Best Vegetables?

[BoB_DoG]

Right, Im at uni, and I like to cook, but with the lack of money, and the having to walk up a big hill with my shopping, Ive been a bit lax on the old veggies. I only usually have carrots, tomatoes, mushrooms, potatoes or peas around. Occasionally cabbage or leeks. As for fruit, the odd apple or orange.

What do you reccommend so I can start getting my 5 portions of fruit and veg.
Preferably something that will keep (or be frozen), but I wouldnt mind some specific vegetables that make a meal extra good.

Post your faves, with some idea of how you would serve them.

To Good Health

[Nick]

Good vegetables to buy frozen and keep in the freezer are ;

Broccoli florets – quick to cook or just defrost in warm water and use in stir fries

Cauliflower florets – quick to cook and great with a bit of cheese sauce

Mixed veg – excellent for just bunging into casseroles or bulking out packet soups (along with a few new potatoes)

Mixed sliced peppers – excellent, no-hassle veg for stir fries

Sliced mushrooms – another good one for casseroles or stews. Nice in sauces provided you fry them first and drain them well or the juice will darken the sauce.

Peas – go with anything

Sweetcorn – goes with anything, nice in soups too. Defrost and use in cold pastas with a bit of mayonnaise

In my opinion veg that should only be bought fresh :

Cabbage – Red, white or green Easy to make soggy if you over-cook it. Will deffo come out soggy if bought frozen.

(Curly Kale is lovely if shredded, washed and then dumped in a pan with a knob oif butter and cooked with the lid on. No water in it except what was on the kale when you drained it from washing.)

Carrots – They’re easy enough to peel and just chop into rounds. Try cooking them with a teaspoon of sugar as well as a pinch of salt. Use only just enough water to cover what’s in the pan to keep as much flavour as possible.

Swede – Lovely lovely veg. Dice it up and boil it up, then mash it with some carrots and chuck in some butter, salt, pepper and a just a tiny touch of vinegar.. superb. Or mix it 50/50 with mashed potato.

Celeriac – Same as swede, but it can have a strong flavour some people don’t like. Nice also cut into chip and roasted in the oven with a brushing of oil.

Aubergine – excellent in anything with a tomato sauce base. Just dice it and fry it off in a little oil in a very hot pan first. On its own its nice to scoop the center out, dice the flesh and mix with cheese, herbs and breadcrumbs, pile back into the shells and wrap in foil, then bake in a medium oven (medium heat that is, not size! ) and serve as a side dish or on its own with some cous cous.

That enough for you to be going on with?

[BoB_DoG]

aye, thatll do for starters

[p0lish]

I just stick with potatoes. Any form will do. Preferably liquid