What's for tea tonight? (#8)

[Aladdin]

Ok thanks. I’d need to reduce it a lot to get the kind of thickening im after. That‘s why I’m using the cornflour , as a cheat.

Cornflour mixed in a little water goes in last minute.

Other option would be a roux.

 

[Epona]

Thanks - I knew that boiling it for too long would make it thin again, but not the bit about “too high heat”. So does that mean you should simmer to thicken it, but not reach a rolling boil..? Maybe that’s my issue.

But yes, I do thicken in the saucepan then faff around serving, but I was thinking it should be stable anyway.

You can bring it up to a point where it is bubbling, keep stirring and watch for when the texture and appearance changes (should lose any cloudiness from the white of the cornflour as it thickens) but then it needs to be served right away at that point. Leaving it to sit while you do other things is where it is going wrong - the starches in cornflour that make it thick simply break down while it is sitting warm. As Sugar Kane said, you need to be adding your cornflour mixed in a little cold water at the last minute and then heating briefly and serving immediately, so make that the last thing you do.

Unless you need to make gluten free gravy (in which case cornflour is an excellent option, just thicken and serve straight away, don't leave it to sit), then a roux based gravy using wheat flour+fat roux will retain its structural integrity better.

 

[MrCurry]

You can bring it up to a point where it is bubbling, keep stirring and watch for when the texture and appearance changes (should lose any cloudiness from the white of the cornflour as it thickens) but then it needs to be served right away at that point. Leaving it to sit while you do other things is where it is going wrong - the starches in cornflour that make it thick simply break down while it is sitting warm. As Sugar Kane said, you need to be adding your cornflour mixed in a little cold water at the last minute and then heating briefly and serving immediately, so make that the last thing you do.

Unless you need to make gluten free gravy (in which case cornflour is an excellent option, just thicken and serve straight away, don't leave it to sit), then a roux based gravy using wheat flour+fat roux will retain its structural integrity better.

Thanks Epona and Sugar Kane i will have another go today

 

[onenameshelley]

I go plain flour roux everytime

 

[May Kasahara]

Salmon, new potatoes and veg today.

 

[MrCurry]

You can bring it up to a point where it is bubbling, keep stirring and watch for when the texture and appearance changes (should lose any cloudiness from the white of the cornflour as it thickens) but then it needs to be served right away at that point.

This worked perfectly today! Thanks so much I’ve realised I was cooking it way too long before, as it goes clear like you said quite quickly.

 

[butcher]

4hr ragu, mirepoix, toms, tom puree, oregano, pork and beef mince, pork ribs, chicken livers, wine, etc

Glossy and gert lush. The ribs were cooked til falling off then meat removed, chopped and added back to the ragu.

 

[Looby]

Lazy Sunday dinner. Lamb shanks and parmentier potatoes from M&S with garlicky roasted tenderstem and carrots.

 

[gentlegreen]

Day 4 of my stew.

Yesterday I topped it up with half a bag of cavallo nero, some mushrooms, chickpeas and canned tomatoes.
Today the second half of the cavallo nero and a can of butter beans.
I put the ribs in after serving to see if they're edible by the end of the week.

 

[Mrs Miggins]

Root veg and pearl barley stew again with some of those crusty rolls you finish in the oven. There's enough stew left for me to take a portion to work tomorrow which makes me very happy.

Cocoa and chocolate biscuits for afters.

 

[moose]

A kind of elaborate patatas bravas with roasted veg in it and loads of smoked paprika. Carrots roasted with maple syrup and nigella seeds.

Lemon cheesecake.

 

[Epona]

We had the remains of the tuna casserole I cooked Sunday morning, followed by ice cream (triple chocolate for me, caramel swirl for OH).

 

[Elpenor]

Nothing yesterday as fell asleep at 5pm

Today, not sure. A few things in the fridge have a best before of today so whichever one won’t freeze well I expect.

 

[onenameshelley]

It's a work night so freezer dinner for himself (cajunn stew and the green rice from last night)and macaroni cheese for the small one. I will have a sandwich when I get home.

 

[sojourner]

Those lush Naked and Fresh spicy beanburgers, with spicy wedges and salad.

Melty middle chocolate puddings, with vanilla custard.

 

[Elpenor]

Nothing yesterday as fell asleep at 5pm

Today, not sure. A few things in the fridge have a best before of today so whichever one won’t freeze well I expect.

Looks like the only thing left to eat is a pizza but I feel too full to contemplate eating it now after a huge lunch.

Will probably freeze pizza and have some fruit instead

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Red leicester and oatcakes.

 

[pinkmonkey]

Beef carrots and ale in the slow cooker

 

[Saffy]

Fish tacos, sweetcorn salad and spicy rice.
Mango sorbet for pudding.

 

[May Kasahara]

Spaghetti and meatballs made from sausages.

 

[quiet guy]

Bacon, eggs and black pudding with a couple of slices of toast.

 

[moose]

Beany chilli, coriander rice, delicious no-meat balls (100% would buy again)

Small ice cream on a stick.

 

[Epona]

Used a good portion of my beautiful baguette making hot dogs with the blandest and most horrible of tinned hot dog sausages.

Am now having some haribo to make up for it.

 

[sojourner]

Drum class tonight, so a quick tea of leftover Tuscan bean and tomato soup, with homemade crusty white rolls slathered in wild garlic butter.

Whatever choccy is left in the cupboards for afters.

 

[May Kasahara]

Fuck knows.

 

[nottsgirl]

Baked potato with tuna mayo. Salad with pizza express dressing.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Three bean veggie chilli with rice. The chilli was out of a tin - was alright I suppose, but nowt special.

 

[onenameshelley]

Small had pizza and fries, himself has veggie stir fry with chilli tofu. I am having a sandwich as I don't fancy stir fry much right now.

 

[May Kasahara]

UPDATE! I'm making chips to go with some sort of breaded oven nonsense and broccoli.

 

[onenameshelley]

The chilli tofu stuff was binned, it went to crumbs and was particularly unpleasant taste and texture wise. Definitely won't be buying it again.