The Cooking Thread

[yikchi]

Loose translation: steamed chicken = utterly tasteless. ;)
Somewhat true. It is good if it is seasoned properly and not overcooked. Otherwise, you might as well eat a piece of cardboard.

[Sapphire]

I'll give it a go, but I don't know what ratio of garlic vs. ginger to put in. What's the best thing to do with that? I want it to taste really flavourful and bright, but of both not one over the other.

Help :oHmmm, if you're using fresh ginger, I would do 3-4 garlic cloves and 2 teaspoons (9.2 grams) of fresh ginger for 4 pieces of chicken. Doubled for a whole chicken. If you're using ground ginger instead of fresh (really you need to use fresh for something like this), you would use about half or even less of the ginger, as ground ginger is usually more pungent.

All that being said, the only thing I regularly make with ginger is a stir fry, so I could recommend involving some soy sauce in your marinade, if you want to take the dish in that direction.

Also, maybe it's just the Texan in me, but I wouldn't dream of steaming a chicken. Barbeque it on the grill or bake it in the oven.

[Drae]

Yeesh. Hainanese chicken is not an easy dish to make.

My suggestion DS for a simple Chinese style chicken dish would be as follows;

Ingredients
1 chicken breast (ie one chicken gives you 2 breasts)
1 clove garlic crushed (dont make it a huge one)
Grated ginger, same amount as crushed garlic
1 stalk spring onion (chives will do), washed and finely chopped, but dont use the root (which is like a mini onion, just the stem and green bits)
soy sauce
sugar
cornflour
peanut oil
sherry or dry cooking wine (rice wine would be authentic)

Recipe

Finely slice the chicken, and then put it in a bowl with a tablespoon of soy sauce, and 1/4 of a teaspoon of cornflour, mix well and let it marinate for 10 mins or so
Pre heat the wok you are going to stir fry the chicken in. If you dont have a wok, use a heavy saucepan or fry pan, like a skillet for example. The key here is to get the wok / saucepan hot before you put in the meat. When it is hot, add a small amount of peanut oil. Dont use too much oil or you might end up with a fire in the pan (like on TV, but not so enjoyable at home).
Add the chicken (it should sizzle nicely when you add it), and move it around (ie stir-fry).
Once the meat is mostly cooked (should take 3 or so minutes), then add a little more oil, and add the spring onions. After a minute add the garlic and ginger. After another minute add the sherry, and some soy sauce (how much soy depends on how salty you like it). Add a pinch of sugar.
Finish the dish by adding a bit of the cornflour mixture, which will thicken to make a sauce.


Serve with steamed rice and a vegetable dish, perhaps stir fried greens of some sort (eg snow peas). Should serve two. Might want to double everything if you are hearty eaters :)

[FIFARay007]

So I'm having people over again for the Superbowl, and I'm trying to get my menu together. I'm trying to make stuff that can be prepared on Saturday and then require minimal effort from me on Sunday.

Last year I went with chili, pulled pork sandwiches, and chicken fajitas. Any ideas for this year?

[Chaz Striker]

So I'm having people over again for the Superbowl, and I'm trying to get my menu together. I'm trying to make stuff that can be prepared on Saturday and then require minimal effort from me on Sunday.

Last year I went with chili, pulled pork sandwiches, and chicken fajitas. Any ideas for this year?

Best super bowl food =

1 crock pot
2 cans refried beans
2 cans rotel
1 block of velveeta
5 bags chips

I can't get enough of that stuff

[johno]

So I'm having people over again for the Superbowl, and I'm trying to get my menu together. I'm trying to make stuff that can be prepared on Saturday and then require minimal effort from me on Sunday.

Last year I went with chili, pulled pork sandwiches, and chicken fajitas. Any ideas for this year?


Can't help, other than to say pulled pork is great :D

Although I may actually be of help... if you like plantains the easiest thing in the world is to pick some up from the frozen foods section of the supermarket and microwave them and serve them either as finger food (obviously with toothpicks or mini-skewers) or to accompany the main dish/dishes.

[Sapphire]

I haven't thrown a party in forever, so I can't help much either. I immediately thought "BBQ" -- we used to make a beef brisket by leaving it on the grill overnight, but that can be a little tricky and you have to be brave (or stupid :)) enough to leave the fire burning unattended overnight. But you could do it with beans, potato salad, cole slaw and corn bread . . . all of which could be made ahead of time. You could do ribs too (OK, I'm getting hungry now).

[sdotsom]

Yeah, I'm thinkin like Sapph. Some good brisket, cole slaw, tato salad, baked beans, nachos with that melted cheese, all that.

[johno]

best thing about all that is that you can probably by all of the stuff and just heat it up :)

had brisket for dinner last night.

[FIFARay007]

So my pulled pork is coming along nicely...

Put it on the grill 5 hours ago and have been restocking the woodchips every half hour or so. The BBQ sauce is all finished and waiting for me to shred the pork. :D



To the island folk out there, I'm looking for good recipe to try out. I've been getting lazy and haven't tried something new in a while. I'm looking for a good main course, with some good spiciness to it, perhaps a good fish recipe?

[benni...]

Got back from class and threw something together... I tomato based stew from scatch. I just chopped up onions, red peppers, hot red peppers [the african ones], and I poured a can of stewed tomato's all in a frying pan with some oil.

Fried up the veggies, then threw some chicken boullion, some African exoctic [hot orange coloured] spice , some ground pepper and it smells delicious.

Got some meatballs in the oven, and might dice those up and toss them in the soup. Thinking of either cooking corn on the cob or green beans.

Got some rice in the rice cooker.

Smells GGGRRREEAAAT...

[Republic of Mancunia]

Got back from class and threw something together... I tomato based stew from scatch. I just chopped up onions, red peppers, hot red peppers [the african ones], and I poured a can of stewed tomato's all in a frying pan with some oil.

Fried up the veggies, then threw some chicken boullion, some African exoctic [hot orange coloured] spice , some ground pepper and it smells delicious.

Got some meatballs in the oven, and might dice those up and toss them in the soup. Thinking of either cooking corn on the cob or green beans.

Got some rice in the rice cooker.

Smells GGGRRREEAAAT...

Sounds great, too. I had sausage, chips and beans. :o

[sdotsom]

Sounds like some good shit.

It's about 55 degrees here in the StL, and both my roommates are out of town for the weekend. So I may get down in the kitchen tonight, throw together a little chicken tikka masala, do it the right way, and grill em down. I've had the masala and herbs/spices sittin around forever, just never got around to it.

Gonna have to go get some yogurt though..

[Numquam Moribimur]

I am having lobster tail and steak for dinner tonight. It's my bros bday and thats what the cheeky ******** has asked for :D



Also I like to add I made my best curry the other week ! I was very proud of myself :d

[benni...]

Sounds great, too. I had sausage, chips and beans. :o Well, apart from the beans, that was probably gonna be my first choice when I thought how hungry I was in class.

Sounds like some good shit.

It's about 55 degrees here in the StL, and both my roommates are out of town for the weekend. So I may get down in the kitchen tonight, throw together a little chicken tikka masala, do it the right way, and grill em down. I've had the masala and herbs/spices sittin around forever, just never got around to it.

Gonna have to go get some yogurt though.. I looked that up, and man you might have just given me my next project. Never had this before.

I am having lobster tail and steak for dinner tonight. It's my bros bday and thats what the cheeky ******** has asked for :D



Also I like to add I made my best curry the other week ! I was very proud of myself :d

What kind of steak, and hwo do you cook yours?

[Numquam Moribimur]

What kind of steak, and hwo do you cook yours?

It's filet

Usually in the summer I would use the grill but tonight I’ll broil it in the oven .

[FIFARay007]

It's filet

Usually in the summer I would use the grill but tonight I’ll broil it in the oven .


BLASPHEMY!!!! The grill is a year-round tool. Put on a jacket and do the right thing.

Next, you're gonna tell us you like it well done! ;)

[Numquam Moribimur]

BLASPHEMY!!!! The grill is a year-round tool. Put on a jacket and do the right thing.

Next, you're gonna tell us you like it well done! ;)

I am under the weather, still might do it on the grill. I am not a well done kinda person more of Medium-medium rare :cool:

[FIFARay007]

I am under the weather, still might do it on the grill. I am not a well done kinda person more of Medium-medium rare :cool:

Well thank god for that! Sorry you're not feeling well, get better soon. Much better to not be grilling cuz ur sick than because it isn't summer.

[johno]

Did me up a Pork Roast last night with a side of garlic rice and fried plantains. DELICIOUS... used regular trini seasoning along with some choped chives, onions and some rub to season the pork. Twas great.