Cooking for one

caronc

sitesafe wrote: »

Do you use tinned or packet lentils karcher? I've not used the packet ones yet and wondered if there's much difference other than having to soak them?

I never soak lentils and find the dried ones better than the tinned

Nelski wrote: »

Glass of wine and a chocolate bar count as 2 though...grapes and cocoa beans :cool:

My kind of thinking :rotfl:

sitesafe

Really struggling with meal planning this week as I've been out of routine going to visit a friend for a few days. I'm getting into panic mode as I've got lots of fresh stuff in the fridge and trying to think of how to use it up without any going off. I seem to always end up making lentil bolognese and chick pea curry but then end up having those over 4 or 5 days in the week and it gets a bit boring. I've made risottos, carbonara etc. Even made my own vegetable burgers which were very bland even though I'd added herbs and spices, just to use up some sweet potatoes. I do eat meat but generally don't buy it for a main course as it's so expensive.

Yesterday I was shameful, went shopping and bought two cream eclairs and two maple pecan danish pastries - they all were polished off by supper time! And then I had supper even though i perhaps shouldn't have as I'd bought ys salmon so needed to cook it that day (as no freezer).

Today I've been a little better, healthy breakfast and healthy lunch. Yesterday I bought two bags of dried prunes from Tesco as they were on offer, 2 for the price of 1 all bar 10p or something like that. I'm not the biggest fan but they should help my sugar cravings - also they contain pottassium (do you know how hard it is to get the full recommended dose of potassium - I know bananas, oranges, seafood, berlotti beans, prunes all contain it - but to get the recommended amount is quite a challenge?)....not sure they put it in vitamin supplements either.

Tonight I am thinking risotto to use up some mushrooms and chicken stock that I made yesterday (from some ys chicken I cooked to use in the week). I do have the other cooked salmon steak which I could use for lunch tomorrow with some salad bits. Then the chicken tomorrow for supper with something?

When fresh veg stocks are running low I really enjoy making everything into a broth to use up to avoid wastage although again the same soup every day for a few days is a bit of a drag as its only me. Still it is good to look after ourselves and eat properly and know that we are not the only ones which is why it's good to have this thread here to compare notes!

caronc

sitesafe wrote: »

Really struggling with meal planning this week as I've been out of routine going to visit a friend for a few days. I'm getting into panic mode as I've got lots of fresh stuff in the fridge and trying to think of how to use it up without any going off. I seem to always end up making lentil bolognese and chick pea curry but then end up having those over 4 or 5 days in the week and it gets a bit boring. I've made risottos, carbonara etc. Even made my own vegetable burgers which were very bland even though I'd added herbs and spices, just to use up some sweet potatoes. I do eat meat but generally don't buy it for a main course as it's so expensive.

Yesterday I was shameful, went shopping and bought two cream eclairs and two maple pecan danish pastries - they all were polished off by supper time! And then I had supper even though i perhaps shouldn't have as I'd bought ys salmon so needed to cook it that day (as no freezer).

Today I've been a little better, healthy breakfast and healthy lunch. Yesterday I bought two bags of dried prunes from Tesco as they were on offer, 2 for the price of 1 all bar 10p or something like that. I'm not the biggest fan but they should help my sugar cravings - also they contain pottassium (do you know how hard it is to get the full recommended dose of potassium - I know bananas, oranges, seafood, berlotti beans, prunes all contain it - but to get the recommended amount is quite a challenge?)....not sure they put it in vitamin supplements either.

Tonight I am thinking risotto to use up some mushrooms and chicken stock that I made yesterday (from some ys chicken I cooked to use in the week). I do have the other cooked salmon steak which I could use for lunch tomorrow with some salad bits. Then the chicken tomorrow for supper with something?

When fresh veg stocks are running low I really enjoy making everything into a broth to use up to avoid wastage although again the same soup every day for a few days is a bit of a drag as its only me. Still it is good to look after ourselves and eat properly and know that we are not the only ones which is why it's good to have this thread here to compare notes!

Hi sitesafe glad you like the thread Yes repetition and/or over full freezers if you have one or using up stuff before it goes off seems to be a recurring issue in "cooking for one" households. I don't mind eating the same things most days for lunch - like you I make a lot of soup but struggle having the same thing for dinner more than a couple of times in a row though don't mind variations on a theme. I'm trying to better at using up what I have in the freezer before buying more while varying my meals - neither always works though:o Re using up your chicken, I'm fond of cooked chicken mixed with some veg and a little white sauce with pasta

sitesafe

Hadn't thought of that and I have pasta in the cupboard. Thanks for the tip caronc!

caronc

sitesafe wrote: »

Hadn't thought of that and I have pasta in the cupboard. Thanks for the tip caronc!

Sorted ............:D

Winchelsea

I'm another one who has no problem getting in the five a day.
My default meal (when my imagination and willingness to "mess about" are at a low ebb) is some sort of stir fry. Quite good at chopping up greens with scissors, throwing in some home grown bean sprouts (always growing on the windowsill), a few other fresh or frozen veg including onions, and whatever protein source I fancy.
I am, I suppose, a pescatarian, as I have not eaten meat since 1978, so the protein can be cooked pulses (always in the freezer), or egg, or cheese, or a tin of sardines, etc.
Never boring! And I add whatever carbs take my fancy - had oven chips today!

Had a nice dessert just now - I'd frozen some pancakes that I knocked up the other day, so I reheated two. Spread them with peanut butter and filled them with mashed banana. Yum yum!

Mr_Singleton

Wow post 1000!

PasturesNew

Nelski wrote: »

That would be a good 2 days worth of food for me no way could I manage that amount so I totally understand why people struggle.

I wanted to say that
He eats a LOT more than me!

PasturesNew

I've got stuff I'm fed up with seeing - and stuff that needs to be used up before it's a drag that HAS to be undertaken.

I've had a 16p tin of spaghetti hoops in the cupboard for about 9 months, bought four at the time (price driven) ... and I'd got about 30 grams of grated cheese I was fed up with seeing every time I opened the fridge ... and I was fed up with seeing the 1/3rd of a frozen loaf in the freezer so I got that out. I then looked at the eggs and there were 3 of them mocking me.

So that decided it: 2 bits of toast, half a tin of spaghetti hoops, a bit of grated cheese and a poached egg on top

I'll eat the same again tomorrow, minus the cheese unless I grate more.

karcher

sitesafe wrote: »

Do you use tinned or packet lentils karcher? I've not used the packet ones yet and wondered if there's much difference other than having to soak them?

I use both, but tonight it was packet ones.

I don't soak them, I just rinse them.

If like tonight, they are green lentils (or black), I boil them up for 15 mins, rinse again then cook with the rest of the dish for another 20 mins.

If using red lentils, I just rinse them and cook them together with everything else for 25 odd mins.


ETA: Welcome to the thread sitesafe and Mr_Singleton.