(2008-02-25) New survey on the RFC site: Too many ingredient

ChattyCathy · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 167

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/

I am gonna blame Blinky the (chicken) Shark for bringing up the 'too
many ingredients' thing in one of the recent threads
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

Food is an important part of a balanced diet. - Fran Lebowitz

Archived from group: rec>food>cooking

The Ranger · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 78

ChattyCathy wrote in message $Tn.7790@fe093.usenetserver.com...
> http://www.recfoodcooking.com/
>
> I am gonna blame Blinky the (chicken) Shark for
> bringing up the 'too many ingredients' thing in one
> of the recent threads

I had to think about what I consider too many ingredients;
fifteen seems reasonable because most recipes I try have 10-14
ingredients. I start to balk when the list becomes a grocery
list. Same with the number of steps. If it goes over two pages,
there's little interest in me making it. Even if it's something
divine, I like to have things simplified down to a single
page...

The Ranger

ChattyCathy · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 167

The Ranger wrote:
> ChattyCathy wrote in message
> $Tn.7790@fe093.usenetserver.com...
>> http://www.recfoodcooking.com/
>>
>> I am gonna blame Blinky the (chicken) Shark for
>> bringing up the 'too many ingredients' thing in one
>> of the recent threads
>
> I had to think about what I consider too many ingredients;
> fifteen seems reasonable because most recipes I try have 10-14
> ingredients. I start to balk when the list becomes a grocery
> list. Same with the number of steps. If it goes over two pages,
> there's little interest in me making it. Even if it's something
> divine, I like to have things simplified down to a single
> page...

I'm of the 'if it looks good enough, I'll try it' people. As I mentioned
to Blinky at some point, I tried one of the recipes modom posted for
mole sauce a year or two ago - can't remember exactly how many
ingredients/steps, but it looked rather daunting. However, it was turned
out great...
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

Food is an important part of a balanced diet. - Fran Lebowitz

James Silverton · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 187

ChattyCathy wrote on Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:55:57 +0200:

C> I am gonna blame Blinky the (chicken) Shark for bringing up
C> the 'too many ingredients' thing in one of the recent
C> threads --
C> Cheers
C> Chatty Cathy

Looks like I'm with the majority and discouraged by complicated
recipes Wink

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

Dave Smith · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 219

The Ranger wrote:

> I had to think about what I consider too many ingredients;
> fifteen seems reasonable because most recipes I try have 10-14
> ingredients. I start to balk when the list becomes a grocery
> list. Same with the number of steps. If it goes over two pages,
> there's little interest in me making it. Even if it's something
> divine, I like to have things simplified down to a single
> page...

Some of the recipes aren't that complicated if you break them down into
steps for simplication. For instance, making a meat pie might seem
complicated to a beginner cook. The newbie would look at the recipe and
see a lits of ingredients like flour, salt, water, egg, shorting and
vinegar followed by a set of instructions that would call for sifting
the dry ingredients, cutting in the shortening, forming balls, chilling,
flouring a surface, rolling instructions etc.

They would also be faced with a long list of ingedients for meat
filling and a complicated with another long list of ingredients, meat,
oil, onions garlic, mushrooms, salt, pepper, various herbs, perhaps a
bouquet garnis. Then there would be all the steps for browning the meat
and diced vegetables, simmering, thickening the sauce etc.

For an experience cook...... braise the meat, thicken the sauce and
make pie dough.

PeterLucas · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 124

"James Silverton" wrote in $v57.1399@trnddc05:

> ChattyCathy wrote on Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:55:57 +0200:
>
> C> I am gonna blame Blinky the (chicken) Shark for bringing up
> C> the 'too many ingredients' thing in one of the recent
> C> threads --
> C> Cheers
> C> Chatty Cathy
>
> Looks like I'm with the majority and discouraged by complicated
> recipes Wink

>

Bukaggghhhhhhhhh.

Buk buk buk bukagggghhhhhhhhh

Chicken.

--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia

Wars begin where you will...
but they do not end where you please.

Machiavelli

Giusi · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 118

"ChattyCathy" ha scritto nel messaggio $Tn.7373@fe093.usenetserver.com...
> The Ranger wrote:
>> ChattyCathy wrote in message
>> $Tn.7790@fe093.usenetserver.com...
>>> http://www.recfoodcooking.com/
>>>
>>> I am gonna blame Blinky the (chicken) Shark for
>>> bringing up the 'too many ingredients' thing in one
>>> of the recent threads
>>
>> I had to think about what I consider too many ingredients; fifteen seems
>> reasonable because most recipes I try have 10-14 ingredients. I start to
>> balk when the list becomes a grocery list. Same with the number of steps.
>> If it goes over two pages, there's little interest in me making it. Even
>> if it's something divine, I like to have things simplified down to a
>> single page...
>
> I'm of the 'if it looks good enough, I'll try it' people. As I mentioned
> to Blinky at some point, I tried one of the recipes modom posted for mole
> sauce a year or two ago - can't remember exactly how many
> ingredients/steps, but it looked rather daunting. However, it was turned
> out great...
> --
> Cheers
> Chatty Cathy

Yeah, there are some wusses on here. You know who you are!

Take chili, for example. If, like me, you have to make your own chili
powder you have a very long list of ingredients, but you make it, right? Or
mustard. I can buy one kind here. If I want to use any other kind in a
dish I have to make it. Almost any Indian dish has quite a list unless you
are using somebody's paste or ready made chili powder. Pumpkin pie has a
lot of ingredients away from the frozen crust, canned pumpkin and pumpkin
pie spice mix.

The recipes I write tend to be simpler because that's my target group--
people who will eat take out or ready meals if you don't convince them to
make your food, but the only thing that can scare me off making someone
else's is if I have to travel to three cities or four countries to get the
ingredients.--
http://www.judithgreenwood.com

The Ranger · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 78

Giusi wrote in message @mid.individual.net...
[snip]
> The recipes I write tend to be simpler because that's
> my target group--people who will eat take out or
> ready meals if you don't convince them to make your
> food, but the only thing that can scare me off making
> someone else's is if I have to travel to three cities or
> four countries to get the ingredients.

Good for you.

ObRecipe: Chicken and Shrimp Casserole

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups uncooked rice
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
4 cups cooked chicken, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 lb button mushrooms, sliced
1/3 cup soy sauce
1 lb shelled and deveined shrimp
8 green onions, sliced into 1/2" pieces
1/2 cup slivered almonds

Directions:
Mix rice and melted butter in the slow cooker, stir to
coat the rice thoroughly. Add most of the remaining
ingredients leaving out the slivered almonds and green
onions. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours or
on High for 2 to 3 hours. Sprinkle the almonds and
green onions over the top before serving.

The Ranger

Giusi · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 118

"The Ranger" ha scritto nel messaggio @corp.supernews.com...
> Giusi wrote in message
> @mid.individual.net...
> [snip]
>> The recipes I write tend to be simpler because that's
>> my target group--people who will eat take out or
>> ready meals if you don't convince them to make your
>> food, but the only thing that can scare me off making
>> someone else's is if I have to travel to three cities or
>> four countries to get the ingredients.
>
> Good for you.
>
> ObRecipe: Chicken and Shrimp Casserole
>
> Ingredients:
> 1 1/4 cups uncooked rice
> 1/2 cup butter, melted
> 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
> 4 cups cooked chicken, cut into 1-inch pieces
> 1/2 lb button mushrooms, sliced
> 1/3 cup soy sauce
> 1 lb shelled and deveined shrimp
> 8 green onions, sliced into 1/2" pieces
> 1/2 cup slivered almonds
>
> Directions:
> Mix rice and melted butter in the slow cooker, stir to
> coat the rice thoroughly. Add most of the remaining
> ingredients leaving out the slivered almonds and green
> onions. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours or
> on High for 2 to 3 hours. Sprinkle the almonds and
> green onions over the top before serving.
>
> The Ranger

Looks pretty good if I half it. Thanks!
>

Pete C. · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 79

ChattyCathy wrote:
>
> http://www.recfoodcooking.com/
>
> I am gonna blame Blinky the (chicken) Shark for bringing up the 'too
> many ingredients' thing in one of the recent threads
> --
> Cheers
> Chatty Cathy
>
> Food is an important part of a balanced diet. - Fran Lebowitz

Not applicable - no such thing as too many ingredients or steps if the
recipe looks reasonable. That said I rarely follow a recipe exactly and
if my analysis indicates it's over complicated or some ingredients will
be lost in the mix I'll readily adjust it. Some recipes are complicated
with justification, others just have silly pointless steps in them with
no benefit.

Kate Connally · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 56

ChattyCathy wrote:
> http://www.recfoodcooking.com/
>
> I am gonna blame Blinky the (chicken) Shark for bringing up the 'too
> many ingredients' thing in one of the recent threads

I'm with the majority - sometimes, 15, sometimes.
If it sounds really good I might try it but I seldom
make really complicated things on a regular basis.
This is mainly laziness. Foods I tend not to cook at
home are Chinese and Indian dishes. Too many ingredients
cut up in small pieces (lots of work), too many steps
(tedious and time-consuming). So I'll do it for special
occasions but not for everyday. And don't even get me
started on mole! I made a Oaxacan black mole once
that had about 36 ingredients. It took me 2 days to make
it and then I didn't even like it!

Kate

--
Kate Connally
“If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
Until you bite their heads off.”
What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?
mailto:connally@pitt.edu

Scott W · Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Posts: 5

On Feb 25, 4:55 am, ChattyCathy wrote:
> http://www.recfoodcooking.com/
>
> I am gonna blame Blinky the (chicken) Shark for bringing up the 'too
> many ingredients' thing in one of the recent threads
> --
> Cheers
> Chatty Cathy
>
> Food is an important part of a balanced diet. - Fran Lebowitz

I guess I am way in the minority in that I don't use recipes.

Scott

Virginia Tadrzynski · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 42

"Kate Connally" wrote in message $c4o$1@usenet01.srv.cis.pitt.edu...
> ChattyCathy wrote:
>> http://www.recfoodcooking.com/
>>
>> I am gonna blame Blinky the (chicken) Shark for bringing up the 'too many
>> ingredients' thing in one of the recent threads
>
> I'm with the majority - sometimes, 15, sometimes.
> If it sounds really good I might try it but I seldom
> make really complicated things on a regular basis.
> This is mainly laziness. Foods I tend not to cook at
> home are Chinese and Indian dishes. Too many ingredients
> cut up in small pieces (lots of work), too many steps
> (tedious and time-consuming). So I'll do it for special
> occasions but not for everyday. And don't even get me
> started on mole! I made a Oaxacan black mole once
> that had about 36 ingredients. It took me 2 days to make
> it and then I didn't even like it!
>
> Kate
>
> --
> Kate Connally
> “If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
> Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
> Until you bite their heads off.”
> What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?
> mailto:connally@pitt.edu

I agree with Kate. If it is for company, I'll give it the college try, but
for home, it needs to be quick, filling and on the table before they eat
each other. Hey, Chatty-kins, how about a survey on who had made something
that 'looked good' in print, but when you made it you gacked. ? I made a
chocolate cake following a long winded recipe that looked divine. The cake,
being round and dark, tasted similar to the cow flop it looked like.
-ginny

sf · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 466

On Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:55:57 +0200, ChattyCathy
wrote:

>http://www.recfoodcooking.com/
>
>I am gonna blame Blinky the (chicken) Shark for bringing up the 'too
>many ingredients' thing in one of the recent threads

I chose a limit of 10 ingredients because I remembered that salt and
pepper, flour, milk and water are also "ingredients". Basically, my
limit is to the ingredients on hand - although I am willing to go out
and buy one or maybe two I don't have. That's why I don't do "Indian"
food. I may have the beans because they are universal, but I don't
keep many (if any) of the spices needed, so it would require a major
expenditure just to make a single dish. So, if I want Indian food
(which isn't very often) I eat it in a restaurant. OTOH, I routinely
have the necessary ingredients for American/Canadian/European,
Mexican/Hispanic and Chinese recipes.

--
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remove the smile first

sf · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 466

On Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:21:31 +0100, "Giusi"
wrote:

>
>Yeah, there are some wusses on here. You know who you are!

Hey, cut that out! We think of ourselves as "uncomplicated" people.

Wink

--
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(2008-01-15) New survey on the RFC site: The more it costs, Let's see... -- Cheers Chatty Cathy Seize the moment. Think of all those women on the 'Titanic' who waved off the dessert cart. - Erma Bombeck

(2008-01-28) New survey on the RFC site: Alternative food Gonna blame Andy, James Silverton (and the rest of r.f.c. - you know who you are - for this survey). -- Cheers Chatty Cathy Seize the moment. Think of all those women on the 'Titanic' who waved off the dessert cart. - Erma

(2008-02-03) New survey on the RFC site: Bottled water? -- Cheers Chatty Cathy Food is an important part of a balanced diet. - Fran Lebowitz

(2008-02-19) New survey on the RFC site: Making Chili? I am going to blame the thread or beef?' for this one... -- Cheers Chatty Cathy Food is an important part of a balanced diet. - Fran Lebowitz

(2007-08-29) New survey on the RFC site: Vinegar Vote now! (or not) Thanks go to Sky for sending in this survey. -- Cheers Chatty Cathy Garlic: the element without which life as we know it would be impossible