(no subject)

[tvordlj]

So we're starting the countdown again. 65 sleeps!

I'm taking tomorrow off. I made a doctor's appointment, just a regular routine thing and i couldn't get it at the end of the day like i usually do. I'd have to leave at lunch and get there for 1 and by the time i'd get back to work it would be nearly 3 so that's the afternoon gone. I decided to use a vacation day so i can sleep in and not rush.

Another food semi-disaster.
Thought i could make a chicken casserole without a recipe. Seemed easy enough. Chicken, onion, celery, two tins of cream soups (chicken, mushroom), two tins and a bit of milk, use up the orzo. That's like rice only it's pasta. I cooked way too much of it. Completely filled the dish so i scooped some out to two smaller dishes. Then since it was very very milky, well here's where it all falls apart. I added a bit of rice to it thinking it would cook when i baked the dish in the oven. Only it's brown rice which takes longer. It wasn't cooked very well and was still crunchy. Bleurgh. Now, i can add some some milk, cook in microwave for a bit. Slightly less crunchy but still noticeable. I hate to throw it all out as it's mostly edible and it's a waste otherwise. I probably will eat another bit of it and then chuck the rest. At least i'll have had a few meals and won't feel quite as guilty.

Comments

[acey.livejournal.com]

Oh isn't it disappointing when you think something will work out and it doesn't? I have a disaster in the making here tonight too. Zelda made me buy some collard greens yesterday and I am cooking them for dinner. If they taste as bad as they look, they'll be heading for the food waste bin very quickly. :)

[tvor.livejournal.com]

oh dear. aren't they sort of like spinach? Steam them, butter them and bob's your uncle?

[acey.livejournal.com]

WEll, that's what I thought when I bought them, but every recipe I found stressed that they must be cooked for an hour or so or they are as tough as leather! Most recipes suggested stewing them with ham hocks. Ummm yeah, I always have a ham hock or two hanging around, don't you? I found a recipe which suggested cooking them with chopped onions and garlic, a few spices and some broth. Then I added a chopped tomato and some feta cheese just before serving and they were not bad at all.

[tvor.livejournal.com]

Other types of greens aren't so much work i don't think.

[tammihayne.livejournal.com]

Is that Laurie's casserole recipe?
I pre-cook my rice in the microwave then add it. I've never added milk.
I cook my chicken (usually have chicken breasts in the fridge pre-cooked anyway) then cube it, put in the celery and onion, the two cans of soup, a cup of mayo and about 4 cups of cooked rice and mix it. This time I put some curry paste in as well. It makes enough for a 9x13 pan. I just finished it up tonight. I love it as it is one of those comfort foods. :)

[tvor.livejournal.com]

No it's not her recipe. I should have done that. And yes i should have precooked the rice but i thought it would cook while it baked. It was pretty bland too, i probably A. shouldn't have added the milk and B. used way too much pasta and obviously C. cooked the rice first. It was a last minute thought about the rice which is why i hadn't cooked it. I was using the orzo instead but there was too much liquid and i thought the rice would cook and suck up the extra. Oh well.

[tammihayne.livejournal.com]

Oh we all have our cooking disasters :)
I tried making spanish rice and didn't have enough rice for the recipe either...and did the same thing, added uncooked brown and thought the extra liquid would cook it. Uhm, no...I had cooked rice then this chewy/hard rice as well :) The good thing is we learn from the mistakes :)

[lola-is-naughty.livejournal.com]

I usually cook the pasta first although slightly undercooked so that when baked it's not mushy but has absorbed most of the moisture. It sounds delicious though.

I love a good casserole.

[tvor.livejournal.com]

I did cook the pasta (orzo) first but made too much of it and put all of it in the casserole. Another mistake. There was too much liquid already in thecasserole before i even baked it. that's why the rice. Thought it would suck up the moisture as it cooked but it didn't, i guess i didn't leave it long enough but as it was, the pasta was too soft when i did take it out. Disaster.

[sammantha.livejournal.com]

are you free Saturday afternoon for that movie? Was thinking I could pick you up, we could go to Dart. Crossing and then maybe visit mom for an hour and then I take you back on my way home.

[tvor.livejournal.com]

Not sure. Waiting to hear from Mom. I had thought she and i could go to Truro to the NS exhibition and Saturday is the last day.

[blueberrymoon.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. Chalk it up to experience. It is frustrating when you are looking forward to a nice meal, after all the work and prep and cost and have it fail.
Wonder when your next chicken casserole will be attempted:)