Jay’s favourite kitchen tasks
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- Pepper Pig
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- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:52 pm
- Location: North West London
Jay’s favourite kitchen tasks
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/j ... jay-rayner
I’ve not been as into cooking as I was since my husband became ill but now I am completely out of love with it.
I’ve not been as into cooking as I was since my husband became ill but now I am completely out of love with it.
- MagicMarmite
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- Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2012 11:42 am
Re: Jay’s favourite kitchen tasks
Me too since I now live alone.
- mistakened
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Re: Jay’s favourite kitchen tasks
We have one of those egg slicers if he wants it,
Re: Jay’s favourite kitchen tasks
Well he can come over anytime and do all those job here, I’m fed up of cooking.
I think I’ve got stuck in a rut.
BB
I think I’ve got stuck in a rut.
BB
Re: Jay’s favourite kitchen tasks
Ha, I've got TWO! I was so sad when my first one disappeared that a friend bought me another one! I then found the first one when I took out a couple of drawers in the kitchen to sort them. It had fallen into the gap below the bottom drawer, along with a lot of other things I hadn't missed
I would love to change the runners on the drawers. When the builder put them in he did a cheap job and didn't bother to give them runners which allow you to get to the back of the drawers which means there's always that useless bit at the back where things get stuck and you can't retrieve them easily and you also can't integrate the back few inches into any semblance of organisation
The good thing is that I measured exactly the height I wanted the spice drawer to be so I could fit taller / jam jars I don't know if you get that sort of option when you buy cheaper readymade units from the likes of Wickes or B & Q etc. although you obviously would if you have a bespoke kitchen. (Of course I can't get to the ones at the back of that drawer either ...!)
Edited to add I wonder if icey's kitchen people evergot in touch??
I would love to change the runners on the drawers. When the builder put them in he did a cheap job and didn't bother to give them runners which allow you to get to the back of the drawers which means there's always that useless bit at the back where things get stuck and you can't retrieve them easily and you also can't integrate the back few inches into any semblance of organisation
The good thing is that I measured exactly the height I wanted the spice drawer to be so I could fit taller / jam jars I don't know if you get that sort of option when you buy cheaper readymade units from the likes of Wickes or B & Q etc. although you obviously would if you have a bespoke kitchen. (Of course I can't get to the ones at the back of that drawer either ...!)
Edited to add I wonder if icey's kitchen people evergot in touch??
- Earthmaiden
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- Location: Wiltshire
Re: Jay’s favourite kitchen tasks
I can't say that the kitchen tasks he mentions give me much satisfaction. I think I prefer the construction, flavour balancing, cooking and decorating.
The man I married who owned a Mateus Rose bottle lamp (see another thread about 70s dinner parties) also owned an egg slicer. I can't think of any occasion when I've wanted to slice an egg.
The man I married who owned a Mateus Rose bottle lamp (see another thread about 70s dinner parties) also owned an egg slicer. I can't think of any occasion when I've wanted to slice an egg.
Re: Jay’s favourite kitchen tasks
I'm definitely with him on the peeling old spring onions one, even though that's a really weird thing to even have an opinion on. Also find preparing a squash quite satisfying, and I like peeling garlic, not with a knife, just pulling the skin off.
I really like picking the skin off freshly toasted walnuts. It sends me into a kind of trance. Some are a bit annoying, the skin is glued on too firmly, but the ones that come off with just a bit of encouragement from a fingernail are so lovely.
Reading that back, I do seem to get a worrying amount of enjoyment from flaying foodstuffs.
I really like picking the skin off freshly toasted walnuts. It sends me into a kind of trance. Some are a bit annoying, the skin is glued on too firmly, but the ones that come off with just a bit of encouragement from a fingernail are so lovely.
Reading that back, I do seem to get a worrying amount of enjoyment from flaying foodstuffs.
- karadekoolaid
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- Joined: Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:40 pm
Re: Jay’s favourite kitchen tasks
I´d put him to peel 4 dozen quail eggs.
I did it once and almost threw myself off the balcony
I did it once and almost threw myself off the balcony
Re: Jay’s favourite kitchen tasks
I once peeled 3 pints of Morecambe Bay shrimps - took me nearly all day and I had to lock the cats out of the kitchen. I am now very strongly of the opinion that whilst life might not be too short to do a lot of things, it most definitely is to peel shrimps
Re: Jay’s favourite kitchen tasks
Pampy, the Young's seafood people used to send (probably still do) home-grown shrimps and prawns to S. America to be peeled and sent back causing complaints about air/sea miles. Workers there are paid on piecework rates so are lightning fast.
Jay's delights are chores to me. I feel the relief of a burden lifted when veg in the fridge is peeled, chopped, some blanched, and all is in the freezer that I want to be and critically while it's still fresh.
spangle, look on it as an act of kindness rather than flaying veg as the alternative is a slow tormented death in the fridge
A restaurant critic's torment must be wondering what the heck to write his regular column about. No doubt Jay will be at the top of a few booking lists as restos start to open again.
Jay's delights are chores to me. I feel the relief of a burden lifted when veg in the fridge is peeled, chopped, some blanched, and all is in the freezer that I want to be and critically while it's still fresh.
spangle, look on it as an act of kindness rather than flaying veg as the alternative is a slow tormented death in the fridge
A restaurant critic's torment must be wondering what the heck to write his regular column about. No doubt Jay will be at the top of a few booking lists as restos start to open again.
Re: Jay’s favourite kitchen tasks
Pampy wrote:I once peeled 3 pints of Morecambe Bay shrimps - took me nearly all day and I had to lock the cats out of the kitchen. I am now very strongly of the opinion that whilst life might not be too short to do a lot of things, it most definitely is to peel shrimps
Snap!!! I still have nightmares about it!
Food, felines and fells (in no particular order)
Re: Jay’s favourite kitchen tasks
None of Jays mentioned jobs particularly float my boat.
I do love the process of making meringues , and seeing how it gradually transforms , almost a little magical. I love shelling eggs , very therapeutic . Kneading bread as well I said a great displacement t activity.
I really miss my food processor. Watching everything get blitzed in seconds was very satisfying
I do love the process of making meringues , and seeing how it gradually transforms , almost a little magical. I love shelling eggs , very therapeutic . Kneading bread as well I said a great displacement t activity.
I really miss my food processor. Watching everything get blitzed in seconds was very satisfying
- Stokey Sue
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Re: Jay’s favourite kitchen tasks
I like preparing the veg for things like stir fries or crudités, you start with a pile of the usual wonky veg and reduce them to well-ordered geometry. Takes me ages but I love doing it if I’m not rushed
Getting all the cooked flesh out of a baked potato skin (or aubergine, squash, or courgette or a raw tomato) to mix it with other things and return to the unbroken shell and bake. Using my trusty melon baller of course
Getting all the cooked flesh out of a baked potato skin (or aubergine, squash, or courgette or a raw tomato) to mix it with other things and return to the unbroken shell and bake. Using my trusty melon baller of course
Re: Jay’s favourite kitchen tasks
the thing that definitely wouldn't float my boat (well, i wouldn't even consider doing it) is peeling cooked chickpeas before making humous. a friend does it - mad - life's too short!
- WWordsworth
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Re: Jay’s favourite kitchen tasks
I have a friend (she of the topiary shears for ex-Wildies) who insists on removing the "threads" from eggs.
I don't know if that's the technical term, I mean the white bits that support the yolk.
Apparently my Gran did it as well.
I'm afraid it has never occurred to me.
I don't know if that's the technical term, I mean the white bits that support the yolk.
Apparently my Gran did it as well.
I'm afraid it has never occurred to me.
- liketocook
- Posts: 2386
- Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:12 pm
Re: Jay’s favourite kitchen tasks
I'm with Jay on veg ribbons, it's very satisfying to get full length ribbons!
I have an egg slicer, it's the best for an egg, tomato and roll.
My destressing kitchen favourite is finely dicing veg for soup etc.
I have an egg slicer, it's the best for an egg, tomato and roll.
My destressing kitchen favourite is finely dicing veg for soup etc.
- Earthmaiden
- Posts: 5297
- Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2020 11:58 am
- Location: Wiltshire
Re: Jay’s favourite kitchen tasks
I was taught to strain eggs for quiches, custards etc for the 'thread' reason but not for eggs to be eaten as eggs. I still do strain the egg/milk/cream mixture if it's for an extra special occasion.
I have visions of it being done with topiary shears .
I like eggs mashed with salad cream for rolls and sandwiches
I have visions of it being done with topiary shears .
I like eggs mashed with salad cream for rolls and sandwiches
Re: Jay’s favourite kitchen tasks
scullion wrote:the thing that definitely wouldn't float my boat (well, i wouldn't even consider doing it) is peeling cooked chickpeas before making humous. a friend does it - mad - life's too short!
I'm with you on that one, scully!
- Stokey Sue
- Posts: 8629
- Joined: Fri Apr 27, 2012 2:02 pm
- Location: Stoke Newington, London
Re: Jay’s favourite kitchen tasks
I did the skinning the chickpeas thing once to see if it made a difference
My conclusion was that if it did make a difference you needed to buy better chickpeas (or cook them longer) and you definitely needed a better blender
My conclusion was that if it did make a difference you needed to buy better chickpeas (or cook them longer) and you definitely needed a better blender
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