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Saturday 5 May 2012

Can Cook, Will Cook

I have had the most absolutely fabulous day learning to cook beautiful food with a beautiful , kind and most generous Frugal Queen. I can't believe she had the patience to put up with all my daft questions and my cack-handed knife skills, but she was utterly brilliant.

We started by making my ambition of a white sauce, well actually a Cheese sauce, and we did it  with a Microwave. Hey, I can "do" microwaving! I have to be totally honest and admit that I didn't realise there was flour in a white sauce. I'm not sure what I did think there was, but it's only 3 ingredients, plus the cheese, of course.

Froogs has all the details of what we made and how we made it on her Blog here, but all in all there was:-

 a huge Lasagne and a Canelloni, with lots of hidden vegetables. I'm trusting all of you not to tell the 'boys'.
Loads of veggies that were very small and disappeared in the sauce.
Large Lasagne & Smaller Canneloni

A Carbonara, which we ate straight away for lunch so didn't get time to take photo, but I can tell you it was gorgeous with we had with salad and dressing.

Two Chicken, Chorizo and vegetable pies, using her method for making pastry here:-


and a beautiful lemon drizzle cake, which also had to be tried straight away. It was very lemony with the lemon curd filling, but Sons don't like buttercream or icing, so I think it will be perfect for them. If I got it right?, I could also do the same cake mix but put some golden syrup with it for a Treacle sponge type cake, aswell.

Froogs garden was lovely and we sat in the summerhouse and on the patio in the sun for coffee breaks which was so peaceful and relaxing. Her DB was just lovely too and very industrious.

I have realised that I do need a few pieces of kitchen equipment before I tackle the recipes on my own. I am now on the lookout for a free/cheap food processor, some family size oven dishs and some enamel pie tins. However, hopefully it won't be too long before I am tooled up and able to show you the results of my efforts, so watch this space!

I also got a close up look at Froogs handmade quilts and they look even more fabulous in real life than on her Blog. A very talented lady.

Thank you ever so much Frugal Queen. Not only have I learnt that I can cook, and I know that I will cook, but you have given excitement for the journey ahead and for that I can never thank you enough.

It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good
I'm feeling good

And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me

Lots of Love Arwedd xx

Food DIary updated.

21 comments:

  1. It all looks so gooood! I'm so pleased you are learning to cook, I'm sure it will bring you much joy & satisfaction :)

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    1. Yeah I'm really looking forward to it. Bit sad that my own Mum didn't want to teach me, but anticipating the joy when I can take someone a nice cake round.

      Arwedd xx

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  2. It's so good hearing you sound so postive and confident!
    Jane x

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    1. I know I'll probably crash back down soon, but at the moment I am definitely on a high!

      Arwedd xx

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  3. I'm so glad you had fun! At my very darkest moments, Froogs reaches out to me and pulls me out of the mire, time and time again - she is utterly amazing. xxx

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    1. She is definitely amazing, but then so are you!

      Arwedd xx

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  4. Very kind of FQ to spend the day showing you how to cook. Well done you both.

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  5. Wow, what a great day and you managed to fit so much in - I am impressed xx

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    1. I just followed instructions, Froogs was the impressive one.

      Arwedd xx

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  6. Looks and sounds like you had an incredible day together. All if that food looks yummy. A job done with a friend makes light work and as you say can inspire you to go it alone too. I look forward up seeing what you cook up soon.

    X x

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    Replies
    1. If only Smellyvision was a reality. They smelt very yummy too!

      Arwedd xx

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  7. Everything looks yummy! I have nominated you for the Sunshine Award but I won't be offended if you choose not to accept. Details over at mine xxx

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for the award and Congratulations on recieving it yourself.

      Arwedd xx

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  8. Replies
    1. Perhaps I could post you some? Hmm.

      Arwedd xx

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  9. I am so jealous :]. I'm one of the can't cook people - I'm sure its all very straight forward but recipes make it look so hard and use so many ingredients. I can make a Lemon or Coffee Cake but as for a white sauce!!!!! Forget it lol. Having said that I am going to copy down some of the recipes and have a go myself - especially the Lasagne
    Well done
    Helen x

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    1. I will Blog the method for the White/Cheese sauce that I made with Frugal Queen as it was dead easy. We made it in the microwave and there was no measuring. I was amazed!

      Arwedd xx

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    2. That would be great - thank you :] And for what is worth I think your Lemon Cake looks lovely and I'd willingly have a slice [or 2]
      Helen x

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  10. What lovely looking food - I spent the day with a Venetian baker who taught me to make pizzas and bread. There is nothing like having someone next to you when you learn. Lily. xxx

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    1. It's true, it was great fun.

      Arwedd xx

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