A live webchat with Rosemary Shrager Thurs 5 Sept

It's been wonderful chatting with you all-I would love to chat again as soon as possible when we've got a moment. If anyone wants to come to my cookery school, just ring us up. I'm sure the details will be on Gransnet Local Kent, and on google under Rosemary Shrager's Cookery School.

But, more importantly, I can't wait for next weekend-come and make yourself known to me if you've been part of the chat after my demos at the Cake and Bake Show. See you then. Bye! x

quotes

Am I too late? I'll ask anyway...

What other bakers do you like? Are you a fan of Nigella?

Well, I don't really know Nigella's work but I'm sure her food is lovely! My favourite bakers are Eric Lanlard, John Whaite, Marc Mouson-they're the ones I absolutely love at the moment and I hope to see Eric and John at the Cake and Bake show!

cinnamonstix

Hey Rosemary. We've recently got a microwave at work and it's a Big Deal (have been asking for one for two years now!) What can you suggest we make in it? Besides the standard pot noodle and beans on toast...

I'm not a person to ask this question, but I would say from what I've heard from other people you could do a baked potato or maybe some fish. I don't use microwaves, I'm sorry!

Flipper

Hello Rosemary

I would guess loads of people ask you your favourite food, but I'd like to know whether there are any foods you can't stand?

Thank you!

Yes-I hate marmite. I really can't stand it in any form! And pigs ears and chicken feet.

KendalMintCake

Thanks Rosemary

I'm disguising them very successfully at the moment - he eats far more vegetables than he thinks he does! Looking ahead, though, I want him to be choosing to cook vegetables for himself in the future.

I'll try the fritters and bean burgers, and I might come clean about the sauces.

Good luck! I hope it works.

glassofwater

Hi Rosemary! Do you listen to anything when you cook? Or does having the radio on distract you from the task at hand?

Actually that's a really interesting question because I find when I'm working I need silence. I can't cope with music behind me, but I know there are lots of other chefs who love lots of music. But not me! If I was to listen to anyone it would be Neil Diamond or Jack Johnson.

Jamgran

Hello Rosemary

I've watched all your programmes and I wondered which you've enjoyed doing the most?

All at Sea-I loved doing that programme so much. It was like a three week holiday with Bradley Walsh-such fun!

bakinggirl

Hi Rosemary!

Really looking forward to seeing you at next week's Cake & Bake Show! What would you say is your best baking tip for novice bakers? What would you say is the hardest thing to learn how to bake?

The most important thing when you bake is to weigh out your ingredients first. It's always easier to have everything ready. The other thing to do is to read your recipe through to the end two or three times so you get a picture of what you're doing.

the hardest thing, probably, is exceptionally skilled gateaux using very unusual techniques. Only a patisserie chef can do that really!

junglemania

What tip would you give to new grandparents?

Just have fun! There isn't a tip really to give to anyone-you just love your grandchildren unconditionally, and I really couldn't give any tip to anyone because everyone is different. Whatever you enjoy doing, it's quite fun to share it with your grandchildren, like I share cooking with mine.

KendalMintCake

I'm not a regular gransnetter but my mother is, and she mentioned that you were coming on.

I have a 14 year old son who more or less refuses to eat vegetables on principle. I do hide them in sauces etc but I'd like to get him eating them consciously, knowing that eventually he'll be cooking for himself.

Do you have any suggestions?

Thank you!

Yes, I quite like doing things like pea pancakes and beetroot pancakes. First of all they're lovely colours and secondly, it's a way of getting vegetables into them. Also you can puree the vegetables for pasta sauces. Does he like chinese food I wonder? Cutting them up prettily and putting them into a stir-fry, they often like. Putting them in fritters and bean burgers can hide them-the other thing you can do is to tell him to get on and not be so silly, and eat it! But I do understand it is difficult. I tend to put them into things and disguise.

whenim64

What do you do with your 'swish', Rosemary? I'm wondering if I should get one!

Right, the answer is definitely! But, you've got to look for a 10cm wide paint scraper, it's got to be flexible, and thin (with a thin edge). Now, I use it for taking off meringues, biscuits-anything to do with baking. It is a swish-it is my swish! I will bring it to the Cake and Bake show if you happen to be there-I'll say to the audience 'look at my swish!'. In fact I'm going to bring out my new swish on the market-I've just thought of that!

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.

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.

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!