Saturday, July 28, 2012

If it was good enough for Grandma...

I know I've told you all about my fondness for cooking shows.  Not cooking reality shows mind, but proper cooking shows where you get to watch Cheffy McBakesalot swan around in what you just know is a studio set made to look like an old fashion kitchen and whip up a seven course meal in half an hour.  But I have a confession to make.

Just because I like watching someone make all those ridiculously complicated recipes, doesn't mean I like eating them.

It's true.  When it comes to food, I like mine simple.  I can enjoy a nice gourmet meal once in a while, but for an every day thing I prefer my meals to only have three or four ingredients.  Seriously, if there are so many herbs in a recipe that you can't remember them all, then there are too many herbs.

I guess my preferred style of dining could be best described as "Depression Era Cuisine".  I like those simple, easy to remember recipes that you got from your grandmother.  You've got to give it to them, those women who lived through the Great Depression certainly learned how to make the most from the least!  I suppose when you have next to nothing, you work out how to make it appetising pretty quickly.

So, in honour of those wonderful women, I've decided to share with you two of my favourite "Depression Era Cuisine" recipes!  They're simple to make, easy to remember, and delicious to eat!  So by all means give them a whirl and let me know what you think!  Even better, share some of your own "quick and dirty" recipes!

Rice Pudding

-  Half a litre of milk
-  Half a cup of rice
-  Quarter cup of sugar

This one is so easy, and it comes out rich and creamy!  Just mix the three ingredients together in a greased loaf tin and then bake in a low oven (160 celsius) until the rice has gone soft.  It'll take around 45 minutes to an hour.

Unsweetened Pancakes

-  One cup of self raising flour
-  One cup of milk
-  One egg

Another easy one.  Just mix all the ingredients together, then spoon onto a frying pan and flip when bubbles appear.  It's a recipe that works perfectly every time.  The pancakes are unsweetened so you can eat them with syrup or jam, or if you're like my dad you can eat them with pickles.  Excuse him, he's German.

So there you go, two oh so simple recipes just like Grandma used to make!  What are some of your favourites?

20 comments:

  1. I like simpler recipes as well. I do utilize a few fancier spices and herbs in my cooking from time to time though.

    I make my pancakes with lemon zest, always. I like them a little sweet.

    I'm going to try your rice pudding. I LOVE rice pudding.

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    1. I love that rice pudding recipe, but maybe that's just because it reminds me of being a kid. It was always a treat when we were little.

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  2. I love cooking shows too, although I hate cooking! If I look at a recipe and it has too many ingredients, I just say "screw it"! Love yours, though!

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    1. Simple recipes are so often the best. You really can't fail with the "honest" ones.

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  3. I like simple, but complicated, as well. I love to cook! Unfortunately, because I'm single, I more often than not am too lazy to cook actual 'recipes' since it's just me eating the results.

    I love and adore rice pudding. I actually haven't seen this very simple recipe for it. I will definitely give it a whirl!

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    1. I hope you enjoy it! I like to make it and then reheat it later as I want it.

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  4. This post raises two points in my mind:

    1. Those shows are called "food porn" for a reason.

    2. For Gawd's sake, throw a few plumped raisins into that rice pudding, girl!

    All of which is respectfully submitted.

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    1. 1. Oh, I know! Honestly, if Nigella Lawson were to do that on any other show it'd have to be shown after 9.30pm!

      2. I tend to be a purist when it comes to my rice pudding, but I'm not opposed to others adding fruit. Except for prunes, of course.

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  5. I love cooking shows. I make poor Megan suffer through Masterchef. And thankfully don't have cable or all that would be on would be the Food Network. I grew up watching Justin Wilson, remeber him? He rocked! "one cup of wiiine, one cup for me!"

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    1. I'm a secret fan of Jamie Oliver's early years, back when he was still stumbling and stuttering and not an enormous prat with an enormous ego.

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  6. Totally making pancakes for breakfast tomorrow.

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  7. I think I may try that pickle thing...

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    1. You and my dad, culinary adventurers. Dad tells me that's the way my Oma used to serve them when he was a kid.

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  8. I had no idea pancakes were so simple, I'll be trying them out for sure, thanks for sharing!

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    1. I hope you like them! I've always loved this recipe, it's practically impossible to do it wrong.

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  9. My preferred style of dining involves dialing a phone for takeout.

    "Excuse him, he's German". You make me laugh. :)

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  10. Not sure of my recipes, cuz I don't cook. But, I do share your opinion on the cooking shows. 1. They make me sick. 2. I don't like to watch them cuz they make me sick. 3. I don't like to watch people with short, dirty fingernails making food that I don't like to watch them cuz they make me sick.

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    1. LOL! Then you REALLY don't want to see what happens behind the scenes in a restaurant!

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  11. My mother loves rice pudding! I like simple meals, too, which is why I favor the potato over every other vegetable. You can do so much with it. Even just a boiled potato is amazing with a little butter, or some lemon and salt.

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