Cooking for one (Mark Two)

moneyistooshorttomention

Just had a quick check Farway - thanks.

Doesnt seem to work here. One link took me to where I was getting a list coming up of tradespeople (most of them, for some reason, back in my home area - guess Google remembers where I come from?)

There is stuff there on Google that indicates my County Council has this scheme - but it doesnt seem to when I look at it. Though, having analysed my current local Council = errrrm....cant say I would trust them anyway I'm afraid....as I don't rate them very highly as a County Council...

Anyway - thankfully the British Gas Hero scheme seems to have "done the trick" this time.

wort

I was working 11-3 today so had to have my broccoli and cheese soup at half ten, with a piece of toast.
Starving when I got home at 4, so I've already eaten tea, ca jun chicken and spicy wedges, with garlic mayo on side. Just deciding wether to have a mince pie and cream or yogurt.

PN - thank you so much for the slow cooker link, I had put slow cooker in the forum search with no result. I'll look at that tonight.:T

AndyCF

PasturesNew wrote: »

... Had to try them, being a fan of "P", but by god that pie was pointless. ...

Yes the disassembly of it made me think "that's a bit too much trouble somehow" , although the other two brands I indicated are 'ready to microwave' with instructions but it seems there's a love/hate thing for each of them with mixed 'results' but I half think that might be fixed via a slightly longer cooking time. I do like stuff well done though.

PasturesNew wrote: »

But once I pinged one for 10 seconds and bit into it ... OMG it was gorgeous. There was a fat splodge of choc/orange paste in there and they were gorgeous. The pastry was fab too! Crispy, but melt in the mouth.

Must admit I've never liked Mince Pies, have tried them a few times over the years but never really enjoyed them at all.

Occasionally I'll get a box of the 'mixed fruit' pies, either a well known brand or a supermarket's own, depends on the offer price as if they are 6 for £1 its quite reasonable. Some also come with micro instructions already but as you say its only a case of a few seconds to warm them having discarded the foil 'tray' first.

The mixed fruit are a mixed blessing somehow, last (branded) box had two apple, two cherry and two blackcurrant/apple. The only downside was from the outside they looked identical to me so it was a slight surprise what I got each time although they were identical 'side by side' as such.

Farway wrote: »

My mini oven, which is same Lild one as PN, only gets just warm on the outside. No idea if this is due to excellent insulation or just really good design. You could comfortably put and leave your hand on the sides & top. I will check out the base & glass next time I have it on and let you know. Warm air blows out of the side vents, again it is warm not a blast furnace. The leaves of my amaryllis survive wafting in it

Thanks. They usually say the sides / top can get hot but I guess they have to say that anyway for 'blame' reasons even if they know they don't get "too hot" . I'm still kind of deciding on placement but as things are going to be delayed a little it does leave plenty of time to think ideas.

Farway wrote: »

PS, PN, Lild weetabix, I went looking for them when they were on offer, 48 for same as 36 or something like that. Sold out, now I know who snaffled them

Not aimed at me I know, but I'll have a look at their equivalent when I get around to visiting their store as its a good thought on trying theirs for a change (for me) if nothing else.

Hollyharvey

I've had a surprise invite out for a meal this evening. A friend is taking me to a restaurant we both like as a belated birthday treat. I'm really looking forward to a really good meal without any cooking. So much so that I've already decided what I'm going to have .

I bought a few y/s ready meals today as I'm not feeling much like cooking at moment. I thought that it would at least get me away from the constant diet of toast and crumpets, muh as I like toast and crumpets .

moneyistooshorttomention

cba - so dinner currently cooking is a sorta vegetarian bolognaise (use-up quorn mince from freezer, use-up pesto ditto, canned tomatoes). Currently working on kicking myself into cooking up some couscous to have it with. Wondering if I can manage to kick myself into chucking some frozen peas into it.

No excuse for not doing either of them - so easy. Couscous just being boil water and stick couscous in it for 4 minutes then drain. Got two fancy types of couscous next to use - fingers crossed the method is still the same for things like giant couscous etc.

Farway

Dinner over. The gammon steak was big enough for two when I looked closely at it. But I scoffed it all. had a dash of healthy veg in guise of grilled tomatoes with it

The sweet potato chips have now been used up. They were in the OK category, I doubt I'll buy them again

Then I spoiled it by having toast with rhubarb & ginger marmalade. But at least that is the last of that jar. Really seem to be using stuff up this week, all I need do is stop buying more things along the way

Glad

I had a small amount of sour cream in the fridge after last night's meal of paprika chicken, so I made a very similar paprika sauce to have over 2 basa fillets and stirred the last of the cream in accompanied by a few carrots and half a savoy cabbage fried in a little rapeseed oil yum

caronc

Farway wrote: »

I also impulse bought a YS real gammon steak, I say real, as in sliced off a pig's leg and not reformed from slaughter house slurry

If you don't mind a bit of carvery why not buy a gammon joint and slice your own? They freeze really well and there can be really good deals on gammon at this time of year. I tend to get a big joint, slice most of it into steaks but keep a bit back to boil/roast.

Hollyharvey wrote: »

I've had a surprise invite out for a meal this evening. A friend is taking me to a restaurant we both like as a belated birthday treat. I'm really looking forward to a really good meal without any cooking. So much so that I've already decided what I'm going to have .

I bought a few y/s ready meals today as I'm not feeling much like cooking at moment. I thought that it would at least get me away from the constant diet of toast and crumpets, muh as I like toast and crumpets .

Oh enjoy your meal out , nowt wrong with ready meals if they mean you get a hot.quick dinner if you're not up for cooking much.

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

cba - so dinner currently cooking is a sorta vegetarian bolognaise (use-up quorn mince from freezer, use-up pesto ditto, canned tomatoes). Currently working on kicking myself into cooking up some couscous to have it with. Wondering if I can manage to kick myself into chucking some frozen peas into it.

No excuse for not doing either of them - so easy. Couscous just being boil water and stick couscous in it for 4 minutes then drain. Got two fancy types of couscous next to use - fingers crossed the method is still the same for things like giant couscous etc.

Now I like bolognaise and cous cous but I'm really not keen on cous cous with mince based dishes. No idea why I like chilli & rice which is a similiar sort of texture:rotfl:

I've had a right bitsy sort of afternoon, played with my new trolley:rotfl:, made turkey stock and finally managed to balance the accounts I do for the out of school club I volunteer for. Just as well as I'm meeting with the auditor next week to hopefully get them signed off so they can go to the charities regulator before 31/12/17:cool:.

I was thinking of spanish-type omelette for dinner but Farway has put me in the notion for a gammon steak, mind you I could have that tomorrow as I've a sweet potato coming in my grocery order:).

poppystar

Stuffed a pepper with some of my remaining chilli - really should have frozen some of the chilli on monday I'm getting very bored.:(

Also bought my first butternut squash and tossed chunks in oil (once I'd figured out how to get my knife unstuck from the bottom of it without stabbing myself to death! :doh:) and put in the oven. …….not sure about that….it smelled really good but there didn't seem a huge amount of flavour in the eating. Maybe it was a duff squash (Mr T ) or maybe it was the rice bran oil I used or maybe it needed some spice or more seasoning or maybe I don't like it cooked that way. Certainly not of a mind to repeat it and now have to think of a way to jazz up the large quantity that is left for eating over the weekend.

On the positive side it up my veg count for the day

caronc

poppystar - I find butternut squash definitely needs spices to stop it being bland. I takes strong flavours really well. I like to roast it with olive oil, crushed garlic, paprika and a sprinkle of salt and cook it until the edges are well browned.