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New Years Resolutions!

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by the scummy one

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First of all I wanted to say that I have never really made a New Years Resolution before. I have thought a bit about it, but never actually made one (that I told anyone about to be honest).

So, I decided this time to actually come up with one. And it makes sense cause I live alone, and need to learn to BAKE anyway. Actually, cooking all around is going to be one of my highlights for the next few months. But I dont have too many problems with cooking (except lacking recipe's), baking has been a problem with me for years. Time to troubleshoot where I am going wrong, and learn to actually do it at least, pretty well...

Now, to find the time for this endeavor???

So, has anyone else come up with a NY res.???

Happy New Year All!!!

54 replies

by boxfiddler

But good luck with yours!

Maybe I should resolve to spend more time in the garden and kitchen. I haven't done much with either in the last couple of years. I miss my home canned soups over the winter.

Feel free to peer me for baking questions if you like. I love to bake.

by the scummy one

better than the other -- looking for a job out of state. However, all I would have to do for that one is send 1 resume out over 12 months... Too easy! :D

by cg it

are you certified on oven use?

Happy New Year ! :)

by the scummy one

to pass yet another test :(

Hmmm, does it matter if it is a gas oven???

by rob miners

resolutions for me but for cooking you cant beat gas. You seem to have more control.
Mind you a damper cooked in a camp oven is hard to beat. A damper is home made bread and a camp oven is used in the coals of a wood fire.

Edit:
Happy New Year Pond Scum

by the scummy one

but I just tried baking bread, just plain white for starters.
It looks all right, although the inside is nice and soft, but the outside is overdone.

waiting till tomorrow to taste test it...

by boxfiddler

I gotta agree with fargonebeautiesmate, for sure. Ugh, I hate cooking with electric. Gas gets hot faster, cools quicker.

by rob miners

under the circumstaces. As I just explaind to CG IT they are banning wood burning stoves and heaters in new houses in Canberra, along with our drought.

I really have three choices.
Wood
Gas
Wood

Happy New Year

by cg it

to get proper and even heating of the griddle

by rob miners

but alas here in Aus that is a thing of the past. We are suffering our severest drought conditions in yonks. And as I am writing this it's raining it has been for days.

I used to use a slow combustion stove at one of the places that I lived. Whilever the stove was alight we has hot water also served as a heater in winter. Ah! memories...

Happy New Year

by boxfiddler

and the dry heat they put out can't be beat. I'd love to have a wood cookstove. We had one when I was a kid with the bread warmer at the top. Too cool! It's a different kind of cooking than either gas or electric.

by boxfiddler

is one of the best cookbooks out there for having lots of how-to and handy dandy tips and hints in addition to recipes. They update it every few years, and so some things go by the wayside while other things get added. I have my mom's old copy, which was her mother's before her. It has a lot of info my new copy doesn't have.

http://www.simonsays.com/content/index.cfm?sid=43

by the scummy one

I visited the website, now when I got money again I gotta pick up a few books.

by older mycroft

My entire area of the Scottish Highlands exists on Scottish Hydro-Electric power (unless you invest in the dirty, ugly Oil-fired systems) so cooking tends to rely totally on Electricity.

I, however, have employed the use of TWO portable butane burners - the type you would normally find on a campsite - but they both have pride of place on my kitchen worksurface.

With various addons, you can achieve a gas-fired oven, and even a gas-fired BBQ.

Electricity is fine for the mundane cooking requirements but GAS is most certainly the supreme component, especially in an all-electric area! :D

by oh smeg

To be able to use a Gas Oven you first have to be [b]Certified[/b] for [b]Gas Safety[/b] so you don't burn the place down or have a gas leak and do nothing about it till the place blows up. :p

Lots more [b]Study Material & Emanations[/b] are required before you can even start to think about cooking in any manner. You'll probably die of hunger long before you can even consider looking at the oven. :D

Now as you'll be a long time waiting before you can even think about cooking in any fashion not only do you need good Pans you also need excellent Knives. My son who is a Baker/Pastry Cook has some excellent knives and one for cutting cake that he constantly complains is too [b]Sharp[/b] for safety. He's been attempting to make it blunt for over 10 years now and mistreats it appealingly but it still just cuts way to well. :0

And if you are looking at cooking bread the Cast Iron Pans are the best for this as they are far more stable in keeping the heat that they have and don't fluctuate in temp anywhere near as much as the lighter materials that are used.

There is a massive difference between 2 loves of bread from the same mix cooked in different containers. Or so I've been told. :^0

Col

by the scummy one

Oops, dont tell that I missed crtification day!

As for pans, I think I am on the right track now.

As for knives, I have always been a 'knife fan', and have several sets of good knives, and 1 set of excellent knives. Ok, to be honest, my 24 piece knife set isnt the best :( , BUT, it is a really good set.

And as a test to its ability, the use on the hard-crusted bread with a soft interior, the bread knife sliced it easily, without issue. Thanks for the tip!.

P.S. Good knives are a must for any cooking, not just baking.

by rob miners

might just surprise yourself. I haven't had one yet that the birds wouldn't eat. Let us know the outcome.

by boxfiddler

the consistency of the crust changes slightly with those liquid sweeteners. And a touch of lecithin lightens up heavy grains (my preference is for baking 'boat anchors' when it comes to bread. lol). But then, I buy heavy breads when I buy bread...

Daggone it Pond Scum! You're going to force me to start playing in the kitchen again! First corn bread, now boat anchors! :D

by the scummy one

and not pre-heating the oven properlyI got one and tried it. Like my moms bread better. But she has a grain grinder, and gets whole grains to start.

So far I am not impressed with the bread maker. So I got a pan for it, and plan to try it out later (soon).

JD mentioned, in another post, that the pan makes a big difference. So I got a few pans to play with. Also, it was mentioned about properly pre-heating and proper temps. So I got an oven thermometer.

For BoxFiddler
Yes, cornbread that was crumbly, and hardly touched. And a boat anchor -- Yup.
Just like the candy, it takes a bit of practice. Unlike the candy though, I am not sure what each ingredient will do to a recipe. If I had a basic idea, it would make troubleshooting/recipe making a bit easier. So, before I go through bags of flour, yeast, etc. I think I gotta get a few of the basics down before adding honey to the recipe.

by boxfiddler

I have a breadmaker, but I don't bake the bread in it. Plus I give the bread a second rise when I use it.

I like my 'boat anchors'! They're whole grain, sometimes with nuts. And they toast up better than store breads. And they are filling and perfect for dipping in a good old fashioned stew in the dead of winter.

We joke alot around here about my boat anchors, but when I have the time, we prefer them.

Thought of something else re: rise. Place a damp terrycloth over the pan while the bread rises. Helps to keep the crust from being hard and dry. I have a kick-a** cinnamon raisin bread recipe. I'll hunt it up for ya.

by rob miners

I was a kid that was what I grew up with. You could smell mums cooking for miles. You could always find your way home. The only elecric oven that I have used that I enjoyed using was a pizza oven when I was employed as a pizza cook at a restaurant. Jack of all trades.

Happy New year

by tig2

To love the people I love more.

To give all that I can give.

To dance like no one is watching.

To Praise God fully and daily... and in the privacy of my prayer closet.

I'll send you my lasagne recipe. To DIE for... but that is only my opinion.....

by rob miners

nearly brought a tear to my eye. You keep that up and you'll outlive Noah.

Just noticed the time change it must be your official New Year.

Happy Happy New Year

by tig2

I hope that the sentiment outlives us all.

Be joyous and be glad in the delight of this day! Let us all revel in all that we have to be joyous over.

And let your sweet thoughts of hope reach every heart!

That's why we celebrate... isn't it?

by Member 25348569

Be happy!

Neil x:

p.s. Got to have the lasagne recipe! I'll swap it for Mum's recipe for Lancashire Hotpot as I reckon that's the perfect food for your current weather.

by boxfiddler

I have gas here in 'Noobyoobywabba', and electric in Hot Springs. Tried canning some deer soup in HS one year and it was a nightmare. That's the end of the food preservation using electric experiment.

Too bad on the wood stove and heat ban. Our fireplace and woodstove save us tons of money every winter. The neighbors have quit asking how high our heating bill is!

by older mycroft

Mainly because you have a longer historical view, which in itself proves that maintaining a resolution is harder than you might think.

As the years move on, you can oft look back and 'see' all the years when the resolution crumbled and failed miserably. However, the endeavour is the important commodity - at least you can look back and remember that you did actually try in whatever year.

When your personal medical condition brings the immediate future into doubt ~as mine does~ THAT is when the realisation dawns on you that the concept of a personal New Year's Resolution is actually about everyone else apart from YOU.

The best New Year's Resolution to attempt to apply, is to treat other people with respect - a commodity that is often forgotten - but within the realms of TR?

Within the realms of TR you can escape into a world where you are an expert in your field, your peers have a similar (and dissimilar) approach to life, your empathy for others' problems is shared, and generally "life is enjoyable".

If I were to make a resolution it would be to healthily perpetuate the existence of TR, because with failing health, TR gives me the enjoyment I used to feel when I was still part of the IT workplace.

Long Live TechRepublic !!!

by thumbsup2

[i]at least you can look back and remember that you did actually try in whatever year.[/i]

Ummm... you can actually remember whatever year you tried it in? Heck, I'm doing good to remember that I even tried it at all, let alone when! ;)

by oh smeg

UG I don't bother with these generally but after being hassled this year I'm making one and that is

[b]Not To Make Any New Years Resolutions until I have seen NY Fireworks.[/b] As they where cancelled this year I guess that I don't have to worry about not keeping this one. :^0

Col ]:)

by triathlete1981

Never actually make these because I never keep them.

But it would be nice to exercise more.

by the scummy one

all the time I hear people asking me what my resolutions are, and I never make any. This year I ask on TR and nobody here makes them... LOL.

Must be a techie thing!

by cg it

Never answer a password recovery question on Techrepublic.

Never answer questions that are basic computer troubleshooting in nature from supposedly IT professionals.

Never answer questions that seem to come in groups. CD drive problems or File/Folder permission problems, ...we've all seen them. Someone asks a question, we all respond, and then there seems to be a run on same or similar questions.

Never eat anything Pond Scum bakes unless someone else does a taste test.

by the scummy one

my bread made great toast, but crppy sandwich bread

Oh well, it did take me almost a day to decide to taste it myself :^0

by Member 25348569

I have a Kasumi Japanese knife that cost me ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY of your funny American dollars. I use it for everything as there is nothing that it won't cut, slice, bone or chop.

I nearly bought a Tojiro Senkou at 300USD but I reckoned that I'd not be able to afford anything to actually cut with it as you don't need a knife for oatmeal.

Neil :D

Seriously, my personal consideration of all you need for good cooking is good, fresh ingredients and a SHARP knife. Oh, and a set of taste buds...

by the scummy one

you got it wrong just a bit. Some things need a serrated edge (like bread) and others tear up with a serrated edge (like cheese). And sometimes, just sometimes a chopping blade is handy.

Mine isnt the best set around, but it is still a good set, and I dont rely on 1 knife for everything. However, the 24 set was a bit much, as over the last 2 yrs, I think I may have used 4 of them total.. Maybe 5, I dont have that sharp a memory

by Member 25348569

I don't count bread - or cheese for that matter - as cooking. :)

I do have a "bread knife" and that cost $3 but I generally keep my bread in my freezer as I don't use much and I mostly cut it frozen with a ripsaw.

Neil :)

by oh smeg

Even the person who cooked it wants someone to Test the food for adverse Reactions. :D

What where you worried about being poisoned for? :^0

Col ]:)

by jdclyde

I gave up self-denial. Worked pretty good! ]:)

Best of luck with the baking!

by jdclyde

Get a cheese slice for that. You know, with the little wire?

Bread needs a good bread knife, agreed.

And then depending on what I am cutting will depend if I want the three other main ones I use. I was going to list the three, but I don't know the official names. one small, one big, one cleaver. Will try to look up the "official" names later, but no promises.

by ganyssa

and generally center around being a healthier person. Of course that involves the requisite lose weight one, but I'm trying to actually accomplish this by learning to cook something as opposed to thawing Lean Cuisines, which is a major step up for me.

Tonight is Chicken Caccitore, so we'll see how that goes.

by naughtymonkey

These were actually decided on in August.

1. Quit smoking
I have accomplished this and have been smoke free for 4 months now.

2. Loose 30 lbs
I have lost 10, I need to loose more but I usually set my sights too high and when I don't make adequate progress give them up.

3. Quit taking medications
I have been taking pain killers for 5 years due to an accident. My doctor keeps saying I still need them but I feel that it is more a dependency than a need. This has been the hardest thing because I have a strong physical and mental dependency on them and it will take some effort to overcome.

by oh smeg

You only become addicted to any medication if you abuse it. If you take it as it's supposed to be taken you cannot become Addicted/Dependant or whatever else you like to call it. When you are under Medical Supervision with a Half Way Decent Quack you are very unlikely to become addicted to anything.

Actually under a strictly Legal Definition of Addiction when talking about Medication if you need something for a Physical Condition you are addicted to that substance whatever it is. But that also means if you are a Type 1 Diabetic you are Addicted to Insulin. For a very good reason no one believes this one except the fools pushing the idea that it's bad to take anything.

I asked a Pain Specialist many years ago to define what she considered a Medical Addiction and she came up with Any Substance that you need on a Regular Basis. So I asked did she consider this as [b]BAD[/b] and she insisted that she had to do her job & wean any person that she ran across off these substances. I suggested that as she was Hopelessly Addicted to AIR that she Start to Wean Herself off it Starting Right Now. It was at that stage that this woman changed the goal posts and insisted that it didn't apply to her. She ended up paying me a lot of money several years latter. The silly woman should never have offered a Medical Opinion on me when I was never a Patient of Hers. :D

If you want to check this out at the next Doctors Appointment ask to have your medication changed to a different family of drug/s. If you can change without a second thought and no side effects there is absolutely nothing wrong with you whatsoever. You are taking the Medication for what it was intended to be taken.

Col }:)

by naughtymonkey

If I can switch to anything other than codeine and not be in pain, I am actually in pain. Then I will change the resolution to making them fix that.

I think doctors will drag things out and medicate you just to get that visit every month. I am not a fan of them. Maybe I should go to medical school so I can treat myself. That what I did with other things. ;)

[i]I wonder if you can perform surgery on yourself?[/i]

by wancona

I've never really had a resolution either. But this year, I decided to give up soda, and drink mostly water. Workout more often, I used to workout 5 days a week, but ever since the babies came along, I stopped going. I also plan to be a more loving husband to my wife. (That might be the most difficult part.)

by the scummy one

and the cheese doesnt stick to the sides (hardly), so it slices it very nicely.

cheap wire, on hard cheese the wire bends, stretches, etc. Also, cuts are not accurate enough, and cheese block sizes are different.

ok, rambling on now.

As for Neil, cheese isnt cooking... Well, not by itself, but a lot of recipe's call for cheese...

by bizzo

Always used to make them, but never been able to keep them, and that tended to get me down.

So about 10 years ago, the final resolution I made was never to make another New Year's resolution again. I've kept that one, and never looked back since!

by bfpower

I'm with you Bizzo - the road to hell is paved with new year's resolutions. So this year, I decided that I am going to play golf (I've never actually played the links - only the driving range).

That's my resolution, and not only does it give me a good reason to spend money on golf stuff with relative impunity, it's one resolution I actually WANT to keep. All that losing weight crap is too hard (plus I don't really need to lose weight). The only difficulty is that in Montana (northwestern USA), the golf season is only three to five months. It gets very cold here... =)

Cheers on the new year and great job keeping your resolution!

by oh smeg

It works like Codeine but isn't addictive as it's not an Opiate. This Man Made stuff works a treat and if they put you on the Slow Release stuff you may only need 1 or 2 tablets a day. Just look at the price difference though as it may not be suitable for you.

I had a Road Ranger Gearbox deposited on my chest by a couple of Apprentices and after taking Morphine for 12 years I switched to Tramadol and am now on 2 x 200 MG tablets per day. Lot better than 6 Morphine as well as injectables. :D

When I switched I was warned to expect side effects and other than a bit of pain till the dosage was right I didn't experience anything. Naturally if it had of been anyone else they would have started on a High Dose and worked down I went the other way because I didn't want to be taking the Morphine. :D

Col

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