It seems as though many of us are finding distraction by returning to the kitchen, cooking our way through the coronavirus. One can only assume Canberrans are in their kitchens baking bread, making pasta, using all that flour and yeast and eggs that seem impossible to find on the supermarket shelves. Let's hope so
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But where to turn for inspiration? Or where to turn, really, when you want something light to watch with your dinner which has just been delivered.
And there's something for everyone on the menu. Whether you're after celebrity chefs, want to journey to far off corners of the globe, or want to pick up some new recipes, there is an endless supply of television cooking shows.
Here's some of the best for these times.
Practicalities
Jamie Oliver: Keep Cooking and Carry On: the lad's sharing easy-to-follow, flexible recipes with lots of useful swaps and tips to help feed yourself and your family. It's all about getting creative with whatever is at hand. In the first episode he cooked a sweet fish pie which would be ideal for Easter. Episodes and recipes at 10play.com.au
Sundays, 7.30pm, WIN
Dollar wise
Eat Well for Less: One of my favourite shows sees British MasterChef host Gregg Wallace and award-winning greengrocer Chris Bavin stalking people in supermarkets to shame their bad shopping and cooking habits. Beyond that they follow them home to see what they eat and cook and then suggest changes that will not only save dollars but perhaps also lives. They swap out cheaper options of all kinds of things, all cleverly disguised in no name packaging. What better time to reassess what you spend on your grocery bill.
Streaming on Lifestyle Food
Late nights
Nigella: At My Table: Who better to snuggle up on the couch with than the domestic goddess herself. There's something quite indulgent about watching Nigella. And that's even before you start cooking her food. You can find Nigella: At My Table on iview and on Foxtel; Foxtel also has Nigella Kitchen streaming as well.
Streaming on iview and Lifestyle Food
Escapism
Nigel Slater's Middle East: There are so many options if you'd like to travel while you watch (check out Foxtel's Rick Stein's Secret France or a multitude of shows on SBS Food) but I love Nigel Slater and I love the food of the Middle East so I'm off to places such as Lebanon, Turkey and Iran with one of my favourite cooks. Recipes available at lifestylefood.com.au
Streaming on Lifestyle Food
Ultimate escapism
Heston's Dinner in Space: Love him or loathe him, Heston's always watchable. Follow his adventures as he works closely with the UK Space Agency, ESA and NASA, attempting to revolutionise the previously limited world of space food. Just don't try cooking any of it at home.
Streaming on sbs.com.au/ondemand
Cook with the kids
Basics to Brilliance Kids: For those parents looking for new ways to entertain the kids at home, Donna Hay teaches the little cooks in the house how to create delicious treats such as her ultimate chocolate fudge cake, jars of her crunchy granola, better-for-you chocolate crackles and, of course, cupcakes. By making the recipes super-easy for the whole family to cook, everyone can master the basics, then turn them into brilliance.
Streaming on Lifestyle Food
Cookbook favourite
Everyday Gourmet: Justine Schofield's cookbooks have been in high rotation in my kitchen this year and it's always fun to catch an episode of this little show. Episodes are short, but full of useful information and recipes are available at 10play.com.au. Special guests add a little fun, whether they be chefs, producers or some of her former MasterChef colleagues.