Please help me kick the processed food habit

missbiggles1

PasturesNew wrote: »

I've got a hob - with a piece either side. One side's got the toaster and kettle; the other side's got the breadbin. Both sides have a wall unit over them. I pull the toaster/kettle to the edge to use them; I will move the bread bin somewhere else....

I've then got a sink 12' away - on the opposite side. That has a space either side, but no sockets. One side is directly under the gas boiler, so unusable for anything and I like to keep it clear "in case there's a leak or emergency".

Then there's "the workspace", 1.5 cupboards wide. That has sockets. The microwave is permanently there. When I use the mini oven that also goes there.

I usually "cook", continually criss crossing the barren middle of the kitchen. Big floor space, no actual useful cupboards or worktop.

Beans on toast is:
Toaster pulled forward, put bread in.
Walk to the other corner to open the beans. Carry beans to the 3rd corner to put them in the microwave.
Cross the kitchen diagonally to turn the toast over.
Cross the kitchen diagonally as the beans just pinged and need a stir.
Cross the kitchen diagonally as the toast just popped up.
Cross the kitchen diagonally to get the beans out of the microwave and plonk them on the toast.

Mine's almost like a galley kitchen - but with 12' between the walls.

I can't put the toaster/kettle next to the microwave as that leaves no room to put the food down when I take the food out of the microwave.
The slow cooker also goes onto the spot beside the microwave, so when the SC's on, there's no spare space.

Lots of air room, lots of floor space, no working space/cupboards/sockets.

I'd just get rid of the bread bin.

(Why are you turning the bread over if you have a toaster?)

moneyistooshorttomention

pollyanna_26 wrote: »

With apologies to op .
PN Have a look at the Ikea bekvam kitchen trolley , Solid birch , top and two lower shelves and two wheels at the rear . I have two and they are very useful as they are easily moved to where you are working and in your case could then be returned to the dead space . Measurements are 58cm x50cm work area . I had mine delivered as am nowhere near a store but they are very useful and suitable for painting , staining should you wish .
polly

Checked that out. Its £35 from Ikea or there are people being cheeky and trying to get about £60 for it via Amazon:cool:.

That's the sort of thing I mean though and I can see Ikea website has quite a selection of different type things like that.

pollyanna_26

Mine were £35 each direct from Ikea and are solid and brilliant value for money . I wanted that size as they tuck under a worktop in what would otherwise be wasted space .
polly

PasturesNew

missbiggles1 wrote: »

(Why are you turning the bread over if you have a toaster?)

Please don't even try to understand; I'm unfixable.

For the fuller answer:

I have a short attention span and am a uni-tasker. I am also scared of the toaster/bread catching fire. I therefore deliberately set the knob so that the toast pops up before the bread is fully browned.

This does two things: Enables me to turn it round so it gets toasted more evenly (it's usually white at one end/brown at the other), PLUS, it then tells me to "stand beside the toaster now and watch it, then press the button to turn it off when it looks done".

I know I can turn the toast on and walk away - as it will ALWAYS pop up before it catches light

Re getting rid of the bread bin .... I've nowhere else to put the bread. No cupboard space for it.

missbiggles1

PasturesNew wrote: »

Please don't even try to understand; I'm unfixable.

For the fuller answer:

I have a short attention span and am a uni-tasker. I am also scared of the toaster/bread catching fire. I therefore deliberately set the knob so that the toast pops up before the bread is fully browned.

This does two things: Enables me to turn it round so it gets toasted more evenly (it's usually white at one end/brown at the other), PLUS, it then tells me to "stand beside the toaster now and watch it, then press the button to turn it off when it looks done".

I know I can turn the toast on and walk away - as it will ALWAYS pop up before it catches light

Re getting rid of the bread bin .... I've nowhere else to put the bread. No cupboard space for it.

I think we better forget about the toast then!

However, a small loaf of bread takes a tiny amount of room whereas a bread bin seem to be taking up all your available workspace.

PasturesNew

missbiggles1 wrote: »

However, a small loaf of bread takes a tiny amount of room whereas a bread bin seem to be taking up all your available workspace.

Right now the bread bin contains: Bread, plus.... a pack of wraps (lifespan of about a month); A vacuum pack of naan breads; a vacuum pack of part-baked baguettes; a vacuum pack of large pitta breads; a pack of crumpets ... and the only reason there's no muffins in there is because they got close to their "BBE" date so I lobbed them into the freezer.

Can we get back to helping the OP now please
I'm unfixable.

missbiggles1

OK, you brought it up, I was only trying to help!

Fusspot

Thanks all for your replies, a good response and most helpful. Every time I try to eat properly I slip behind and I want to keep with it this time. I am going to wait until after Xmas and then start. Just wondering, does anyone here use those steamers on the hob with about three pans? My sister in law swears by hers. I have a plastic one for the microwave where you can put water in the bottom and veg/fish etc on top, is it worth sticking with this or is it worth getting a steamer for the hob? I don't want to waste money but I am getting tired of the food I eat and how I cook it.

suki1964

Fusspot wrote: »

Thanks all for your replies, a good response and most helpful. Every time I try to eat properly I slip behind and I want to keep with it this time. I am going to wait until after Xmas and then start. Just wondering, does anyone here use those steamers on the hob with about three pans? My sister in law swears by hers. I have a plastic one for the microwave where you can put water in the bottom and veg/fish etc on top, is it worth sticking with this or is it worth getting a steamer for the hob? I don't want to waste money but I am getting tired of the food I eat and how I cook it.

I used to, until I got an induction hob and it wasn't compatible

I found it useful because I would be cooking for a family and it took up a lot less space

For you right now I wouldn't advise on one, until you get into a routine of cooking from scratch. If you just want to steam a few veg whilst the spuds are boiling, a colander will work just as well

I personally would advise thinking about what meals you really want to eat, then think about what equipment you already have and start from there. Once you get into the swing of cooking from fresh and enjoying it, then think of how you may progress and what items are best bought

PasturesNew

Fusspot wrote: »

I have a plastic one for the microwave where you can put water in the bottom and veg/fish etc on top, is it worth sticking with this or is it worth getting a steamer for the hob? I don't want to waste money but I am getting tired of the food I eat and how I cook it.

I use a microwave steamer; mine does 1-2 portions of rice or veggies as I have a small one. There are a variety of sizes/shapes etc.
Rice in, bit of water in, 10-12 minutes and it's fully cooked.
Veggies in, bit of water in, 10 minutes and they're done.

Stick with what you've got. If you've got a solution you're not using then you're not really "into it enough" to consider using another solution (that's actually more work/washing up).