I love watching Reza as he reminds me of my greatest hero of all time - Freddie Mercury!

Keep it simple Amazda, use the correct pots and then mash them with whatever you like - packet mash will taste as bland as the packet after that!

Our favourite version of mash at the moment is to steam new pots until they are just done, smash them into an uneven consistency (with their skins) and then place them in an ovenproof dish, sprinkle them with sea salt, loads of olive oil, garlic and fresh herbs and then bake them in the oven until they are done.

I adore marmite and would love to know what sort of cake it is!!

Thanks guys - I will have a look at it and let you know!

My 2nd breadmaker has now retired to that great big breadmaker in the sky and I'd appreciate any recommendations before I purchase a new one.

I'm looking for one that has a large breadpan and is pretty basic as I have a very greedy family who love their fresh bread and make 2 loaves a day on average.

My Bush Gourmet breadmaker was ideal but is worn out and we can't find the spares for it.

Suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks.

You've got me in a right fluster now as I was supposed to have added that I use ceramic baking beans from Lakeland Ltd and they are brilliant, marbles work just as well.

Oooh Kiwichef .. my tarts will only be pricked when thinking of you from now on LOL!!

How about a roasted veg lasagne, spicy chips (par boil your chips, dry them well, coat them with some spices and then place under the grill) and the greek salad that jenkies mentioned?

How's about the classic combination of feta cheese, spinach & nutmeg? I've made it in filo pastry, served it in a puff pastry base but haven't tried it in a pasty yet.

I am lucky enough to buy fresh free range eggs from a local farm on a regular basis and I do not keep them in a fridge.

As a family of four, we have a fairly good turnover on eggs and I would suggest that if you aren't going to store them in the fridge then make sure that you are going to use them within a couple of days and only buy as you need. We've never had any problems.

I do not trust supermarket free range eggs (despite their label .. they are so different from the eggs that I buy fresh local farms) and if I have to buy free range eggs from the supermarkets then I make sure that I keep them in the fridge and bring them up to room temperature before I need to use them.

We've not had any problems with this so far (touch wood!!).

Good luck with the installation of your new kitchen Sue B.!!

I would love wooden work surfaces all around the kitchen and think they are very practical as you can sand them down as and when necessary! I would go for it if it I were you.

We've compromised on a wooden breakfast bar that is the length of the kitchen (it's quite long and sits 4 people with plenty of leg room) and it's worked out a treat since we put it up a couple of years ago. I admit that I was a bit cautious about cutting on it so we got an offcut from the leftovers and has made a superb chopping board, strictly for veg as I think that meat needs to be prepared on a surface that can be easily picked up, washed and 'disinfected' on a regular basis.

Have fun in your new kitchen!

I dont' know if this is going to help Hotpots23 but I've got a reputation for making good pastry and then went through a phase where I couldn't make it at all and my daughters had more sucess then I did!! It'll sort itself out, don't worry.

Hi Bagpuss2

Also look around for pet-food wholesalers as they generally offer sacks of potatoes and carrots for a fraction of supermaket prices. You may have to drive out to one but the savings are incredible and they are usually locally grown produce that don't quite make the supermarket grading system.

I think that dips, crudites, humous and pate goes down really well as a starter or what about a cheesy fondue? That way, everyone will be able to dip and talk and give you time to do last minute preparations for the main course.

Hi Snoozy .. I'm sure you'll enjoy harvesting your own crop! I managed to grow courgettes and aubergines last year, I'm not a gardener and did forget to water them on occasion but they came through fantastic! Good luck and enjoy!

Good luck Jan1347 .. let us know how you get on!

Hi Andy. I haven't tried your recipe for CTM yet but will have a go at the weekend for my hubby (I'm a veggie).

We very rarely get takeaways and when we are in the mood for a curry, we make the most of it. I try to get as much as I can done the day before so it improves the flavour and I don't fill up on the cooking smells and enjoy the meal!!

Hi everyone! Which do you think is the best both healthwise and tastewise, rock or sea salt and what do you think is best for cooking with?

I made a loaf the other day and forgot to put the sugar in, it didn't rise as much and tasted reasonable.

I bought one of the food sealers from Lidls and it is brilliant for what I need it for, it does take the air out of the bag.

I buy my 'bags' from Lakeland Ltd, they come in two different sizes, on a roll and you cut them to size. I have found them cost effective and very reliable so far.

Please let us know how you get on Irene!

Hi Irene, try using a food/freezer bag. Snip one of the corners off the bag to make the size of hole that you require. Hope this helps!

Hi Tof, I don't know if I'm on the right track here but I bought a mandolin type implement that came with various attachments to 'sculpture' fruit and veg from QVC a few years ago ... is this the sort of thing that you mean?

Has anyone tried spaghetti with baked beans? Hubby couldn't be bothered to cook one night so made some spaghetti and added baked beans, bacon and cheese. I've done the same but substituted hot dog sausages and the kids loved it!

I have never taken any notice of what type of saucepan is used Sabrerattler, I use whatever I've got to hand and most of the recipes have worked so far!!

Hubby tends to grab the kitchen knives when he needs screwdrivers in a hurry .... grrrh!!

Hi Barbara2, what is the Onion Loaf like .. is it an onion bread or something similar to a veggie loaf?

Let us know how you get on and good luck!

I really hope that no-one bought it with the intention of using it on Christmas Day, what a disapointment.

Sorry, forgot to mention that I make a basic vanilla ice-cream for the kids, served the same way.

Baileys ice-cream served in a wafer basket is flavour of the month in our household at the moment!

Combine 1 pint of double cream, 3-4 tablespoons of Baileys or any other Irish Cream, pinch of salt, 1/2 a teaspoon of vanilla extract, 2 oz of icing sugar and beat until thick. Put in the freezer for 1-2 hours, beat again to remove the ice crystals and take it out of the freezer 20 minutes before you need to serve.

Serve in a wafer type basket and decorate with sprigs of mint, cranberries, icing sugar and chocolate leaves.

Simple, easy to prepare and extreeeemly delish!

Delia did a parsnip puree on UK Food this morning as part of her Xmas veggie recipe collection ... I must admit that I didn't take much notice as our family don't like parsnips. Why not have a look at her online veggie recipes and see if you can adapt her recipe?

Some more ideas:

Make yoghurt and let the kids flavour them with their favourite toppings

Make noodles or even pasta from scratch

Stuff some vegetables and bake them

Pies, quiches etc.

Make decoratative shapes out of icing and veg to decorate something that has either been bought or you have made

Perhaps even make lanterns, table decorations etc. out of ice to accompany a theme for the night

My daughter (11) bought a couple of really basic but good veggie cookbooks yesterday from one of the bargain bookshops that appear around the country at this time of year .. they cost 99p each and she can't wait to try out some of the recipes!

Hi Racheal, I've bought polenta recently from larger Tescos stores, Morrisons and Sainsburys. Smaller Tesco stores only seem to stock blocks of polenta.

I know what you mean about shops suddenly not stocking things, I had a nightmare finding buttermilk yet when I needed it, my favourite supermarkets stopped selling it! Fortunately it has returned to one of the supermarket shelves.

Good luck and don't give up! If you can't find it elsewhere then pester your local Asda store to put it back on the shelves.

Oooh Glenys, the red pepper souffles sound fantastic! I'm definately going to put them at the top of the Xmas starter list and will have a practice over the weekend.

I apologise for my reply guys .. I'm PH bread recipe mad at the moment and whilst my fingers do all the talking ... the brain is en gaged elsewhere

Welcome to the wonderful world of breadmakers Keith .. may all those baked in it rise to the occasion :P

Ok, I admit I have used the breadmaker to mix the dough on a "few" occasions :P Have you got a dough setting on your breadmaker Carol2?

What I do is put the wet ingredients in first, then the dry (it depends on your breadmaker) and then add the rest of the ingredients 3/4 of the way through the mixing process. I take it out, give it an extra knead and then prove and shape it according to what the great man says!!

I hope this helps.

Here here Debbie2 ... I prefer peeling veg to doing the ironing as well!!

Hi Claire, I used to be the same as your sister so I can empathise with her to a certain extent!

However, I think that Christmas is a family time and shouldn't family be helping out in the kitchen with the host? Perhaps you could suggest that you will bring along the veggies (either prepared before you go or prepare them at her house) as your contribution towards the dinner???

When we go anywhere for Xmas we always contribute towards it and the same goes for people who come to ours ... it's only fair as it's quite a stressful time for everyone - especially the host!

How's about doing a veggie terrine or pate?

I much prefer smaller lumps Nick!

Aaah, but Paul Hollywood could make a pumpkin out of dough so I think I would like to see him as Fairy Godmother :D :devilish:

Thought I'd answer Rusties question about the dogs' health on this thread as I don't want to 'spoil' Georgie's fame page!!

Rustie, the eldest dog suffered really badly with excema and allergies this year and we were advised to put him on a chicken and rice diet. It worked wonders, he stopped scratching after a couple of days and I would recommend it to everyone. Must admit that I hate boiling up the chicken and de-boning it as I'm a veggie - urrgh!!

I had a problem cooking rice and tried Delia's method, I find it works most times.

However, I'm now making a fair amount of it a week for my dogs and find that the microwave provides perfect rice everytime and have started re-using the micro for our rice!

Keep us posted on how it goes sstily! I think a 'basket' idea is a fantastic pressie for a teenager ... she is very lucky to have a step-mum like you!!

My brother in law's mother didn't believe in Christmas either, he really missed out when he was young .... but soon made up when he had a family of his own!!

sstily, there is a link for the perfect Yorkshire Pud on the site. If you type Yorkshire Pudding in the search menu, click down to recipes and look at Nbr 3, you'll find the perfect recipe for Yorkshires. There has also been a discussion on Yorkshire Puddings as well in the chat area recently. Good luck!

Hi Kussie. Lakeland Limited (www.lakeland.co.uk) also sell the flexible moulds.

Thanks Frexy! Bicarb is brilliant isn't it? I haven't bought bicarb from a Chinese shop before but I have bought a huge bag of star anise for pennies and made enough anniseed to last a lifetime! They are definately well worth a visit.

Wow! What a lovely story so far ... I hope you don't go off double cream or go on a diet after all this Martino :devilish:

Sorry this is late Claire, I was on the site yesterday but forgot to read the replies I posted on Friday!

The recipe is suitable for a breadmaker and is as follows:

10floz buttermilk
4 1/2 tbls water
1 1/2 tbls honey
1 1/2 tbls oil (pref. sunflower)
12oz white bread flour
5 1/2 oz wholemeal bread flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp dried yeast

Let me know how you get on .. I STILL haven't found any buttermilk :(

Our eldest baked some cookies at school and burned her arm quite badly yesterday, the burn is around 2" long and an inch wide. She is always very careful and she is used to taking things in/out the oven so to receive such a huge burn is beyond comprehension.

We went through what went wrong with her and it seems that the oven gloves that they have at school are very thin and only just come up to their wrists. We noticed that she also had a blister on her finger on the other hand and she casually said 'oh everyone gets burnt on that finger, there are holes in the oven gloves'!!!

Needless to say a strong letter is on it's way to school.

Hi Claire25, I think I remember the toffee that you are talking about and the ingredients were posted wrong on the website.

I always use the following for a honeycomb type toffee:

2 tbls golden syrup
5 tbls sugar
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Heat the sugar and syrup gently in a pan until melted, then boil for 3-4 minutes until a deep golden colour. Remove from the heat and stir in the bicarb (it will froth up) and pour onto a greased tray to set and then cut when cooled.

Hope this helps! It's also brilliant in ice-cream.

Lucky you Claire-23!! The minute I wanted buttermilk it disappeared from our shops ... we've searched high and low for it recently!!

I was going to make bread with it, if you would like me to post a recipe using buttermilk in bread then I will do later on tonight.

Hi Deborah, what sort of dog have you got? He sounds like a handful :D

We used to secure a fireguard around our Xmas tree and deco rated it to compliment the decos when we had a rather dozy Irish Wolfhound pup ... he was rather partial to chewing up the lights!

Hi lou-andis, welcome to the message board! I use pineapple in fruit muffins, they are wonderful.

I'm certain that Ainsley was one of the first chefs on GFB Lizzie .. I think he did the 'Tarte Tatin' recipe which is a firm favourite in our house now!

Hi Liv, I have bought it from both Tescos and Sainsburys so it's definately available in the supermarkets.

Thanks Rustie & Carole1, the pumpkin muffins and pumpkin pie cake look good!

ps You are more than welcome to come Carole!!

Hi Mamma Chef, we had it last night as a lentil veggie shephards mince and it was definately a firm favourite in this house ... THANK U!

Does anyone have any pumpkin recipes (suitable for nut allergies) that 22 kids can "help" make in 15 minutes with a maximum of 30 minutes cooking time bearing in mind that they have a small oven?

Our local Nature Reserve is having a Halloween party and they are having a hard time finding suitable recipes. Suggestions witch are goul enough will be grave fully received :devilish:

I would have thought that with video recorders, recordable DVD's plus repeats that everyone, everywhere would be able to watch their programme at some time or another?

I tend to make up 'concoctions' when making flavoured oils but my favourite has to be lemon, garlic, basil and olive oil. I love experimenting with different flavours and I can only suggest that you use whatever flavours you think go together until you find the perfect flavoured oil.

All I do is chop up whatever I'm using, place in a bottle and then top up with olive oil and leave for a minimum of a week to infuse.

If this recipe is the only one that you need lisax, why not check out the library and see if they have it in?

It did look scrummy and I'm going to have a go during the week.

What a fantastic idea! I'm definately going to do that for my best mate who is a real foodie. I was going to make some flavoured oils, like Keith, but this is so much better plus we've got time to do it! Thanks EllieB!

Hi louise1640, I tend to knock back the dough after it has come out of the breadmaker, shape the dough into rolls, put them on a baking sheet covered with oiled clingfilm and then place the baking sheets on top of the oven as it is warming up.

That's not what I've heard Carole1 :devilish: !!!

Thanks everyone! I will have to buy them online as Tescos, Asda, Morrisons definately haven't got any up here (I'm sure they used to stock them but now that I've found the perfect receipe for them .. they don't stock them!!!).

Jill, I have seen them spelt both ways .. adzuki and aduki beans and as far as I know, they are both the same bean!

Hi June, firstly I would check to see how long you have had the frozen food in the freezer ... if you leave food in there for a while then it does suffer from 'freezer burn'.

The second thing is to check that no air has got into the frozen food as this allows ice crystals to form.

If you are freezing home-made food on a regular basis then I would suggest investing in a heat sealer that sucks the air out of the bag before you seal and feeze the food - especially if you want to keep it in the freezer for longer.

Hi! Does anyone know where to buy Aduki beans from? I've looked in all the major supermarkets, health food shops etc. but can't find them anywhere.

Hi Bubbi, mine has got to be anything to do with mash & gravy, lentil soup or root veggie casseroles.

I've now got a Bush Gourmet Bread Maker and it is brilliant, it does most of what the others do (but to be honest, I don't use them that much). I think the main thing to consider is the size of the breadpan and then start looking into the other features and compromise from there.

Awww, Karen .. was I really THAT obvious??? : LOL

My cheapo version of a Kitchenaid is fantastic, it doesn't take up space, isn't too noisy and it does everything I want it to ... and then some!

Daniela23, many thanks for your wise words of wisdom .. I totally agree with you! I hope everyone who is on or is going on the diet reads your message and thinks strongly about what they are doing.

Jennifer264 .. the only thin genes I have are the ones in the back of the wardrobe that are STILL WAITING for the diet to work

Hi Bridge, try adding some fresh tarragon into the soup as well, it is really lovely.

I would love to see Tamasin on GFL! We don't see/hear much of her apart from her series on UK Food and columns in the paper.

I agree with Jill and think that Tamasin is fortunate to have 'thin genes'. I have a friend who is a size 6 and eats for England, she is constantly trying to put on weight.

I love Tamasin's recipes, everything I have tried so far has turned out well.

Hi Koner, the packaging says that it is ideal for the BBQ to ... haven't tried it yet but it looks like it'll do the job! It's also ok in the oven, under the grill and on top of the hob.

I've just bought a large double sided grill plate (Argos, £15.99) that uses two rings on the hob .. it's excellent for chargrilling marrows, aubergines and courgettes sliced lengthways.

Sounds delish ... I would love the recipe as well. Did anyone else see it?

My friend has the same problem and brings them down by the bucket load on a regular basis, plus we have quite a lot growing in the garden ourselves! I've just made huge quantities of Tamasin's tomato sauce. I kept some in a container in the fridge and have frozen the rest, it is so versatile you could use it as a base for almost anything.

Ah ha! Thanks Rustie! I've been given a few marrows from my friend and apart from using them for ratatouille and stuffing them with rice, I've been stuck for ideas. I may try the marrow and green bean salad tomorrow. .. yum yum.

Hi Gaily

I totally agree with what you are saying about Tamasin's hair flying around whilst she cooks.

Hubby, myself and the girls (who have just started cooking properly) watched the programme tonight and cringed when she took the hammer out of the toolbox and broke up the toffee with it. The girls thought it would be a brilliant idea to dig into Dad's toolbox and use items for cooking and we this led onto yet another food related H&S discussion to make sure that girls understood why you can't do that in 'real life etc. I wasn't impressed with that bit of filming.

Has anyone noticed that she has so obviously been sponsored by a well known brand of orange cookware in her new kitchen?

Having said all that, I love Tamasin's rustic outlook on food and cooking and I am looking forward to the rest of the new series.

Hi BFC

I have just made a vegetarian lentil loaf and I had difficulty getting it out of the tin in one piece (it crumbled when it came out despite greasing the greaseproof paper etc.).

Should you allow it to cool down completely before turning it out?

Any suggestions would be appreciated!! Thanx

We have a craze on goat's cheese at the moment and I use it like parmesan .. grate some over your melted cheese and it really adds depth to the cheese on toast!

I'm sorry to hear about your loss Gaye, to lose one parent is hard enough but two is beyond words. Keep strong.

Perhaps anyone from Cornwall could post traditional Cornish recipes for Gaye? We talked about the recipe for the traditional cornish pasty a while ago but I don't think we could recreate the definitive pasty. Glenys has started us off so any other suggestions/recipe ideas on the message board please!

Just a thought, if I'm in a hurry to make ice-cream for the girls then I whip up some double/whipping cream and add maltezers hot drink powder, nesquik or something similar and freeze it ... it takes seconds and the kids love it!

Huggy, I have a regular supply of honeycomb ice-cream, not sure if it is the same as on the site but I serve it in chocolate wafer baskets for dinner parties and keep a huge stock of it in the freezer for the kids as well.

I'm a veggie in a meat eating family and I agree with Koner, it would be nice to see some veggie programmes on UK Food.

I feel that GFL is dedicated towards meat-eaters, we have had a few lovely veggie recipes on GFL but they are so far and few between. More would be appreciated!

With regard to veggie alternatives to meat, I love them! They are my version of fast food and are always handy to keep in stock. We went to a dinner party on Friday night and I was served a quorn fillet served in the shape of a fish .. that was what everyone else was having and she didn't want me to feel left out?? Need I say any more.

I can only say keep hounding the 'Studio' and if you don't get a satisfactory response then let them know that you are going to take it further .. Watchdog etc. Good luck!

The only thing I can think of that they are using is powdered milk/cream and some form of flavourings. I would suggest that you contact the company concerned and 1) find out why the sachet wasn't included with the ice-cream maker 2) where you can buy replacements from and 3) ask for their suggestions of what to use if you can't find the sachets or if they prove to be too expensive to buy on a regular basis.

Good luck!

That sounds yummy Leslie .. I feel a trip to the shops coming on!!

We have a craze on focaccia type rolls at the moment. Try mixing PH's focaccia recipe in the breadmaker on the dough setting and then take it out and hand shape the dough into rolls and place on a floured baking sheet. I slightly flatten them to make the rolls into large, thinish type baps and make dimples in each roll then brush with olive oil, add some fresh rosemary sprigs, cover with cling film and leave to prove for an hour or so. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes at 180 deg. They are delish.

Melon with sunflower seeds & nuts go really well ... or perhaps you could make a melon sorbet (one of my favourites!).

Ooops!! I have always left it to soak (10 minutes) so that any residue under the paddles comes off easily!! I guess I need to read the manual!!

I think the longer you leave bread in the breadmaker, the soggier it becomes and I try to take it out when I hear the first bleep.

With regard to 'stuck paddles', I used to have that problem with my old machine but haven't had a problem with the Morphy Richards. Hubby reckons the old machine's bearings had gone which is why it stuck.

I try to remove the pan from the bread-maker as soon as I can and give the bread a good 'shake' and it usually comes out ok. I make a 2 1/2 lb loaf on a daily basis.

One important thing to remember is NOT to wash the breadpan in a dishwasher and to soak it in warm water when you have finished.

And just how would you define it then Rustie??? :devilish:

I got a huge pot of basil from the supermarket a while ago, hardened it off and planted it in our herb container and it has really flourished! I have always kept a pot on the windowsill (again, supermarket pot) and I think it survives with "neglect". I've tried purple basil (from the garden centre) in the herb container and it hasn't grown much at all .. yet all the other herbs have.

Uh oh! I'm going to stick with the long threads (tobacco link) Rustie .. anything else could get me in trouble with the message board moderators LOL ;-))

Hi Everyone! I agree with Trudi and would suggest that buying a good book is essential and the other most important thing is to keep on practicing! Bread-making isn't a skill that you can learn overnight and then expect to achieve perfect loaves everytime, it's all trial and error and in my case, it was mostly error than trial (if you know what I mean!!).

With regard to fan assisted ovens Robbie77, I tend to lower my oven by 10o and and/or cook for 10 minutes less than what is suggested in the recipe.

I wonder what "Shag" actually means? Drum tobacco is labelled Halfzware Shag!! Kus is a swear word in Arabic so if you went into a shop and asked for cous cous, you got some funny looks!!

Karen, I haven't been very sucessful with cooking fennel before and would love your recipe for onion and fennel soup, please can you send it to me?

I have a yoghurt maker which consists of 6 individual pots and a heated base unit with a timer. It takes 4-5 hours to make yoghurt from milk that has been heated for 10 minutes or 10-12 hours to make it from milk at room temperature. I use any organic live yoghurt from the supermarket and so far it has worked out really well using semi-skimmed milk. It makes a kg of yoghurt at a time but it takes a while to wash out all the pots ... I tend to transfer the yoghurt into an Easy-Yo container (as above) and keep it in the fridge and flavour when necessary. I use fresh fruit and fructose to sweeten it or if I'm in a hurry (pack-ups etc.) then I use a mixture of canned, frozen fruit and/or an ice-cream type topping for extra flavour.

Help! We're into Twiglets in a big way in our house at the moment and I would like to try and make something similar in huge batches. Any ideas would be appreciated!

I haven't seen it in the supermarkets for a while but managed to buy some from Sainsburys a few days ago, keep trying!

Must admit that I didn't quite get to Homebase (thanks to Hubby!!) but I have tried different home-made ice-cream recipes since I last wrote and they all turned out ok.

I'm off to Homebase tomorrow ... thanks PJ!

Hi Paul, I have frozen pizza dough before but I personally think it's better to make huge batches and shape and bake them before freezing.

Well done to you all! It sounds like the Atkins Diet does work! You've given me the inspiration to try ... again!

Heavens, what a result and well done to you Kim ... congratulations!!! I would love to go on the Atkins diet but I'm a veggie that doesn't eat fish!

I tried the Carol Vordeman detox and that was fantastic, I filled up on veggies but cut out wheat, dairy and meat and used dairy free alternatives for milk products. I lost a stone within a three weeks and my energy levels increased substantially and I felt I could continue with it .... but then hubby came home (he works away) and I put it on with a few minutes of him being home! Excuses, excuses eh?

I think diets are brilliant for the short term but the best way, long term, is adopt a healthy eating plan and make sure you exercise daily, that way you won't be disappointed!

I'm still looking out for one as well!

Hi Georgie ... no disrespect to the other Debbie intended but I wrote to Ian Fenn yesterday about it. Totally agree that we are both different ... keep posting Debbie!!

Heavens ... are there two Debbie's on the board now? I knew my time would come!!

I would definately recommend a bread machine, I am on my second now (I wore out the first) and I use it for both making dough and loaves, it is fantastic. My daughters classify 'shop bread' as 'duck bread' now, there is no way they would go back to even fresh bread from a bakery!! A bread machine is a compromise for when you are in a hurry and like homemade bread and just because you've got one doesn't mean to say you can't make it by hand when you've got the time!!

Hi Michelle. I use a 3/4 white to 1/4 wholemeal flour ratio to make wholemeal bread, I have heard that if you use a 50/50 mix then the bread may be too heavy. If your bread is collapsing during baking then could you have left it to bake too long? A simple suggestion to try your recipe out would be to use the breadmaker to mix the dough, when it's ready then shape it into a 'bloomer' style loaf on a baking sheet and then leave it to prove for circa 1-2 hours and then bake it in the oven for 20-30 minutes at 180o. If you would like to send me your recipe then I could try it out for you.

I agree with all formats and think it's a fantastic idea!! My favourites would have to be VHS (reliable etc.) and softback books (portable and easy to read in bed).

Thanks for your advice everyone! Trudi, the texture was ok but I have made better with standard white bread flour.

I recently bought some gram and rice flour (impulse buy!). I've used them both to make Indian type flat breads but I'm looking for other recipes as well. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I'm glad I have caught up with the message boards .. I'm going to try the veggie sausage rolls tonight!

I am addicted to Brie!! Any occasion, any excuse, I really don't care. I'll go out and buy it and then replace what I have eaten ... just before it is needed!!

Sounds great Carmel - I'll definately give it a go! Keep posting!

I've got a book called 'the Raw Energy Bible' by Leslie Kenton and it is fantastic. It claims to be packed with raw energy goodness and food combining facts, some of the recipes are fantastic.

Couldn't agree with you more Keith!!

I quite like Monty Don, he is the Leo Sayer of the gardening world!! I totally agree that Alan Titchmarsh should have signed up for another series ... he's fantastic!! As for Davina, I think she oozes ratings and I respect her for the energy that she put into everything she does.

I've met Richard & Judi and John Suchet in person. From what I've seen, I think Richard & Judi are very smarmy/slimy and full of their own self interest but I really do think John Suchet is genuine, when I met him he made me feel at home, feel at ease and I admire him for taking the time to do it. He came into the Green Room and introduced himself and spent some time talking to me and my family.

I caught Richard Madeley'passing through' where we were put before going live (possibly the green room) and he muttered a couple of sentances and then went back to make-up. He was obviously trying to be nice.

I think Fern & John make a fantastic couple for 'This Morning', when I've got the time then I channel flick between the 'Wright Stuff' and This Morning.

Hi Samm, welcome to the message board!

Hi Marina .. I have seen lots of fresh yeast sold in supermarkets (Morrisons, Tescos, Asda etc.) and if you can't get it then ask your local supermarket why they don't provide it! Good luck.

Hi Candy .. is it a chocolate & hazelnut type spread? If so, different variations are available in supermarkets .. I have used them as a quick fix to icing fairy cakes for kids parties etc.

We love new potatoes roasted with butter, lemon, garlic and rosemary.

Thanks Karen. I missed the first one but definately won't miss this one, I'm going to set it up on satellite as soon as I've finished this ... heaven help anyone that deletes it from the menu!!!

Hi Jeff .. welcome to the UK Food Message Board! I must admit that I haven't seen the programme that you refer to but I'm sure that someone will let you know of the recipe asap.

I am looking forward to seeing RSC with Cliff Richard on Sunday, it looks like a good one!

I felt sorry for Tony as well, Mary. Isn't it refreshing to see a 'celebrity' that is so family oriented?

I will give them a try when I get some polenta ... thanks Joanne!

I use plastic chopping boards, colour coded for raw and cooked meat, and like everyone else, I put them in the dishwasher and replace them when they are worn. I use my faithful old wooden chopping board for everything else and 'Detox' it on a regular basis. I bought a glass chopping board a few months back and I can't stand the sound of the knife chopping into it ... it sends shivers down my spine. Needless to say, it holds prime position in the back of the cupboard now!!

Hi Sarah, our favourite quick and easy quorn recipe is to fry some onions in a saucepan for a few minutes, add garlic then add fresh mushrooms, quorn chunks and a tin (or 2) of campbells mushroom soup and simmer until the quorn is cooked. It works as a tasty pie filling, served with pasta, on jacket pots or even in a sarnie!

I think you also need to add some spring onions? Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm sure they go well in tuna burgers with horseradish sauce, corriander, black pepper and a small amount of chilli?

Barbara, why not email Mary or Karen direct and be included on the 'contact list' that Karen has set up for all the regular posters? You will find out more if you check out the messages that they have posted so far. I think you are amazing to cope with 8 children, I have 2 daughters and think it's hard keeping up with them, I really can't image having another 6 to contend with!!

How strange! I bought honey and sunflower seed bread the other day and was going to try making it this weekend ... has anyone made similar and do they have any suggestions?

Ian must be preparing the dishes that he is going to create on GFL????

I'm sure I've heard Smokie singing it .. I can remember the tune but not the words (I am either too young to remember it properly or my brain cells are blinkering due to old age!!!). I haven't heard Chubby Brown's version, I think hubby has a CD of Chubby so will have a look later.

Carol, I wouldn't fancy eating it though!! Gwen, who sang that song .. was it 'Smokie'?

Morrisons sell 'bags' of spices etc. and they are much cheaper than the jars. They are usually near the Chinese/Indian foods.

Gwen, sorry to hear about the car! What bad news, I'm dreading that stage ... fortunately I've got another 6 1/2 years before I start going grey!

Loved all the posts and am still giggling over Tamasin's hair binge eating and The Cynical Celebrity Chef Range!!

StuartM3 .. brilliant topic!! This has been a brilliant read .. keep them coming!

Hi StuartM3, Paul H has been doing some lovely bread recipes and the pizza looked wonderful today, they could all be classed as late night snacks using basic ingredients!

I agree, he needs to relax a little. I'm sure he has a fantastic personality - we just need to see more of it!

I love strawberries and black pepper! Thanks for the chutney recommendation Merve, I'm definately going to get some. Pineapple and black pepper also sounds interesting, pineapple is on the menu for tomorrow so I'll give that a try as well!

Trudi - I would if it were a chain but it is an independant supermarket and to be honest, I phoned around everywhere (including local greengrocers & farm shops) and they were the only people who tried! It was such a shame that they were awful. I think I'll have to further afield to get them (

Does anyone know where you can buy fresh Okra from on the internet? I asked my local supermarket to order some in and they were awful.

I still feel really bad about what we said about Ed, it must have been awful for him to read. Lots of chefs say 'like so' etc., it must be really hard for them to be cook and describe what they are doing at the same time.

Your households sounds like ours Karen!! I bought in all the meat, veg etc. to make a roast .. but the phone hasn't stopped ringing today so I raided the freezer instead!

I agree with freezing left-over wine but dregs of glasses? As Maria said, there is no problem if you are using it to cook with - but I wouldn't do it.

Hi Reshma! Nice to see you posting .. I hope you are enjoying life as a 'Celebrity Chef' now!!

Hi Jody, a cheap and easy way of using quorn chunks is to make a quorn and mushroom pie - we love it!!

Make (or buy) some pastry and roll out into individual pies or a large pie dish and bake blind. Fry some mushrooms, onions and garlic in olive oil then place in a bowl with a couple of tins of Campbells condensed mushroom soup, add your defrosted quorn chunks into the bowl and mix well. Pour into the pastry cases, add a lid and eggwash then bake for approx 20 mins on 180o (or until golden).

I wasn't aware that it was mainly for DTT viewers! I think it's a brilliant idea, I'm certainly going to enjoy catching up with the gardening programmes ... she says starry eyed ;-)

I think it sounds good too Julian - prefer it without the sausages Carole1!

The new Kenwood website isn't user friendly at all, I tried to get a replacement breadpan for my breadmaker and had no luck at all. I would suggest writing or faxing them direct or perhaps going to one of high street electrical superstores and asking if they will get one for you.

I thought they were really expensive fish? Our neighbour used to keep them and spent upto £5,000 pounds on each fish and spent hundreds of pounds in pond remedies!!

If you have a few new or salad pots left over then try making PH's Potato Pugliese (focaccia) bread, I've just made it and it is wonderful! You will find the recipe on the Beeb under Saturday Kitchen.

I think Anne Diamond is wonderful as well and think she is lucky to get a book deal on the back of CBB2. However, I feel it does make a mockery of the system and I feel sorry for the all chefs that put all the effort and energy into writing a book and can't get it published because the market is flooded by Celebrity cookbooks etc.

Can anyone help Yvonne? She has posted before about the sausage gadget and hasn't had any response ... I haven't got a clue so can't help.

Mary .. I have a lot of Counselling books to sell on Amazon, is it as easy as it looks? I received an email from Amazon stating how much I had spent and it mentioned about re-selling but I wasn't sure about it at the time.

Nice one Sylvia!!! Won't be able to watch it again in the same light!!

I got some from Lakeland but they were pricey, they are good quality and worth the investment as they will last for years. I initially bought some from a local kitchenware shop and they didn't last and they were too shallow.

Breakfast idea - have it with muesli and sweeten with honey.

Welcome back Ralph .. Happy New Year to you and your family!

I totally agree with you Sue! I am fed up with tuning into UKFood and finding re-run upon re-run of Masterchef 199?. If I had managed to watch Ross Burden on one of them then it would be worth it but I haven't seen him at all (probably turned over thinking it was yet another re-run of a particular year). You can only watch so many repeats!!

Good luck with the new venture Julia - I will defiantely sign your guest book! ps I would love to know how you make Kleftico and Greek Cheese & Spinach pie in your area.

Glenys, I have relatives that used to spend a long time in Cyprus and they grow their own herbs and spices ... what they used to do was to get everyone to send packets of seeds with a letter. Perhaps Paul Hollywood could help? He knows Cyprus and should be able to recommend something.

Uh oh! The ball bearing has gone (thanks hubby for the technical details) in my bread machine and I've now got to order another breadpan! Duck bread from now on .. quack quack (hummmph).

Aya, I can fully recommend the Kenwood breadmaker (it seems like Karen and I have got the same machine). I haven't used it for jam as, like Karen, we don't each much. We've also got a steamer and it is brilliant, I mainly use it for veggies and rice. Let us know how you get on when you use the breadmaker Karen!

I've been looking out for the pastry that he used, has anyone seen it?

Karen, we've got a Kenwood and it's brilliant when you haven't got the time to make bread by hand. I tend to use it for mixing dough and then do the rest by hand, i.e. proving, shaping, toppings etc. and then bake it in the oven. If I'm really pressed for time (i.e. bread for pack-ups the next morning) then I use the 1 hour facility but take the dough hook out when it's finished mixing so that the bread has only got a small hole in it. When my oven blew up I also used it for making cakes and they turned out ok.

Lakeland Ltd sells a mini donut pan and you bake them in the oven, I don't think they are as nice as the deep fried ones but they work if you are a donut monster on a diet!!

We'll be having very similar to Karen - love it!!

Thank heavens for that Rico! Thanks for letting us know!

Definately going to try this Ralph, thanks!

Yeast extract is a wonderful product, you can use it to add flavour to soups, stews, casseroles or have it on toast and if you fancy a hot drink then try adding a teaspoon in boiling water! I wouldn't be without it.

I've just watched the highlights and Kirsten was right .. the recipe said 65ml of sugar, 65ml of cream, 400g sugar (25g white sugar + the rest muscavado etc.) and 60g of butter plus 1/2 capful of vanilla essence. Also, allow the fudge to cool down (10 mins or so) before adding the vanilla essence and whisking.

My mum comes from Braunton, North Devon but doesn't really have an accent. A few years ago she was at an RAF do in the Officer's mess overseas and was trying really hard to talk/act posh but she had a few too many to drink, she heard one man started to talk in a Devonian accent and that was it ... her accent went straight back to her childhood days and everyone looked round to see who was talking and couldn't believe it was her!!

I guess we've all been in the kitchen doing the same thing today! I tried to make the fudge today and guess what? I couldn't get it to the softball stage either! I've just got some evaporated milk and am going to do the tried and tested recipe (same as Marys). The kids loved the fudge liquid poured over a basic sponge cake so all is not lost.

Let us know when your play/short story is on Radio 4 Kirsten ... would love to hear it!

Cambells mushroom for me ... yum.

You've really made me laugh now Lesley ... I won't be able to watch Tamasin again without imagining the scenario (hee hee!!). Aya, I think she creates fabulous food in such an unassuming way and I think we need to see more of people like her on tv.

I haven't noticed the way she eats .. what have I missed??? Totally agree with Lesley about her being the Charlie Dimmock of Cookery .. wonder if she'll be advertising Scrunchies or Bras for Xmas this year??

I still haven't found Geo Watkins mushroom ketchup (sob!!). The other brand was ok, (Burgess Mushroom Seasoning) - I think it would mostly be used for stir fry's and marinades etc. I don't use Worcester Sauce (but the family have it), a couple of years ago they stocked a veggie version but I haven't seen it since.

I guess it's a very popular brand as I had no problems finding the Anchovy Sauce ... it was the Mushroom Sauce that we scoured all the supermarkets for! However, I found some mushroom sauce (not the brand that you recommended but it was better than nothing ... they seem to stock the Anchovy sauce by Geo Watkins but not the mushroom and as we don't eat fish I didn't get any) and it went down really well in a quorn/veggie stir-fry last night.

Totally agree Ella! I love her style of cooking, it's so rustic, has no pretence yet is fabulous ... but please invest in a scrunchie!!!

I managed to find the 'mushroom sauce' that was mentioned on the message board a couple of weeks ago. I tried Sainsburys and gave up looking, tried Tescos but they were out of stock and found it in Morrisons today and will try it out tonight!!

I've just found a product called 'Elbow Grease', it's fantastic for getting burnt remains off of pans, ovens etc. and you can even use it on clothes and the car! My friend introduced me to it and I've got a couple of bottles in all the time. You won't believe where she found it .. Superpound (or whatever it's called) and it costs ... £1!!! Our local supermarket has just started stocking it as well.

I thought I caught a glimpse of him as I was changing channels last night at 9pm (heading towards Big Bruv I'm afraid Kirsten!!). Totally agree with sport though, should only be available through satellite (ouch).

I had forgotten about Wilkinsons (we used to have a store near where we lived before), they are excellent for good quality, value products.

I always cook bacon & sausages in a microwave hot plate type thing bought through QVC .. it's wonderful (I'm going to be slated for saying this). I always budget an extra £50-£100 when visiting Lakeland and need rehab at 'Gadgets Annoymous'.

Try mixing a carton of fruit juice with sparkling water during the day and a herbal tea at night (some of them are really nice, I love mango & strawberry). Can he drink 'pop' type shandy? There is (approx) 0.05% alcohol and if you pour it into a pint glass perhaps that can be his 'beer' over the Xmas festivities. Most supermarkets sell adult cordials i.e. cherry, elderberry etc. and Ame sparkling alcohol free wines always go down well when presented in a wine glass. Good luck!!!

It's a case of the Supermarket Wars eh Ralph! I'm afraid that I love to chat and I usually get on with anyone/everyone as I enjoy the conversation and banter that goes along with it. What I do not like is to engage in conversation and then be insulted on the way that I chose to use my paid for goods! I appreciate that the person concerned may have been really excited about their creation and /or may have been having a bad day and therefore put themselves across badly (which is why I didn't write to the message board when it happened) but then I would question the quality of customer service training.

Ian, just read your Thursday's message to Kirsten ... we post at all different times of the day, 7 days a week so when do you get time off? You must be dedicated, LOL.

Ralph, I take exception to your comments about Tesco & Asda ... I much prefer Tesco to Sainsburys! My friend and I went to your Sainsbury's last week and did a price comparision of our favourite branded products and the basic stuff was at least 7-10p each more expensive .. why? I took exception to one of the staff at the check-outs as I bought some marscapone cheese and was asked what I was going to do with it and I mentioned that the girls love it on digestive biscuits with fruit all over for pudding and she told me I was wasting it and told me how I should use it!!!!????? My friend and I were completely speachless, I can tell you. We have a Tescos Extra store over this side and it is fantastic, you can buy everything from a widescreen telly to clothes to exotic fruits and they are all reasonably priced. I bet this is going to start off a debate!!!

I missed it last night, drat (to put it mildly), it sounded like a good one! Does anyone know if they are planning to show repeats?

Ralph, sorry to be a pain but do you know roughly where the mushroom ketchup is in Sainsburys? My friend goes to Sainsburys on a regular basis (she loves their seafood) and I'm going to ask her to get me some the next time she goes.

I haven't seen it yet but will definately give it a try.

Fantastic news, well done everyone!

If they can talk about Neighbours & cricket .. what about Richard's antics on Corrie then? Isn't it a shame Trevor has gone in Eastenders, thought he was gorgeous!!

Hi Maxine. I have got a couple of the Tefal graters that Mary described and I keep parmesan in one and red/white cheese in the other and keep them in the fridge. My sister bought a couple from Lakeland last month and they were buy one get one 1/2 price. I think they are wonderful and wouldn't be without them.

I would like to put my two penny worth in and say that I would prefer to watch GFL at 9pm as well.

Monkfish seems to be the flavour of the month at the moment!

I make a round ''sweet'' pizza dough, bake it for 20 mins and when it has cooled I spread lots of marscapone cheese on it and then top it with fresh strawberries and kiwi fruit and dust it with icing sugar. It always goes down well.

I've never heard of mushroom ketchup, sounds interesting. Where can you get it from?

Having read about Ross and his degree in Zoology plus Masterchef and keeping up with the WWF and National Geographic, I take my hat off to him! I must admit that I warmed to him for the first time yesterday on GFL, it was funny.

Hi Jacqui, I've got a few nice bottles from craft fairs, car boot sales etc. but I look out for unusual wine or spirit bottles, have a few 'girlie nights in' and then recycle the bottles for special events like birthdays and Xmas (and each bottle has it's own little story!).

Food for thought Kirsten! I enjoyed the programme and I wish JO the best of luck.

Crikey Karen, I have just read this and I totally agree with everything Kirsten says. Try an online bank (www.smile.co.uk), I'm sure they will open up an account for you with switch facility as you are a home-owner and are working. You could then ask your hubby to set-up a direct debit and have your housekeeping, wages and/or child benefit sent straight to your account and that way you will accrue some interest etc. LOL xx

I think that Ross is too much of a 'Burden' to watch!! Who does he think he is? Sorry Ross but it's the way you come across on tv.

That obviously proves that you need to be a careful shopper (and how valuable these message boards are) Kirsten! Thanks for the info.

I've seen 'curry plants' on sale, mostly during Spring/Summer in the herb section of garden centres and I'm sure you can grow them in containers. I will let you know when I next see them.

Perhaps Ralph will be able to keep you updated with info from Sainsburys, Andy. I can also recommend Lakeland (now called Lakeland Limited, they dropped the Plastics bit!!), it's an excellent website for bits and bobs and they pride themselves on their Customer Service.

I haven't seen anything for 2002 either Karen, it always seems to be the same old repeats these days!

Perhaps GFL can come up with some outstanding recipe ideas using 'left-overs'! My favourite has to be mash on toast (as mentioned under another topic), take some slices of home-made bread, toast it, drizzle it in olive oil, place some mash potato (especially with spring onions) on top, add some grated cheese, cooked bacon (for a meaty version) and then place under the grill for a few minutes until the cheese has melted.

What would I do without carbs, no baked pots, no pasta, no coffee, no wine and no fruit ... sounds like 'hell' to me!!

Ralph, you are one jammy person ... I wish I could 'indulge' like that! My hubby has remained the same weight for 12 years and I feel like I have gained a stone for every year that we have been married!!

Lynne, wouldn't say anything about Paul Hollywood whilst Aya is on the message boards!! LOL Fern was definately the best on RSC, she's excellent on 'This Morning' and is the sort of presenter that everyone can warm to, men women and children.

I think I've seen one in Tescos and it wasn't as expensive as I thought it would be, considering the price of truffles! I would question how much 'truffle' is used to flavour the oil and how genuine it is. Let us know how you get on Gary!

Anthony, keep writing! We all have different opinions but that is what keeps the message board alive! Aya, I have noticed that Paul H writes to the message board on Saturdays.

Heaven help us all - Scorpions rule the message board! I'm a Gemini so I'm entitled to change my views on things that I have previously written about!!

When is the Good Food Live's birthday? Can't wait to see Paul Hollywood back on the box again!

Paul Hollywood is going to be on for the 'GFL birthday' isn't he? Does anyone know when that is?

Ralph, no doubt you mean Paul Hollywood (phwoar)!!

My daughters really enjoy watching the repeats of GFL at the weekend and I consider myself to be really lucky as it gives me a break from the music channels!! Give me Tweenies anyday!!

I don't think you can beat Fern Britton as a presenter! I like Ainsley but find him a bit repetative.

As Ian suggested, why don't we let everyone know about special offer products that we find in our local supermarkets here?

I totally agree with you Ralph! My daughters (10 & 9) have mostly home-made things in their school pack-ups (bread, yoghurt, pasta salad, cake and fruit from the garden) and I'm proud that they know how to make everything from scratch. The down side of all this is when your oven suddenly dies on you and you have to resort to shop bought products and then it's a case of "why have I been given duck bread for lunch". I give up.

Karen, best of luck with your new job! My friend has just started as a dinner lady at a secondary school and she has us in stitches with her antics - on her 2nd day she tried to collect all the trays on the stand (without being noticed) and managed to smash all the plates!! She really enjoys it now and I'm sure you will too.

Glad you liked them Aya!

I use Clover or Tescos baking margarine for all my baking and I've not heard any complaints yet!

I've made it and can fully recomend it, it's delish!!

Bless you Elaine, you have made my week!!

I thought the Julie Peasgood one was good, they couldn't stop laughing!!

Hi Aya. Peel 2-3 large potatoes and cut into chips. Blanch in boiling salted water for 5 minutes, drain well. Brush a baking sheet with 1 teaspoon oil and place in a preheated oven (220c) for 7-10 minutes until the oil is very hot. Spread the chips over the baking sheet and turn them gently so that they are covered in the oil. Bake for 35-40 minutes unti they are soft in the middle and crisp on the outside. Turn them once or twice during the cooking time and then enjoy!

Also try Lakeland Limited (www.lakeland.co.uk).

Was the guy who 'presented' it Sanjeev from the Kumars at Nbr 42?