What are you cooking today?

[achookwoman]

Basil.

[thermilover]

Thank you so much Chookie, sounds really interesting, I could use it for the Brown rice salad recipe here
And also, as you are so good at bread making, can you please suggest the best way to slice up fresh bread?

[Sharonb]

Ive just made hubby mushroom risotto.  Wow so easy.
I even had a bowl and loved it and neither mushrooms or risotto are a favourite with me.   
Love my Thermie after only 5 days.

[cookie1]

Thermilover the bread must be cold before you slice it. My DH uses an electric knife to do ours. I'm lousy at cutting the bread.
I believe some people use one of those plastic guides to slice their bread.

When I have to cut the bread I use this knife. It was given to me and bought at the Salamanca Markets in Hobart. It was in a wood turning groups 'shop'. It is really easy to use and I don't mess the bread up.

[Sharonb]

Whay does the bread have to be cold before slicing ?

[cookie1]

Its easier to slice. When it is  hot it bends and all sorts of things. Imagine how easy it is to squash soft, fresh bread. It sort of needs to firm up. There is possibly a scientific reason too but I don't know.

[Cornish Cream]

CC, did the pork crackle?
Marina, all sounds yummy.
I baked a grain loaf in the 3 litre SC.  it sank a bit in the middle but tasted ok. Used Full No Fuss recipe , double rise, 2 hours on high. Had to weigh the lid down as it was pushing it off.

The pork didn't crackle Chookie.I think it's my oven I just can't get it hot enough
I had a giggle at you having to weigh down the lid as the dough was escaping LOL

We have that knife Cookie.It cuts bread well.

[judydawn]

I made a batch of mushroom sauce - for no special reason, just because I could.  There are recipes out there but I just made this one up as I went and I now have 5 little packs in the freezer for different uses.

[Sharonb]

Thanks Cookie 1  i was wondering   I slice mine hot or cold. I don't have a problem with most breads. But then i have been making bread by hand for years. Mostly i add water to the oven for a nice crust, so that is perhaps why it is easy to slice hot.   I bought a bread maker many years ago, used it a few times and didnt love it. Then about 6 years ago i got interested in sourdough and learned breadmaking properly.   I love kneading bread. The only bread i dont make by hand is ciabatta, the sloppy dough is too messy, (though i have done it by hand a few times) i use my kitchenaid mixer for that. But bread by hand is very time consuming. The buttermilk bread recipe is so quick. Im loving it. And i love the flavour too. Yum.

[thermilover]

Thanks Cookie, I was thinking of buying one of those guides online, probably thats a good idea to start with
I made pasta sauce with basil from the garden, mixed, basil, pine nuts, parmesan, yogurt and olive oil (as per the original recipe from Masterchef, you can even put in garlic) in the thermomix at speed 8-9 for 1 min until it was a smooth paste. Poured it over cooked macaroni and it was yumm!!
Next time, will be trying the salad sauce recipe Chookie has given!

[achookwoman]

Rolls in AF. http://achookwoman.blogspot.com.au/search?q=Bread

[judydawn]

I don't think I've ever cooked bread in my a/f Chookie, the rolls look great.

[achookwoman]

Judy, for a small amount of bread, this is so easy. This recipe is one of the most popular on my Blog.
I use 1/2 No Fuss recipe as the resulting texture is just right.

[cookie1]

Lovely rolls Chookie.
Sharon you will have to try some of the wonderful bread recipes on here. We prefer a softer crust on our bread so I don't do the water in the oven trick.

[JulieO]

Great rolls Chookie.