A live webchat with Rosemary Shrager Thurs 5 Sept

Sunhat

While there's been a lot of talk about school dinners, hospital food remains vile (as my next door neighbour can verify, having just come out with her new hip).

Jamie Oliver took on school meals. Do you think hospital meals need a similar campaign, and would you consider heading it?

I would love to head to improve hospital meals-they have to be one of the most disgusting things in the world! I would love to be part of a campaign, but unfortunately you're dealing with budgets and this has to go past committees and high-rankers to change. If I committed myself to something like this I would have to be able to free myself up from other commitments. But the answer is yes-I would love to do it.

LyndaW

I seem to have drawers and drawers of cooking utensils (garlic skin remover!?, nutmeg grater, egg yolk separator etc etc). I refuse to get rid of anything though just in case! Do you find yourself drowning in useless gadgets? What's your most ridiculous purchase?

Just remembered I even have a pineapple corer! It's becoming clear why I have no kitchen space...!

Yes, because if you love cooking you always buy little gadgets thinking 'this could be useful'-but they never are! Rather than say, the most ridiculous purchase (there's quite a few of those), I'd rather say the best purchase-and that's a paint scraper-it cost me two and sixpence! I cannot live without it. I call it my swish.

oatcake

Hello Rosemary. I love making meringues but never know what to do with all the yolks left over. I know the obvious answer in custard but none of us are very keen so I am hoping you may have some other ideas.

Egg yokes-what about an eggnog with brandy and all sorts of goodies?! Egg yokes, you can use for thickening sauces, cakes, mousses, pancakes, scones...anything! You don't just have to make custard. And they do freeze as well, so you can freeze them until you're ready to use them!

meelee

Baking seems to be the biggest "in" thing. Just wondered if you had any thoughts on why it's suddenly become so fashionable (particularly at a time when so many people swear off carbs). Is it all down to The Great British Bake Off?

Yes, I think a lot is to do with the Bake-off, but I also think it's a huge, comforting area in the kitchen, and it's what us grandparents can do, and it's what their grandparents did-it has a feeling of nostalgia. And also-it just makes great presents! Taking a cake to your neighbour is one of the nicest things you can do-or just baking a cake, full stop.

I also think, with hard times as we're all having at the moment, baking is a more affordable way of entertaining ourselves and our family with comfort.

bananajazz

Hi Rosemary,

Big fan of yours. Want to ask whether you will be doing another series of Ladette to Lady?

No, not at the moment! But I might not be able to do it if it does happen again, because I'm so busy with my new cookery school.

whenim64

Are you going to be cooking on Alan Titchmarsh's show this time, Rosemary? That's the best bit for me, especially when it goes wrong!

Not at the moment because they've changed the format-but let them know you want me back and they might just bring me in again!

Funnygran

Hello Rosemary
I was lucky enough to attend one of your cookery schools at Swinton Park last year and wish you well in your new venture in Kent.
I was interested in a survey this week that said how many people would be stumped by producing simple food such as beans on toast. I wonder what is the best way to teach the basics - cooking lessons at school again? Sad to think there may be a generation of adults who aren't interested in cooking! I try and cook when I'm looking after my youngest grandchild. The kitchen resembles a battlefield afterwards but he at least realises how the food gets onto the table!

Hi! Gosh, I hope you can come to my new cookery school in Tunbridge wells. Looking forward to seeing you.

Cooking basics-to me-is really important and to me they're just part of everyday cooking, but I actually always say just take it slowly and perfect something and then move on and make up your own dishes. It's all about practive, and I agree with you-there is a generation that does not know how to cook, but it's not their fault because they've never been shown how to cook. I do feel strongly that whatever the question-whether so tine, even how to poach an egg-it doesn't matter. One should try to teach them. So my quest is to teach as many people as possible (and with my cookery books as well, which I do hope you have enjoyed). I've got my baking book coming out next May!

MoonlightSonata

Hello Rosemary

We've just discovered that my young GD is allergic to gluten.

Do you have any suggestion for gluten-free foods DD or I could make for her nursery packed lunch, to take to parties and so on? We don't want her to feel different from her friends.

Thank you.

I think this is a very difficult thing for you, but we do gluten free courses and you can buy so many gluten free things today. It's just a matter of trying to make sure that you read everything on the packets carefully and I think that if you get into the frame of mind and maybe join her in being gluten free when you see her, it's quite a nice thing to do. What is so amazing is they only discovered gluten allergies about 70 years ago. It's relatively new, but it doesn't have to become a terrible thing for her because I know so many people who are coeliac.

chazmax

Hi Rosemary,
I think you're fab.
My eighteen year old is off to Uni in a week or so. He's terrified about it all, but particularly feeding himself cheep, quick meals.
I suspect he may live off crisps and mars bars for a while, but he knows this will make him feel terrible.
Any thoughts?
Thanks!

Do you know, it is so difficult for them today when they go off to university. The easiest thing to do is to buy him a book on potatoes-it's cheap, it's easy and it's filling. You can do so many things with potatoes. But also, I think it's great if he can get one thing under his belt, a bolognese or something like this. Maybe you can take him to one side and just teach him this one thing-and that will start him off. Have it for dinner tomorrow night-and he can cook it with you. Don't you cook it, just tell him how to do it!

Tiddler

Another one who loved Ladette to Lady But I did wonder, was the show was really to laugh at the working class?

The answer is no. It was definitely not a working class situation. People are people and they come from all different lives. In a way, if anything, you can say that all of us were caricatured slightly-even I was caricatured! I think that's the best way to put it. It was nothing to do with laughing at anyone, but it was actually quite a funny situation.

Sunnydays

Hello! What was it like being in the jungle while on I'm a Celebrity? I couldn't think of anything worse! All those creepy crawlies...

It was really bad! I must say, the first night was really quite frightening. I didn't think it would be so long in this hut. It just wasn't expected and when we came out all happy and singing, in fact, we were feeling terrible! And we slept for 5 hours after that.