Food

Thanks for the details.
I'll give them a go, as, I still have many Newton Wonder apples.
'almond paste' = marzipan?

A bit more info here, although they inexplicably skip the almond paste.

https://www.thedutchtable.com/2010/12/appelbeignets-dutch-apple-donuts.html

Almond paste is similar to marzipan but a bit coarser, you can blend almonds rather than needing almond flour. Equal parts almond and sugar and a bit of egg to bring it together.

That's very good of you to send that link.
This evening will be an applebeignetfest.

Dumplings with all the things.

That looks good.

Needs some greens. Will rectify

Used the leftovers from last night to make a Dalsot Bibimbap. First try with these stone bowls since getting them a few months ago. I think I need to heat them up more as there was a sizzle but no crispy rice.

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Does anyone have any recommendations for a knife set that is:

• Not too expensive (golf club membership rejected)
  
• Dishwasher safe
  
• Preferably available from John Lewis
  

The knife thread has a few recommendations on it.

For pure practicality at a low budget, you can't go wrong with Victorinox Fibrox / Zwilling Twin Point.

Zwilling Four Star have good balance, are comfortable, hold an edge, are easy to sharpen, and are a good price.

No knives are dishwasher safe, you absolute monster. For srs though - you'll lose the edge really quickly, and it is dangerous af.

You may also de-laminate the tang & handle, irrespective of how they are glued / bolted - they just aren't meant to get that hot.

I’ve said it before, but the ProCook stuff is great VFM. I bought the SIL a mid range four piece set with an elegant glass and wood magnetic holder for £80 last year.

Was from our local outlet store, but I know there is at least one in London.

No knives are dishwasher safe

Trufax.

My wife has a rule for things in the kitchen that if something isn't dishwasher safe it's not worth having, and also has a personal conspiracy theory that everything is dishwasher safe, but they just tell you it's not, because... something about not wanting to be blamed if it goes wrong.

I'm not sure, it's a bit underpants gnomes to be honest.

Thanks for the recommendations!

No knives are dishwasher safe, you absolute monster. For srs though - you'll lose the edge really quickly, and it is dangerous af.

This is true. But then again, whether it matters in the real world is going to depend on how much the knife owner is going to notice.

For a benchmark, these Global knives are about 25 years old and been going in the dishwasher for 10 of those years. You can see they are indeed a bit knackered on the edge and have some rust spots, but in day to day use it really doesn't bother me. It definitely bothers me a lot less than having to hand wash them all the time would.

Probably worth noting our dishwasher has a cutlery tray not a basket, so there's no risk of accidentally grabbing a blade reaching into the washer. On the other hand (ha) I once sliced a tendon hand washing one of these knives and ended up in hospital. Had to have it reconnected under general anaesthetic and then my right hand was out of action for a few weeks. So hand washing also has its risks!

Maybe if I were preparing sashimi or carrot flowers or something I'd notice the effect of the dishwasher, but I'm not. We are a 99% vegetarian household, the most the knives have to do usually is menace a capsicum.

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The Victorinox fibrox would be a good shout. Someone recommended them ages ago on the knives thread and I’ve got some and have passed on the recco to many others. Just a very good, cheap option

Been on holiday for the last two weeks and, as usual, brought a nice knife with me - my Blenheim Forge santoku.

A fortnight without a decent steel, in humidity, with other people washing up has really taken the edge off and discoloured the blade.

I am genuinely excited about giving it some attention when I get home.

Brillo pad with baking soda to clean the metal. Then rub it down with a Niwaki crean mate, before sharpening it back up to a razor's edge.

Alternatively, I might cycle over to Peckham and ask the makers to sort it out whilst I have a nosey around the forge.

Will be fun either way.

On a different recommendation tip.

Spice grinders.

I dropped and cracked yet another pestle, and to be honest, I'm a bit done with grinding dried chillies.

I'm looking for something electric. Spinny blade is fine - burr grinders feel a bit over the top.

Crush grind seems to be well thought of. Sorry, you said electric

https://www.souschef.co.uk/products/skeppshult-spice-cast-iron-grinder

Exactly the opposite of what you've asked and stupid money for something so simple but, but etc. (It's very good. Much easier than to use than a pestle, looks nice, will last forever, isn't a single purpose electric thing that might wear out blah)

That's the most hipster weed grinder I have ever seen.

I want electric, because lazy.

I want single purpose, because why compromise.

It does look good though.

[Edit]

Heh - looking at the rest of the Skeppshult stuff - it's as if someone has just said "find some kitchen, and make it out of big lumps of black iron".

The fish scaler. lel.

I'd be all over a crushgrind if it were just seeds etc... but it would be useless for bigger things & dried chilli and the like.

Right.
I bought a Skepshult and we hardly use it. More of a pain to clean and you want to keep water away from it because Iron and some regular users have mentioned filings getting into their food..

The tall grindy one or the short crushy one? I've got the tall grindy and love it. Never had a problem with iron filings (any more than any other cast iron pan at least). I use water to clean it if needed and then just heat it gently dry afterwards.

We also have a waffle iron by them (a gift) which I've used precisely twice and a pan which I do 90 percent of our cooking in.

We have the taller one.
TBF it was a gift to my wife who prefers the traditional mortar and pestle, and we have not had any issues with filings with our minimal usage.
They are fucking things of beauty in my eyes.

Cheap bladed coffee grinder - Krups F203438 - about £30, plug in, will hold bigger things.

I've got this one which I rate.

Though what with taking it out of the cupboard, putting the bits together, plugging it in, putting it back again I normally end up just using a pestle and mortar instead.

Get a bamix with all the gizmos.