2nd date ideas

[Jaded]

How far are you from Cambridge? You could go out in a punt and write a poem about it. The possibilities are endless.

Take care when choosing words that rhyme with "punt"

Indeed. She might not be that tall.

[Valiant]

I do so hope Afsoas's girlfriend has recently joined the forum...

(click to show/hide)

pops to look at new forum members

It would add a piquant twist to the story -
the sharing of which has been delightful vicarious pleasure.

That happend to me once.

[jogler]

I've been out of the dating game for 40+ years.
How many dates is it before a bike is involved nowadays?

[Afasoas]

The lady rides a bike so it won't be too long, I'm sure.

Okay, date number 3 and I'm cooking. I'm planning on cooking Katsu Chicken as per this recipe:
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2174637/chicken-katsu-curry

Thing is, I'm no culinary genius. I can just make breadcrumbs, right?
And surely "dusting with beaten egg" - brush the egg on don't you?

Sorry. I'm a dufus.

[dasmoth]

Thing is, I'm no culinary genius. I can just make breadcrumbs, right?
And surely "dusting with beaten egg" - brush the egg on don't you?

I find it much easier to get a good coating if I beat the egg(s) in a suitably-sized bowl and dip.  That's what the recipe seems to be implying here: bowls of flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, dip-dip-dip.

Hope all goes well!

[padbeat]

Keep the heat low on Step 2 once the flour goes in, and you might want to use smashed-to-powder-in-a-plastic-bag cornflakes rather than breadcrumbs. Srsly. Crispier and less fat-absorbant! If you're going to make breadcrumbs, use stale bread (i.e. leave it out for 12-24 hours before you use it) and whizz it up in a food processor. You can grate it, but it's a bit tedious frankly.

Enjoy!

[geraldc]

Go to your oriental supermarket and look for Panko breadcrumbs, it knocks normal breadcrumbs into a cocked hat. Also look at instant Japanese curry (S&B, Golden etc), it's like big blocks of chocolate you melt into your stock. It will taste a lot better too.

If you want to cheat completely just get Bernard Matthews turkey steaks...

[Bledlow]

Be aware that Japanese curry labelled 'hot' is not really hot, & so on down the range.

[Afasoas]

Thank you for the tips.

Cooked up a great dish. Had a perfect evening.

Thanks

[padbeat]

It's all getting a bit Roxanne/Cyrano de Bergerac around here.

Does anyone on this thread smell the coffee in Brazil?

[Afasoas]

Funny PB. Not stop laughing yet.

Okay, 4th date is on
My turn to bake a cake.
I've only baked one cake in my life so I'll need all of your help on this one. I think it would be good if it wasn't massively sweet and not too heavy. Oh, and nuts are a no no.

Come on panel, I need your help here

[David Martin]

The weight of 2 eggs in flour butter and sugar (and the two size 2 eggs). (ie 100g of each) If you use self raising flour then you don't have to do it properly.
Beat the heck out of it, pour into  two greased 8" cake tins and cook at 170 degrees for about 35 minutes. Instant sponge cake. Slice the top off one part  so it is level. This is the bottom slice Thin layer of whipped cream on the bottom slice, thin layer of red jam on the top half. Dust with icing sugar.

There are ways to do it properly without using raising agents but that is probably best not attempted for the first time when mission critical.

[David Martin]

Oh, and practice, practice, practice. All mistakes to be consumed by your local YACF jury.

[Eccentrica Gallumbits]

Lemon drizzle cake with dark chocolate chunks from the Green & Blacks book is delicious and not too sweet.

[hellymedic]

David's recipe is fairly foolproof; Good Luck!

[David Martin]

And you can do almost anything with it. You can lemon drizzle it, add chocolate lumps, add cocoa powder to make it chocolate (even better is to add some orange flavour and cocoa, then use a nice peel-free marmalade and do a chocolate orange cake. Or Black Forest Gateau.

Try them all and see which you like best

[L CC]

This is easy, tasty and not too rich, popular and just a little bit different.

1 2/3 cups plain flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar* (see note)
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (do not thaw)
Heat the oven to 375F and generously grease a 9 inch square or round pan.

Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl and stir with a fork to mix well. In a medium bowl, combine the butter and sugar and beat with a mixer at high speed until well combined. Add the egg and beat well for 1 to 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down the bowl until the mixture is smooth and light.

Stir in half the flour mixture then half the milk, mixing just enough to keep the batter fairly smooth and well combined. Add the remaining flour, then the rest of the milk, mixing gently. Stir in the blueberries.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and spread into corners (my batter was really thick so I wet my hands and pressed it into the pan). Bake at 375F for 30 minutes or until the cake is golden, springs back when touched gently in the centre and is pulling away from the sides of the pan.

Serve a square of cake right from the pan, warm or at room temperature. If its round, let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack or folded kitchen towel for 10 minutes and then turn it out to cool, top side up.

NOTE: I reserved 1 Tablespoon of sugar and sprinkled it on top of the cake prior to baking.

[closetleftie]

 Oh, and nuts are a no no.

What, on a fourth date? This is the 21st century y'know... Or does she just want to be friends...

[rogerzilla]

Remember, more than three portions of sausage a day leads to premature death.

[Oscar's dad]

Remember, more than three portions of sausage a day leads to premature death.

Does this rule apply to portions of pork irrespective of exact specification or just certain classes/types of pork?

[L CC]

Remember, more than three portions of sausage a day leads to premature death.

Does this rule apply to portions of pork irrespective of exact specification or just just certain classes/types of pork?

BRITISH sausage is fine, you can have as much as you like.
It's that dodgy FORRIN Spanish/Italian/Polish that's bad for you.

[Wowbagger]

Remember, more than three portions of sausage a day leads to premature death.

Does this rule apply to portions of pork irrespective of exact specification or just just certain classes/types of pork?

BRITISH sausage is fine, you can have as much as you like.
It's that dodgy FORRIN Spanish/Italian/Polish that's bad for you.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/bIYP1ibYdZI&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/bIYP1ibYdZI&rel=1</a>

[rogerzilla]

Remember, more than three portions of sausage a day leads to premature death.

Does this rule apply to portions of pork irrespective of exact specification or just certain classes/types of pork?

I believe a pork roast is acceptable.

[jogler]

I have refrained from adding my suggestions/comments in order to delay this thread's decline towards NSFW
 

[rogerzilla]

Cake?