Why cooking shows (sometimes) make life worthwhile

Most experts and other self-styled critics blame TV for tearing the modern family apart. But one of the ways that my family relax and come together is by watching TV - and not just any TV mind you: music game shows and cooking shows. Seriously!

Usually on watching cooking shows, you might find some inspiration but you'll find some excuse not to recreate the masterpiece on-screen - source of ingredients or equipment, seems like too much effort, lack of training - people will find excuses for pretty much anything. Which is why we watch (in particular) the shows of Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson - my personal cooking heroes.

This past weekend we indulged in the adventures of 'Jamie in Britain'. His exploration of how foreigners have influenced and contributed to 'classic' British dishes - culminating in the Jamie's Great Britain cookbook. Now, I'm not going to give away any spoilers - you are more than capable of tracking down the book and show yourself. What I will be doing is taking things a little bit further by adding my personal touch on what I remember of his recipes and see what I come up with. 

Stay tuned for some Jamie inspired experiments 

Tips and secrets #1

I'm a big fan of omelettes. Nice fluffy egg filled with yummy cheese and bacon and onion and pretty much whatever else I feel like having. The key word here is 'fluffy'. There is seriously nothing worse than a pancake-thin excuse for an omelette. So, in the interests of good eating for all, here is my method for making perfect omelettes.

While most people believe that 2 eggs are sufficient, the best omelette is made with 3 whole Large sized eggs. I find that adding a little bit of milk to the mix makes for a creamier final product. A dash of water also helps the fluffing process by creating steam within the egg matrix. Season as needed and add to a hot buttered pan.

Now here's the real secret - cover the pan with a lid. That's it! The secret to perfect omelettes - cover the pan with a lid. Halfway through the cooking process, add your toppings and cheese (because an omelette is not complete without cheese). Fold over and cover again. It is highly likely that the omelette will crack along the fold. In my experience it is usually because I'm too generous with the fillings, but if you get your timing right (which you will eventually) you will have the perfect omelettes.

Et voila!

Tiny Bubbles

Most people have a Soda Stream lying around the house, more than likely out of gas and gathering dust. Mine gets used on the occasional weekend when I remember I have one. Best find - Tonic flavoured sryup!

On New Year's eve two years ago, I was coerced via Skype by friends living in France to test out a custom that semi-impoverished Russian interns boasted of: Soda Stream vodka. Gossip told that this classy treatment was used to save costs and improve the taste of cheaper brands of vodka. I dubiously followed the instructions and tasted the fizzy drink while my friends listened eagerly on the other end. Once I was able to breathe again, and the hysterical laughter had stopped on the other end, I called an end to the experiment. While further research was warrented, I was not all that keen to spend the night fighting for air while getting drunk quicker on 'bubbly'.

Two years later and same said friends are touting the benefits of instant sparkling wine. Same theory involved: take a cheap bottle of wine and improve taste and enjoyment levels by adding bubbles.

Nothing wrong with this theory at all. In fact, sparkling wines are made by adding carbon dioxide to wines (hence the sparkling wine label). So does it work?

The sample: Seasons 2010 Sauvingon Blanc. The result: surprisingly good. A lovely dry and slightly woody bubbly with subtle hints of apple skin. The fizzyness brings out more of the flavour that otherwise falls flat with this cheap quiz prize. A good way to enjoy an afternoon with a good friend.

So I can say without a doubt that I will be keeping this technique in mind for the rest of the cheap wines dotted through my rapidly deteriorating collection (a story for another day).