Topic: Sagely, culinary advice.

[smokester]

No, nothing to do with sage, just a thread for food ideas or help you may need in the kitchen.

Here's my problem:

I have a duck in the freezer that I intend to roast next weekend for dinner, to feed my and my partner's folks.  I will probably just do an orangy-honey glaze and roast it in a bag, but what on earth should I serve with it? I thought just a roast dinner type thing but the usual veg seems too boring to accompany it.  I may roll the potatoes in a herby type thing and roast them but I don't want them to clash with the duck.

What other veg could I use and what technique should I use to cook them?

[Skadi]

I like boring accompaniments.. that way they don't compete with the stronger flavored dishes. 

I'd stick to potatoes, and maybe roast them with other winter available root vegetables like carrots... or maybe fennel or parsnips. I don't like either of those so much.. so, I'd stick to potatoes and carrots... maybe throw in some some thin haricot vert type green beans. To roast the vegetables I'd stick to pepper, olive oil, and a good quality coarse salt. That way the duck can be rich, you could serve an overly rich dessert.. but the side wouldn't be so over the top that it would balance out the rest of the meal. A really good bread would be good also. I tend to like peasant food style cooking, so I usually cook with less ingredients than more.

[smokester]

Those a really good ideas Skadi and I think I'll take that advice and do a mediterranean roasted  root veg thing, with some fairly neutral potatoes.  Maybe some roasted shallots too.

Nearly there then and just have to decide on dessert...

[Skadi]

gooey chocolate like a Chocolate Gateau

[smokester]

Well the folks couldn't make it due to a my mum being a tad under the weather so there's a raincheck in place for now.  I'm kind of lucky/unlucky I didn't buy that gateau, as I would have to have eaten the majority of it myself

[xtopave]

Those are really good ideas aelthric. It looks like you have accepted the necessary changes you needed in your diet and that you're becoming an expert in these matters.

Talking about artificial sweeteners stability under heat here's what I know that might help someone (I've never used sucralose or neotame so I won't talk about them):

Cyclamate: Stable

Saccharin: Not stable (but since almost always is sold as a mixture of saccharin-cyclamate this mixture is stable)

Acesulfame K: Stable

Aspartame: Unstable

Stevia: Stable

The last one is the best sweetener I've tried for many reasons.

[smokester]

Stevia: Stable

The last one is the best sweetener I've tried for many reasons.

Wow, just read up on it and it seems almost magical.  As always though, it's banned in the European union as a food additive as Harry Potter has the monopoly on magic.

[xtopave]

Maybe when some big guy decide to grow this in Europe they'll accept it. 

It's 300 times sweeter than sugar when aspartame is 200. The first time I tried it someone put a few leaves in a mate and it was almost like sugar. The only person I know that tried stevia and didn't think it was good is my father. 

[Skadi]

^ definitely smart My dad would never stop smoking even though he finally quit drinking, and my mom is a sugar junkie.. those habits ruined both their health, and they refused to listen to doctors. I admire your approach more then you can imagine.

Wow, just read up on it and it seems almost magical.  As always though, it's banned in the European union as a food additive as Harry Potter has the monopoly on magic.

the site that follows is a site in the UK that says you can buy the seeds in the UK. I don't use sugar alternatives, but I'd planned to grow it anyway to mess around with it. That way if the world falls to zombies, and I can't get sugar.. I'll have stevia in my garden Mostly I've read to mix it in drinks.. I haven't figured out yet if there's a way to store, and or process it long term.



http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/garden-shop/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=stevia&section=Seeds&cPath=5_72_189&go.x=5&go.y=11

[xtopave]

I haven't figured out yet if there's a way to store, and or process it long term.

In my country I can buy the dry leaves in plastic bags (which I imagine can last long), powder, tablets and solution. This is what I gave my father who's reluctantly using it. 

[smokester]

You can buy the powder here easily enough but it works out around a ?1 and ounce.  That's ok if you only have to put a sprinkle in your tea I guess, so I'll give it a go as it the diet season eh .

[smokester]

Would love a link because it doesn't seem to be available in my area, but it does look like a viable alternative.

You can get it on Ebay for the price I suggested and although I get a few culinary products from Ebay (like dehydrated onion), the quality can be hit and miss.

This is nearly double the price but looks more kosher:

http://www.healthmonthly.co.uk/swanson_stevia_extract

[subvinorosa]

I'll pop in here once in a while to ask for advice.  As for me giving advice, uh...no.  Can cook passably but no real love for it.  I prefer to do the dishes.

The sugar alternatives are interesting.  Luckily though, no one in my immediate family is diabetic or at currently seems at risk.  Genetics excluded.

[goldshirt*9]

the site that follows is a site in the UK that says you can buy the seeds in the UK. I don't use sugar alternatives, but I'd planned to grow it anyway to mess around with it. That way if the world falls to zombies, and I can't get sugar.. I'll have stevia in my garden Mostly I've read to mix it in drinks.. I haven't figured out yet if there's a way to store, and or process it long term.

can this be grown in a pot i wonder. has beautiful foliage.

[xtopave]

Stevia comes from Guaran? territory (Paraguay, North East Argentina, Southern Brazil) which is quite warm (subtropical weather) but apparently it can be grown in pots. I've never done it though.