Cooking for one

Tiddlywinks

Hollyharvey wrote: »

The Halo looks interesting. I have had a look at the link and the video and it grills as well. Have you used it for that? I have been considering buying an air fryer but they are expensive so I haven't even started researching them in detail yet but it is something I will probably look into in the not too distant future

Yep, you can use the Halo for grilling - it can be used at an angle for chips and things or flat for the grill.

There are some videos on youtube that show demos - I love doing crinkle cut chips or roasted parsnips in there. They do brown well and less than a teaspoon of oil.

Pan and lid are dishwasher safe but I just wash it by hand and it's very easy to do. I'm very happy with it.

PasturesNew

Hollyharvey wrote: »

.....I have been considering buying an air fryer but they are expensive so I haven't even started researching them in detail yet but it is something I will probably look into in the not too distant future

I woke up early the other morning and turned the telly on - and it was on a channel where they were demonstrating one of those ... the XL, £99.99.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MA51D5T

Sat and watched them cook all manner of stuff over the next 20 minutes. Like all gadgets I think that if you can find 2-3 items that you currently cook regularly that any new beast will cook better/faster/cheaper for you then it's a winner after you've done the maths to work out how often you have to use it to pay for itself.

They also cooked though a load of stuff you'd never cook ... and it's easy to get swept up in the excitement of what COULD be cooked, and lose focus on "what can I ACTUALLY cook with this - and would I?"

I was very tempted to buy one myself ..... and I'm not entirely sure what for Only the cost - and that I've no space to store/use it stopped me.

If I'd bought one I'd use it to make chicken strips in batter ... and chips. My mini oven does those; not as well as a fryer, admittedly, but it does them.

caronc

Good morning,
I cook never watch shopping channels as I would even more gadgets.......:o

Weather is a bit murky here and I'm toying with making some soup but suspect I actually CBA:)

Breakfast was toast & pate and I think lunch will be a re-run of yesterday of a piece of baguette with brie, lettuce and cucumber. Dinner is haggis stuffed chicken breast with the LO peppercorn sauce and probably broccoli and a baked spud so meals are sorted for today.

As the weather isn't great I'll need to sit on my gardening itch and get some much needed admin out of the way:)

PasturesNew

I've got an industrial injury ... 2-3 days ago I'd picked up a 20 litre bag of compost to repot a plant in the garden as I'd bought a pot. I am not big/strong, so had deliberately chosen one of the baskets you pull along and I was careful lifting it from the bottom shelf into the basket, but I felt my back "twang" and it was giving me some grief - then, yesterday, I HAD to mow the lawn and do some other garden clearing as I'd spotted a rodent and didn't want him to think my garden was a great place for a new house .... I did go easy as I've never been one for "hard work" or "manual labour".

But this morning I can barely move and am in agony. So I am 100% stuck with "what've you got in then?"

I had bought Jersey Royals the other day, a small pack - so those will be tossed into the steamer. I've a pot of 1/3rd of a tin of baked beans, so they need using up as they've been open 2-3 days. And I'd randomly purchased a pack of frozen spicy veggie burgers. So that'll be it. I don't know if I can face grilling the burger, or if I'll just nuke it for quickness/ease.

I might eat that from the kitchen worktop as I'd not wish to run the risk of having cooked something ... and then dropping it through a sudden pain/back failure between the kitchen and the living room
Standing there eating it with a fork might just be the simplest way to go.

If I'd had bread or bread rolls ... I'd have just gone with the burger to be honest, but I've no bread in the house at all.

Luckily I've got crumpets.... they're good for three meals if I get really bad and can't move

caronc

PasturesNew wrote: »

I've got an industrial injury ... 2-3 days ago I'd picked up a 20 litre bag of compost to repot a plant in the garden as I'd bought a pot. I am not big/strong, so had deliberately chosen one of the baskets you pull along and I was careful lifting it from the bottom shelf into the basket, but I felt my back "twang" and it was giving me some grief - then, yesterday, I HAD to mow the lawn and do some other garden clearing as I'd spotted a rodent and didn't want him to think my garden was a great place for a new house .... I did go easy as I've never been one for "hard work" or "manual labour".

But this morning I can barely move and am in agony. So I am 100% stuck with "what've you got in then?"

I had bought Jersey Royals the other day, a small pack - so those will be tossed into the steamer. I've a pot of 1/3rd of a tin of baked beans, so they need using up as they've been open 2-3 days. And I'd randomly purchased a pack of frozen spicy veggie burgers. So that'll be it. I don't know if I can face grilling the burger, or if I'll just nuke it for quickness/ease.

I might eat that from the kitchen worktop as I'd not wish to run the risk of having cooked something ... and then dropping it through a sudden pain/back failure between the kitchen and the living room
Standing there eating it with a fork might just be the simplest way to go.

If I'd had bread or bread rolls ... I'd have just gone with the burger to be honest, but I've no bread in the house at all.

Luckily I've got crumpets.... they're good for three meals if I get really bad and can't move

Ouch you have my sympathies:( - I fell last year and pulled a joint in my lower back and despite physio still gives my gype. I was advised to move as much as possible even if it made it sorer, ibuprofen, heat pads (the ones you nuke) or a hot water bottle and a pillow under my knees when sleeping.

I find a bowl easier to use when my balance is bad and don't want my dinner on the floor or a soup mug:)

PasturesNew

caronc wrote: »

I was advised to move as much as possible even if it made it sorer, ibuprofen, heat pads (the ones you nuke) or a hot water bottle and a pillow under my knees when sleeping.

Cheers. I had invented "rest it a lot" - I've no Doctor, so was relying on just sitting around the house until it got better

I'll move about a bit more then.

I've no ibuprofen, nor heat pad, nor hot water bottle.... and so, being alone, I can't get them either ... EDIT: Actually, it never occurred to me to have a painkiller and I've just remembered I have a box of old plasters/headache pills under the stairs .... I'll see if I have, in the past, bought a random box of Ibuprofen.... it's possible. I'm not a pill popper and hadn't even ever bought headache tablets until about 4-5 years ago... not really sure why I did even then to be honest!

EDIT 2: Ah, found some - expiry date December 2013. Do pills expire? I can't see how they would be 'dangerous' as such. But I know nothing about drugs/meds etc. Not looking for medical advice, just a "would YOU?"

I'll see how it goes. Not used to being "unwell".... it's not pleasant because it's sudden and so I've had no time to accumulate goods and chattels to alleviate problems that accompany any sort of unwellness.

EDIT 3: Just pawed through my "box of random items" - there are Lemsip best before Oct 2012, some throat pastilles best before 2013 .... and some plasters that are 5-10 years old
I must have thought in the past "it's good to be prepared" ... but never had an event where they were needed.

EDIT 4: I've Googled it ... and out of date seems to just give less effect, so OK, but not as strong. They'll do then! I'll have two.

EDIT 5: Opened the box, there were only three in there anyway ... so took two.

greenbee

PN - rest is no longer advised for backs, but if it lasts more than a few days I'd recommend seeing a GP. In the meantime, go out and see the pharmacist who can advise on OTC anti-inflammatories and pain relief. And safely dispose of the out of date ones.

For heat, you can use rice in the microwave... https://wellnessmama.com/24601/reusable-rice-heat-packs/

PasturesNew

greenbee wrote: »

PN - rest is no longer advised for backs, but if it lasts more than a few days I'd recommend seeing a GP. In the meantime, go out and see the pharmacist who can advise on OTC anti-inflammatories and pain relief. And safely dispose of the out of date ones.

For heat, you can use rice in the microwave... https://wellnessmama.com/24601/reusable-rice-heat-packs/

It needs to just fix itself by magic... I'm not registered with a Dr, so that'd be the first thing ... and driving might not be the best of ideas either. So, hopefully, it'll all just fix itself by magic!

Yes, rice in an old sock - that "cure all", eh

caronc

PasturesNew wrote: »

Yes, rice in an old sock - that "cure all", eh

Or the cous cous that you're not keen on........;)

PasturesNew

caronc wrote: »

Or the cous cous that you're not keen on........;)

MSE Tip: Use a worn/used sock - and, once you've used it as a wheatbag, simply tip the contents onto the plate and you've got instant cheesy couscous for lunch