Mundane News

[Reynard]

Beef dripping is easy enough, for now, get fresh from the local butchers in the market.

Tesco sell it in 250g blocks. I've always got some in. Beef dripping is fabulous for frying chips as well.

 

[Reynard]

For very best extra special roast potatoes, special occasion only......par boil them the day before, then leave them uncovered in the fridge overnight. They dry out beautifully, meaning they're crispy as anything on the outside when roasted the following day (duck fat or beef dripping, with mixed herbs, salt and pepper, and a dash of Cayenne pepper).

Olive oil is bad news for roast potatoes, in my view. I don't believe it cooks hot enough, and can burn. I save olive oil for stuff that isn't cooked, these days.

You're right about olive oil not reacting well to high temperatures. Apparently heat also changes the chemical structure of it.

Olive oil only for salad dressings, hummus and sometimes for making Italian-style bread. Sesame oil for stir-fries, asian dishes and also bread-making. General cooking oil of choice here is rape seed oil, although to be fair, I don't use that much.

I'll have to try the "overnight in the fridge" thing for roasties. Although I do that for fried potatoes (using leftover tatties), so it tracks. Smoked paprika works well with fried potatoes btw...

 

[mikeymustard]

Heat changes the chemical structure of all veg oils, it's a myth that olive oil is more affected than other oils; if anything it's the opposite. A good olive with low acidity has a smoke point that's comfortably above the 160 to 180C that I roast my pots. I've used dripping, lard and goose fat in the past (I'm really not keen on goose fat, can't see what the fuss is about) and I still prefer my mix. This is in my opinion, I'm not being combative, merely defensive!

I don't use extra virgin olive for any high temp cooking like frying or stir frying but I do often fry (not normally stir fry, but I have when I don't have anything else) with extra light olive

 

[Levo-Lon]

me thinks, have a good day.

 

[Salty seadog]

I'm rather particular when it comes to Earl Grey - some can be *too* perfumed.

However, Earl Grey works well when blended with more robust teas to give them a lighter note.

Earl Grey and orange loose teas mixed is rather nice.

 

[Andy in Germany]

My glasses are fugged up.

 

[biggs682]

Car for me today way too much risk of ice outside for the bike this morning then this afternoon blood donation to do

 

[Andy in Germany]

Car for me today way too much risk of ice outside for the bike this morning then this afternoon blood donation to do

In the local paper reports temperatures have been -10°c at night, and often not rising above freezing for the last week.

They also report that the weather services "Warns it may be icy."

Good to see the weather service are on the ball there.

 

[Illaveago]

Morning! It looks frosty out . The neighbours are trying to confuse me by putting the wrong bins out !

 

[EltonFrog]

Be careful out on the roads today folks, it’s very icy.

 

[Illaveago]

I have got to go and find out the results of my PSA test this morning .

 

[MikeG]

........ the 160 to 180C that I roast my pots. .......

Hmmmm. I roast mine at 200+. Never mind the oil, I should do a side-by-side test of different roasting temperatures.

 

[MikeG]

I have got to go and find out the results of my PSA test this morning .

Physically go, or can you just ring?

 

[EltonFrog]

I have got to go and find out the results of my PSA test this morning .

Good luck.

 

[Salty seadog]

Car for me today way too much risk of ice outside for the bike this morning then this afternoon blood donation to do

If you take the bike you could donate blood on the way in. Maybe more than once.