Cooking info

[Jane Gillett]

A lot of young people are leaving home for Uni and many of these will be
cooking for themselves or for their student groups without prior
experience, or only experience of ready-mades because of our current
requirement for parents to do the dual role of raising offspring while
working fulltime to afford a home. Ready-mades will form a big part of the
young people's diet but seems to me there is a place for something simple
which can <conveniently> be an aid to learning to feed themselves from
basic foods.

Don't think a book is accessible enough - have a thought of something like
a laminated plastic sheet which can sit around on the kitchen surface and
have the types of info - recipes, other? - which would encourage non-cooks
to make use of it.

Think the characteristics it would need would include
. Wipeable and/or dunkable in hot water
. Proof against hot pots
. Reasonably proof against being used as a chopping board
. A useful set of recipes
. Double-sided
. Get-able ie easy and cheap to buy or otherwise obtain
Other?

What recipes would be valuable enough to warrant space?
Meat dishes - what?
Vegetable?
Veggie?
Sweet?
Other?

Cheers
Jane

[Mike.. . . .]

Following a post by Jane Gillett

Post by Jane Gillett
What recipes would be valuable enough to warrant space?
Meat dishes - what?
Vegetable?
Veggie?
Sweet?
Other?

fish? Seems unlikely I suppose. I wonder how many do not know the best
way to start a stew is to chop up an onion?

Dont students spend a lot of time watching day time TV to avoid
revising? Or is that the past now? If not, two attractive young people
demonstrating simple cheap cooking on the TV (or the web?), just after
teletubbies, if they are still on? Certainly not when it would clash
with drinking/"meeting other students" time.

[Ophelia]

Post by Jane Gillett
A lot of young people are leaving home for Uni and many of these will be
cooking for themselves or for their student groups without prior
experience, or only experience of ready-mades because of our current
requirement for parents to do the dual role of raising offspring while
working fulltime to afford a home. Ready-mades will form a big part of the
young people's diet but seems to me there is a place for something simple
which can <conveniently> be an aid to learning to feed themselves from
basic foods.
Don't think a book is accessible enough - have a thought of something like
a laminated plastic sheet which can sit around on the kitchen surface and
have the types of info - recipes, other? - which would encourage non-cooks
to make use of it.

Cooking in a Bedsitter by Katherine Whitehorn.

[Phil Cook]

Post by Ophelia

Post by Jane Gillett
A lot of young people are leaving home for Uni and many of these will be
cooking for themselves or for their student groups without prior
experience, or only experience of ready-mades because of our current
requirement for parents to do the dual role of raising offspring while
working fulltime to afford a home. Ready-mades will form a big part of the
young people's diet but seems to me there is a place for something simple
which can <conveniently> be an aid to learning to feed themselves from
basic foods.
Don't think a book is accessible enough - have a thought of something like
a laminated plastic sheet which can sit around on the kitchen surface and
have the types of info - recipes, other? - which would encourage non-cooks
to make use of it.

Cooking in a Bedsitter by Katherine Whitehorn.

Nod nod nod. I have a well used copy somewhere. It's amazing what you
can cook on a single ring if you have to.

[Ophelia]

Post by Ophelia

Post by Jane Gillett
A lot of young people are leaving home for Uni and many of these will be
cooking for themselves or for their student groups without prior
experience, or only experience of ready-mades because of our current
requirement for parents to do the dual role of raising offspring while
working fulltime to afford a home. Ready-mades will form a big part of the
young people's diet but seems to me there is a place for something simple
which can <conveniently> be an aid to learning to feed themselves from
basic foods.
Don't think a book is accessible enough - have a thought of something like
a laminated plastic sheet which can sit around on the kitchen surface and
have the types of info - recipes, other? - which would encourage non-cooks
to make use of it.

Cooking in a Bedsitter by Katherine Whitehorn.

Nod nod nod. I have a well used copy somewhere. It's amazing what you can
cook on a single ring if you have to.

In the dim and distant past, it is how I survived:)) Good recipes too. I
must dig out my copy:)

[Paul Corfield]

On Sun, 02 Mar 2014 11:59:23 +0000 (GMT), Jane Gillett

Post by Jane Gillett
A lot of young people are leaving home for Uni and many of these will be
cooking for themselves or for their student groups without prior
experience, or only experience of ready-mades because of our current
requirement for parents to do the dual role of raising offspring while
working fulltime to afford a home. Ready-mades will form a big part of the
young people's diet but seems to me there is a place for something simple
which can <conveniently> be an aid to learning to feed themselves from
basic foods.
Don't think a book is accessible enough - have a thought of something like
a laminated plastic sheet which can sit around on the kitchen surface and
have the types of info - recipes, other? - which would encourage non-cooks
to make use of it.
Think the characteristics it would need would include
. Wipeable and/or dunkable in hot water
. Proof against hot pots
. Reasonably proof against being used as a chopping board
. A useful set of recipes
. Double-sided
. Get-able ie easy and cheap to buy or otherwise obtain
Other?
What recipes would be valuable enough to warrant space?
Meat dishes - what?
Vegetable?
Veggie?
Sweet?
Other?

Long ago I bought the "cooking in a bedsitter" book already suggested
by another poster. I also bought "one is fun" by Delia Smith.

I would want to include fish on the list. I would also emphasise
seasonality when some foodstuffs are in good supply and therefore
cheaper. Not a concept well understood by supermarkets.

One thing I learnt fairly early on is that recipes can be improvised
and it is not the end of the world to substitute ingredients (within
limits) or tweak quantities (not with baking though). It takes some
time to build confidence to do this but it stops people panicking
about their meals. I haven't killed myself yet with my cooking!

To my mind the real essential info is knowing what basic bits of
equipment to buy so you can cook food. The other is what you need as
a set of basic ingredients as a cook's cupboard.

I would also want to wean people off "pour in sauces" and teach them
that having a decent range of condiments, herbs and spices is far
cheaper, offers much more variety and the preparation time is
negligible [1]. I have no issue preparing marinades for a curry or
making a curry sauce / cooking chinese or asian food as I have all the
basis elements. Shopping in local shops which specialise in ethnic
ingredients is usually far cheaper than a supermarket.

[1] assuming people want to be adventurous sometimes.

I'm a long way from being a good cook - loads of things I've not
cooked - but I can cope and turn out reasonable meals. The other big
issue these days is buying the right amounts so as not to waste money
and also knowing how to stretch expensive ingredients like meat and
fish over several days. I'm quite good at making a curry sauce cover
extra meals by using any leftover sauce with vegetables to make a
light vegetable curry for lunch. Better than pouring it down the sink.

[Kev]

Post by Jane Gillett
A lot of young people are leaving home for Uni and many of these will be
cooking for themselves or for their student groups without prior
experience, or only experience of ready-mades because of our current
requirement for parents to do the dual role of raising offspring while
working fulltime to afford a home. Ready-mades will form a big part of the
young people's diet but seems to me there is a place for something simple
which can <conveniently> be an aid to learning to feed themselves from
basic foods.
Don't think a book is accessible enough - have a thought of something like
a laminated plastic sheet which can sit around on the kitchen surface and
have the types of info - recipes, other? - which would encourage non-cooks
to make use of it.
Think the characteristics it would need would include
. Wipeable and/or dunkable in hot water
. Proof against hot pots
. Reasonably proof against being used as a chopping board
. A useful set of recipes
. Double-sided
. Get-able ie easy and cheap to buy or otherwise obtain
Other?
What recipes would be valuable enough to warrant space?
Meat dishes - what?
Vegetable?
Veggie?
Sweet?
Other?
Cheers
Jane

I print off and laminate my commonly used recipes and keep them in a
lever arch file in the kitchen - works OK for me.

[Jane Gillett]

Post by Kev

Post by Jane Gillett
A lot of young people are leaving home for Uni and many of these will be
cooking for themselves or for their student groups without prior
experience, or only experience of ready-mades because of our current
requirement for parents to do the dual role of raising offspring while
working fulltime to afford a home. Ready-mades will form a big part of the
young people's diet but seems to me there is a place for something simple
which can <conveniently> be an aid to learning to feed themselves from
basic foods.
Don't think a book is accessible enough - have a thought of something like
a laminated plastic sheet which can sit around on the kitchen surface and
have the types of info - recipes, other? - which would encourage non-cooks
to make use of it.
Think the characteristics it would need would include
. Wipeable and/or dunkable in hot water
. Proof against hot pots
. Reasonably proof against being used as a chopping board
. A useful set of recipes
. Double-sided
. Get-able ie easy and cheap to buy or otherwise obtain
Other?
What recipes would be valuable enough to warrant space?
Meat dishes - what?
Vegetable?
Veggie?
Sweet?
Other?
Cheers
Jane

I print off and laminate my commonly used recipes and keep them in a
lever arch file in the kitchen - works OK for me.

How do they stand up to hot plates/dishes/pans? How do they stand up to
being put in hot water for cleaning? Are there special laminate materials
you use for these or is it just the "normal" ones you buy from the usual
stationery outlet?

Jane

[Kev]

Post by Jane Gillett

Post by Kev

Post by Jane Gillett
A lot of young people are leaving home for Uni and many of these will be
cooking for themselves or for their student groups without prior
experience, or only experience of ready-mades because of our current
requirement for parents to do the dual role of raising offspring while
working fulltime to afford a home. Ready-mades will form a big part of the
young people's diet but seems to me there is a place for something simple
which can <conveniently> be an aid to learning to feed themselves from
basic foods.
Don't think a book is accessible enough - have a thought of something like
a laminated plastic sheet which can sit around on the kitchen surface and
have the types of info - recipes, other? - which would encourage non-cooks
to make use of it.
Think the characteristics it would need would include
. Wipeable and/or dunkable in hot water
. Proof against hot pots
. Reasonably proof against being used as a chopping board
. A useful set of recipes
. Double-sided
. Get-able ie easy and cheap to buy or otherwise obtain
Other?
What recipes would be valuable enough to warrant space?
Meat dishes - what?
Vegetable?
Veggie?
Sweet?
Other?
Cheers
Jane

I print off and laminate my commonly used recipes and keep them in a
lever arch file in the kitchen - works OK for me.

How do they stand up to hot plates/dishes/pans? How do they stand up to
being put in hot water for cleaning? Are there special laminate materials
you use for these or is it just the "normal" ones you buy from the usual
stationery outlet?
Jane

I've just used the ordinary ones (got the laminator and 50 pouches from
Aldi a while ago for around a tenner) - they are fine to wipe with a wet
cloth or sponge - you could probably wash them - but it depends on where
you put the holes for the binder - if you pierce the paper I think the
water would seep in eventually - I keep them away from hot pans - I
imagine they would shrivel and melt or even combust if left close to a
hot ring - but then I guess you could say the same about a cookery book ;-)

[Jane Gillett]

Post by Kev

Post by Jane Gillett
How do they stand up to hot plates/dishes/pans? How do they stand up to
being put in hot water for cleaning? Are there special laminate materials
you use for these or is it just the "normal" ones you buy from the usual
stationery outlet?
Jane

I've just used the ordinary ones (got the laminator and 50 pouches from
Aldi a while ago for around a tenner) - they are fine to wipe with a wet
cloth or sponge - you could probably wash them - but it depends on where
you put the holes for the binder - if you pierce the paper I think the
water would seep in eventually - I keep them away from hot pans - I
imagine they would shrivel and melt or even combust if left close to a
hot ring - but then I guess you could say the same about a cookery book ;-)

Thanks. So wiping's ok; may be able to wash provided water not too hot
provided, as you say, there were no holes - from punch or otherwise. You'd
think people would have more sense but with a variety of people coming and
going ....; I once lent a friend a rather nice tray for using at a party
and some ***** used it as a chopping board!

The idea is that I fancy people wouldn't use a book - books are around
already if they were going to - but they take a look at something lying
around the kitchen surface before going out to buy or using what food's
there.

Cheers
Jane

[s***@gowanhill.com]

Post by Jane Gillett
Think the characteristics it would need would include
. Wipeable and/or dunkable in hot water
. Proof against hot pots
. Reasonably proof against being used as a chopping board
. A useful set of recipes
. Double-sided
. Get-able ie easy and cheap to buy or otherwise obtain

You mean Robert Carrier Cookery Cards from the charity shop :-)

Or the Usborne version
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191068002864

When I was a student I would have liked to know how to make a packet soup without it turning into a dumpling. Someone else in the kitchen had problems understanding where the fill-to-here mark was on the pot noodle tub.

Owain

[Janet]

Post by s***@gowanhill.com

Post by Jane Gillett
Think the characteristics it would need would include
. Wipeable and/or dunkable in hot water
. Proof against hot pots
. Reasonably proof against being used as a chopping board
. A useful set of recipes
. Double-sided
. Get-able ie easy and cheap to buy or otherwise obtain

You mean Robert Carrier Cookery Cards from the charity shop :-)
Or the Usborne version
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191068002864
When I was a student I would have liked to know how to make a packet soup without it turning into a dumpling. Someone else in the kitchen had problems understanding where the fill-to-here mark was on the pot noodle tub.
Owain

Virtually any student these days will have some small electronic
device on which they can summon up a million beginner recipes or menus,
right there in the kitchen... and an app which gives them a shopping
list.

Janet.

[Mike.. . . .]

Following a post by Janet

Post by Janet
Virtually any student these days will have some small electronic
device on which they can summon up a million beginner recipes or menus,
right there in the kitchen... and an app which gives them a shopping
list.

"allcooks", for instance, is an android cooking app allededly with an
online cooking community, just like this usenet group. You could of
course also read *this* group on a smartphone, but more likely, you
might go to the food groups on FB, which mirror this one and the US
rec.cooking.
Android apps:-
<http://www.talkandroid.com/guides/beginner/best-android-apps-for-finding-that-perfect-recipe-july-2013/>

[Steve Slatcher]

Post by Janet

Post by s***@gowanhill.com

Post by Jane Gillett
Think the characteristics it would need would include
. Wipeable and/or dunkable in hot water
. Proof against hot pots
. Reasonably proof against being used as a chopping board
. A useful set of recipes
. Double-sided
. Get-able ie easy and cheap to buy or otherwise obtain

You mean Robert Carrier Cookery Cards from the charity shop :-)
Or the Usborne version
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191068002864
When I was a student I would have liked to know how to make a packet soup without it turning into a dumpling. Someone else in the kitchen had problems understanding where the fill-to-here mark was on the pot noodle tub.
Owain

Virtually any student these days will have some small electronic
device on which they can summon up a million beginner recipes or menus,
right there in the kitchen... and an app which gives them a shopping
list.

Quite. But I suppose the challenge is how to encourage students to find
and use those apps/recipes? I am not convinced sheets on a kitchen
surface are the way to do it - in a cramped student kitchen wouldn't
they rapidly get lost under a pile of dirty plates or other stuff? How
about a poster by the microwave with QR codes for sensible recipes?
Probably best to talk to some students and visit some of their kitchen.

[Ophelia]

Post by Steve Slatcher

Post by Janet

Post by s***@gowanhill.com

Post by Jane Gillett
Think the characteristics it would need would include
. Wipeable and/or dunkable in hot water
. Proof against hot pots
. Reasonably proof against being used as a chopping board
. A useful set of recipes
. Double-sided
. Get-able ie easy and cheap to buy or otherwise obtain

You mean Robert Carrier Cookery Cards from the charity shop :-)
Or the Usborne version
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191068002864
When I was a student I would have liked to know how to make a packet
soup without it turning into a dumpling. Someone else in the kitchen had
problems understanding where the fill-to-here mark was on the pot noodle
tub.
Owain

Virtually any student these days will have some small electronic
device on which they can summon up a million beginner recipes or menus,
right there in the kitchen... and an app which gives them a shopping
list.

Quite. But I suppose the challenge is how to encourage students to find
and use those apps/recipes? I am not convinced sheets on a kitchen
surface are the way to do it - in a cramped student kitchen wouldn't they
rapidly get lost under a pile of dirty plates or other stuff? How about a
poster by the microwave with QR codes for sensible recipes? Probably best
to talk to some students and visit some of their kitchen.

Microwave eh?? In my day it was a single electric ring. It was always one
pot cooking:)

[Janet]

In article <***@mid.individual.net>, ***@pobox.com
says...

Post by Steve Slatcher

Post by Janet

Post by s***@gowanhill.com

Post by Jane Gillett
Think the characteristics it would need would include
. Wipeable and/or dunkable in hot water
. Proof against hot pots
. Reasonably proof against being used as a chopping board
. A useful set of recipes
. Double-sided
. Get-able ie easy and cheap to buy or otherwise obtain

You mean Robert Carrier Cookery Cards from the charity shop :-)
Or the Usborne version
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191068002864
When I was a student I would have liked to know how to make a packet soup without it turning into a dumpling. Someone else in the kitchen had problems understanding where the fill-to-here mark was on the pot noodle tub.
Owain

Virtually any student these days will have some small electronic
device on which they can summon up a million beginner recipes or menus,
right there in the kitchen... and an app which gives them a shopping
list.

Quite. But I suppose the challenge is how to encourage students to find
and use those apps/recipes?

IME, young people can and do find whatever they want/need from the
internet/palmtop etc, and need no instruction (or encouragement) to do
so. YMMV.

They probably consider a plastic covered recipe sheet as antiquated as
following stick drawings scratched on the cave wall with a flint.

Janet.

[Mike.. . . .]

Following a post by Janet

Post by Janet
IME, young people can and do find whatever they want/need from the
internet/palmtop etc, and need no instruction (or encouragement) to do
so. YMMV.

"what they want", yes. What this thread supposes they need is another
thing. But even apart from possible lack of motivation, does the
internet actually give you a way of destinquishing bad from good basic
recipes if inexpereinced?

[Paul Corfield]

On Sat, 08 Mar 2014 17:18:06 +0000, Mike.. . . .

Post by Mike.. . . .
Following a post by Janet

Post by Janet
IME, young people can and do find whatever they want/need from the
internet/palmtop etc, and need no instruction (or encouragement) to do
so. YMMV.

"what they want", yes. What this thread supposes they need is another
thing. But even apart from possible lack of motivation, does the
internet actually give you a way of destinquishing bad from good basic
recipes if inexpereinced?

Yes - you read the reviews and comments underneath. That can help
identify

a) if the recipe works.
b) any common issues such as varying oven temperatures and extra time
to cook something.
c) how to tweak or vary the recipe with different ingredients or how
to compensate if you are short of something.
d) if people have enjoyed eating the end result of the recipe.

My only comment about using computers / phones / Ipads in the kitchen
environment is the obvious one about the equipment being at risk of
liquid splashes. Further if you need to use your hands to prepare the
food then it may not be sensible to touch electronic equipment with
sticky fingers. I suspect this is why there was the original
suggestion about laminated or otherwise protected bits of paper with
the recipe details.

[ARW]

Post by s***@gowanhill.com

Post by Jane Gillett
Think the characteristics it would need would include
. Wipeable and/or dunkable in hot water
. Proof against hot pots
. Reasonably proof against being used as a chopping board
. A useful set of recipes
. Double-sided
. Get-able ie easy and cheap to buy or otherwise obtain

You mean Robert Carrier Cookery Cards from the charity shop :-)
Or the Usborne version
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191068002864
When I was a student I would have liked to know how to make a packet soup
without it turning into a dumpling.
Someone else in the kitchen had problems understanding where the
fill-to-here mark was >on the pot noodle tub.

How did he wipe his own arse after a shit?

[ARW]

Post by s***@gowanhill.com

Post by Jane Gillett
Think the characteristics it would need would include
. Wipeable and/or dunkable in hot water
. Proof against hot pots
. Reasonably proof against being used as a chopping board
. A useful set of recipes
. Double-sided
. Get-able ie easy and cheap to buy or otherwise obtain

You mean Robert Carrier Cookery Cards from the charity shop :-)
Or the Usborne version
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191068002864
When I was a student I would have liked to know how to make a packet soup
without it turning into a dumpling.
Someone else in the kitchen had problems understanding where the
fill-to-here mark was on the pot noodle tub.

Media studies by any chance?