Cooking for one (Mark Two)

SingleSue

Does anyone mind if I join in?

Back story, been a divorced single parent for the last 12 years. Three children, one graduated this year and didn't move back home, one in a repeat second year of university after having a mental health issues last year and the last one started at university in September.

I've gone from cooking for a family to just being me and I have completely lost my cooking mojo. I just can't see the point in making the meals I used to and being a bit OCD about things, struggle to batch cook, freeze, defrost and cook (it was never an issue before, there was never enough left to freeze!)

At the moment I am home making scones (I cheat a little..ok a lot!) and munching those, sandwiches and not much else. I long for a roast dinner but it just doesn't seem worth it.

Things are further complicated by my returning to work after being a carer to the two younger boys for many years. My health suffered during those years and I am now left with several disabilities, one of which is chronic fatigue. I don't work many hours (not enough to even claim tax credits so money is a little er, tight) but the ones I do work leave me absolutely exhausted and in pain...my life is either being at work or being in bed/resting to be able to go to work which further inhibits my ability to cook a decent meal, I'm at the unable to move or function stage of exhaustion.

Can anyone help me get my mojo back? Give me a kick up the backside maybe? Give me some cheat tricks? I'm bored with sandwiches, not a lover of pasta and detest any veg that is green.

Wednesday2000

One thing I read about the halogen heaters is that they have to be plugged into the mains socket, not an adapter. I bought one recently, but I haven't used it yet.

I had to go and put on a scarf earlier and then just changed my jumper to a thicker one.

I decided to make spicy root veg soup for lunch.:)

karcher

Welcome Single Sue.

Very friendly bunch here so all welcome.

I don't post as much as I used to mainly because I very rarely actually cook but I still read along and post occasionally.

All the folks here are full of good ideas on the CFO front so you'll be inspired by others on the cooking front.

Someone will mention something, for eg. crumpets..next thing you know everyone has bought a stash and are eating them :rotfl:

poppystar

SingleSue wrote: »

Does anyone mind if I join in?

Back story, been a divorced single parent for the last 12 years. Three children, one graduated this year and didn't move back home, one in a repeat second year of university after having a mental health issues last year and the last one started at university in September.

I've gone from cooking for a family to just being me and I have completely lost my cooking mojo. I just can't see the point in making the meals I used to and being a bit OCD about things, struggle to batch cook, freeze, defrost and cook (it was never an issue before, there was never enough left to freeze!)

At the moment I am home making scones (I cheat a little..ok a lot!) and munching those, sandwiches and not much else. I long for a roast dinner but it just doesn't seem worth it.

Things are further complicated by my returning to work after being a carer to the two younger boys for many years. My health suffered during those years and I am now left with several disabilities, one of which is chronic fatigue. I don't work many hours (not enough to even claim tax credits so money is a little er, tight) but the ones I do work leave me absolutely exhausted and in pain...my life is either being at work or being in bed/resting to be able to go to work which further inhibits my ability to cook a decent meal, I'm at the unable to move or function stage of exhaustion.

Can anyone help me get my mojo back? Give me a kick up the backside maybe? Give me some cheat tricks? I'm bored with sandwiches, not a lover of pasta and detest any veg that is green.

Hi Single Sue. Welcome. You'll fit right in:)

Totally understand the fatigue/pain problems, many of us have issues we are dealing with on our own. Personally I'll pass on giving you a kick up the backside but virtual hugs and support aplenty. I believe kindness is a better motivator and one of which we don't always get as much as we deserve.;)

I'm with you on the green veg thing. I woke this morning wondering whether to post and ask if there is any way of making cabbage interesting or at the very least disguising it well:D

SingleSue

karcher wrote: »

Welcome Single Sue.

Very friendly bunch here so all welcome.

I don't post as much as I used to mainly because I very rarely actually cook but I still read along and post occasionally.

All the folks here are full of good ideas on the CFO front so you'll be inspired by others on the cooking front.

Someone will mention something, for eg. crumpets..next thing you know everyone has bought a stash and are eating them :rotfl:

Talking about crumpets, I did just that after reading about someone having them somewhere else on MSE a few weeks back :rotfl:. I was even a little naughty and added some chocolate spread.

SingleSue

Thanks for the welcome guys.

I do wonder if some of my issues are a symptom of being an empty nester but then I am actually loving the peace and quiet, the possesion of the remote control and the not having to ferry people around...although I do admit to having a wobble in the supermarket last night seeing families shopping together and me all on my own and going back to an empty house (bar the cat of course who thinks mum has gone completely bonkers in recent weeks)

karcher

poppystar wrote: »

I'm with you on the green veg thing. I woke this morning wondering whether to post and ask if there is any way of making cabbage interesting or at the very least disguising it well:D

I love cabbage.

Shredded raw and made into a coleslaw or just microwaved until slightly softened then drowned in butter and black pepper...I also love it with a dollop of tomato ketchup on the side

SingleSue

I can just about take cabbage in a coleslaw but the cooking of it makes me gag, let alone the eating of it cooked.

Still did it for the boys though, they love cabbage even if their mum was running off to the loo to throw up.

caronc

Need2bthrifty wrote: »

I've recently converted to streaky, always had back before but I really like the crispness you get with the streaky, had 4 slices in my bacon butty still feeling full.

Streaky bacon is the best IMHO and I find it much more versatile than back bacon though I do get that if the boys are home and bacon buttys planned:)

SingleSue wrote: »

Does anyone mind if I join in?

Back story, been a divorced single parent for the last 12 years. Three children, one graduated this year and didn't move back home, one in a repeat second year of university after having a mental health issues last year and the last one started at university in September.

I've gone from cooking for a family to just being me and I have completely lost my cooking mojo. I just can't see the point in making the meals I used to and being a bit OCD about things, struggle to batch cook, freeze, defrost and cook (it was never an issue before, there was never enough left to freeze!)

At the moment I am home making scones (I cheat a little..ok a lot!) and munching those, sandwiches and not much else. I long for a roast dinner but it just doesn't seem worth it.

Things are further complicated by my returning to work after being a carer to the two younger boys for many years. My health suffered during those years and I am now left with several disabilities, one of which is chronic fatigue. I don't work many hours (not enough to even claim tax credits so money is a little er, tight) but the ones I do work leave me absolutely exhausted and in pain...my life is either being at work or being in bed/resting to be able to go to work which further inhibits my ability to cook a decent meal, I'm at the unable to move or function stage of exhaustion.

Can anyone help me get my mojo back? Give me a kick up the backside maybe? Give me some cheat tricks? I'm bored with sandwiches, not a lover of pasta and detest any veg that is green.

Welcome SS, from another single parent now empty nester with health issues so completely get the losing your mojo. I've found this thread so helpful and supportive, hopefully you will too:)

Younger sone has been and gone, he arrived about 10.00 had a shower, faffed about to get the lights on his Christmas jumper to work :rotfl::rotfl:, then left to catch the noon train to Glasgow for a day out with his pals:).

I've not finished a tasty brunch of the promised bacon, egg, tomato and tattie scone:D. Tonight I'm going to have chicken wings, sweet potato (either baked or wedges) and corn cob. Another on a tray in the oven job but at least a planned one:)

moneyistooshorttomention

poppystar wrote: »

I'm with you on the green veg thing. I woke this morning wondering whether to post and ask if there is any way of making cabbage interesting or at the very least disguising it well:D

Not so sure about cabbage - havent actually tried the idea with it. But - spinach can be added to a meal by just plonking, say, half a packet per person into a stew (or curry or stir-fry) and "wilting it down" for just a few minutes. In that time it goes from "loadsa spinach and very visible" to only a smidgen of spinach and all blended in with the "main dish" and one can't taste it as a "separate entity". So I think that's one way someone can get some greens down themselves if they don't actually like them.