Cooking for one

PasturesNew

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Someone mentioned some kind of thermal bag that kept in the heat to keep stuff cooking - they made one themselves... if only I could remember which thread it was on. It was definitely on the Old Style board.

Just finished my cauli-rice... in the end I'd added garlic, olives, courgettes, mixed herbs, mixed peppers, onion and still it tasted like cauli.... then added a pasta sauce.... still cauli .

I've decided to abandon the cauli-rice idea and use couscous instead. Or - novel idea - just use rice .

Wonderbags is the word you're looking for.

In short: A fat cosy ... bring the food up to the boil, boil like mad to build up heat, quickly remove it (without peeking under the lid) and secure it deep inside a padded bag for many hours.

Heat retained, it just slow cooks in its own residual heat.

I can't boil things to start with ... and it "doesn't interest me". You know how oddities either interest one or not ... gadgets, fandangled methods, or strange ways Some do, some don't. The bag never did.

I think, too, you'd need pots, not saucepans ... so no handles, else the whole wrapping bit gets complex. I've never had a handle-less saucepan.

caronc

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Someone mentioned some kind of thermal bag that kept in the heat to keep stuff cooking - they made one themselves... if only I could remember which thread it was on. It was definitely on the Old Style board.

Just finished my cauli-rice... in the end I'd added garlic, olives, courgettes, mixed herbs, mixed peppers, onion and still it tasted like cauli.... then added a pasta sauce.... still cauli .

I've decided to abandon the cauli-rice idea and use couscous instead. Or - novel idea - just use rice .

Yes they were a thing a few years ago made out of old duvets http://www.iwillprepare.com/cooking_files/Wonder_Box.htm or similiar
The only way I'm keen on cauli rice is sauteed with loads of very finely chopped leek, lots of butter and black pepper .... kind of defeats the purpose LOL

caronc

Oh cheers PN - couldn't remember what the "brand" was for these...:D

PasturesNew

caronc wrote: »

.... cauli rice is sauteed .... kind of defeats the purpose LOL

One thing I don't get is that people seem to use "salad dressing" these days - I've never had it, but it appears to be made of oil.

Now .... lettuce is THE most boring food in the world. Pointless and tasteless - eaten ONLY by people who are forced to diet and eat the dreaded "salads", which are lettuce/cucumber/tomato ... so tipping a ton of oil onto that simply defeats the object. I bet a lot of these "aren't I good, I eat salads" people are fooling themselves into thinking they're eating healthily ... might as well bin the boring lettuce and just drink the oil neat!

caronc

PasturesNew wrote: »

One thing I don't get is that people seem to use "salad dressing" these days - I've never had it, but it appears to be made of oil.

Now .... lettuce is THE most boring food in the world. Pointless and tasteless - eaten ONLY by people who are forced to die and eat the dreaded "salads", which are lettuce/cucumber/tomato ... so tipping a ton of oil onto that simply defeats the object. I bet a lot of these "aren't I good, I eat salads" people are fooling themselves into thinking they're eating healthily ... might as well bin the boring lettuce and just drink the oil neat!

I have to disgree here - I like a dressed salad but love lettuce just as it comes. Usually when CFO my lunch involves a salad generally "undressed" apart from lots of pepper. While I do like dressig please don't drown my salad in it - if I'm out for a meal that has salad I always ask for the dressing on the side. Agree re folk thinking a dressed salad was low calorie there has been various articles re "fast food" salads having more calories than burger & fries

Tiddlywinks

Our family has a salad that we always make - it doesn't matter whose house you're in - the salad will always taste the same LOL.

Cubed beetroot first, then chopped tomatoes, then cucumber, finally green leaf... finished off with balsamic drizzled over it.

The mix of the juices from the beetroot, toms and cucumber creates its own dressing that then mixes with the balsamic and coats the lettuce.... we love it.

We always use leafy green varieties though - never iceberg as that goes a bit limp from the vinegar.

Edited to add: Just remembered that I forgot to mention a small amount of spring or red onion finely chopped.

joedenise

PasturesNew wrote: »

One thing I don't get is that people seem to use "salad dressing" these days - I've never had it, but it appears to be made of oil.

Now .... lettuce is THE most boring food in the world. Pointless and tasteless - eaten ONLY by people who are forced to diet and eat the dreaded "salads", which are lettuce/cucumber/tomato ... so tipping a ton of oil onto that simply defeats the object. I bet a lot of these "aren't I good, I eat salads" people are fooling themselves into thinking they're eating healthily ... might as well bin the boring lettuce and just drink the oil neat!

I don't use any oil on my salad, I only ever add a bit of salt and some balsamic vinegar.

Denise

[Deleted User]

that reminded me, I have a bunch of raw beetroots to cook today, in my pressure cooker. I love beetroot, cold or warm. Food is easy today, my basic ratatouille with added beans and served with an egg and fried potatoes. Later a salad, I use a little acv (apple cider vinegar)

I made spelt bread yesterday in my panny and it turned out lovely, I used half white and half brown. Two small slices and a bit of peanut butter have filled me for breakfast. Spelt contains about 16% protein. First time in the panny and I`ll be making it again like this, was very easy

moneyistooshorttomention

A frequent "dressing" for a salad for me is to squeeze some fresh lemon juice over it. Zero/virtually zero calories there.

Hollyharvey

Morning all,


I'm already starting on using up the odds and end of food today. I have had the one remaining egg on toasted sourdough bread, to use up the last slice of that, and then I found some mixed berries looking a bit sad in the fridge so I have just made up a small portion of porridge with water and mixed them in for the rest of my breakfast.


I haven't decided what lunch will be yet, I am volunteering this morning and will see what there is in the shop on the way home for dinner. If I pop into M&S on the way back that is when they do their y/s fresh food so worth a look as I have to walk past there on the way home.


Have a good day everyone.