Need help cooking for a date.

ChroniC

ChroniC

ChroniC

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Hi ladies and gents.
I know there is a large selection of people that enjoy cooking on ye old forum, so I was hoping to pick a few tips up on cooking a Vegetarian Roast Dinner.

Not simple things like boil the potatoes etc, I know the basics. I'm hoping to get a few titbits of information that turn average cooking into taste sensations, the type of info parents or nans pass down.
I.e how to get fluffy crispy potatoes, or the tips to honey roast carrots.
I know I can google recipes but I'm hoping for home grown ideas.

Lastly, thanks.
 
You'd attract the attention of more skilled cooks in the 'La Cuisine' part of General Discussion. I'm now afraid to announce that I have nothing useful to bring to this thread, sorry.
 
But to be helpful, get a good piece of meat to roast and wrap it in pancetta.

Also try making confit potato by cooking it in goose or duck fat then into the oven, google it for exact instructions, they're wonderful.
 
Haha I knew it would happen, hence the bold. No worries. :) I know how to make a good old time roast with fats from meats, but without it I'm at a loss how to make the flavours. I'm hoping to get some ideas on adding flavours to boring old veg :D
The better this taste the more brownie points I earn.
 
Carrot vichy is nice, and slightly different:

Heat up a good knob of butter, a garlic clove and a sprig or two of thyme in a pan.

Get some chantenary carrots, and throw 'em into the pan. Coat them with the buttery goodness and then add enough cold water so it just covers them. Stir in a tablespoon of honey and boil that shiz up for about 10 minutes. Drain, and serve black pepper.

Inb4 "that's not proper carrot vichy!" It's tasty enough.

I'd also serve dauphinoise potatoes if she doesn't want you using animal fat for roasties.

Though, my main bit of advice is to ditch the hippy and get a meat eater unless hairy legs are a fetish of yours?
 
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A good replacement for animal fat for roasting things is Trex, which is solid vegetable fat. We've always used it at home as a substitute for butter in cakes and biscuits, but it roasts really well too. I parboil the potatoes for about 10-15 mins until they are soft, then drain and fluff slightly, then leave to steam dry for a couple of minutes. Whilst they're drying, a couple of dollops of Trex into a baking tray goes in the oven until melted, and then the potatoes are added. I don't know exactly how long they go in for as I run on how things look rather than using a stopwatch - usually around 45 minutes or so at 190 degrees (fan) with a flip every 15 minutes or so.

What are you planning to serve as your main? Veggie sausages? :p
 
Nah she told me what she likes as a main. It's a Linda Mcartney veggie pie, some good veg is going down as small accompaniment. Just want to make it look like I can cook by added some funky extra tastes. :D
 
this is a nice side with a roast. Loads of flavour there..
http://www.clarecooksblog.com/2011/09/jamie-olivers-best-ever-green-beans-4/
try and get veggie parmesan though, if she's hardcore veggie.

honey roast carrots work well with wholegrain mustard as well as the honey.

there's a recent roast potato thread on here somewhere..

maybe a nice roast onion gravy to go with it.. roast a sliced onion that's been mixed in some oil and a little sugar for about 10-15 mins on a tray. when starting to go black and crispy, put them in a small saucepan with a tbsp of flour and a little more oil. stir over heat until the flour looks like it's gone. add a splash of wine now if you want some and cook the alcohol off. then whisk in a mix of 1 tsp mustard powder, tbsp worcestershire sauce, and a pint of veg stock (swiss bouillon)
 
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the linda macartney mushroom and ale pies are nicer than the normal veg ones though, dunno if she's tried that type. I've only recently started seeing them.
 
Personally, when I was vegetarian - and I am admitedly not a very good or consistent one - I preferred just normal X-mas dinner but sans meat.

If there was a good selection of interesting veggies, yorkies, potatoes etc then I was more than happy; the meat was (and still to a degree is) unappealing to me.

Serve with a decent red wine and a vegetarian X-mas pud with brandy butter and you are good to go.

You don't need to do a bad nut-roast.
 
1. Run for the hills.

2. If you decide to come back from the hills, something like a nut roast (lololol not your balls lol) is epic in taste and only slightly ghey.
 
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