Re: Do any of you clever cooks out there............

Depends what you are making, baking bread and cakes are a bit of science and need certain ingredients to work but fish pie has always here been a bit of a whatever I have in the fridge or freezer can be used, never make it without peas and cheese though for my lot that's absolutely the making of a fish pie.

Re: Do any of you clever cooks out there............

I think you are right, Alan. I rarely follow any recipe precisely. But each to his/her own.

Re: Do any of you clever cooks out there............

Found this if its any help???

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/stargazeypie_93663

Re: Do any of you clever cooks out there............

You are right Alan and I am convinced that some of the Chefs who write cookery books deliberately mislead us with incorrect recipes.

I take a basic recipe and refine it to suit my taste

Re: Do any of you clever cooks out there............

Sorry SG don't have one .

Golden rule buy the best quality ingredients and adjust for the number of people you intend to feed then assemble the cooked ingredients as described in my post above. What could be more simple

Re: Do any of you clever cooks out there............

A fish pie can be a bit bland adding a couple of anchovies and a few capers gives it a bit more zing.

Re: Do any of you clever cooks out there............

Thank you all very much for your advice, tips and recipes.
Unfortunately I've never made a Fish Pie before and as with other new recipes that I've tried for the first time, I have to follow the recipe to a T to ensure it is at least edible!! hee hee.

With some ingredients not being cheap nowadays, haddock and smoked haddock being two of them, it is only after making a dish for the first time that I then feel happy enough to experiment with other ingredients.

Silly I know but I have had too many " Oh, I'll have a go at making that" without having a recipe disasters that I make sure I have a tried and tested one first.

Mind you it doesn't work everytime. Take last night's dinner. I looked through several recipes just to make sure I was getting the timings right for a straightforward Slow Cooker Chicken Curry.
Flippin heck, this was an easy one. According to them all I had to do was switch the cooker on, empty the packet of cut chicken pieces in, pour over the jar of Curry Sauce (no ladies and gentlemen, I did not make my own!!) I used a jar of Patak Chip Shop Curry Sauce. All the recipes then said place lid on and cook on low for 7-8 hours.
This is the life thought I, all meals should be this easy.

He who must obey came in from work, sniffed the aroma of the Curry and smiled, obviously looking forward to a delicious Chicken Curry with Jasmine Rice. WRONG ! when we sat down to eat it, it nearly burned the roof of our mouths off, it was so bloomin hot and strong I don't think we could even taste the chicken! it may just as well have been horse we wouldn't have been able to tell the difference.

Needless to say we didn't eat more than a mouthful and ended up eating a Tin of Heinz Big Soup and a crusty roll each!! (and two dishes of ice-cream to cool our mouths down !!

Re: Do any of you clever cooks out there............

If your curry is too spicy hot for your taste, instead of throwing it away - add some (Blue Dragon) cocoanut cream to the curry to 'soften' the spiciness.

Re: Do any of you clever cooks out there............

It happens and nobody learns to cook in a day,or longer. Just do not lose confidence.

Re: Do any of you clever cooks out there............

Yes, that works well UJ as does adding a good dollop of plain yoghurt or better still, some mango chutney. Mouth's watering now.