I feel uninspired when I cook in China. It's just fried rice, dumplings or noodles. I'm too scared to buy meat—- and I'm more of a free-range person—- hence a move to a vegetarian lifestyle now... I'd eat meat if it was safe and 'happy meat'. But I hear bad things.
I have no (real) oven, and a lack of variety at the supermarket has got me really uninspired.
No more cakes, cookies, lasagna, Shepherd's pie, pasta with cheese, roast chicken w gravy...
There has got to be a way. Any suggestions? I love cooking.
By the way, I understand in China you can't drink tap water... (when I first arrived I drank it and didn't die...) but—- is it safe in KM to just boil it for cooking? I assume so. Still a bit scared of what I eat here sometimes :s -(Horror stories)-
Also no bread :'( :'( Loosing weight at rapid pace!!!!!!!! I remember fresh home-baked bread... and scones with jam and cream... mmmmmm But- assimilation is necessary! :)
You can try making curries and soups, both will work just fine without any meat.
Search for easy recipes on Pinterest.
There's a whole lot of variety at wet markets, plus there's everything at most local supermarkets to help you be creative in the kitchen, unless of course you mean ingredients for preparing Western dishes only.
Curry powder and paste is available at Carre Four
My biggest concern about buying meat is the non-existent cold storage in the production chain - or at least in the food markets.
But I trust my wife (a local) with groceries, I just report what I like and not like to eat (after trying) so she knows to avoid it in future. We do eat pork almost daily, chicken or duck once a week.
Meat in China is not so horrible. Actually, chicken and pork in supermarkets like Carrefour and Walmart is acceptable. Besides, fish is a good choice. Either fry it or steam it would be great^_^
It is safe to biol tap water for cooking. We've done that for more than 30 years and all the family members are very healthy.
Stella, maybe the pork you eat is more dangerous than the sink water.
Xiaococo, buy an oven, spices, grow up herbs in next spring on your balcony or indoor, go in wet markets, buy what you don't know, play with TCMs and eatable flowers. get full your freezer with some fresh pasta, buy more kind of rices, and most of important, get dirty your hands, use flours, do chocolate desserts and find a girl who inspires your cooking. Cooking is about love. Even many chefs eat rubbish food when they're alone. Another story when they cook for a lover, for a good friend. Invite people, or friends, or for romantic dinners. And try to don't cook the same dishes in at least one month. Try to learn new things in every day you cook.
Pork from the market is actually pretty safe.
It is killed and sold the same day, unlike in EU or US where you need the cold chain as the meat can be in process and transit for several days.
Although the hygiene at the market is not so good, if you wash the meat it is ok. Another tip is to buy it in the morning, it is literally just a few hours from the kill. Bacteria has had little time to breed then. You can also sniff it to see if it is fresh or sour.
Meat from the supermarkets is generally OK but not as fresh, as it is shipped in.
BREAD
Bread makers are available in Carrefour and Metro, as well as online. All the ingredients are also available in Carrefour and Metro. This includes imported bread flour. I make all my own bread.
There are also several western bakers in Kunming who make and sell bread.
Shepherd's pie does not need an oven, except to crisp the topping. This is not essential. But if you want you can do this with a cheap toaster oven. Ovens are available from Metro and Carrefour, but they are small freestanding ovens.
