Forum Thermomix

Questions Doubts and Requests => Recipe Requests => Topic started by: Amy :-) on July 08, 2012, 01:15:00 pm

Title: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: Amy :-) on July 08, 2012, 01:15:00 pm
Hi everyone :D

The night before the WA Reatreat Weekend I will be staying with my grandparents to make it easier for me to get to Gracetown for the weekend. My nana does have a thermomix but I don't think she uses it much, so I'd like to cook her a really nice meal in it on the night that I'm staying :D

But I'm not sure what to cook ???

My grandparents are both in their 80's and not very active, so the meal can't be too high in fat. My grandpa has type 2 diabetes, so it has to be fairly balanced, and he also has false teeth, so it can't be something that would be difficult for him to eat.

I know they like fish but can't afford to get it fresh very often, so I thought it would be nice if I took them a few good quality fillets. I was thinking then that I could cook them a nice fish dish and show nana how to make it too.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! :D
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: judydawn on July 08, 2012, 01:39:32 pm
Amy have you got the My Way of Cooking recipe book?  My favourite fish recipe is in that on page 130 Codfish fillets with citrus butter - vegies are cooked at the same time then the citrus butter is made.  It is delicious.  I can't always get codfish here and they don't even know what I'm talking about half the time but a good fishmonger will be able to tell you the equivalent fish, it is quite thick.  There is butter in the sauce of course but you could spoon that sparingly onto pop's plate.  I'll pm you the recipe if you would like it.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: Amy :-) on July 08, 2012, 01:48:36 pm
Judy, I don't have the My Way of Cooking recipe book but that recipe sounds delicious :D I'd really appreciate it if you could PM it to me, as long as its no hassel for you :-*
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: judydawn on July 08, 2012, 02:03:29 pm
On it's way Amy
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: meganjane on July 08, 2012, 09:38:02 pm
Cod is called Blue Eye Trevalla in Australia. Or, simply Blue Eye. It's a firm fish. Ask for a firm fish when you buy it Amy.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: achookwoman on July 09, 2012, 12:19:16 am
Amy I have posted a couple of fish recipes,  using salmon.  Both are cooked in the Varoma, in a dish, in a sauce.  You could shape a sheet of foil to fit if you don't have a dish.  Judy't dish sounds similar, just different fish,  different sauce.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: Amy :-) on July 09, 2012, 12:29:00 am
On it's way Amy

Thank you so much Judy :-*

Cod is called Blue Eye Trevalla in Australia. Or, simply Blue Eye. It's a firm fish. Ask for a firm fish when you buy it Amy.

I think I remember seeing Blue Eye Trevalla in my local fish factory. I will have to ask them whether they get it in often ;) Thanks MJ! :D

Amy I have posted a couple of fish recipes,  using salmon.  Both are cooked in the Varoma, in a dish, in a sauce.  You could shape a sheet of foil to fit if you don't have a dish.  Judy't dish sounds similar, just different fish,  different sauce.

They sound good too Chookie, thank you! :D I can print them off and give to my nana because she doesn't have a computer. Maybe I should print off some other good recipes too and put them in a folder for her? That sounds like a good idea :D
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: achookwoman on July 09, 2012, 12:31:50 am
The recipe book for your GP is an excellent idea.  Amy.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: Jude59 on July 09, 2012, 02:20:30 am
Amy I often bake salmon fillets in the oven in a cream and mustard dijonnaise mix.  I know cream is high fat but you dont use very much.  This recipe is for two so change it up depending on how many you are cooking for.

Place your salmon in a baking dish.  In a separate bowl (or the tmx if you are using more cream for more people) whip up till reasonably stiff around a third of a cup of cream,  then stir in about 2 tbspns of the digonnaise, which you have mixed a good rounded teaspoon of cornflour into ( I use Maille), optional extras I add if I have them on hand are capers or pink and green peppercorns (the ones in the jars preserved in a liquid).  Mix all together and spread over the top of the fillets (sorry about the basic instructions...I made this up as I went along years ago, if it looks like not enough add a bit more).
On top of this place a few sprigs of fresh rosemary or thyme ... love the rosemary myself.
Bake in a moderate oven for around 20 minutes (more or less depending on how you like your salmon cooked).

Another easy and quick recipe is in a pan place your salmon fillets add a good half a cup of sparkling wine and a tbspn of seeded mustard.  Put the lid on and turn up to quite high and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated,  enrich with a dash or six of cream and swirl around together til all heated through and salmon cooked to your liking... serve with whatever you have decided.  You can change the mustard for curry powder or paste and the cream for coconut mik etc.  Stick with the champers though it's a nice stock for the fish.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: courton on July 09, 2012, 04:10:17 am
If you are making a recipe book make sure it is in big font!
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: Amy :-) on July 09, 2012, 04:28:14 am
Thanks for those ideas Jude59 :)

If you are making a recipe book make sure it is in big font!

Good point courton, I almost didn't think of that!!! :-)) :-)) :-))
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: cookie1 on July 09, 2012, 04:56:16 am
Amy the recipe book is a great idea. Try to include well tested recipes and maybe all in one so that your Grandmother can cook the vegies and meat at the same time.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: Amy :-) on July 09, 2012, 05:24:10 am
Thanks cookie, the all in one meals will probably be the best way to go :) I'll also have to look at the ingredients of recipes and check that they're not going to be too expensive ;)
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: achookwoman on July 09, 2012, 07:32:29 am
All GP love sweets,  and there are plenty for Diabetics.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: Amy :-) on July 09, 2012, 11:36:59 am
Oh yes Chookie, they love a good pudding or cake :D My grandpa absolutely LOVES ginger, so I will search the forum for some kind of ginger sweet ;) I remember we went to a lollly shop once, and they only had chocolate coated ginger. So we bought that and I chewed all the chocolate from the outside and then gave the ginger to grandpa :D :D
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: meganjane on July 09, 2012, 12:05:48 pm
Haha! Reminds me of the story of the old lady with the peanuts she'd always offer to guests. She had no teeth and they used to be chocolate peanuts...

Which fish place do you go to Amy? I'd love some Blue Eye and I'm in Albany next Monday.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: Amy :-) on July 09, 2012, 12:09:31 pm
LOL MJ ;D
I go to Colley's, out lower Denmark Road. Definitely the best fish place in Albany ;)
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: meganjane on July 09, 2012, 01:12:54 pm
Thanks, yep I know the one! I'll be there with bells on next Monday!!
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: Amy :-) on July 09, 2012, 01:21:39 pm
Excellent! I'll warn them that you're coming ;D
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: achookwoman on July 09, 2012, 01:32:46 pm
Amy,  I love ginger also.  I'll see what I can find.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: Amy :-) on July 09, 2012, 01:47:37 pm
Chookie, it would be great if you could help me look. We just had a phone call saying that grandpa has been to the doctor and they don't think he will be around much longer. He is getting very confused and giving nana a hard time. Apparently he gets up at midnight and tries to have a shower because he thinks its morning, and he wants to go to bed at 6pm because he thinks he's had his dinner but he hasn't. He's started wandering off, and if nana goes out, he'll go looking for her. He says each night that he doesn't think he will wake up in the morning.
All this has started happening just over the last week. He's going downhill very quickly and I'm scared for him.

I haven't been able to stop crying since we got the call :'(

We are going to have a big cook up on Saturday and take the meals up for nana to keep in her freezer, because she is very tired from having to look after grandpa and watch him all the time. I will cook all the meals I had planned to put in the recipe folder, and then nana can pick her favourite ones and I will cook them for her every week.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: CreamPuff63 on July 09, 2012, 02:55:15 pm
Amy, Steamed Roast Chicken from Devil of a Cookbook is YUMMY. Very low fat. I will PM you the recipe if you want?
You sound like a lovely girl and i can't wait to meet you.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: achookwoman on July 09, 2012, 11:12:19 pm
Hang in there. Amy.  Will send some recipes that both GP's will enjoy.  Mostly soups and puds.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: Amy :-) on July 10, 2012, 12:00:25 am
Thanks ladies :) I knew we would get a call like this sometime but for some reason its still a shock... :(

Thanks CP, I do have the Devil cookbook but I haven't tried cooking the roast chicken yet. I read on here that there are a few mistakes in the cookbook. Are there any in the roast chicken recipe?

Chookie, I found your recipe for pear and ginger pudding. Do you think that would be suitable for them? Not too sweet or chewy?
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: CreamPuff63 on July 10, 2012, 02:28:21 am
No mistakes in that recipe, and make sure you use the "jug juice" to make gravy. I just added 50g Plain flour to it, 12 mins, Varoma, Speed 1 - delicious!
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: Wonder on July 10, 2012, 04:52:50 am
Amy I made lovely Ginger Nut biscuits from this site on the weekend and we loved them. they were the ones rolled in sugar but I'm sure you wouldn't have to do that part.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: achookwoman on July 10, 2012, 04:57:23 am
Amy,  the pear and ginger Pud would be perfect.  Also a ginger biscuits recipe with Spelt flour.  You don't have to use the spelt.  VERY gingery.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: courton on July 10, 2012, 05:17:06 am
Amy. you are right in giving your grandmother a break. She will need it more and more. Even if some members of the family can spend time with grandpa so that she could go visiting or shopping... just to get out of the house is a break.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: Amy :-) on July 10, 2012, 06:16:38 am
No mistakes in that recipe, and make sure you use the "jug juice" to make gravy. I just added 50g Plain flour to it, 12 mins, Varoma, Speed 1 - delicious!

Thanks for that CP, I might practice it at home tomorrow or Thursday before I make it for nana and grandpa. I want to get it perfect for them :)

Wonder, do you think those biscuits would be alright for false teeth?

Thanks Chookie, I noticed you have a few nice looking ginger recipes on here ;)

Courton, the problem will be convincing my nana that she needs a break. She is a very determined woman and has been married to my grandpa for 60 years. I don't think she would leave him for any longer than it takes to buy some bread and milk.
My mum rang nana this morning and she had been crying. She said she has never seen grandpa like this in all the time they've been married. She had to convince him this morning that there weren't any cats or dogs in traps out the back :(
The doctors are saying its lack of oxygen, not dementia or anything, but I don't know if thats better and worse :'(
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: judydawn on July 10, 2012, 07:21:46 am
Amy, it is so nice to hear of your concern for your grandparents and all the things you are going to do to help out.  I'm sure your nana will appreciate it so much - it must be hard for her at her age coping with grandpa.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: Amy :-) on July 10, 2012, 07:54:40 am
Thanks Judy. If you ever saw me with my grandpa, you would see how much he means to me. He is the most important man in my world :)
I have so many lovely memories of staying with my grandparents. We used to feed the birds every morning, seed for the parrots and cheese for the magpies. Jam and marmalade were always homemeade, and grandpa even used to eat the jam that nana burnt because nothing ever goes to waste when grandpa is around :)
When I told grandpa that I scored 97% in my first music exam, he looked so happy he was almost crying and he said it was the best thing he'd heard in a long time. That is my favourite memory :)
And then there's all the times when we've just sat on the couch or out on the porch, and I hold his hand and it feels so tough and scarred, and I know how hard he's worked all his life.

I'm making myself cry, so I think I should stop there.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: judydawn on July 10, 2012, 09:02:47 am
If it's any consolation Amy, you have reached an age where you will have wonderful memories of your Grandpa - I lost both mine when I was too young to remember much. Treasure the time you have left and try and spend as much time with both of them.  Be brave in front of Grandpa and make him even more proud of you than he already is.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: meganjane on July 10, 2012, 02:36:18 pm
{{{HUGS}}}
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: Cornish Cream on July 10, 2012, 02:43:24 pm
So sorry to hear about your Grandpa Amy.You have some wonderful memories to treasure.A big hug from me as well :-*
Title: Re: Suggestions for a nice meal for my grandparents.
Post by: Amy :-) on July 10, 2012, 11:59:57 pm
Thanks ladies :)
I suppose people aren't lying when they say that all good things must come to an end but it doesn't mean we lose the memories. And you're all right, I have some really lovely memories which I can keep with me forever even when grandpa's not here anymore.