I need an oven.

[Georgiana]

I just found the episodes of "More Fast Food My Way" (Jacques Pepin) on YouTube. I've been watching them all day (I should be working!). Not only is he making easy, tasty (I assume) recipes, but he explains everything he's doing and you actually learn something.

In one episode he is making crunchy kale. It looks so cool and it would be an awesome (Induction-legal!) snack.
YouTube - KQEDondemand's Channel

And he's making this cute desserts with chocolate and raspberries, and hazelnuts covered in chocolate. I think the recipes would work with 100% cocoa chocolate, right? They would be something great to have for parties or holidays.
YouTube - KQEDondemand's Channel

Another nice thing I saw was cod with an olive-tomato crust. It must taste so yummy!
YouTube - KQEDondemand's Channel

Slightly off-topic. I'm looking for a 1-room apartment from September. Most 1-room apartments I find around the university have a tiny kitchen, with stove (only two burners) but no oven. So one of the first things I check when I see an ad is whether the kitchen has an oven. Crazy Atkineer.

The recipes above are on top of the list for September (list which is becoming intimidatingly long). Anyone tried any of them? Do they taste as good as they look?

[not2late]

Re: I need an oven.

I love Jacques Pepin, too. He cooks sensibly: not alot of waste, not alot of wacky ingredients and he gives you tips about cooking technique.

He also wrote a book about cooking techniques ranging from how to peel a carrot to boning a fish to making an olive look like a bunny rabbit. I think the book won a culinary art award. Anyhow, he did a tv series to accompany the book.

[Elizellen]

Re: I need an oven.

I've done crunchy kale in the past - not sure if it is the same method as this computer (at the gym) wouldn't let me go to the link you posted.
It turned out very tasty!

[imagood1]

Re: I need an oven.

Georgiana -- can you get a toaster oven there? My first place didn't even have a kitchen so I bought a toaster oven, 1 burner (plugged into the wall) and a small refrigerator (the kind college kids here use in their dorm rooms) - I also had a small crock pot --- there was nothing I couldn't cook in that room!!


Adding: That was so long ago microwaves were the size of bathtubs and cost over $1,000.00. I was lucky that a friend owned a bar and had the refrigerator that he wasn't going to be using so I bought it from him.

[kaylasgram]

Re: I need an oven.

I was just in Walmart as few weeks a go looking at new Toaster Ovens & they now sell small Convetion Ovens about the same size for under $100, so that maybe something to look into as well !!!

~Cindi~

[Georgiana]

Re: I need an oven.

I will really try to find an apartment with a proper kitchen. I don't care about TV, furniture, balcony or whatever... just the kitchen. Not having a fire alarm would make it even better...

So I tried the chocolate coated hazelnuts today. I only made two little thingies, which are now in the fridge and will probably stay there for a while. Not very tempted by chocolate, they just look pretty.

The other things will need to wait...

I noticed the more time I spend cooking, the fewer portion control issues I have. And no, that's not because my cooking is terrible... But for example, if I take some food (legal!) I can just snack on without having to do anything to it, portion control is more difficult than if I prepare my food (even small things make a difference, like roasting my nuts instead of buying them ready-roasted). Anyone noticed the same thing?

[Elizellen]

Re: I need an oven.

I agree, Georgiana I am more conscious of portion sizes if I have made the recipe myself.

[not2late]

Re: I need an oven.

I will really try to find an apartment with a proper kitchen. I don't care about TV, furniture, balcony or whatever... just the kitchen. Not having a fire alarm would make it even better...

I had a substituted teacher who was a retired Marine. I remember him telling us that when you get older, you'll realize all you need is a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and a tv.

So I tried the chocolate coated hazelnuts today. I only made two little thingies, which are now in the fridge and will probably stay there for a while. Not very tempted by chocolate, they just look pretty.

The other things will need to wait...

I noticed the more time I spend cooking, the fewer portion control issues I have. And no, that's not because my cooking is terrible... But for example, if I take some food (legal!) I can just snack on without having to do anything to it, portion control is more difficult than if I prepare my food (even small things make a difference, like roasting my nuts instead of buying them ready-roasted). Anyone noticed the same thing?

When I started the Nut Rung, I found that I could portion them easier if I had to "work" to eat them. So I used to buy nuts in their shells and crack them as I ate them. I used to get tired while cracking or shelling them, therefore it was easier to control the amount I ate. On the other hand, if I bought them ready-to-eat...it was much easier to over eat them.

Anyhow, I also think there's some truth about getting filled up on the cooking aromas. If it's a very aromatic (in a good way) dish, I find that when I finally sit down to eat it, my appetite is cut by 1/4 to 1/2----sometimes more.

[Georgiana]

Re: I need an oven.

I had a substituted teacher who was a retired Marine. I remember him telling us that when you get older, you'll realize all you need is a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and a tv.

This just resonates with me today. Today (Aug 1st) I supposed to move from the apartment a friend and I rented for June-July to an apartment belonging to our landlord's mom (she was supposed to be on holiday in August and my landlord wanted to move into the apartment we rented... so he offered us his mom's apartment). That was fine, because our contract was expiring at the end of July... so I assumed we'll just sign a new contract for the other apartment, pay and live there in August (then I'll go back to Bremen). I sent him an email on the 20th of July, asking when we should meet to sign the contract. He replied back saying that he won't be in Munich until the end of July and he'll contact us when he gets back to sort out the legal part. Sounded great. So I waited... and on 31st (yesterday), the day when we were supposed to move out, he sent me an email saying his mom's apartment is no longer available and my friend and I will need to find something else.

So.... We looked for an apartment yesterday evening and this evening, and we found one in a student dorm. It's pretty cheap and good enough for a month. It has two beds and a bathroom down the corridor. That's pretty much all I need at this point. I cook at the office, so no problem that it doesn't have a kitchen --- we have a huge kitchen on every floor.

Does this mean I'm getting old?

I think I can live without a TV (for now, at least!). Hadn't had one for over 3 years.

When I started the Nut Rung, I found that I could portion them easier if I had to "work" to eat them. So I used to buy nuts in their shells and crack them as I ate them. I used to get tired while cracking or shelling them, therefore it was easier to control the amount I ate. On the other hand, if I bought them ready-to-eat...it was much easier to over eat them.

I think this could be the reason why it's easier for me not to overeat pistachios. I see the mound of shells and realize when I had enough.

By the way, talking about nuts... I'm trying to make spiced/flavored roasted nuts. Is there any way to keep the spices on them? The oil doesn't seem to help much...