Ready? Meals!
As we're learning this week, there are so many negative aspects of unemployment. It's actually been quite humbling to read many of the posts, and there seems to be more gloom about than during the 'Credit Crunch' question.

However, I wanted to pass on the most beneficial thing I got out of a recent stint of unemployment: a love of cooking.

During the affluent years leading up to losing my job, I'd slipped into eating ready meals and pre-prepared foods, such as sandwiches and pizzas. I'd become lazy in the kitchen and went for a long period of time without using anything other than the microwave and oven.

When I lost my job, I signed-on immediately. When I got my first JSA cheque, I went shopping for the fortnight and quickly ran out of money. My usual nonchalance at the tills turned to horror as I realised there was no way I could afford to eat my usual stream of bung-it-in-the-microwave luxury.

So I did what any sensible man in need would do. I turned to the font of all knowledge, the oracle, the one person who'd know what to do in time of crisis.

I went to see my mum.

She wasn't initially that helpful. She related the time the family had struggled to feed itself during the last recession, when Thatcher's government pushed interest rates through the roof and most had trouble paying their mortgage blah blah blah... Anyway mum, about my problem?

'Oh yes. Back in a mo.'

She nipped out of the room and returned with two big hardback tomes, their dust-covers crusted with all manner of dried sauces and marinades.

She gave me the first two books in Delia Smith's How To Cook series, and I must remember to thank her for sending me on the most exciting culinary journey I've ever had.

Buying ingredients and cooking from scratch is often touted as a false economy, but I don't see it that way at all. I buy ingredients, cook them up and have a number of servings to pack up and store in the fridge or freezer.

I now cook soups, risottos, curries, stews, breads, pizzas, pastas, pies, cakes, biscuits, roasts, stir-frys, salads, sauces and salsas, and a multitude of other dishes I would never have dreamed of cooking for myself.

The whole process of cooking from scratch has given me so much pleasure. I regularly find myself bouncing around the kitchen on tasting my concoctions, and feel very pleased with myself that I've managed to provide, for example, eight meals for three quid - leek, chili and potato soup last night... awesome!

So thanks mum, and thanks Delia. Your encouragement and insight has given my cooking a new lease of life, and a considerably more frugal attitude to food shopping. I wouldn't have done it without you.

Now, if only I could find someone to cook for...
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 8:58, 36 replies)

Great post!
Having lived on burgers and shit from cartons for a few years and ballooning to a mighty fifteen stone at one point, I too got zee chop from work, suddenly became a dab hand at cooking with such wonderful ingredients as tins of tomatoes, peas, rice, and pasta. Now I'm back down to my usual ten-and-a-half stone and never felt fitter (well, apart from the years of nicotine, shoe polish and alcohol abuse).

A well prepared *click* for you, Sir - might even chuck in a spring of rosemary.
( SpankyHanky, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 9:05, closed)

Ooh topical!
On Saturday, daughter and I planted rosemary, thyme, oregano, parsley, sage, mint, chives and chervil, mainly for use in cooking.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 9:09, closed)

^ This
Thought about working as a chef?

Also have you tried any Keith Floyd stuff? French home cooking at its best.
(jackhiggs no longer a v!rgin as of..., Wed 8 Apr 2009, 9:10, closed)

I'd love to do some form of work as a cook
but knowing a couple of people who worked in kitchens - one as head chef - it sounds like a hell of a lot of hard work, and I'm inherently lazy :)
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 9:18, closed)

Indeedly
Hard work for a paltry wage.

However more than outweighed by the free alcohol, drugs and young waitresses.

Plus the amazing satisfaction of creating beautifully presented dishes with ingredients you'd never dream of using at home.
(jackhiggs no longer a v!rgin as of..., Wed 8 Apr 2009, 10:11, closed)

It's certainly crossed my mind
but the last thing I need at the moment is MORE drugs and alcohol :)

I could definitely do with a young waitress or two, though.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 10:40, closed)

I worked as a cook through college.
It is a lot of hard work, a lot of hard drugs (taken by people with realy sharp knives), very wierd hours, and not much money. You do not see a lot of old chefs.

That said, I did have a lot of fun and it helped me pay for college. Unfortunately, I now have to do all the cooking at home (and the places I worked at never seemed to have any young waitresses).
(MichaelS wasn't picked again, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 11:38, closed)

I love to cook and am pretty good at it
doing stuff from scratch is far from false economy!


I can heartily recommend John Torrode's Beef cookbook at the moment.

Also I get a subscription to Goodfood magazine for Christmas from my gf's mum every year. Great recipes, made cheaply and healthily.

Good tip though No3L, let's hope it inspires some others.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 9:14, closed)

Cheers!
That's a good tip, Good Food mag. I might ask for that this christmas.

I've found the internet is a bloody brilliant resource for recipes - I use BBC Food and Delia's site a few times a week looking for inspiration.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 9:21, closed)

the good food website is also good
www.bbcgoodfood.com contains most of the recipes from the magazine, but a while after the magazine has come out.

I've also got a set of Carrier's Kitchen, a weekly thing that my mum collected through the 70s/80s.

Approximately 3000 pages of recipes, cookery skills and stuff about wine and things from Robert Carrier in 9 volumes. It's amazing.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 9:41, closed)

I spotted that a few weeks ago
when I was searching for brownie recipes *cough*

Looks good - I'll check it out.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 9:45, closed)

there is a recipe on there for chocolate brownie cake
make it. you won't be disappointed.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 10:28, closed)

Delia is great
I have the 'old' Delia from 20 years ago or so and it's my cooking bible - I use it more than anything else. And cooking is an excellent transferable skill. A friend of mine is a professional classical musician and an excellent cook. Guess which one she makes the most money out of.
(Smale is stuffed, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 9:18, closed)

I bet she's not single :)

( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 9:22, closed)

She has been
for the last 6 months...
(Smale is stuffed, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 10:58, closed)

I've avoided this uninspiring qotw so far,
But I'm glad I read this. Couldn't agree more, home cooking is an absolute pleasure, and its benefits almost seem too obvious to be pointed out. (Delia is god in my kitchen too- though I try and replace the butter and double cream, of which she seems so fond).

*click*
( Tab Hunter Make this useless process end and so, begin again, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 9:20, closed)

Well done!
I'm about to embark on a similar "Jamie Oliver" based experience of my own.
(golddust QOTW now revolves around being a cunt, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 9:25, closed)

What???
You're going to start slobbering like a twat and acting all 'street' and ride round London on a fucking scooter???
( SpankyHanky, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 9:27, closed)

Ahaha!

( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 9:38, closed)

He gets a lot of stick (edit: ^see?)
but I really enjoyed 'Jamie at Home' on Channel 4 recently - if you didn't see it, I'd recommend watching it at 4 On Demand. Good, hearty, simple cooking with a little fat-tongued charisma thrown in.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 9:37, closed)

At the risk of being lynched,
I really like the fat tongued pleb.

His passion for cooking is wonderful, something a lot of "celebrity chefs" lack greatly.
It's amazing how much more inspirational it makes him (well to me anyway).


/gay
(TheColonel, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 10:04, closed)

I agree
There was a bandwagon of Jamie hate when he appeared on the scene, but his love for what he does makes his shows compulsive viewing, for me at least.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 10:11, closed)

The one where he buggerred off to Italy was great. Although you do get the impression that in social situations he is a bit shit.
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 10:48, closed)

I've got all his books
The things he can do with a chicken!

He has taken me to previously uncharted waters - cooking wise, obviously.

Love him.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 12:08, closed)

Good Post
Have to say since moving out the 2 greatest things on earth for me are:

Potatoes
Wholegrain Rice

Cheap, good for you and absolutely versatile.

On another note here are the best celebrity chefs:

1) Rick Stein
2) Keith Floyd
3) Delia
4) Jamie Oliver
5) Ken Hom (for that bit of exotic)

Pity I stink out the flat with all that fish I cook :(
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 9:33, closed)

Two Fat Ladies were bloody brilliant
Erm... there was a Chinese girl who did an oriental cookery series on BBC2 recently, she was good, and cute to boot.

I'd put Keith Floyd on top, personally, but then I'm not a big fish man.

Heh... like a huge merman, or something...

Edit: how could I forget Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall? Top chap.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 9:44, closed)

Ching I think her name was
She is cute, although you can't beat busty nigella. That video that was up a while back (casette boy I think it was) was an absolute dream.



Oh oh oh, and Rachel Allen, if you've ever seen her. She gets me going something rotten. Like the way you'd like to gat your auntie (not blood relative obv.).

Edit: Oh yeah, almost forgot. This post FTW
(TheColonel, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 10:06, closed)

Cheers
Rachel's that Irish lass, isn't she? Man, she gives me the upright towel-hook.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 10:09, closed)

I almost choked to death laughing at this
I got put off her by my brother slagging her off non-stop when we watched her show.

I would though.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 10:32, closed)

Huge Furry-Whippingtool is one of my favourites
proper old fashioned cooking.

I find Heston Blumenthal quite engaging. Obviously you can't watch him for recipe ideas, but some of his recent Feasts shows have been interesting and entertaining!
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 10:29, closed)

Yeah
One of the best things about Hugh Fearnley whatshisname is the vast majority of the time he is self-sustaining (growing his own food etc, customising the cottage) and that he loves to get in touch with the British roots.

That episode where he went to a cider festivel and went a bit wild on cider was a classic.

He's also well into "nose to tail" eating which is brilliant. Love reading recipes about pigs trotters and shin of beef - the cheaper cuts. All excellent!

Nigella is such a fucking slut though...

/creams
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 10:42, closed)

Try Hugh's spring chicken recipe
It's amazing - just loads of fresh herbs, butter and wine - it's utterly divine.

Hugh is mad as a badger, but his programmes are excellent viewing and his books are good too. Sadly I lost my copies as my ex wouldn't let me take them - I got Nigella and Jamie, he kept Hugh and Delia.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 12:12, closed)

Veggie cookbooks
Just to add my tuppence to this list.

For all you veggies out there, you CANNOT beat Leith's Vegetarian Bible, 600 pages of fantastic vegetarian recipes, hardly any pictures, and you can pick up cheap second hand copies from Amazon.

Buy it, buy it, buy it, it's aces!
( gadjie, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 10:53, closed)

I have that
I don't find it any good, but that may be due to the way I use cookbooks and recipes to see if the idea I've had for a dish has been done and isn't completely mental.

the Leith's one just doesn't work for me.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 11:01, closed)

that's a shame
Horses for courses, and all that.

I find the way it's arranged by ingredient means that you can usually make something tasty, and there are more than enough impressive recipes if you're trying to get lucky.

Ok, how about Fresh Flavours of India, a great South Indian cookbook? Beetroot curry,yum!
( gadjie, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 12:00, closed)

I know everyone pervs about Nigella
but her recipes are good, if rather fattening and 'sensuous' - she's as big on finger licking, cream and midnight feasts in her books as she is on TV. However, I've used loads of her recipes and found that they're just as good as Delia's but more sexy and often easier to do - she, like Jamie, tends towards a handful of this (fnarr!), a glug of that and so on.

She's brilliant.

And of course I would.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 12:15, closed)