Cooking for one (Mark Two)

Need2bthrifty

I had an early start chopping veg and frying onions to get a ratatouille going in the slow cooker, it smells lovely already - but I will wait and have that for tea with a grilled pork chop and some crusty bread to mop up the sauce.

For lunch I used up the last of the hummus made during the week, had it with some salad, grapes and pitta bread.

I bought sainbugs basic aubergines and got two lovely specimens, one I used today, the other I will roast and make baba ghanoush later in the week - all this cold weather has me craving summery/Mediterranean type food :cool:

PasturesNew

Farway wrote: »

.... My concern would be knocking the container over and sugar everywhere. I did this with my tea caddy:( At least in the bag some would be left in the bag if dropped / tipped

This is the thing... wouldn't want a glass jar, with a fiddly catch (e.g. those kilner jars with the metalwork you flip) ... I'd want a square-cut container if I get one - I dislike round things as round things occupy more space, so you have "wasted space" around them, which is important with tight storage spaces. You lose about 22% of footprint when you compare a square to a circle.

I think £land has a set of three coffee/tea/sugar - which I've never liked. 3 canisters is fine... but with labels on for things you won't keep in them is annoying. And, they're round - and with tiny hands I can't get my hand round them... so I prefer nice oblongs It's annoying when a shop will sell "3 for £1" as it's a set of something .... when want something "almost like that, but not quite" and the alternatives are sold individually for £1/item.

poppystar

I like to keep flour, sugar, rice, pasta, tbags etc. in their original packaging as it takes up less of my limited storage space. I did buy a couple of containers once but didn't think about the height and so couldn't stack on on the other as I'd intended and, as you pointed out, when they're round they take up more space than they use iyswim.

Also the original packaging allows me to read the best before date on them so I can see how out of date the stuff I rarely use is:o

moneyistooshorttomention

PasturesNew wrote: »

This is the thing... wouldn't want a glass jar, with a fiddly catch (e.g. those kilner jars with the metalwork you flip) ... I'd want a square-cut container if I get one - I dislike round things as round things occupy more space, so you have "wasted space" around them, which is important with tight storage spaces. You lose about 22% of footprint when you compare a square to a circle.

.

Just back out to the kitchen to fetch my coffee (as it should be ready by now).

Has feeling I'm about to inspect the food containers in my larder.....

EDIT; Quick glance - and...yep...they're all round. But.....square containers have square internal corners inside them that are that bit more difficult to clean - not just a quick/easy swish-around inside.....

PasturesNew

poppystar wrote: »

I like to keep flour, sugar, rice, pasta, tbags etc. in their original packaging as it takes up less of my limited storage space. I did buy a couple of containers once but didn't think about the height and so couldn't stack on on the other as I'd intended and, as you pointed out, when they're round they take up more space than they use iyswim.

Also the original packaging allows me to read the best before date on them so I can see how out of date the stuff I rarely use is:o

Yes, leaving them in their own packets you can slowly scrunch them down ... being a CFO can mean packets are in the cupboard 2-3 years getting smaller. Containers can mean you can only fit 1/5th (or less) in there.... I'd also prefer to keep it in its original packaging (but inside a container) so I could check/see the date. I don't mind using things out of date, but I would like to know HOW out of date things are becoming.

Stacking is a nuisance. I have two tubs of Bisto and they won't stack as they're just a bit too tall...

I was noticing the other month that the sugar was catching in the top of the bag as it was so crumpled and then I'd put it in the cupboard and a few granules would drip out ... all annoying.

The ideal would be a container that "scrunched down" like collapsible drinking bottles do ... and I bet they exist if you have enough cash to throw at them. I want containers that do the job for £1-2, not one that is flexible in size and costs £25

caronc

Good afternoon everyone

Today has not gone to plan :x , I was supposed to be going to a birthday party this afternoon, but a nasty vertigo attack in the early hours put paid to that. :mad: I'm sort of back on my feet now so hoping it's a one off and not the prelude to a cluster of attacks. I will be being very careful for a few days and my sister is going to pop round tomorrow so there is someone here when I have a shower.

Dinner tonight is going to be an easy "here's one I made earlier" of beef olive casserole & root veg mash as it's blinking baltic here so a winter warmer is needed. Lunch was a cupasoup and some of the sweet potato wedges LO from last night- it filled a space;)

meg72

God its cold today was going to have porridge and sultanas for breakfast put got a big bag of bananas reduced to 10 a killo and a 20p loaf of bread so its banana on toast for a few days.

Lunch was a bowl of beef stew out of freezer and am being treated to a meal at the Harvester tonight by my daughter.So not a ot of cooking for me today.

poppystar

PasturesNew wrote: »

I was noticing the other month that the sugar was catching in the top of the bag as it was so crumpled and then I'd put it in the cupboard and a few granules would drip out ... all annoying.

I use clips to close the bag at a point just above food level and if you then cut away the excess bag the stuff won't get caught in the crumples. Needs less space in the cupboard that way too:)

wort

Andy, that knife looks like one my nan used to use, everything from bread to meat. I think it had a bone handle and even the blade ended up wearing thin. Have you thought about wrapping insulation tape round the handle?

Dd1 came last night and bought us a chilli garlic chicken curry from the takeaway, with pilau rice and poppadoms. Plus a bottle of wine each!!
There was enough of her curry, a garlic chicken one left for my tea today.
The rest of today was g free cornflakes, a banana, the last of the broccoli and cheese soup ,I made, and a yogurt corner with seeds.

As my bread is small, I got rid of my bread bin and use a biscuit tin,, that wasn't being used but it has a nice design on.
I prefer to eat of a plate sat at the table too, sandwiches and pizza get eaten off a plate on my knee on the couch though.

I've not used the slow cooker yet, but looked it up on the Web and it's 1.5 litres. There were a couple of recipes I've copied out too.

Caronc hope you are feeling better.

AndyCF

wort wrote: »

Andy, that knife looks like one my nan used to use, everything from bread to meat. I think it had a bone handle and even the blade ended up wearing thin. Have you thought about wrapping insulation tape round the handle?

Its OK "as is" as the other side of it appears OK but it is wearing out, this too was grandparents 'knife' originally. I will admit I grab it first choice usually as its so handy for most things. I could easily 'make something' out of a bit of plastic to replace the handle I guess.

Tomorrow will see if I can find a modern replacement for the handle given that if its bone or ivory ( ? ) then it won't be possible to get one easily at a sensible price. I am very happy with it now it was sharpened up too.

Thoughts are slowing turning towards evening foods now but I've not got a sensible idea apart from I need to use up a few 'tiny bread rolls' I have, there's only three mind you and they are tiny like 2 inches. It may be soup time...