[jan]

I am having tons of waking moments were I think

Shampoo...
shaving gel...
deodorant...
gravy granules...
medicine...
bed sheets...
curry paste...
etc etc etc

I keep thinking 'Iv'e got to get some of these and take them'
Now hubby keeps sighing at me ' Why? '. I know these are but a few of my comfort items and how much do I take?
My kids are very fond of curry and we have one every Friday evening either a take-away or my own cooked. My son has worked out that we need to take 52 jars of paste !!!!

I know I am not thinking very rationally :no but I can not get rid of these waking thoughts. I'm not bothered about shoes, coats, jeans, furniture etc etc. ?????????????????

HELP ME

Jan xx

[jubjub]

Jan, buy a curry cook book and buy all the spices, it is much cheaper in the long run! but I suppose taking a few jars wont hurt until you get the hang of cooking one from scratch! I have mastered a couple now, and they are lovely!

Can you really not get gravy granules over there?? Oh well I suppose I will get used to that too!

I am beginning to think we will need to go back to school and learn how to cook again! UK easy foods dont half make you lazy!

DONT PANIC, if you forget anything, you will live! As someone said on another thread its not a third world country and most things should be there, even if they are not quite the same as we are used to, its all part of the adventure!

[Carol]

Take no notice....bring as much as you can stuff into the container!!!


:laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh

[jubjub]

I must admit I am looking at bringing the dogs favourite food!!

:exit

[Carol]

:laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh


now that IS funny!! :clap

[jan]

For myself I know I will adjust a little easier if I can add a few creature comforts to my complete overhaul in life style.

I have no intentions of taking the entire contents of a weekly shop in GB.
I know I can make the necessary changes to my new NZ lifestyle eventually, I just think that when my container arrives, It will be good to get these produce.

I for one am going to find our re-location quite hard. I will miss my family like crazy. I just want, for that most trying period, to have a couple of my past things to hand, if that happens to be gravy granules so be it.
Whatever floats your boat!!!
Obviously gravy granules float mine :laugh :laugh :laugh

Jan xx

[jonSE]

Jan

the one thing to date that we have found we can't buy (on Waiheke Island - 8000 popn 20kms from Auckland) is Bisto powder in a cardboard box. Yes you can buy it in a sachet enough for gravy for a roast for 8 people but not just a big box you can use as you like.

Other than that haven't seen Bon Maman Jam yet, but our local saturday market has nice Jam.

Woolworths sells curry in a jar - forget the specific brand but just like in the UK.


Iwould say the only thing significatly diffeent here is that prepared foods seem to have far more sugar and salt than in the UK. and Bread must be stuffed full of preservatives , it never goes off.

Jon

[annaerb]

You can by Bisto. I buy mine at New World but most supermarkets should also have it also.

[veronica]

but the bisto here is different, its got small darker bits amongst the powder. Its the original one in the brown box, just an even brown powder that you can't get. I know that when I went home last month its the only thing that I brought back for myself.

[Radders]

:roll:
I'm not immune to this. I buy PG Tips and Our Mate, but when it's written down like this, it just seems a little silly to be concerned about this when you are moving half way round the world. Surely there should be more important things to worry about!

[Radders]

ignore me today :eek

[Carol]

ignore me today :eek

:laugh :laugh :laugh

We all have days like that.....


P.S. My Mate readily available in Woolworths in Welly... :nice1

[leslie]

am going to send this link to jamie oliver!

[Diny]

ignore me today

Don't worry Radders - we'll accept that you're having an off day ;)

I have to agree, when you're as close to departure as Jan (we're leaving just a couple of weeks after her) - all the major issues have been covered. Now IS the time to be thinking about the little extras that will help make the transition a smooth one.

I have a complete packing carton of food stuffs. Somebody gave me some good advice by sugesting I put it all together so that if MAF want to check it they don't have to open loads of cartons.

We eat pretty much the same food as any other family I guess, however I never buy anything processed. If my kids want chicken nuggets I buy a couple of breast fillets and make them myself. I make my own burgers from steak which I mince myself and I even make my own fish fingers. However - my particular 'comfort food' is gravy - and lots of it. I usually make it from Bisto powder but have no problem with the granules when time is tight. The only real similarity between NZ and UK Bisto is the name on the packet.

I have packed about 20 LARGE packets of Bisto and endless tubs of granules but would like to point out that these are going to be shared between Lindajax, Carol & me. What say we have a gravy & wine party girls? Oh yeah ....... several packets of Paxo stuffing for Linda too (yeah - I make my own).

I'm ashamed to mention the amount of REAL Cadbury's chocolate that's making the journey. That (so called) Cadbury's c**p you get in NZ just doesn't cut the mustard.

Don't worry Jan ..... your food obsession is quite normal - well it is to me anyway.

Diny

[Milliemoo]

We eat pretty much the same food as any other family I guess, however I never buy anything processed. If my kids want chicken nuggets I buy a couple of breast fillets and make them myself. I make my own burgers from steak which I mince myself and I even make my own fish fingers.
Diny

:clap :clap :clap

Milliemoo :nice1

[Dave & Sandra]

You just have to get used to the fact that you are living in a different part of the world and that you have to adapt to what's available. It's not so hard. We buy Bisto gravy powder here and it's a bit different but not hugely so.

That's all part of the fun of being here and not in the UK. Adapting is good for the soul. It just goes to show how resourceful you can be - go for it and enjoy the differences. It'll make you a better person. :clap :clap

[kiwidebs]

Jan, I think you're sensible to pack some of your home comforts. When things are a bit tough it is nice to have a taste of home (pardon the pun :oops: ). When I first moved to London, if I had a homesick period I'd head off to Kiwifruits and buy some NZ chocolate, some Watties Creamed corn (an acquired taste!!), a copy of Metro or some other little luxury that reminded me of home. I couldn't pack all that in my backpack, but I will be packing my fav gravy granules (amongst other English delicacies :laugh ) into our packing crate this time around.
I also made sure folks back home added NZ marmite, Black Knight Licorice, marshmellow Easter Eggs etc into packages sent for Xmas and birthdays!! These silly little things really do help with tough times.

That (so called) Cadbury's c**p you get in NZ just doesn't cut the mustard.


You might get used to it Diny - I eventually got used to the UK stuff (you can tell by my hips and backside :laugh :laugh )!

Good luck with the move Jan - keep us updated.

Debs :nice1

[Diny]

You might get used to it Diny - I eventually got used to the UK stuff (you can tell by my hips and backside

Put it this way Debs .... it ain't gonna do me any harm if I don't get used to it ....... know what I mean.

Actually - the UK Cadbury's choc is for my Kiwi hubby. I'm more of a crisp person (as in what I like) ....... I'm going to buy a couple of boxes of Walkers ready salted and hope there's room for them in the container. If not I'll gorge myself silly on them in the few days between the container and us leaving.

We'll all get use to what will be available, we're all capeable of abit of adjustment, but if it's possible to transport a few home comforts to ease the transition process - they why the heck not. It's not as though they're gonna last forever is it?

Diny

[sarahw]

You can get curry paste here - and its Sharwoods too (bought some this morning). They also sell very good Thai green & Thai red curry paste (its a Thai brand). You've got no worries with Curry paste - if I can get it from Pak & Save you'll have no worries mostly on whatever supermarket you go to.

Also gravy - I love gravy granules & it is a bit different here but not wildly so - I buy Maggi stock powder which aren't bad - especially by the time you've added a bit of the run off from the meat to it. Ian couldn't believe it the other day when I told him there were no gravy granules - well what have I been eating for the last 3 months then?! Ha!

[jonSE]

Before I apologise for the great online Bisto furore I should qualify my statement - We live on an Island with a population of 8000. There is one supermarket Woolworths! Haven't got around to hunting for specific food items on the mainland. The fact that you can't buy Bisto doesn't really bother me - it was purely to illustrate a point. The Woolworths here does sell Maille Dijon Mustard (my particular favourite and not always easy to find in Loondon and it does sell Maggi Fish Stock (as does the supermarket in Dunsborough just south of Perth in western aus a godsend if you decide to make Lobster Thermidor for 10 people for New years eve) How many Uk supermarkets would you find that in >?

I had some Dairy Milk on the way home from work - didn'ttaste much different from the UK to me.

Jon
PS Food Wine and cigarettes for 2 seems to come to about $200NZ/week.

What do I miss about the UK ?
Ans. France

[jonSE]

PS

Rhonda can't find Veggie gravy granules.

Funny even I (a dedicated carnivore) have noticed that there are less options for Veggies here than in the UK. And I always had this mental picture that NZ was more "green"

Jon

[Soon2baKiwi]

If my kids want chicken nuggets I buy a couple of breast fillets and make them myself. I make my own burgers from steak which I mince myself and I even make my own fish fingers.

Diny - d'you have a receipe for the fish fingers? I suspect you're probably going to say that you've made it up as you've gone along (or something along those lines :smile ) but if you could spare a minute or two to write it down it'd be great.

[Diny]

Yeah .... I made it up as I went along. Will send you a PM. Don't get too excited.

Diny

[Diny]

Have actually decided to put the recipes on here. Apologies to anybody who finds them a bore.

As you can see they are nothing outstanding. They are dishes that I've made up as I've gone along. Our eldest son Fergie has a very serious nut allergy - he almost died when he was 2 from eating a cake with 'hidden' nuts in it (we have to carry one of those epi-pens with us everywhere we go just in case). Naturally he wanted all the 'junk' that was advertised but simply wasn't allowed it, even if he hadn't got an allergy I wouldn't be too happy about letting the boys have too much of that c**p. So I made my own fish fingers, nuggetts etc so he wouldn't 'miss out'. I know exactly what he's eating.

Fish Fingers:

If I've got plenty of fish and it's quite chunky, I simply cut it into strips (the same size as shop fish fingers). Then I dip them in beaten egg and cover them in breadcrumbs.

The breadcrumbs: I put stale bread in my food processor and 'whiz bang' it until it makes fine crumbs. Sometimes I lay the crumbs out on a baking sheet and 'cook' them in the oven for a few mins to dry out. They seem to give a better result if I do this.

If I don't have alot of fish but still need to produce enough to go round, I microwave the fish first for a few mins only. then I combine it with some mashed potato (add seasoning). Then I shape them into fingers, dip in egg and coat in the crumbs again. You may need to add a little beaten egg to the mixture to bind it but don't add too much as they will be 'sloppy' and won't hold a shape. I usually make these slightly bigger than the shop bought ones.

I know you didn't ask for the nuggets recipe but my kids just love them so I thought I might pass it on.

Cut the chicken breast into nuggett sizes. Dip them into melted butter and then coat in the following mixture:

Coating: Buy one of the cheapest brands of cornflakes that you can find. You don't get much cheaper than Lidl or Aldi's own - and they work really well.

Fill the bowl on your food processor with the cornflakes. Add the following ingredients to taste ...... salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano, Italian seasoning, any herb/spice you have in the cupboard.
Turn on machine and smash the flakes into smitherines (quite fine).

Coat the chicken pieces in the cornflake mixture and place on a baking tray (pref non-stick). Bake in moderate oven until cooked and golden - turning occasionally.

A very healthy (well if you forget the melted butter) and tasty alternative to those slushy grey nuggetts you buy in the shops.


Diny

[jubjub]

Diny, can I come and live with you please? :nice1

In return for good food I am very good at cleaning and being tidy :laugh

:cheers

[Diny]

Sure you can !!!!!! I'd choose cooking over housework any day of the week.

Tonight it's salmon fishcakes !!

Diny

[kiwidebs]

Thanks for the recipes Diny. I've just started doing my own 'oven chips' and am weaning myself off very easy convenience foods - mostly because I want to know just what my kids are eating!! I've just starting reading labels in the supermarket and am stunned at the amount of junk in alot of foods!! I bought a loaf of wholemeal bread from M and S the other day - when I got home I realised there was a whole gram of salt in each slice!!!! :eek (that's a fifth of the recommended max salt intake for adults PER SLICE!!) Note to self - get the breadmaker out again!!

Debs

[dave k]

I am having tons of waking moments were I think

Shampoo...
shaving gel...
deodorant...
gravy granules...
medicine...
bed sheets...
curry paste...
etc etc etc


Jan xx

None of the above are unavailable here - and most top international brands are represented - , apart from gravy granules ( I don't get this obsession btw. Whenever I"ve used them in the past they always needed quite a bit of adding to ...wine, lots more black pepper, onions, meat-juices, etc. )
And since you can get Maggi gravy mixes here which are just as quick...and tastier too, don't sweat it.

[jan]

I am glad I posted this thread cos I am managing to priorotise my thoughts (I think).

Of course I will jam pack the container with all my worldly goods, and I will slip a few packs of gravy granules in too. But everyones reply's have put into prospective my somewhat jumbled up brain at the moment.

Oh how I will laugh at some of my posts when i am thriving on our new NZ lifestyle, with the attitude of who gives a jot about gravy granules? Get the barbie on.

Isn't it funny how on one day the minutist of thing can be magnified 100%

Thanks :nice1 :nice1

Jan xx

[veronica]

I don't know, gravy is important. there was talk that if they didn't do OXO cubes here the whole deal was off :laugh :laugh

There is loads you can adapt to and do without, but its more comfortable to have particular things you like in the cupboard and it can make a difference to how the whole first few months go when you are feeling unsettled. Anyone here already who hasn't been able to find something do post it as someone may have seen it or worked out a good substitute. For anyone in the Chch region there is still Johnsons Grocery store at the north end of Columbo street. and that has foods from al over the world. Its worth a visit just for curiousity sake.

[Diny]

apart from gravy granules ( I don't get this obsession btw.

you can get Maggi gravy mixes here which are just as quick...and tastier too, don't sweat it.





Dave, have tried those Maggie gravy mixes :no :no :no

There was a study recently (in one of those glossy mags) - trying to find out the top 10 comfort foods.

Mashed potato and gravy came in VERY close to the top of the list (obviously behind chocolate).

Yeah yeah yeah ...... none of us are daft enough to think that all the food sold in NZ shops will be nothing like we're used to. We'll all get used to what's on offer there. There's certain things that are sold in NZ that I can't wait to stock up on when I get there. BUT ................. what's so wrong with wanting to bring along some of our comfort food. It's not as though we're going to have a nervous breakdown if we don't get our British gravy, it's just that if there's a chance to cram a few comfort foods into the container then why not?

We're all capeable of tarting up Maggie mixes and making devine red wine gravies from the meat juices, but what's so wrong with pouring boiling water over a heap of granules and REALLY enjoying ourselves for a few minutes. And if downing copious quantities of UK Bisto helps us through our first few heavy sessions of home sickness then so be it I say :nice1 :laugh :nice1 :laugh :nice1 :laugh :nice1 :laugh

And here's another to get you all dancing up and down screeching 'you can find a better substitute in NZ' .......... anybody seen Branston Pickle for sale or shall I risk being sent to the back of the class in sack cloth and ashes for a week by suggesting I bring a few jars with me :eek

Only kidding guys ...... and just think ..... those of us who bring the 'vile granules' with us can hold gravy parties :nice1 :nice1 :nice1

Diny

[Diny]

A quick search on google found this result. I think this is an American list - not that it makes any difference.

Top 10 comfort foods by marygabucan
1.Mac and cheese!!!!
2.Cheeseburger
3.Spaghettios
4.French Toast
5.Carmel corn
6.Corn dogs
7.Mashed potatoes and gravy
8.fried chicken
9.Chilli
10.Tomato soup


Uh - no choclate on that list.

Diny

[Bubbles]

Can't anybody make proper gravy. ?

[Diny]

Can't anybody make proper gravy

I can !!!!!!!!!!

But I like my 'quick fix' granules - so hang me :laugh

Diny

[Radders]

I still haven't found any spaghetti hoops, but have found Branston Pickle. I hear there's a shortage back in the UK due to the factory burning down or something??

[Diny]

but have found Branston Pickle. I hear there's a shortage back in the UK due to the factory burning down or something

:laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh

Oh No !!!!!!!! Can't say I've heard about that, and there was plenty in Somerfield yesterday. :nice1

Diny

[Carol]

apart from gravy granules ( I don't get this obsession btw.

you can get Maggi gravy mixes here which are just as quick...and tastier too, don't sweat it.





sorry Dave....they are disgusting.
Even with the best red wine mixed in with them......


Diny sent me gravy granules........and believe me...the world is a better place.
:nice1 :nice1 :nice1 :nice1 :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh

[Diny]

Hey Carol

You should see how many tubs of granules and packets of Bisto powder I'v crammed into my shipment. Don't worry girly - you'll never be gravyless again :nice1

Diny

[Carol]

:clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap

Diny - you are my new best friend.
xxxxx :laugh :laugh

[leslie]

i have tried and vomited these granules of yours. can only assume manu once ran a long and effective ad campaign and that out there somewhere is a retired ad exec who should get an obe for his contrib to the exchequer.

[Diny]

Uh ????? :roll:

I'd have put money on the fact that you wouldn't like them :laugh

All the more to go round us culinary philistines eh Carol :nice1

Diny

[Danpoll]

a jus d'lee (thin or Jus d'roti, thick) is what the french call gravy. Which is the juices of the roast joint add to the pan in which it was cooked, add to this a mace doine of legummes which is cubes 1cm by 1cm of carrots onions and celery, let these travell round the pan picking up the solid bits, deglaze with red or white wine dependant of the meat or poultry. let reduce by half and add chicken or beef stock either fresh or by cube and water. reduce further and thicken with cornflour mixed with water and cooked out properly if neccasary. place through seive transfer to sauce pan until correct consistency.


Thats how to make gravy.

Dan

[leslie]

dan, methinks we should start a campaign to have granulised foodstuffs banned from nz. if my films need to be weighed because they could be full of cocaine then imagine what toxic weaponry could be made of gravy crystals. too high risk... tut tut

[Diny]

Mmmmm Dan .... sounds lovely.

Very similar to the method I use when I have time and I'm making 'a meal of things' (excuse the pun.) I even have the Jack Sprat gravy boat to serve it.

When we're talking about quick fix comfort food I reach for the granules. When we're talking 'proper stuff' I use the 'from scratch' method. I actually have a very nice antique Asiatic Pheasant meat platter with a 'jus well' which I use. Put the meat on the platter to rest, allow the juices to flow into the 'well' then make the gravy from there.

I think teaching anybody to make gravy from scratch is abit like teaching ones granny to suck eggs - when I was at school that was one of the first things we were taught in home economics classes. Oh boy ... this is getting crazy, there sure are some pretty diverse topics discussed on this forum :laugh

At the end of the day - one mans comfort food is another mans poison. I wonder whether this latest fashion of food snobbery has reached NZ yet?
:?
Diny

[Danpoll]

iam not anti granulisation of food stuffs, as the hassle of my Jus demonstrates the ease of just boiling the kettle. and as the company says "ahhh bisto". Though it must be said that pre mixed cake mixtures just add water jobs, then they are evil and should be classed as FMD's food stuffs of mass destruction



Dan

[Diny]

FMDs ..... I love it. I'll have to remember that one :nice1

Diny

[Simon & Emily]

Diny - we may have been taught cooking at schools in our days, but I can guarantee (nearly) that youngsters today are not even shown the most basic of skills. I love cooking, and rarely use convenient foods, but most people look at me as though I've just landed from another planet :laugh and they ask why I bother cooking when you can get it all ready made.

Did you see any of the Jamie Oliver programs? It's frightening what's being served up in schools, and I only hope that all the awful convenience foods have not yet reached NZ.

Emily

[Diny]

Emily

That Jamie Oliver series was really good. Looks like he's got some positive results too.

You're right - they don't teach home economics in schools these days. It's all part of 'design & technology' - whatever that is? They concentrate more on the packaging and marketing of the food rather than how to get the raw ingredients and make it yourself. Disgusting really.

I went to an agricultural college where I studied home economics. It was a very good course - great emphasis on 'living off the land' ... grow your own food kind of thing. My plan was to move on to do a teaching certificate after this course but blow me down .......... home economics (as we knew it) had been abolished :eek I was so disgruntled I bought a rucksack and went travelling. That was in the early 80s and the rest is history.

Now I'm digressing.

Both of my boys love to cook, especially the oldest one, and I must say he's not too bad :nice1

Can't really comment on whether convenience foods have hit NZ yet .... I don't buy them so never looked for them. My only vice is my shamefull OCCASIONAL, highly toxic :roll: comforting GGs.

(Don't want to say the words gravy granules ) :roll: :roll: :roll:

Diny

[Carol]

dan, methinks we should start a campaign to have granulised foodstuffs banned from nz. if my films need to be weighed because they could be full of then imagine what toxic weaponry could be made of gravy crystals. too high risk... tut tut


But Leslie....they ARE concentrated!

:nice1

[Simon & Emily]

I have to say I agree with you wholeheartedly. Nothing beats good old fashioned home made gravy, but there are times when a quick fix is easier - such as a little bit extra on meat dishes for the children.

However, I'm sure that there are some who think the whole g***y debate is not the most important thing to think about when moving. (I have to ask though, are they the one's who do the cooking and trying to keep some sort of continuity for children who are picky eaters at the best of times?)

Emily

PS - By picky eaters I mean a 3 and a 4 year old who look at something they don't recognise as though you're trying to poison them :laugh

[Diny]

(I have to ask though, are they the one's who do the cooking and trying to keep some sort of continuity for children who are picky eaters at the best of times?)

Emily

PS - By picky eaters I mean a 3 and a 4 year old who look at something they don't recognise as though you're trying to poison them

Oh well said Emily !!!!

This is what poor old Jan was trying to ask before the gravy debate took over her thread.

Nobody is denying that that home made is better - but for the sake of comfort and continuity in those first stressful few weeks I think quick fix, familiar food stuffs are the way to go.

note to self. Once settled, invite as many ex-pats as poss and serve up a meal of mash, instant gravy, bake from frozen garlic bread, packet stuffing, Aunt Bessies Yorkshire puddings and real Cadbury's chocolate, and take not of how much is left

Diny

[Hannah-NL]

Yummmm : Cadbury's chocolate! :yes

(Makes note on to do list: Pack a whole (XXXL) box with food and stuff it into container)
- Drop (Liquorice)
- Gouda cheese one whole "wheel"
- Dutch chocolate is yummy too
- Chocolate Sandwich Sprinkles....

I might add more... as the time comes closer...maybe one day it will... :wah

[Simon & Emily]

Diny - there would not be a morsel left on anyone's plate :nice1 :laugh :nice1 :laugh :nice1 :laugh

Emily

[veronica]

Hey Hannah-NL they have really good liquorice over here too. so you should be OK on that score.

[sarahw]

For anyone who lives in Welly & is missing out on UK food (including packet mix of yorkshire puds) there's a British shop on Willis street. Believe I saw Branston Pickle in there through the window the other week & all sorts of British sweeties etc (including chocolate) - they've probably got gravy granules. Reckon if there's anything you're really missing they'd probably order it in for you.

Personally, can't be bothered - would rather tailor my cooking to whatever is in the local shops or make things from scratch. Plus (don't shoot me!) I actually prefer NZ Cadbury's!!! :eek So much more choice too than in the UK! Love the malted biscuit bars & the cashew nut bars & the raspberry & chocolate malted biscuit bars (oh dear they only make them all in the large size too!!!) :mrgreen:

The liquorice I'm addicted to - I used to buy RJ's from home - we had a farm shop in Weybridge that sold it & now I can get it for $3 a bag instead of £4 it tastes even nicer!!!

[Bubbles]

Good on ya sarah :nice1

[Diny]

Sarah - NZ does offer a massive choice in Cadbury's (yeah right) chocolate. All those different bars (yep - big sizes). A couple of years ago we spent a small fortune buying one of each variety to bring back to UK to share out amongst family & friends. Believe me - I couldn't get rid of the stuff, I ended up throwing way over half of it in the bin. Whittakers Peanut Slab is the only NZ choc my Kiwi husband approves of, I'm having to buy copious amounts of REAL Cadbury's to bring with us as he says he's not having 'that stuff they sell back home'. All a matter of choice I guess.

I still think a few folks are under the impression that those amongst us who like the odd serving of 'gravy from home' are coming to NZ with the intention of never buying any local produce and are making arrangements for a UK food parcel to be delivered each month :roll: Once the supplies that make the initial journey with us have depleted that'll be it.

To look at it from a different point of view. I reckon we'll all be taking our favourite music CDs with us too .... but why bother when NZ produces such great artists as Crowded House and Hayley Westenra (sp) - (to name just a couple). How many of us have been out and bought some new clothes or some new shoes (or even dyed a silk blouse) 'cos we thought they would come in handy in NZ? NZ is full of clothes shops.

Heading off at abit of a tangent here ..... but I bet you get my drift. ;)

Diny

[Carol]

why bother when NZ produces such great artists as Crowded House and Hayley Westenra (sp) - (to name just a couple). Heading off at abit of a tangent here ..... but I bet you get my drift. ;)

Diny


So have you checked out Brooke Fraser yet then guys????????????

:nice1 :nice1 :nice1 :nice1 :clap :clap :clap :clap

[leslie]

when my d did food tech they were given pizza bases and told to 'make a face' with ingredients. so that was a worthwhile use of tax monies then.

carol, theres concentrate and then there's CONCENTRATE. you could say an atom bomb is a concentrated war but it doesn't make it worthy.

my mother used to yell at me because i couldn't follow a recipe, said i'd never know how to cook. guess what, because i didn't follow the recipes I KNOW HOW TO COOK. it may be inedible 25% of the time, but i know.

bet everyone thought jamie wouldn't amount to anything.

[Carol]

my mother used to yell at me because i couldn't follow a recipe, said i'd never know how to cook.



leslie that is just plain mean.

:(

My grandmother could make a fantastic meal out of nowt.
She was an amazing teacher too.....

[leslie]

success is the sweetest possible outcome.

[Diny]

I have a mountain of cook books and will add to the mountain on a regular basis.

I actually NEVER follow a recipe.

I was taught by my mum (a domestic science teacher) and at college that recipes are there for guidance only.

One of our college tutors (a very 'country' lady - all tweeds and green quilted jackets) told us .......

"To be a good cook you need the ability to 'bastardise' any recipe you come across".

Maybe not the best choice of words but I knew what she meant.

Diny

[Bubbles]

:laugh :laugh :laugh

She got her point across and you learnt by it.
Thats what counts

[jan]

Talking about mothers. my mum makes the most amazing pan of 'Scouse' and no matter how hard I try I just can't get that ' mum's way!!!'

I have even on a dreary wet day to work, dropping the kids off at my mums, produced a pan and ingredients for her to make it for me at her house in her special way!!! Fantastic, pick the kids and tea up after work!!!

God I will miss my mum so much. :(

Jan xx

[Bubbles]

I know what you mean about missing mams.

On a lighter note.... what the heck is " scouse " ?
I'm intrigued :?

John

[Bubbles]

Found it :mrgreen:

http://thefoody.com/meat/scouse.html

Sounds nice :nice1

[Diny]

Jan

Had to admit my initial reaction was the sames as Bubbles. What the heck is 'scouse'.

Then I read the recipe. Now I have to tell you that my mum makes the exact same thing, but it's always been known as 'Hotpot' in our family.

Might I add here ..... NOT LANCASHIRE HOTPOT !!!!!!!!!!!!

God I will miss my mum so much.


Oh thanks mate. I've just come through the worst few days of my life .... the reality of leaving mum is REALLY hurting at the moment. Just start to feel OK and then I read that !!!!!!!!!!! :wah :wah :wah

At the moment we're dining on 'fruits of the freezer'. Working our way through single (or maybe slightly larger) portions of left overs which over time have been dumped in the freezer and mainly forgotten. Most meal times see me serving up at least three or 4 kinds of left overs.

I can see the bottom of the freezer now though, just several loaves of bread and abit of braising steak left :nice1

Diny

[Moorf]

:laugh :laugh Diny, that so reminds us of when we were leaving for NZ.. "freezer surprise" every night for a couple of weeks! I did refuse to use the "ice age" peas embedded in the ice though :mrgreen:

[Danpoll]

I am going through the same with my freezer at the moment. Its like ready steady cook evrey night. Tip a freezer drawer onto th work surface and see what old peas sausage meat a fish finger and a scoop of ice cream can yield. normally its the bin and phone for take away.



the only thing i am missing is ainsley pratting around my kitchen


Dan

[Moorf]

I nearly contacted Time Team to see if they would come and excavate the bottom of the freezer :?

[Danpoll]

I have a family of penguins in the second drawer from the bottom of my freezer , penguin breast and beak soup me thinks.


Dan

[Jennie & Rob]

What would you make with what I found?
pureed lentil baby mush
5 year old raspberries
breast milk (yukkkkkkkk!)
unidentifable fish bits

I laughed at your idea of ready, steady cook. We had a whole week eating tinned beans because that was the cupboard we were clearing out.

The twelve bottles of opened malt whisky are another dilemma. Might have to suggest a SW drink up of our ridiculous booze supplies...... :cheers

[sarahw]

Ha! My Dad thought it was Xmas & his birthday rolled into one when I turned up with 10 bottles of malt whiskey, 5 bottles of vodka & various other spirits!!! I'm sure he's made a dent in them by now!

First thing we did when we got here? Asked our friend to bring out Vodka & Baileys with them when they came out 5 weeks later!!! Don't ask!!! :uhoh

[jonSE]

I strongly suspect that a collection of opened partially drunk bottles of spirits, obviously the stuff that was in the cupboard when you packed up is not going to attract the attentions of customs. You can hardly sell a part drunk bottle. I would declare it on the customs forms and maybe just put the value as too old to remember.

Having said that we took the remnants of the spirits to my parents where we stayed the week before we left. Unsurprisingly we finished the Gin and Vodka, made serious inroads into the Knob Creek bourbon (a present from a US friend at new year, into the Balvenie, but made no further progress with the bottle of Poteen bought about 8 years ago and still about 90% full.

Jon
This Kiwi wine is good

[leslie]

when my parents moved they did no prep whatsoever. in pity i went down (moron) to help and found my mother had canned/ luxury bottled items/ chocolates in her cupboards that were up to 10 years past date. she also had 2 large fridges/ freezers full of food. it was all i could do to keep from staking her through the heart.