if you need any hints for cooking let me know what your trying to do and i will send you the recipe and instructions regards

I notice no one has replied to your kind offer! I can' wait to get out to Terra Alta and begin to experiment with all the lovely fresh ingredients. So if I need some tips I will ask once we get onto the internet out there. I'm vege. or rather 'pescatarian' but I have no problem cooking meat for the family (i'm abit odd like that!) Back in the U.K. old 'bootifull' Bernard has been getting over the old bird flu.
Seeing the enormous factory set up where the birds are bred and slaughtered, with slurry and effluent being pumped out was quite revolting.
Do you know if it is possible to purchase organic free range chicken,meat and eggs in the area?
I haven't seen any free range chickens in Spain for years, we have loads round here in North Somerset! I imagine it will start to become more popular but perhaps some of you Finca livers are selling your spare eggs?
By the way 'chefman', I know there are some great restaurants in the area and I highly rate the Catalan cooking but I do think there is room for something abit 'different.' What do you think?

Well interesting comments about poultry.. it's interesting to see that you don't see big chickens in the shops here like you do in the UK - it's actually virtually impossible to get big chickens. Is this because the Spanish don't pump them full of growth hormones and water?

We have also noticed that a home roast chicken not only has much more flavour than the equivalent UK chicken, but we don't get the 1 1/2 inches of water/fat in the roasting tray..

At Christmas - partly due to a translation 'thingy-up' and partly due to Tracey still working in lb and oz (didn't we go metric in 1971?) we ended up with a 15Kg or 33lb (we wanted a 15lb) turkey. Oops. Did you see Mr Bean's christmas - it was about that size!

Anyway, I was expecting this HUGE beast to be dry and tough and to get about a gallon of goo in the tray. It ended up that after 8 hours in the oven (minus legs as there just wasn't room in the oven) we had no more than 1/4" of fat in the tray and it was one of the most tender and moist turkeys I've ever had.

Nigel

;D   that long for the turkey..... did you cook it on the b.b.q..... just as well wou took the legs off, in that time it could have run off

I'm interested in cooking Tuna Pasta bake before next Wednesday coz my friends are leaving. Any help would be appreciated because i've become used to opening cans only. Ta.

sorry to miss this, been to the uk, but please keep trying. i wont miss you next time

FOR THE IRISH.....

2 LARGE ONIONS
1LB BACON
1LB COOKED CABBAGE
2LB MASHED POTATO
SALT, PEPPER,LARGE CUP OF OIL
LARGE POT
----------------------------------
1/2 PINT MILK
2 OZ FLOUR
2 OZ BUTTER
PARSLEY
------------------------
MELT BUTTER AND ADD FLOUR AND MIX INTO PASTE. PUT ON STOVE AND ADD MILK SLOWLY AND WHISK ADD PARSLEY AND LET COOK ON LOW HEAT FOR 5 MINS WHISKING FREQUENTLY ADD SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE.
-----------------------------
SAUTE ONION AND BACON IN OIL FOR 3 TO 4 MINUTES AND ADD CABBAGE STIR FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN ADD POTATO. MIX TOGETHER REALLY WELL AND TURN INTO A GREASED OVEN TRAY. COAT WITH A LITTLE EGGWASH AND BAKE IN OVEN AT 160 FOR 30 MINS
SERVE WITH PARSLEY SAUCE.

ANY QUESTIONS GET IN TOUCH

I'm guessing you didn't train in Catalunya chefman?? :D

Hey Chefman
Got any recipes for black cocker spaniels   cos i know where to get some cheap :o

Hey Cactus Jack

Plenty of recipes for cheap black cocker spaniels just none for puppies at 250 euros each.(Maybe that is cheap when sabbeco charge 450 euros for them!)
Try pigs feet ,pigs ears or roasted song birds failing that plenty of snails around (really cheap).Human heart a la plancha I am told is good Just have to find a human with heart. [smiley=kiss.gif] [smiley=vrolijk_26.gif]

Seriously they are too little and sweet at four weeks to consider roasting ...wait a few weeks till they have a bit more meat on them.

Jack will you be adding one to your family?

Biki

FOR THE ENGLISH...

COCKER SPANIEL CURRY.

First catch your Cocker Spaniel.

Soften 2 large chopped onions for 20 minutes

Add 5 cloves of garlic, gently fry for another minute
Add 1 tsp Ginger, 1tsp Hot Chilli powder, 2tbsp Mixed Spice, 1tbsp Garam Masala
1 large tin of plum tomatoes
500g fresh boned cubed Spaniel



Simmer for 45 minutes, enjoy....

Roswell

WHAT!!! No corriander??????

Please!

wrote on May 29^th, 2007 at 11:00am:

Roswell WHAT!!! No corriander?????? Please!

Sorry, shocking and terrible I know, but it is the only thing I cannot get......... :(

anybody ever found any here  ?

Roswell

You can buy fresh corrinder in the shop next to the kebab place in Tortosa is called CILANTRO or it grows really easily in a pot.In the garden or on a window sill.
You can buy packets of seeds at Leroy merlin for 1 euro a packet.It comes up in six days and if you cut it as you need it it will continue to grow for the summer.
Let half go to seed for next year the other half wash chop and freeze for winter.
Cant really make a decent curry without it whatever meat you choose.

Biki

Steve,Lyn
Have you two lost your marbles,since when do you get Cocker Spaniels going cheap,baby chickens and small song birds maybe,but not Cocker Spaniels.

---

Ian
Cant stand song bird madras and fed up with chicken masala, so can you
let me know when you have some large black labradors going cheap :D
steve

1 large black lab and his younger brother (he's golden but very tender,only needs 2 minutes either side)

I'm going to send all your comments, plus lots of cutie puppy pictures to "Mrs Cactus"...guess whose feet won't touch...??!!!...beter move out and make room for the patter of all those tiny doggy feet.....

Hey Nobrot

golden boy arrived then.Two labs in the house!!Sure you dont need a Cocker to complete the set?
(black even more tender and only needs 1 min either side)

Who put the c.... in council ? not quite the same.

Watch out Mr Cactus Mrs Cactus will turn you into a vegetarian.Maybe chefman has a recipe or two for slow roast Cactus?

OK Biki   I give in   Nobody touches the cactii, they are the only thing I have left to cuddle now that Mrs Cactus knows I want to eat cute little doggie woggies.
Oh well its a veggie curry for me tonight :'(

Oh Jack
I am so sorry.Watch those cactii all those pricks!
Hope the veggie curry was good I am sure Mrs jack will forgive you so steak tommorow (BEEF OK)
Never has an add in the history of advertising caused so much fun...
the forum just has not been the same since Jools and Elfitis don't post.
With all this going on you have had time to watch T.V?You must be in England.
Are you sure you dont want a pupy wapy for Mrs Jack ...non edible [smiley=undecided.gif]

mediteranean chutney

450g/1lb spanish onions
900g/2lb riped tomatoes chopped
1 aubergine 350gms/12oz cubed
450g/1lb sliced courgettes
1 yellow pepper seeded and sliced
1 red pepper seeded and sliced
3 crushed garlic cloves
1 sprig of rosemary
1 sprig of thyme
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp paprika
300 mls vinigar(malt if poss)
400 gms/140 gms gran sugar

put chopped tomatoes onions courgettes peppers aubergines and garlic in a preserving pan, pop lid on and cook for about 15 mins stirring occasionly. tie thyme and rosemary together, add also the bayleaf, salt ,paprika and half the vinigar. simmer uncovered for 25 mins until veg are tender and juices reduced. add remaining vinigar and sugar and stir over a low heat until sugar disolved. simmer for 30 mins stirring frequently.when chutney is reduced toa thick consistancy and no liquid remains, discard the herbs. spoon chutney into warm jars. leave to stand till cool. cover with lids. store in cool place.allow to mature for 2 months. when open keep in fridge...greaseproof paper is good to pop under your lids to stop the acid in the vinigar corroding them. always use clean jars.........happy cooking

wrote on May 29^th, 2007 at 12:19pm:

Steve,Lyn Have you two lost your marbles,since when do you get Cocker Spaniels going cheap,baby chickens and small song birds maybe,but not Cocker Spaniels.

A Hot Dog without onions ? How terrible, almost like a Spaniel curry without Coriander . . . .  ;)

Thanks for the tip Biki, off shopping, and, er, pulling me green finger out.