[fresh ideas] Solve Your Dinner Dilemma Overview

Welcome to Solve Your Dinner Dilemma [fresh ideas]

If you have any questions post them on the private discussion forum OR email me jules@thestonesoup.com. I’ll answer as quickly as I can.

Don’t forget to get your family and friends involved. After all, its the same price for your whole household to learn!

the [fresh ideas] Solve Your Dinner Dilemma class ebook

CLASS CONTENT

§ MODULE 1: How to Setup a Life-Saving Pantry
§ MODULE 2: Planning Healthy Meals
§ MODULE 3: How to Organise Your Shopping & Weekly Menu Planning
§ MODULE 4: Maximising Your Fresh Ingredients
§ MODULE 5: Presentation 101 – Making Your Meals Look their Best
§ MODULE 6: Mastering the Art of Seasoning
§ MODULE 7: Time Tricks & Knife Skills
§ MODULE 8: Adaptation: Mastering the Art of Cooking Without a Recipe
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MODULE 1: HOW TO SETUP A LIFE-SAVING PANTRY

module 1 content:

§ Welcome video & transcript
§ Why your pantry can save your life.
§ How to stock your life-saving pantry.
§ 7 pantry management tips
§ A video tour of my pantry.

module 1 NEW pantry recipes:

§ spaghetti with chilli & garlic
§ chickpea & vegetable salad
§ tuna & lentil salad
§ beet & tomato soup
§ quick veg curry

more pantry recipes from the Stonesoup Virtual Cookery School:

I’ve created a separate page for this list.

module 1 homework:

The homework is optional, but most people learn best by doing, so try and do as much as you can.
1. If you haven’t already, head over to NEW discussion forum and introduce yourself.
2. Choose 2-3 recipes from the list. Write a a shopping list and make plans to try them out this week.
3. Share you experience of what you cooked in the discussion forum. Was it a success? Is there anything you’d do differently next time?
4. Think about your current pantry management system. What works? What would you like to change? Feel free to discuss this on the forum.

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MODULE 2: PLANNING HEALTHY MEALS

module 2 content:

§ Module 2 Video
§ What makes a healthy meal?
§ Tips for healthy meal planning
§ Healthy meal planning examples:
– warmer weather
– cooler weather

module 2 recipes:

§ chicken tajine
§ cauliflower ‘rice’
§ brocco-slaw
§ vegetarian chilli
§ beef & broccoli stir fry

module 2 homework:

Just choose at least one meal and consciously plan a healthy menu. Remember to include your vegetables and protein and have some fun! Share your menu plan on the discussion forum.
OR
Crowd source your menu plan. Leave a post on the discussion forum describing the parameters for your meal especially any aspects you’re struggling with and lets work together to come up with ideas!

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MODULE 3: HOW TO ORGANISE YOUR SHOPPING & WEEKLY MENU PLANNING

module 3 content:

§ Module 3 Video – an overview of planning methods
§ Planning Method – The ‘Same Old, Same Old’ Method
§ Planning Method – The ‘Pre-Planning | List Making’ Method
§ Planning Method – The ‘Market Driven | Wing-It’ Method
§ Planning Method – The ’10 Ingredient | 5 Meal’ Method

module 3 recipes:

§ The 10 ingredient shopping list for Module 3
§ White Bean & Avocado Salad Recipe
§ Quick Sausage Cassoulet
§ Sausages with Summer Veg Recipe
§ Spanish chicken with white bean mash recipe
§ Chicken burgers with avocado & red salad recipe

module 3 homework:

Think about your current menu planning method. If you’re not currently happy with your menu planning, review the alternative methods and resolve to try your preferred method in the next week.

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MODULE 4: MAXIMISING YOUR FRESH INGREDIENTS

module 4 content:

§ Module 4 Video
§ 10 tips for choosing the best fresh ingredients
§ How to maximise the shelf life of fresh ingredients
§ Optimum storage temperatures for common fresh ingredients [downloadable pdf]

module 4 recipes:

§ The 10 ingredient shopping list for Module 4
§ Curried scrambled eggs
§ Warm salad of caramelised onion & lentils
§ Baked eggs with a pea, parsley & parmesan salad
§ Pea & lentil salad
§ Egg fried lentils

module 4 homework:

This week it’s time to try a new vegetable!
When you’re doing your shopping buy something you haven’t ever cooked before.
Bring it home and then figure out what to do with it. ALso check to see what the ideal storage conditions are.
I recommend searching the VCS website (see the side bar) or browsing the recipe index which includes links to all the recipes on my blog as well. And if you can’t find anything there, ask the question on the discussion forum!

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MODULE 5: PRESENTATION 101: MAKING YOUR MEALS LOOK THEIR BEST

module 5 content:

§ Module 5 Video
§ The key elements of food presentation
§ The top 8 presentation mistakes and how to avoid them
§ Food presentation examples

module 5 recipes:

§ blue cheese & walnut salad
§ poached chicken & broccolini salad
§ brussels sprouts with butter beans & proscuitto
§ pasta with tuna & spinach
§ chorizo with chickpeas

module 5 homework:

This week, challenge yourself to step outside your food presentation comfort zone.
Pick one meal and take a few minutes to plan your presentation style.
Allow a few extra minutes to really focus on plating up the food. It’s time to channel your inner food stylist.

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MODULE 6: MASTERING THE ART OF SEASONING

module 6 content:

§ Module 6 video + general seasoning tips
§ The art of seasoning part 1. salt & pepper
§ The art of seasoning part 2. sweet & sour (acidity)
§ The art of seasoning part 3. flavourings
§ The seasoning cheat sheet & problem solving guide

module 6 recipes:

§ beef & black bean stir fry
§ lebanese beef & hummus with cucumber salad
§ italian beef ragu with zucchini noodles
§ mexican beef & refried beans
§ indian beef curry

module 6 homework:

It’s time to unleash you inner food scientist!
For homework this week you just need to so a little experiment. Choose one of this weeks recipes to cook (or something else from the class) at the end when it’s time for the final seasoning, scoop out a little of the unseasoned food and keep in a cup or small dish. Then season the dish to how you think it should be. Take another sample. Then finally take a third sample of the seasoned dish and add a little more salt and pepper. Then taste all three samples, preferably with someone else, and see which you prefer. Can you tell the difference? Nerdy but fun.

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MODULE 7: KNIFE SKILLS & TIME TRICKS

module 7 content:

§ Module 7 video
§ Chopping Techniques Video
§ 11 Tips for Knife Safety & Maintenance
§ Planning Time Tricks
§ Preparation Time Tricks
§ Technique Time Tricks

module 7 recipes:

§ broccoli, bacon & avocado salad
§ pesto cauliflower
§ warm chicken salad
§ tuna burgers with snow peas
§ beef tonnato

module 7 homework:

Don’t worry, I’m not going to make you practice chopping a pile of onions like Julia Child had to for le Cordon Bleu in Julie & Julia. This week it’s all about being mindful of your knife skills and chopping style. Whenever you’re cooking, take the time to focus on your knife work. Think safety first and once you’re happy with your style, start to work on improving your speed.

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MODULE 8: ADAPTATION: MASTERING THE ART OF COOKING WITHOUT A RECIPE

module 8 content:

§ Module 8 video
§ How to master the art of adaptation
§ My top 7 adaptable recipes
§ Playing the ‘what’s in the fridge game’

module 8 recipes:

§ pineapple sorbet
§ ginger bread ice cream
§ little lemon cheesecakes
§ ricotta puddings with honey & pistachio
§ dates with blue cheese

module 8 homework:

Ok so your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to play at least one round of the ‘whats in the fridge game’ and make yourself a complete meal from the ingredients you already have in the house. Good Luck!

the [fresh ideas] Solve Your Dinner Dilemma class ebook

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