Cooking for one (Mark Two)

poppystar

PasturesNew wrote: »

This is an "odd one". While those cooking for more/families can toss whole packets into the freezer, the CFO tries to find the mythical "CFO friendly" spot. The trouble is, until you are cooking, you don't know how much you'll need/want/fancy.

Take 450-500g of mince. Families freeze it. You can always use all of it - it's how most recipes are based.

Now, for a CFO, is 500g 4x125, or 5x100? Or is it 2x250?
Whichever you choose, when you come to use it, you KNOW you won't have the portion size ideal for what you're cooking right then

I froze my brisket - ~100g a portion. When I defrosted/cooked/ate it I think my mind was wishing it was a 150g portion that day.

I have this really old cup that has no aesthetic value and from which I would never want to drink but it has this strange quality in that whatever goes into it seems to be the right measure for me - so keeping it and hope I don't break it 'cos no idea what the equivalent weights are:)

[Deleted User]

I have failed big time, ate the rest of my bakewell tart, every flipping frozen portion. I feel full but the only way I am getting over this is thinking` oh well I have no more sweet anything` in the freezer. I have no idea why I was not content with the one small portion I initially took out. Drat

Hollyharvey

kittie wrote: »

I have failed big time, ate the rest of my bakewell tart, every flipping frozen portion. I feel full but the only way I am getting over this is thinking` oh well I have no more sweet anything` in the freezer. I have no idea why I was not content with the one small portion I initially took out. Drat

This happens to me every now and again. I defrost one portion of something like that, and then just want more and like you eat more than I had intended.

Farway

Woke up to the first frost of the winter. Not too hard though, the nasturtiums and begonias are still surviving

Even though a nice sunny day I stayed in, catching up on "things" I would have done yesterday if I had not gone swanning out enjoying myself

Breakfast was jumbo oat porridge, with sprinkle of sultanas, with Greek yoghurt & honey

Lunch carried on the healthy path, tinned sardines on toast, I just fancied them and glad I opened the tin, easy, healthyish, cheap & tasty, ticks all CFO boxes

Dinner will be my savoury mince, with packet mix dumplings

A few biscuits have been harmed during the day

elona

Made a bacon and mushroom omelette for breakfast and have just had a bowl of leek and potato soup followed by yoghurt with some blueberries.

There is a portion of soup left but I just can't face it so will tip it down the sink. Marinated chicken is defrosting and might cook it with some creamed mushrooms and rice or couscous unless I decide just to have it with saute potatoes and gherkins or pickled onions.

Have no luck trying to decide the right amount of milk to buy as if it is just me a pint lasts for days but if anyone pops over it runs out almost instantly. Have been buying long dated two pinters but even then they go off before used up.

I have some cooking apples but can't decide what to make. I like to use some in a cabbage and onion side dish when family are over and don't want to make apple pie or crumble. Maybe some stewed apple in a pancake?

Farway

elona wrote: »

s.

Have no luck trying to decide the right amount of milk to buy as if it is just me a pint lasts for days but if anyone pops over it runs out almost instantly. Have been buying long dated two pinters but even then they go off before used up.

A common CFO problem, luckily mine lasts OK. There has been chat on here about the powdered stuff one could buy years ago, cam in white plastic pint bottle looking pack, seems to have vanished now.

How about UHT as a "just in case"? I know it tastes not quite the same but any port in a storm?

Hollyharvey

I''ve found some chicken curry in the freezer that I had forgotten was there, so have defrosted that for dinner this evening.

I managed to use up a couple of eggs from my egg mountain at lunchtime, with a mushroom omelette and had some cucumber and tomatoes with it that were near going soft, so toady has been quite good on the using up front.

I was reminded of this thread when I was in Tesco this morning as there was one lone tin of dried milk on the shelf .

elona

Once defrosted the marinated chicken turned out to be chicken skewers so have put them in a small oven dish and they are baking.
Decided to use them in a sandwich made with wholemeal bread and pickles on the side as CBA.

moneyistooshorttomention

Experiments of the day - well that's me done with protein powders then:(.

Recently tried adding a bit of hemp protein powder I'd found in Aldi to something and thought "It's edible - but a bit plant-y. That's a no then".

Just tried out a recipe of frozen cherries, frozen blueberries, banana, bit of plant mylk - but the bit that did for it for me was the protein powder. She didnt specify which one - and I'd not tried out chocolate protein powder yet. Good job I didnt add the 4 tablespoons worth she said. I added a much more cautious dessertspoon worth and thought "Sweet:eek:".

Somehow I've got the feeling both those protein powders are heading for the bin.....:(

Oh well - just as well I'm not keen on them I guess - because they are distinctly expensive....:cool:

Back to the speed-watching of YouTube food videos - and I've been noting down things like banana and oatflour pancakes (trans. blitzed porridge oats) and that sounds possible. Also of a vegetable curry that sounds possible. Back off to finish speed-viewing video no. 20 in a series up there.....

iammumtoone

Regarding milk and those who don't buy it. What do you have in your tea/coffee?

Milks not normally an issue for me as I drink lots of cups of tea, make custard/sauces etc. I will buy two pints if its a long date or just one if the date is longer on that.

I am a bit concerned how it will be now as I am going to start using my dried milk in sauces/custard leaving just the fresh for cups of tea. I don't think it will be a problem as I love a cup of hot chocolate at night (especially with a dash of baileys) so can use it up that way.

Hot dogs for tea tonight leaving left over hot dog buns for the freezer the kind folks on the grocery challenge thread suggested some ways to use them up.