Cooking for one

caronc

PasturesNew wrote: »

This was my Xmas dinner.

https://s28.postimg.org/xo8g7kdvx/Xmas_Dinner2016.jpg

You have to really work out what you really want ... and rein in many ideas as simply impractical. Even though it's national scoff day you still can't eat as much as your mind can dream up

I've still got some of what I bought in the freezer... brussels are still lingering. Next year I'll actually buy just 8 brussels, instead of a whole 1Kg!

That looks delicious - you're absolutely right re amounts I buy much more loose stuff than I did wen I wasn't CFO

PasturesNew

caronc wrote: »

That looks delicious - you're absolutely right re amounts I buy much more loose stuff than I did wen I wasn't CFO

Loose stuff isn't on my radar, due to accessibility of it. I shop mostly at 4ld1/L1dl as they are closest ... and, even though there's a "local market" once a week that has a veg stall, it's not that good and is very pricey.

I c0cked up last year, first year I'd done the "for 1" thing and bought stuff early so I knew I had it .... then they had offers on fresh food at about 30p/pack in the days leading up to Xmas.

I also cooked my turkey the day before (slow cooker) as I wasn't sure how long it'd take until I'd done it ... this year I know how long it takes so will do it fresh on the day.

Last year was a lot of experimentation about what to choose, how to cook it/when ... some I got right, some wrong. But I know what I'll change this year and so get closer to my own cut-down version that's easy/quick/achievable.

I'll do fresh veg if I can, it's better to buy one carrot than 1Kg of frozen carrots! I'll also ditch the broccoli and cauliflower this year. I had: turkey, stuffing, yorkshire, cocktail sausages, brussels, carrots, peas, mashed swede, cauliflower, broccoli, roast parsnips, roast potatoes, gravy... and Schloer to drink. Definitely having that Schloer again this year, it was a light pink coloured one

I only ate once that day - no starter, no dessert. Just that big plate of food.

mcculloch29

I go through phases of what I have to have in, I think. At the moment I'm feeling insecure without cheese and bacon. Have to have something to whiten drinks with. Usually it's liquid milk rather than dried, or coffee whitener.

I always have some form of rice and pasta in, ditto chopped tomatoes or passata, and condensed soups to use as a sauce base.

I like to have crispbread in, I don't buy much bread other than Danish loaves as a treat, I've been making more and more of my bread to save money. I'm going to try home made sourdough soon - found fool-proof no messing instructions in a Shirley Goode book.

I think I have moved towards cracking my portion control, I dug out a book I bought 3 years ago and haven't really made the most of. Meal In A Mug
I cooked the risotto using up just a small portion of arborio rice that I bought ages ago. It wasn't enough for a meal on the stove but was an ideal "mug quantity".

[Deleted User]

the silicone waffle forms came at last, look to be very good and from amazon, long delivery but very cheap. I might have a go today and make three to freeze, one for a breakfast will be nice. Special recipe from a poster on amazon
"40g oats, 1 egg, half a muller yogurt and flavouring of choice. Mixed. Poured into the mould. Baked at 200 for about 25 to 30 minutes. Perfect breakfast. Nothing sticks."
They are only £1.06 each

Had a bit of a CBA day yesterday but still managed to eat well because I had already got chicken breasts out to defrost. I made a good simple casserole with lots of veg and herbs, was enough for yesterday and froze two portions

Today I have bought a nice punnet of English strawberries and am about to wash leaves for a salad with baked sweet potato and loin lamb chop done in the oven. Think I will do the waffles while I have the oven on. I can always put one in the toaster for breakfast

McCoulloch, cheese and bacon reminds me so much of something cheap that my mum made in the 50s. hm small dumplings, tossed in very crispy fried bacon bits and covered in grated cheddar. Was one of my most favourite meals

caronc

Good morning,

Not much CFO today as I'm out early evening. I made two portions of the tandoori chicken and stuffed peppers last night so will have that as a late lunch and will have something quick and easy when I get back.

I'm still pondering my staples and actually my list is quite long. I suppose it depends on what you like to cook and eat versus budget and storage so no one size fits all!

caronc

kittie wrote: »

the silicone waffle forms came at last, look to be very good and from amazon, long delivery but very cheap. I might have a go today and make three to freeze, one for a breakfast will be nice. Special recipe from a poster on amazon
"40g oats, 1 egg, half a muller yogurt and flavouring of choice. Mixed. Poured into the mould. Baked at 200 for about 25 to 30 minutes. Perfect breakfast. Nothing sticks."
They are only £1.06 each

Had a bit of a CBA day yesterday but still managed to eat well because I had already got chicken breasts out to defrost. I made a good simple casserole with lots of veg and herbs, was enough for yesterday and froze two portions

Today I have bought a nice punnet of English strawberries and am about to wash leaves for a salad with baked sweet potato and loin lamb chop done in the oven. Think I will do the waffles while I have the oven on. I can always put one in the toaster for breakfast

McCoulloch, cheese and bacon reminds me so much of something cheap that my mum made in the 50s. hm small dumplings, tossed in very crispy fried bacon bits and covered in grated cheddar. Was one of my most favourite meals

Morning Kittie I bought one of these moulds last year to make HM potato waffles.:) It's great but I found stuff really sticks. What does work well for me is filling the moulds with mashed potato , freezing and then turning them out before baking them. Hope your recipe works well and doesn't stick.

[Deleted User]

I just made and baked that recipe x 3, all in the waffle moulds and on one baking tin. They are amazing, all came out easily and are now cooling on a rack. Each one made 5 biscuit sizes. I am so impressed that I have ordered a couple more because I can see the grandchildren making them. Maybe caronc it is the yoghurts, some of which contain sugar. I only used some kefir from the fridge and I added vanilla powder. They smell and look divine

I am just going to hand wash the silicone

Farway

Hollyharvey wrote: »

I'm with you on the milk, eggs, tinned tomatoes, onions and garlic. I also have to have bread, butter, a couple of tins of fruit, tea and coffee, porridge, pasta, and a couple of tins of beans. I always keep at least one packet of biscuits in as well in case I really want something sweet. If I was to run out of any of those I would panic, which is why I make sure that I never do run out of any of them.

Similar here, but must pass on the garlic & biscuits. Hate garlic, love biscuits too much and [STRIKE]would [/STRIKE] will only last a day or so

And don't forget loo rolls

Nipped into Morrison's this morning, after just cuppa for breakfast, I have a meeting PM so a bit topsy turvy today

Grumpy old man mode kicked in as I passed a large, company printed, come and buy me sign stating "Iceburg lettuce 50p" [my bold] !!!!!! this a company worth over 6.5 billion quid, with nearly 48 thousand employees, with none of them able to spell it seems

Anyway, no YS bargains that time of day, jsut the 20p knocked off some already overpriced items, came away with own brand mayo & salad cream for stocking up purposes, plus ready meal for one veg lasagne which may be Friday's meal, but long enough date to sit if fridge for a day or so

Lunch I think will be a cheese salad sandwich

Dinner will be LO 1/2 cheese & bacon flan from yesterday YS buy, with salad & chips

PasturesNew

kittie wrote: »

the silicone waffle forms came at last ...25 to 30 minutes. Perfect breakfast.

I've never had a waffle. I've not managed to work out what a waffle is even .... there seem to be sweet ones and potato ones ... or is anything a waffle if it's in a chequered design with holes? Could you have, say, a carrot & swede waffle? So, is a waffle a recipe, or a cooking presentation/method?
I've absolutely no idea what a waffle form could even look like....

25-30 minutes in my book isn't a "perfect breakfast" it's a major commitment to time. For me, if I'm working, then I'm up, washed, dressed and out of the door in under 15 minutes! No time to hang around - the sooner you hit that road, the more cars you're ahead of in the inevitable queues!

PasturesNew

caronc wrote: »

I'm still pondering my staples and actually my list is quite long.

And that's the thing... if you buy everything on your staples, you've already got food overload, so don't have so much opportunity to buy/try new things... because you've all your staples to get through...



Maybe singlies need to do a three month stretch of: Months 1-2, run down all those staples, Month 3 buy NONE of your staples and try new stuff only

That could work if you did it October to December as you'd end up only buying new things in December/around Christmas time when there's a lot of focus on exciting foods to eat.