Cooking for one (Mark Two)

flubberyzing

I haven't been on here for months! As a teacher, I had a very stressful last part of the year, and so have been making the most of the summer holidays! Back to work on Friday.

Anyway, I've been using the holidays to try out some recipes from my various cookbooks. I've most recently been using Jack Monroe's "Cooking on a bootstrap". Hers are good because she uses cheap ingredients, and most of her recipes are designed for two - so easy to make, then have a good portion left over for the freezer or the next day. Yesterday I did her mushroom risotto, which was lovely. And all the better for adding the one random rasher of bacon I had left over! If I were to make it again I'd probably add 2 or three rashers, or maybe a chicken breast.

Farway

Hollyharvey wrote: »

That's the last of the chicken now I was a bit bored with it tonight as it was the third day running that I've had it even though I did vary it a bit each day. Something totally different is called for tomorrow though. I'll see what I fancy in the morning.

Same here, the last of chicken went in tonight's dinner.

Now just the pork to go, I may even cube it and freeze it because, like you, I am getting fed up with same stuff every day for last few days

I can only Lild pops up with a YS scrumptious item tomorrow, probably a flying pig

Also started on my new stewed apples, with Greek yoghurt

Thanks MITSM, will try that way with jumbo oats, but not on the hob, especially when the cleaners will only have just finished clearing up my jam mess

moneyistooshorttomention

Flubberyzing

Interesting to see you've managed to get a copy of that book, ie "Cooking on a bootstrap". Guess you got one of the initial crowd-funded type ones?

I'm keeping an eye out for the generally-released one on Amazon and it's still coming up with a "Who knows if/when it will be available" type comment - after searching to find it.

Nowt on her blog for weeks now either. Just nowt - and I've been wondering whether she's "crashed and burned" in fact???

Now she was turning more vegan last I knew - and with your comment that the recipes are for 2 - then what do you make of the book?

Goodness knows I was only scanning cookbooks in a bookshop again today and I'm very much getting into a mindset of literally refusing to buy them unless they are written for one (or, at most, two) people. So - I was scanning a new "student cookbook" and it's not the first time recently that the first thing I saw on looking through was the quantities are for 4 or 6 people. Since when was a cookbook with quantities for 4/6 people a student cookbook? But a noticeable number of more recent books describing themselves as a student cookbook aren't at all imo.

Farway

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Goodness knows I was only scanning cookbooks in a bookshop again today and I'm very much getting into a mindset of literally refusing to buy them unless they are written for one (or, at most, two) people. So - I was scanning a new "student cookbook" and it's not the first time recently that the first thing I saw on looking through was the quantities are for 4 or 6 people. Since when was a cookbook with quantities for 4/6 people a student cookbook? But a noticeable number of more recent books describing themselves as a student cookbook aren't at all imo.

Not making excuse for them but perhaps aimed at student household, where one [STRIKE]mug [/STRIKE]student cooks for them all? I know it did with my son, his own fault for being vegetarian, no one was going to cater or care for him and his likes / dislikes so he was always doing the cooking.

I have not looked for cook books in years, mainly because of quantities, American based, or use stuff I can't even pronounce let alone have in the house

I do sometimes refer to them, but really old ones, like my Oxo one, 12/6d when I bought it new, even before Katy appeared. Never needed or wanted to know how to cook ox heart, but it is in there

caronc

Good evening everyone,

Welcome flubberyzing

I haven't got as far as I would have liked today - another one here who's get and go has gone off somewhere without them . Still brambles are defrosting, white turnip is brining, a load of broad beans have been prepped for the freezer, some really dirty/sandy beetroots have been cleaned ready for roasting and my fennel is all cleaned and separated into it's various parts ready to be frozen or dehydrated so not too bad I suppose. I've just stock bits to put together in the slow cooker so they can chunter away over night and then I'll make dinner. Going for an easy option of jerk spiced chicken thighs, sweet potato wedges, baked courgette and mushrooms - good old one tray job with not a lot of prep

caronc

Cookbooks - I've been very good and not bought any in over a year for myself though I'm toying with replacing my "Glasgow Cookery Book" as my copy seems to have relocated permanently to Cardiff, for nostaglia as much as anything else as it and the Bero baking book were staples of the Home Ec. dept when I was at High School:rotfl::rotfl:
Still I do have well over a 100 already so I'm never short of a good read........ though most of the ones I have aren't particularly great for CFO I still love a flick through them:D.

PasturesNew

Today I've ended up having the three sandwiches and two choc ices.

It was a scorcher here, but I stayed indoors. Why sit out in the garden when there's nothing there? Indoors here I have the PC, the telly, the loo, the kettle.... it's just a bizarre concept to go and sit outside in the garden where there's nothing at all.



Ditto with going out ... where to? And what would you do when you got there? Stare and say "OK, seen that now".... and come home again? It's all crowds out there anyway .... so no "quiet enjoyment" to be had.

Re CFO books, yes, most can't actually do it - and are just publishing a book. As for "JM" .... the ingredients she uses are often not foods I like or am familiar with. She's also got nothing new to add to the party, just bringing out "stuff we've all been cooking for decades" in order to sell a book with her name on it .... and, it's been suggested here on MSE before, she "just robbed stuff off MSE". However - as I said, while those in their 20s/30s might think she robbed stuff off MSE, there's also nothing new here either! Most recipes are just things we've always had/cooked.

There's also something "not quite right" about the whole JM story and I stay out of discussions about her/the story .... as some people seem to have sucked it all up

[Deleted User]

I did buy two cookbooks but they were special, second hand from amazon and I like the ones that come from the US because quality and cleanliness is always far better than some fom uk. Cost pennies but they contain loads of recipes for 1lb loaves. I am keeping a small notebook and will be trying many different recipes, some will be far nicer than others, so I am keeping a record because I will forget which I like best

I have a m/w combo oven but hardly ever usethe m/w, don`t nuke anything except in an emergency

This pesky heat has made the elbow and knee creases itch like mad, a bit like eczema. All I am going to do, is avoid rubbing and wash with soap and water, then dab dry, several times today. Skirt and short leeves for today, not trousers. Was a nice rest day yesterday, enjoyed it

Food today, some soaked muesli and toast, so I get bulk inside me. Later, belly pork broccoli and carrots, later again will be salad bits and some shaved parmesan, which is lurking in the freezer. Treats will be dark chocolate, parkin and the last of the pud. I eat far less of the very dark choc than I do of lighter choc, hence the 85% as it gets rid of my craving

Yes farway, re the wonky steps, I will be asking for a brick pillar and pressure treated tannalised wood, for the steps and risers, when they are re-done but they felt safe last night so I will wait until after winter, it gives me a chance to save up

[Deleted User]

I went on the scales today, in trepidation as I haven`t held back on cake, albeit my own hm and to my delight am down 12.4 lbs, last time was down 11lb. Slow and steady it is, no fast fixes. It is the cycling, which I enjoy and is no hardship and does not take long, that plus the lower fat choc and less chocolate in amount. Just a bit less energy taken in and a bit more used

creases already feel better, must have been too hot in bed

elona

I managed to get a doctor's appointment this afternoon and there is a supermarket across the road so will get pork ribs and veg and make a soup or stew for tonight.

Planning a late brunch of cheesy scrambled eggs on toast once I have got four loads of laundry hung outside. I tried hanging it out earlier but it started to rain!!!:mad:

Eating more sensibly seems to be working and I lost five pounds the first week so want to make sure I always have proper food in the fridge and things like crispbreads, fruit and yoghurt as snacks.