Cooking for one

meg72

The next time I CBA and resort to the chippy I will think of this lady.

https://www.facebook.com/greatbigstory/videos/vb.1404914223144340/1608830812752679/?type=2&theater

PasturesNew

Ames wrote: »

I managed to go with the stir fry, yay.

It wasn't very nice though Probably because I've never cooked it before, I think I was a bit heavy on the soy sauce. Plus it had loads of beansprouts, which I don't like.

The "modern generation" seem to swear by it - can't see the fascination myself. It's "take some raw vegetables, shredded, and a few other things, then toss them in oil in a hot pan for a bit, then lob into a bowl".

All that oil goes all into the atmosphere, coating the kitchen - and most people probably make a shocking one, just convincing themselves they're good cooks

It's "just stir fry" - nothing to get excited about.

I think you're right about bean sprouts - while I like a few in a dish of plain chow mein cooked at the chinese takeaway, you don't really want/need more than 12 or so ... it's just for the crunch.... a small tin of water chestnuts would do as good a job, except you only really want 12 slices of that too ... it's hard to get quantities right.

I think stir fry is probably best when stir frying anything BUT veggies, to be honest... meat, sauce, few noodles, stir, sizzle, flip, serve. Bugg4h veggies.

I bet there was some TV chef/marketing plan some years back to flog woks.



Don't feel bad for it not turning out well - yours is probably no worse than 99% of other people's efforts, but they're blinkered to their own abilities

PasturesNew

karcher wrote: »

....they wouldn't be so inconsiderate if I wasn't alone

It is true that couples tend to not view singles as equal to them - and will, if they're "that sort" just think they can do what they like etc because they have you out-numbered. Aggressive bugg4hs can really take the pee, because they think they can, because you're alone/single and really don't matter ... at all. Not to them, not to anybody ...

And there's nothing you can do to "fight" them because they always win, because they have the trump card: they outnumber you.

Ditto with people with kids: Got the trump card.... what do you know, you've not got/had kids.... trump, trump, trump. They always win.

I hope they shove off soon .... so long as they don't move next to me of course!

Ames

PasturesNew wrote: »

The "modern generation" seem to swear by it - can't see the fascination myself. It's "take some raw vegetables, shredded, and a few other things, then toss them in oil in a hot pan for a bit, then lob into a bowl".

All that oil goes all into the atmosphere, coating the kitchen - and most people probably make a shocking one, just convincing themselves they're good cooks

It's "just stir fry" - nothing to get excited about.

I think you're right about bean sprouts - while I like a few in a dish of plain chow mein cooked at the chinese takeaway, you don't really want/need more than 12 or so ... it's just for the crunch.... a small tin of water chestnuts would do as good a job, except you only really want 12 slices of that too ... it's hard to get quantities right.

I think stir fry is probably best when stir frying anything BUT veggies, to be honest... meat, sauce, few noodles, stir, sizzle, flip, serve. Bugg4h veggies.

I bet there was some TV chef/marketing plan some years back to flog woks.



Don't feel bad for it not turning out well - yours is probably no worse than 99% of other people's efforts, but they're blinkered to their own abilities

I didn't use any oil... maybe I should have. When I was a kid we had it every monday to use up leftover meat, I didn't like it then but cooked it just the same as mum did.

I've got a better quality tub of stir fry veg in the fridge, I think that'll be better. Or I might try buying veg and mixing it myself. And maybe resort to buying sauce, but I'd rather not because of the hgih sugar content.

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PasturesNew

Ames wrote: »

... cooked it just the same as mum did.

It might be that you cooked old fashioned "fry up of stuff" rather than stir fry.

Stir fries rely on the wok getting hot (wok because of the big surface area) - so hot it is at smoking point, with a spray of oil ...then having all the ingredients lined up and ready to toss in - then you toss them in and keep them moving in the super hot pan before sliding the lot out into a bowl.

So, hot+oil = stir fry.

Pan + stuff = "fry up some stuff".

Ames

PasturesNew wrote: »

It might be that you cooked old fashioned "fry up of stuff" rather than stir fry.

Stir fries rely on the wok getting hot (wok because of the big surface area) - so hot it is at smoking point, with a spray of oil ...then having all the ingredients lined up and ready to toss in - then you toss them in and keep them moving in the super hot pan before sliding the lot out into a bowl.

So, hot+oil = stir fry.

Pan + stuff = "fry up some stuff".

No, it was a stir fry that mum did, in a wok, with veg bought specially, including water chestnuts and beansprouts, and noodles and soy and oyster sauces.

I heated the wok up, put in a splash of soy sauce and a splash of mirin, then chucked all the veg from the bag in. My mistake I think was then adding more soy. And in just tipping the whole lot onto the plate, instead of scooping out the veg, so that all the soy sauce pooled on the plate.

I'll learn for next time!

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moneyistooshorttomention

PasturesNew wrote: »

It is true that couples tend to not view singles as equal to them - and will, if they're "that sort" just think they can do what they like etc because they have you out-numbered. Aggressive bugg4hs can really take the pee, because they think they can, because you're alone/single and really don't matter ... at all. Not to them, not to anybody ...

And there's nothing you can do to "fight" them because they always win, because they have the trump card: they outnumber you.

Ditto with people with kids: Got the trump card.... what do you know, you've not got/had kids.... trump, trump, trump. They always win.

I hope they shove off soon .... so long as they don't move next to me of course!

:cool::rotfl: - and I so have to agree with you PN. There are couples out there that think they can "walk over" a woman because she's single - but one has a strong suspicion they wouldnt try it if one had a 6' tall husband (or even a short little husband) living with you.

It gets easier as one gets older. I found, after a while, back in my home area that, one way or another, I'd "built up" over the years that people either knew I was part of a rather large circle of people or knew about a Major Fight I'd had on my hands (and won) and stopped pulling the "treat her like a single woman - and impose". Then I moved to this area and didn't have either of those things - and had another Major Fight on my hands (this time with neighbours) before they "got my measure" and now leave me alone - as they've realised I'll do my research and stand firm. I know what you mean by trying to "outnumber" you - but I retaliate with "You are one household. I am one household. The size of the household is irrelevant".

But yes - the "Child Card" - and I've never yet figured out how to deal with people pulling that one out. It seems to be so ingrained in society currently that it's regarded as a Trump Card and played at intervals (to keep more of one's income from the Government/get cheaper rates for things/to get better treatment socially). In "social" circumstances I'll stand firm and give (and expect) equal treatment for everyone - regardless of whether they have a "Child card" around or no. But it is hard on those occasions where there is nothing one can do ...

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and, back onto food, and personally I like to throw in some peanut butter or toasted nuts on top with stir-fries. Not particularly culinary masterpieces - but they do come in handy for using up "odds and sods".

Nelski

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

:cool::rotfl: - and I so have to agree with you PN. There are couples out there that think they can "walk over" a woman because she's single - but one has a strong suspicion they wouldnt try it if one had a 6' tall husband (or even a short little husband) living with you.

It gets easier as one gets older. I found, after a while, back in my home area that, one way or another, I'd "built up" over the years that people either knew I was part of a rather large circle of people or knew about a Major Fight I'd had on my hands (and won) and stopped pulling the "treat her like a single woman - and impose". Then I moved to this area and didn't have either of those things - and had another Major Fight on my hands (this time with neighbours) before they "got my measure" and now leave me alone - as they've realised I'll do my research and stand firm.

But yes - the "Child Card" - and I've never yet figured out how to deal with people pulling that one out. It seems to be so ingrained in society currently that it's regarded as a Trump Card and played at intervals (to keep more of one's income from the Government/get cheaper rates for things/to get better treatment socially).

:T:T:T:T:T:T well said moneystooshorttomention and PN

Agree about the age element helping ...I think it was menopause that turned me into someone completely comfortable in my own skin and if others didnt like it tough.

I use the counter kid card by the way for the real annoying women ...it confuses if nothing else....you smile at them in a very patronising way and say "of course you will never understand because you havent lived without your kids. Its a very different perspective" I always finds it shuts them up

I must admit that is the only real reason I post on this thread because it is about cooking for one. If there was a thread about cooking for your darling husband I would probably swerve it Couples and families have different perspectives as do as singles we I guess.

Anyway should I ever get a a darling husband first of all please tell me not to call him a darling husband and secondly kick me away to the numerous threads about smug married cooking :rotfl: :cool::cool:

moneyistooshorttomention

Oh...it's the being sorry for me for not having a husband bit that I notice sometimes (for some reason - particularly from men since I moved here) that can grate. I've got a good answer to that one - ie that I had several chances and turned them all down (ie because they werent Mr Right):)

I have shrewd suspicions that quite a lot of people married someone other than Mr/Miss Right and probably knew it (consciously or "in their heart of hearts") at the time they married them even.

There just isn't a counter to "I never met Him - so that's why I'm not married" and a rueful shrug of shoulders whilst saying it. Because those that have been very lucky and met Mr/Miss Right know they are privileged/lucky people for having done so and wouldnt "rub it in my face" that I havent been so lucky. Those that know they married Mr Someone Else daren't admit it to me...:rotfl:(as they know I'd be thinking "Well I held out for Him. So don't complain/lord it because you didn't"). They had the choice to "hold out" - the same as I did and their decision was not to do so...

*********

But...yes...it is a different approach to food that we have in the main I guess. That "Groundhog Day" having to eat the same meal two days running thing for instance....

PasturesNew

Ames wrote: »

My mistake I think was then adding more soy. And in just tipping the whole lot onto the plate, instead of scooping out the veg, so that all the soy sauce pooled on the plate.

I'll learn for next time!

It's annoying when you stare at the plate and think "I wish I'd done it a bit differently ...."