Five a Day.......And a game changer....a mandolin

I thought this was going to be about music.
Must investigate.

I cannot make scones.

I find a good knife is enough - and I do a lot of slicing and chopping!

I’ve been put off mandolins ever since we arrived for the weekend at some friends’ house one Friday evening, to find nobody in - and blood all over the kitchen floor. The gadget-obsessed bloke had managed to slice off the top of a finger - they were at A&E.

The next morning dh took the ‘offensive weapon’ and dropped it in the bin.

Witzend

I find a good knife is enough - and I do a lot of slicing and chopping!

I’ve been put off mandolins ever since we arrived for the weekend at some friends’ house one Friday evening, to find nobody in - and blood all over the kitchen floor. The gadget-obsessed bloke had managed to slice off the top of a finger - they were at A&E.

The next morning dh took the ‘offensive weapon’ and dropped it in the bin.

Oh goodness, yes! I see what it is now.

I bought one once years ago because a thread on Gransnet recommended them but they're dangerous in the hands of the wrong person ie a clumsy person like me.

I read the first post and thought must get a mandolin then read the other posts and decided definitely not.

I recently discovered chopped salad.

I dice cucumber, tomato, onion, raw mushrooms, and season to taste with salt and pepper (garlic or mint sometimes). This is kept in the fridge to accompany meals or sandwiches.
I make a lovely tomato and basil soup and each evening watch the tv with a big glass of berry or mango smoothie,
All this with a daily banana suits me fine.
Just to say, I think as you get older chewing hard fruit and veg is not that easy so chopped up or pureed is good.

Never thought about 5 a day I eat fruit and veg when I want it or fancy it so I m sure some days I have less maybe some days more I never ever follow these rigid rules like I m at school

I was converted after DD made coleslaw for 30 in no time at all. Her mandolin has a safety feature so no danger of injuries. Haven’t yet acquired my own though.

Callistemon, Vivaldi’s lute and mandolin concerto is my favourite 😉

i have problems with digesting fruit and veg after having bowel cancer and only have half my bowel left, i need to take loperamide every day, the only veg i like is salad but i have this with pickled red cabbage and beetroot, my only fruits are bananas, grapes and strawberries, i take vitamin c everyday and try to eat soup 2/3 times a week, i know i don't get my 5 a day so maybe i will buy myself a mandolin and see if i can eat more veg.

AGAA4

I read the first post and thought must get a mandolin then read the other posts and decided definitely not.

Well, I did wonder whether to get a ukulele and join a beginners' group.

Lovemylife

I was converted after DD made coleslaw for 30 in no time at all. Her mandolin has a safety feature so no danger of injuries. Haven’t yet acquired my own though.

Callistemon, Vivaldi’s lute and mandolin concerto is my favourite 😉

😃

DD has some all-singing, all-dancing machine that chops, it also cooks, gently stirs, makes stews, you name it, it makes it! It also makes cakes, puddings etc.

However, they are rather expensive.

Is it called a husband Callestemon? I agree that they are expensive.

AGAA4

Is it called a husband Callestemon? I agree that they are expensive.

😁

No, it's a Thermomix, much less trouble than a husband.

I took all the skin off my knuckles using a mandolin, it ended up in the bin after one use🤨

Just used mandolin to finely slice cabbage and onion for coleslaw. Much finer than you could get with a knife. OH got it and is a fan- I was sceptical but now converted.
As the weather is warm, I fancied a salad - nearly all home grown produce apart from egg, cheese and smoked mackerel: lettuce, tomatoes, French beans, figs, cabbage and carrot coleslaw, apple and carrot salad and potato salad with parsley and chives - I think I've had my 5 a day!

I’ve got a scar on my thumb from a mandolin, no thanks.

What about those rectangular containers with interchangeable blades for chopping? Safer than a mandolin because you push the item down from above. Just wondering whether anyone has one of those and how good they find it. (Apologies for slight digression...)

I hope you've got some cut proof gloves to go with your mandolin Warbler

I do love my mandolin but rarely use it unless I want paper thin slices for something like veggie chips.

The latest thinking is 30 different plant foods a week rather than 5 a day.
My mandolin languished unused for a long time before going to live with my son.
I’m inspired to get another one now after reading this thread, and trying my best with the 30 target.

Buy one that has a finger guard of some sort. Mine has one and it is used almost daily without any risk of cuts.

Our food guide in Canada recommends 7-10 servings a day.
So far today for me:
orange juice at breakfast
mixed fruit cocktail with my yogurt at lunch

Dinner will include 2 different veg, so I will be short of the goal. I like the idea of 30 a week target.

As for the mandoline; my mum took off the top of her thumb years ago, so while I do have one, I have used it only a very few times.

But, we do have a fruit and veg prep on Sundays. I wash, cut and prep as much as I can so it is easy to prep a salad, stir-fry or throw berries on yoghurt.

Many years ago a Lebanese lady introduced me to chopped salads. We have them frequently, just any fresh veg. Today it consisted of very small courgette and French beans from the garden with tomatoes, cucumber, fennel, roasted red pepper and half an avocado with olive oil seasoning and a dash of balsamic.

We went to a garden centre that has a fantastic food hall and bought my favourite fruit, English cherries and plums, gosh they were delicious but so expensive. Definately had my five a day.

Just used mandolin to finely slice cabbage and onion for coleslaw.

Farmor15 we now use grated courgette, unpeeled, instead of cabbage for coleslaw.
Very pretty to look at, quick and easy to do and lighter on the digestion.
I've never included onion but will give it a try, thank you 😋

What is meant by chopped salad? I mean it’s bound to be chopped isn’t it. This all sounds so time consuming.

Skydancer I dice everything quite small and shred green leaves. Yes it does take quite a lot of effort but that is how we like it. I was living in Egypt when I knew this lady who introduced me to the joys of middle eastern food particularly vegetable based dishes so a good way to have your five a day. The fresh veg I used to buy in the markets there were always very young and fresh so lovely to eat raw.