Cooking on a Stove-Eye: Tips for 1st-Timer

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Discussion Overview

This thread centers around participants sharing their experiences and tips related to cooking a specific recipe on a stove-eye for the first time. Many contributors discuss their preparation methods, ingredient modifications, and the overall interactive cooking experience during shows.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, expresses a need for tips as they prepare to cook on a portable stove-eye for the first time.
  • Another participant shares their experience of doubling the cream cheese for their first show, which received positive feedback from attendees.
  • Several users mention the importance of prepping ingredients in advance, such as cutting vegetables and draining tomatoes, to save time during the show.
  • One participant notes that using the Ultimate Mandoline for slicing carrots can enhance the cooking demonstration.
  • Another participant discusses the benefit of having water boiling for pasta before guests arrive to streamline the cooking process.
  • Some participants share variations of the recipe, including adding chicken or using different types of tomatoes, which they found to be well-received.
  • One participant mentions that the recipe can be adapted for vegetarian attendees by using vegetable broth.
  • Another participant reflects on the importance of engaging guests in the cooking process, which can lead to increased interest in kitchen tools.
  • Some users express differing opinions on the final texture of the dish, with one noting it came out soupy instead of creamy.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the best preparation methods and ingredient choices, with no clear consensus emerging on the ideal approach to cooking the recipe.

Contextual Notes

Participants share personal experiences from various cooking shows and meetings, highlighting the interactive nature of the cooking process and the importance of audience engagement.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants looking for insights on cooking demonstrations and tips for engaging guests during interactive shows may find this discussion beneficial.

tabnat80
Gold Member
Messages
839
Hey. I'm making this tomorrow night for the 1st time as an interactive show. I would appreciate any tips you guys have for me. I need all I can get. I'm going to be cooking on a portable stove-eye for the 1st time too. TIA
 
Great recipe...I had to double this for my first show/open house party. So, I added some extra cream cheese and I am glad I did. Everyone raved about this recipe. I made this right before my show, so people were coming in while I was still cooking it. It helped for me to have all the vegetables cut up before hand, but I guess it depends on what kind of show you are doing. I want to make it and add fresh spinach and grilled chicken instead of the brocoli and carrots that it calls for. The sundried tomatoes really make this dish! It is so nice to do it all in one pot. A future host was at the party and requested this dish for her show!

Enjoy!
 
I did this at an interactive show Sunday, and there are a few things I will have prepped for next time. Drain the tomatoes into a bowl (so you can still get some of the oil), and blot them off beforehand. I didn't do this, so that I could show the jar opener, but you can still talk about that. It took too much time to dry off the tomatoes in the middle of the show.I used 3 carrots in it, and next time, I'll have 2 already peeled. Use the Ultimate Mandoline to slice the carrots (why not show a $60 tool?). I used the crinkle blade and it worked fine.After the noodles are done, add the cream cheese, let it melt, and then add the vegetables. I added them at the same time at another show, and the cream cheese just clumped up in the broccoli.
 
I added extra cream cheese also! This is a very good recipe.
 
I double the cream cheese and used the Moroccan Rub variation.
Excellent.
 
This is such a yummy recipe! I couldn't find sun-dried tomatoes anywhere here; so just the cherry tomatoes are good too.
 
We did this for a meeting and realized you want the water boiling for the pasta before the guests get there. So that the pasta is already cooking when they arrive. It eats up to much time to wait for all that.
We also talked about using the covered baker or the salad chopper as a booking tool. We thought it would be good to make some chicken in the baker and chop it up with the salad choppers. Then you could add it to the recipe. It is a great interactive recipe, have fun!
 
Does anyone have the recipe typed up? I am at work right now and I want to make it for dinner tonight! Thanks!
 
I made this for my DH and myself and loved it. Next time I would add chicken to it (DH is a meat/potatoes kind of guy). Does make a lot of food and I served it in the dots large round bowl ... so cute!!!
 
Colleen-
It is on Consultant's Corner. Go to the recipe section and under S/S 2008 Season's Best. You can even email the recipe to yourself and then print it out if you want.
 
climbercanoe3 said:
We did this for a meeting and realized you want the water boiling for the pasta before the guests get there. So that the pasta is already cooking when they arrive. It eats up to much time to wait for all that.
We also talked about using the covered baker or the salad chopper as a booking tool. We thought it would be good to make some chicken in the baker and chop it up with the salad choppers. Then you could add it to the recipe.

It is a great interactive recipe, have fun!
The pasta cooks in the broth in this recipe. I haven't had a problem with completing it in time doing the entire thing for a show. If you turn the heat up to almost high and put the lid on, the broth comes to a boil quickly, and while the pasta is cooking, you and your guests can be cutting up the vegetables.
 
Ok thanks Ann. We had it set up in three stations. I was inthe third station. We got to cut up the cream cheese, add the cut up vegetables (station 2) add the salt and pepper and add the cream cheese. So it seemed a long wait because we only had to cut up the cream cheese. So the problem wasn't the pasta cooking it was how the stations were divided. That is probably why we thought it would make sense to add chicken and chop it, we needed more jobs to do at our station.
Thanks for clarifying.
 
I just re-read my post, and I'm sorry if I sounded a little short. I could definitely see where stations with specific tasks could short-change some of the participants. I found, after making this at 2 shows, that it's a good one for "group" participation. At both shows, the person who was cutting the broccoli commented on the knife (I gave them the Chef's Knife), and told a friend to come up and try it herself. That got tools into more hands. :) (And at the first of the 2 shows, I sold 3 of the large pieces of forged cutlery.)
 
I made this with mini penne pasta, vegetable broth and double the cream cheese (and I didn't use low-fat), for a spring kick off meeting. Another consultant made it by the book and everyone was raving about mine. I noticed mine was a little soupy at first, but I found that if you cook it longer than recommended it thickens up!
 
I doubled the cream cheese and used Roma tomatoes b/c host couldn't find sundried. Just cut them open and squeeze the seeds and juice out before you cut them. It was great and everyone loved it even without the sundried though!
 
I certainly didn't think you were being short. I can take constructive criticism, that is how I will learn. If you said hey dumb*ss that is not true, well maybe you would have a fight on your hands:DThat is great about the knives being a good thing. I think they sell themselves by their description. I also think there are always a few that need to touch to really believe they are worth it.
 
I love this dish with chicken and mushrooms. Cook the chicken in either the saute pan or the grill pan and cut the mushrooms with the egg slicer plus. I used sundried tomatoes that weren't in oil and they worked fine but the tomatoes absolutely make the recipe!
 
I did add chicken when I made it, felt more of a main dish than a side dish!
 
In case anyone's looking for a meatless demo for Lenten Fridays (although there are only a couple left), you can make this with vegetable broth and it's still fantastic! One of my shows had a vegetarian in attendance, so I made it that way so she could still sample it.I'm actually making this for dinner, with chicken and mushrooms.
 
climbercanoe3 said:
Colleen-
It is on Consultant's Corner. Go to the recipe section and under S/S 2008 Season's Best. You can even email the recipe to yourself and then print it out if you want.

Yes, I know but I am at my day job(snicker) That's ok I can get it when I am home! Thanks
 
We loved this recipe when we tried it a couple weeks ago. My only critic was on myself that I should have my choppin done before I get my pasta in the pot because I am a pasta snob and it got too mushy for my liking so from now on I will prep before hand. At a show with stations would be fine because all parts would get done fast. ;) I think I'm with Ann on using the UM for the carrots and the knives with the brocolli and sun dried tomatoes.

OH and the smell is devine, when I made it at the house then went to pick up hubby from work when we came in the house it smelled just delicious!
 
Consultant's Corner
letscook04 said:
Yes, I know but I am at my day job(snicker) That's ok I can get it when I am home! Thanks

Just go to the pampered chef website and click on consultant's corner and sign in you can do it from anywhere. ;) Oh and Colleen I love your kitty's pic
 
I followed the recipe to a "T" and it came out soupy instead of creamy. Any advice for me? I thought it tasted good, but would have been much better if it would have been creamy.
 
Depending on how al dente you like your pasta, that will affect the final liquidity. If you don't cook it quite long enough (for firmer pasta), less liquid will cook out, and the sauce will be thinner. You can let it cook an extra minute or two uncovered after putting in the veg, to allow a little more of the broth to evaporate.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #25
Thanks for all the suggestions. I am just ready to get this show over with. My mom called and my grandmother isn't doing well. She's 89 and is back in the hospital. This time she's got the flu and ut infectoin. She's been in a nursing home rehab place for about a month trying to regain her strength from her hip surgery and hasn't been the same since her fall. I don't think she's going to make it. She's so very weak. I just want to go up there and be with her but I've got so much to do to get ready for my show. Please keep her in your prayers tonight.
 
purrbal said:
Just go to the pampered chef website and click on consultant's corner and sign in you can do it from anywhere. ;) Oh and Colleen I love your kitty's pic

Highjack...

Oh thank you!! My kitty is now 1 1/2 year old (about 24 lbs), that picture he was only 3 months old. ;)
 
Last edited:
SalliMae
letscook04 said:
Highjack...

Oh thank you!! My kitty is now 1 1/2 year old (about 24 lbs), that picture he was only 3 months old. ;)

...highjack cont...

here is our kitty who is about a month younger than your's

DSC02786.jpg
 
{{{{hugs}}}}
tabnat80 said:
Thanks for all the suggestions. I am just ready to get this show over with. My mom called and my grandmother isn't doing well. She's 89 and is back in the hospital. This time she's got the flu and ut infectoin. She's been in a nursing home rehab place for about a month trying to regain her strength from her hip surgery and hasn't been the same since her fall. I don't think she's going to make it. She's so very weak. I just want to go up there and be with her but I've got so much to do to get ready for my show. Please keep her in your prayers tonight.

Oh I've been there sweets, keeping you in my thoughts.
 
The Pampered Chef ®
Creamy One-Pot Pasta
Recipe


4 large garlic cloves, peeled
1 jar (7 oz) sun-dried tomatoes in oil, undrained
3 cans (14.5 oz each) chicken broth (5 1/4 cups)
1 lb uncooked penne pasta
1 head broccoli (2 cups small florets)
2 medium carrots, peeled
4 oz reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel)
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
Grated fresh Parmesan cheese and snipped fresh basil (optional)



Thinly slice garlic using Color Coated Paring Knife. Place garlic and 1 tbsp oil from sun-dried tomatoes into (8-qt.) Stockpot. Cook garlic over medium heat 2-3 minutes or until garlic is golden brown, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; add broth. Return to burner; increase heat to high. Cover and bring to a boil. Stir in pasta; cover and simmer vigorously 8-10 minutes or until pasta is almost cooked but still firm, stirring occasionally using Mega Scraper.


Meanwhile, cut broccoli into small florets; place into Classic Batter Bowl. Cut carrots in half lengthwise; thinly slice crosswise on a bias using Santoku Knife. Drain sun-dried tomatoes; pat dry with a paper towel. Slice tomatoes into thin strips. Add carrots and tomatoes to batter bowl.


Cut cream cheese into cubes. Add vegetables, cream cheese, salt and black pepper to Stockpot. Stir until cream cheese is melted and fully incorporated. Reduce heat to medium; cover and cook an additional 2-4 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Serve immediately in Simple Additions® Dots Large Round Bowl. If desired, top with grated fresh Parmesan cheese and snipped fresh basil.



Yield: 6 servings


Nutrients per serving: Light: Calories 410, Total Fat 11 g, Saturated Fat 4 g, Cholesterol 15 mg, Carbohydrate 65 g, Protein 15 g, Sodium 1000 mg, Fiber 5 g


Cook's Tip: For an interesting flavor twist, omit salt, black pepper, Parmesan cheese and basil. Add 1 tbsp Moroccan Rub or Greek Rub.

For a heartier version of this recipe, add grilled turkey Italian sausage or sliced grilled chicken breasts to pasta.

If desired, 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes can be substituted for the sun-dried tomatoes.


© The Pampered Chef, Ltd., 2001
 
I have to bring this dish to our cluster meeting on Monday. Any recommendations on how to keep it warm and edible?
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I prepare before cooking on a stove-eye for the first time?

Before you start cooking, make sure you have all your ingredients prepped and measured. Gather your cooking utensils, such as pots, pans, spatulas, and measuring cups. It's also helpful to read through the recipe thoroughly to understand the steps involved and ensure you have everything you need on hand.

How do I know which stove-eye to use for my cooking?

The size of the stove-eye you choose should match the size of your pot or pan. For smaller pots, use the smaller burners, and for larger pots, use the bigger ones. This helps ensure even heating and prevents food from cooking unevenly.

What temperature should I set my stove-eye to for different types of cooking?

Generally, low heat is best for simmering and melting, medium heat is ideal for sautéing and frying, and high heat is used for boiling and searing. Refer to your recipe for specific temperature recommendations, and remember that it’s easier to increase the heat than to decrease it if things start to cook too quickly.

How can I prevent food from sticking to the pan while cooking?

To prevent sticking, make sure to preheat your pan before adding oil or food. Use enough oil or cooking spray, and consider using non-stick cookware. Additionally, avoid moving the food too soon; let it sear properly before flipping or stirring.

What should I do if my food is cooking too quickly or burning?

If you notice that your food is cooking too quickly or starting to burn, immediately reduce the heat. You can also add a little liquid, such as broth or water, to help deglaze the pan and prevent burning. If the food is already burnt, you may need to transfer the unburnt portions to a new pan to salvage the dish.

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