Food and living alone

dlusman

JackieO wrote: »

I make sure every penny I spend isn't wasted and to me throwing food away is a sin.Comes from growing up with rationing I suppose:D

no - It comes from being a sensible , right thinking person

joansgirl

Cauliflower gets used not only as a side veg but I like to put florets of it
into soups and stews and also to make a veggie lasagne with it.I cut the florets
off the main head and bag up to go into the freezer to be got out in a handful
when needed.

Do you freeze it raw? I always thought it had to be blanched first. I love caulie, but hate the frozen stuff. I never buy a fresh one coz it goes manky before I can use it all. If it freezes ok raw, I might try it.

I, too like Faggots. I always buy the 2 packs and have never thought of splitting a big pack (duh!) but will be trying this asap! (What's the big deal with Faggots then? I love 'em. I think it might be the "Brains" bit that puts people off!)

One thing I've got that's a godsend is a slow cooker. I chuck all the odd bits of veg in it (not the caulie though) plus any meat from the freezer or any that's cheap when I go shopping, add some gravy or some other kind of cook in sauce, and leave it on all day. Then divide it up into plastic containers and freeze it. Lasts for ages.

joansgirl

PasturesNew wrote: »

Those of you who are using freezers aren't really
being helpful. We know that if we had a freezer we could do wonderful things
with portions etc. Fact is, many people live without a freezer for a variety of
reasons.

Today I have to eat a lot of eggs and I have six pittas to eat by the 16th -
so I'd better open a tin of tuna, boil some of those eggs, then eat a
tuna/egg/mayo pitta twice a day for the next three days.

Sorry my Dear, got side tracked by the faggots thing.

I had the same probs as you when I lived in a bedsit, not even a fridge. As I recall I used to live on sandwiches and toast all week and only eat "properly" at weekends. Runny butter in the summer was a pain.

Even then the pack sizes were a problem. And like you I avoided big veg as there was so much waste. I hated all the "Ready Meals" (and still do). And there's only so much vacuum packed and tinned stuff available, and that's all usually family sized as well.

People in your situation are basically forced to buy standard amounts/packs of food. The manufacturers/retailers won't do anything about it as they're making huge profits from it.

There is no solution that I can see.

MysteryMe

Well suggesting freezing some of the big pack of faggots helped joansgirl. The suggestions kindly posted on this thread will also help other people reading who are minded to seek solutions rather than problems.

Coopdivi

GwylimT wrote: »

You can get the metal mincers for well under £10, the plastic ones that suction to the work top are even cheaper.

Have you got any links to these cheap mincers? I might get one if they are any good.

And what recipe did you use to make your own faggots?

KxMx

PasturesNew wrote: »

Those of you who are using freezers aren't really being helpful. We know that if we had a freezer we could do wonderful things with portions etc. Fact is, many people live without a freezer for a variety of reasons.

Today I have to eat a lot of eggs and I have six pittas to eat by the 16th - so I'd better open a tin of tuna, boil some of those eggs, then eat a tuna/egg/mayo pitta twice a day for the next three days.

Pitta bread won't magically decompose if you don't eat by the 16th you know :cool:
I've even been known to pick small amounts of surface mould off bread and eat it- never came to any harm.

geordie_joe

KxMx wrote: »

Pitta bread won't magically decompose if you don't eat by the 16th you know :cool:

No but the opened tin of tuna, opened especially to eat with the pitta might!

KxMx wrote: »

I've even been known to pick small amounts of surface mould off bread and eat it- never came to any harm.

How are you with 4 day old tinned tuna?

Dozey_crow

PasturesNew wrote: »

Those of you who are using freezers aren't really being helpful. We know that if we had a freezer we could do wonderful things with portions etc. Fact is, many people live without a freezer for a variety of reasons.

Today I have to eat a lot of eggs and I have six pittas to eat by the 16th - so I'd better open a tin of tuna, boil some of those eggs, then eat a tuna/egg/mayo pitta twice a day for the next three days.

I understand that you have no freezer but why would you need that diet for three days?! Blimey! it would drive me mad! Eggs are great for a lot of things. Off the top of my head I can think of Omelette, quiche, mirangue, and of course cakes. You could make quiche with your tuna and eggs and it will keep for quite a few days in the fridge. Mirangues keep keep for ages in a sealed container. We use pitas as naan bread or make pizzas out of them.
I'm sure that other people on here will be able to offer more (and probably more exciting) ideas than me about your ingredients.

It is hard to imagine not having a freezer if you are used to having one though!

Xx

brightonman123

brians faggots are not the highest quality meat product.. maybe cheaper overall to get some mince or beef and make your own..

also, check local butchers- offten do 2for1 on meat, works out cheaper than supermarkets -

be sure to split into portions, before freezing.

fionajbanana

geordie_joe wrote: »

No but the opened tin of tuna, opened especially to eat with the pitta might!



How are you with 4 day old tinned tuna?

Aldi have some small tins of tuna flavoured with lemon and pepper, tomato and basil for 49-55p each. They do a jacket spud or a sandwich nicely.

I cannot remember if they do small tins of plain tuna - either individually or in packs of 3 like John West do.

Eggs last 7-9 days after the ub date