicker. Well, it took all day but my part was quicker.

Rice update: I love my new steamer! I can cook one portion of brown rice for myself for lunch, and since the steamer has a tray I can put some veggies in to cook with it in the last few minutes. I set a timer so I remember. Much better than microwaved whatever-is-left, or just forgetting lunch altogether.

*puts on the necro robe*

-Ok, lets do this

Today we´re going to an ice cream restaurant which, as the name suggests, only serves ice cream. But it´s not kiddie portions, let me tell you that! Don´t come on a full stomach!

Every dish is elegantly presented in a nice glass bowl, and more often than not it comes with a trinket such as a flag, a chocolate coin or as in the one I had last year; a small LED lamp with a clamp at the other end. I use it as a bedside lamp in the cabin!

Don´t know which ice cream I´ll take today. They usually have a range of new arrangements each year

@mirocu - that sounds nice! We're having the Scottish equivalent of a heatwave right now, so I grabbed some ice cream yesterday and have been pondering how hard it can be to make your own milkshakes.

I also approve of this particular necromancy, because I've been thinking of sharing my no-knead bread recipe.

Ingredients:

3 cups flour (you can substitute 1/2-1 cup for wholewheat if you want a darker bread)
1.5 cups lukewarm water
1-1.5 teaspoon salt (depending on how salty you like your bread)
1/4 teaspoon yeast
(possibly) grease for the baking tin

Instructions:

Stir all the ingredients together until they're well mixed. The dough should be pretty wet, drizzle in a bit more water if necessary. Then cover the bowl and let the dough rest at room temperature for around 12-18 hours or so (I tend to err on the high side or even go slightly over because my room temperature is relatively cool.)

Take a rectangular bread tin and grease it if necessary (I have one of those floppy silicone ones so it isn't necessary). Put the dough in the tin, try and spread it evenly. Cover with aluminium foil. You can let it rest for another two hours at this point, but you can also just go straight into baking:

Bake in a preheated oven at 230 degrees C (which I guess corresponds to 450 F?) for 30 minutes. Then take off the foil and bake for a further 20 minutes/until the crust is nicely brown. Take out! Most people would tell you to let it cool, but honestly I tend to go straight for omnomnom delicious bread omnomnom.

This is amazingly easy, no-fuss and DELICIOUS. I generally end up starting the dough just before I go to bed (takes about ten minutes), then baking for dinner or just after dinner the next day.

I might take you up on your self-made potion, Kazaera!

An update on my ice cream adventure

I took one with vanilla and chocolate, topped with cream, fudge and raspberries. Delish! No trinket though, but it was new for this year and I instead bought an over-sized novelty pen!

That sounds delicious, Kazaera!

Here is a quickie bread recipe for college guys who don't have anything in their apartments but beer - beer bread (beer = yeast, in case you don't have yeast):


3 cups self-rising flour
1/2 cup sugar
12 ounces beer
2 tablespoons melted butter


Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Butter a loaf pan and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and beer and mix well. The mixture should be sticky. Pour into the loaf pan and bake for 55 minutes. At the last 3 minutes of baking, remove from oven, brush the top of the loaf with butter and return to oven.

Nice bread recipe there, mALX. My mom just baked some bread but I don´t think she used any beer

I gotta admit, this is interesting to know.

It is just like beer though - gotta eat it while it is fresh or it ferments. If it sits over night in my house, it goes into the dog bowls in the morning.

I made a sandwhich....once.

This is from King Coin, not me - looks very easy and VERY delicious:


http://imgur.com/gallery/t12eZ


If I try making that I will gain ten pounds, but I sure would like a taste anyway, lol.

I was just coming over to post that like you requested mALX. Looks like you beat me to it!

Sorry, had to clean out my in-box or all my new PM's would have been bouncing out of the overfull box, lol. I checked, and when I didn't see it here (gave you the credit)

Go ahead and say whatever you were going to say with it! And if you did get your request for them fulfilled, TELL US HOW THEY TASTED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No it was fine, I forgot to do it last night. It'll be a couple of weeks before I get to taste them. I don't have any of the mixing bowls and such that you need for it.

It might be better for me to hear how good they are rather than making them and eating something that rich, lol. I can see it now, "Bring the crane, she needs to go to the Post Office..."

Oreo Lasagna




Thanks for the recipe! You're right about the bowls. It was easy but the kitchen was a mess.

Ohhhohohohohohoho that looks GOOD!!

My mouth waters just thinking about it, lol.

Where is the recipe?

Here:


Glad you got to make it Grits! I'm still waiting. Hopefully this next weekend!

Now let me tell you of the AMAZING invention....the Crisp Sandwich.

All you need is Crisps,preferibly Tayto(only in Ireland) or Cheese and Onion Walkers(known in America as Lays),and two slices of bread,with butter but if you don't/can't want/eat butter it's not required.

Their eat it.

It's lovely.

To recap

Bread
Crisps
Bread

That's a crisp sandwhich,it's nicer than it sounds.

Rolo Pretzel Candies

You Will Need:

Mini Pretzels
Rolo candies, unwrapped
M&Ms

1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.

2. Place mini pretzels on a foil or parchment covered baking sheet. Top each pretzel with one Rolo. Bake for 5 minutes until Rolos start to melt.

3. Remove from oven and gently press an M&M into the top of each Rolo.

4. Cool for 20 minutes, then stick in the fridge for at least 10 minutes so they set.

Also great with pecans instead of M&Ms.

That does sound good, Grits

I think I have to try it, that is if I can still find my way to the store. Haven´t been there since I stopped working in May

Mr. Grits is pretty much a stranger to fruits and vegetables, so I was surprised when he asked me to bring him home a blueberry-pomegranate smoothie. (Actually he asked for “the purple kind.”)

While I was passing out the chicken sandwiches he opened the lid, took a huge gulp of smoothie, and then topped it up with tequila.

I can’t believe I never thought of that! And it still counts as fruit!


Recipe

Get drive-through smoothie.

Drink some while driving home. Put away keys.

Add tequila! Or rum!

Par-tay. Do not drive again until tomorrow.

That's a great idea! Sort of like adding Bailey's to your coffee to satisfy dairy requirements - yum!

Wrong proportions - it's adding coffee to your Bailey's.

Rocu approves

‘I’m Starving’ Dilled Potatoes

Realize that you have no food in the house.

Discover two small red-skinned potatoes.

Cut them up.

Microwave for 5 minutes or until done.

Toss with olive oil, dill, garlic powder, and salt.

Eat them. They’re good.

That does sound good, Grits. Homemade potato chips


Today my dad and I had these to the afternoon coffee. My treat

I think I can handle that one.

Emergency Egg Roll Sauce

Equal parts honey and Dijon mustard, plus a generous squirt of Sriracha sauce. Mix.

Actually I think this would be good on a lot of things! I might try it on toast.

http://snackhacks.org/

http://www.reddit.com/r/recipes/

http://www.reddit.com/r/EatCheapAndHealthy

http://www.reddit.com/r/eatsandwiches

http://www.reddit.com/r/budgetfood

http://www.reddit.com/r/Whatsinmycupboard

http://www.reddit.com/r/HealthyFood

Oreo No-Bake Brownies

http://myfridgefood.com/viewrecipe.php?recipe=20171

Me, my mam and my sister have made them.

Their setting now, will report back with results,we also added some grated Twirls on top