Cooking for one (Mark Two)

PasturesNew

I am trying to nail my XFO food list. You start by thinking of something you'd like for Xmas, then realise you can't eat it all and/or would never get through it ... so things get added to the list and removed - and "will have to do" alternatives.

e.g. I'd like crab pate. Crab pate means finding it for sale - last year I went TWICE to 4sda on special 15 mile round trips just to see if they had it and the shelf was empty. I had crab pate on my list until 10 minutes ago, I've decided that a jar of shippams crab paste will be "good enough" and if I don't get round to eating it it lasts months/years -and- I already have one jar in ....

It's tough paring down the list from "dream feast that'd feed 100" to "what one small person can realistically eat in 1-2 days".

I've just added Ritz to the list.... not sure yet if they'll make the final cut, but we used to always have Ritz years ago .... and I've not bought a box for over 10 years. So it's on the list now, but might get culled at the "will you actually eat those, when will you eat those, what will you eat those with" stage.

I'm still heading towards making a nut roast, although maybe ahead of time, with a portion frozen for the day, rather than producing it on the day. So that needs a raft of "rarely/never bought before items".

Then there's ground ginger .... I've already researched jar/pack sizes and costs of that and have nailed that purchase down to ONE shop ... Morries. Trouble is, what if I go to Morries and they don't stock it at that branch ... that'd be annoying.

I want some form of mixed fruit ... but will I REALLY bake anything that uses mixed fruit, or will I end up with a bag of mixed fruit cluttering up the cupboard for 2 years

2 tangerines.... are on the list, but I don't expect to end up buying those as I won't find them at a price I'm prepared to pay.

Last year I bought my frozen turkey breast from 4sda, this year I think I'll just pop into 4ldi and "grab what they've got" as they do one of those too and I'm sure most are pretty much all the same size/price.

Pack of sausage rolls will probably be required, from L1dl ... "just because"
It's that battle between "just buy that" or some daft dream of making my own (and needing ingredients and dishes etc....and then to have to make the effort).

caronc

kittie wrote: »

What can I do about a delivery from abel and cole, the delivery driver? He has been to my house only 3 times and is fine, left me a card (unwanted) with his name on, rang the bell and asked if I would be in next week. They normally just leave the boxes in the porch, even if I am out. Obviously the card is a big hint for a tip, he is from romania. That card was, to me, just like someone putting his hand out. I have all sorts of delivery drivers and have had the same faces here for many months, hermes for example. They are all very pleasant and I would never dream of giving a tip and they never hint. Why do I find it so hard to face someone like this AnC delivery man? I know I am going to be watching from a window, he won`t see me and I will not be answering the bell but I feel such a coward

I wouldn't be answering either kittie! The only "Christmas" tip I used to give was too our paperboy back when we used have one delivered. I reckoned being out early in all weathers earned it.

elona wrote: »

I woke up yesterday with a streaming, stinking cold so spent the last day or so cuddled up in fleecy dressy gown with lots of hot drinks and simple quick things to eat like scrambled eggs on toast etc.

Hope you feel better soon:)

PasturesNew wrote: »

I am trying to nail my XFO food list. You start by thinking of something you'd like for Xmas, then realise you can't eat it all and/or would never get through it ... so things get added to the list and removed - and "will have to do" alternatives.

e.g. I'd like crab pate. Crab pate means finding it for sale - last year I went TWICE to 4sda on special 15 mile round trips just to see if they had it and the shelf was empty. I had crab pate on my list until 10 minutes ago, I've decided that a jar of shippams crab paste will be "good enough" and if I don't get round to eating it it lasts months/years -and- I already have one jar in ....

It's tough paring down the list from "dream feast that'd feed 100" to "what one small person can realistically eat in 1-2 days".

I've just added Ritz to the list.... not sure yet if they'll make the final cut, but we used to always have Ritz years ago .... and I've not bought a box for over 10 years. So it's on the list now, but might get culled at the "will you actually eat those, when will you eat those, what will you eat those with" stage.

I'm still heading towards making a nut roast, although maybe ahead of time, with a portion frozen for the day, rather than producing it on the day. So that needs a raft of "rarely/never bought before items".

Then there's ground ginger .... I've already researched jar/pack sizes and costs of that and have nailed that purchase down to ONE shop ... Morries. Trouble is, what if I go to Morries and they don't stock it at that branch ... that'd be annoying.

I want some form of mixed fruit ... but will I REALLY bake anything that uses mixed fruit, or will I end up with a bag of mixed fruit cluttering up the cupboard for 2 years

2 tangerines.... are on the list, but I don't expect to end up buying those as I won't find them at a price I'm prepared to pay.

Last year I bought my frozen turkey breast from 4sda, this year I think I'll just pop into 4ldi and "grab what they've got" as they do one of those too and I'm sure most are pretty much all the same size/price.

Pack of sausage rolls will probably be required, from L1dl ... "just because"
It's that battle between "just buy that" or some daft dream of making my own (and needing ingredients and dishes etc....and then to have to make the effort).

You've got to have Ritz crackers at Christmas (well in my house anyway) and tangerines.:D I've never bothered with chocolate decorations they wouldn't have lasted long with greedy pooches about . I do like the wee Lindt chocolate reindeers though and will no doubt have one a some point in the next few weeks:). My tree will probably go up on the 18th as younger son will be home then to tackle it.

On the subject of younger son he has now headed back to Newcastle after demolishing a huge brunch of lorne, tattie scone, bacon, beans, eggs and toast:eek:. I'm glad I'm not catering for him all the time! In fairness he had last eaten early yesterday afternoon and will probably have a toastie this evening. I was piggy though too and had the remaining tattie scone & beans with a poached egg:D

Glad

elona wrote: »

I have put some dinner party chicken in the oven - just chicken breasts sliced horizontally and filled with garlic paste and cheese and then wrapped in bacon and baked.

that is a favourite meal when the kids are home, and ideal to use up bits of cheese after xmas

PasturesNew wrote: »

I've just added Ritz to the list.... not sure yet if they'll make the final cut, but we used to always have Ritz years ago .... and I've not bought a box for over 10 years. So it's on the list now, but might get culled at the "will you actually eat those, when will you eat those, what will you eat those with" stage.

you can buy ritz in multipacks, 6 small bags

PasturesNew

Glad wrote: »

you can buy ritz in multipacks, 6 small bags

Pricier though!

Box of Ritz ~£1 for 200g.
Pack of 6 ~£2 for 190g.

That'd be a sucker's buy!

Glad

PasturesNew wrote: »

Pricier though!

Box of Ritz ~£1 for 200g.
Pack of 6 ~£2 for 190g.

That'd be a sucker's buy!

depends how much of the box gets wasted but I think I've seen an 4ldi version, I'll check when I'm next in

karcher

I'm not a fan of Ritz crackers. I prefer cream crackers or water biscuits.

All this talk of the c word is depressing me
I do not like xmas or December as a whole.

I don't do decorations and will be alone again this xmas.

I might treat myself to a selection of cheeses but other than that I will just buy the usual.

PasturesNew

Last year I specifically bought crackers because I thought I should. I could eat cheese/crackers I thought. I got them out, cheese on top, first bite and the rest of the cracker split into two and dumped the cheese down my chest. I decided then that I'd never ever buy crackers for cheese ever again.... it doesn't work, they break in half.

I just "decided" to make rock cakes.... foiled by ingredients again... really needs an egg and a dab of milk. I could just leave them both out as I don't have either .... but then you just think "oh well, not today then".



It's still raining. I need to take my car out "for a thrash" as the battery's sluggish to start, so it really needs one good trip out and a thrashing to restore it.... but today in the rain isn't going to be a good time to do that as traffic will be driving slower. I've no big fast roads near me, so it's tricky to do it at all....

I might do a long 4sda run tomorrow, stopping there to get in the things on the 4sda list, even though I know I'll probably have to return closer to "X" for things I deem to be essential at that point.

I also feel some strange desire to buy one of those entire tubs of Heroes... you know, the £4 ones. I know I shouldn't, but I might just end up doing it anyway ".... after all, it IS X......"

I think I'll spend the rest of the afternoon/evening going through the 4sda website to see what they sell. Then make a list .... and then be disappointed when I get there and things on the list aren't present. I'll treat myself - I do think they have a good range/selection of well priced sandwich filler pots... crab cocktail's one of my favourites.

They appear to have 32
https://groceries.asda.com/search/sandwich%20filling/1/relevance-desc/so-false/Category%3A111621%3AChilled%20Food%3A%3ADepartment%3A111977%3AParty%20Food%2C%20Pies%2C%20Salads%20%26%20Dips%3A%3AShelves%3A111983%3ASandwich%20Fillers

... although most you can make yourself .... it's mostly just the crab cocktail I actually buy from there - although they changed it some years back to seafood cocktail, which I don't like as I don't like prawns (creepy little beasties).

Actually, checking, they don't even use crab, they use surimi .... so, yet again, might as well make my own still. But the pots are handy - I have many pots going back a few years, which I store leftovers in in the fridge as they're a handy size with a neat lid.

Farway

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Sorry Pastures - I don't put up any Christmas decorations at all:rotfl: CBA. I put up my cards as they come in and thats that - still not had one single one addressed correctly yet:rotfl:

Phew, not just me then minus tree & decorations.

Nor it seems with what do do about tips / cards Kittie. I have same problem with the cleaners. I have never seen them but they have been cleaning since I came out of hospital two years ago, but cleaning day is a Tuesday, deliberately chosen by me because that morning is my volunteering morning
Found a card & small wrapped box [chocs?] left on Tuesday, now I'm stuck, cards OK, but leave tip? How? Can't leave pressie, I would get that wrong I bet, bummer

Caron, thanks for leaving paper boy a tip, I was glad of the tips back in my paper boy days

L was cheeses salady sarnie as expected

And books ordered, qualified for free delivery as well, far better than trudging round in the rain. Just wish the the bu66ers would pay taxes

Ritz crackers, I like them but not having them, I fell for packaging one year, bought a box of biscuits for cheese, all packing, minimal biscuits, never again, I'll get some cream crackers in and spend the left over from not buying cheese biscuits on actual cheese, maybe get some Danish blue, spotted some thing similar in Li's on offer

moneyistooshorttomention

Farway - maybe a card back and perhaps a luxury type pot plant left for the cleaner? Marks & Spencers probably has stuff like it - if you're near one that is...

Re special food for Christmas - nah...I dont do that either for home consumption. I dont really see the point - as I buy whatever-I-decide-I-will foodwise these days throughout the year then it's distinctly pointless in that case for me. After many years of having to economise - then I just eat what takes my fancy anyway throughout the year these days - as I figure I'm too old to economise any longer now iyswim.

Glad

Farway wrote: »

Phew, not just me then minus tree & decorations.

Nor it seems with what do do about tips / cards Kittie. I have same problem with the cleaners. I have never seen them but they have been cleaning since I came out of hospital two years ago, but cleaning day is a Tuesday, deliberately chosen by me because that morning is my volunteering morning
Found a card & small wrapped box [chocs?] left on Tuesday, now I'm stuck, cards OK, but leave tip? How? Can't leave pressie, I would get that wrong I bet, bummer

be get some Danish blue, spotted some thing similar in Li's on offer

No decs for me either, children are all abroad and I'm going to my friends from xmas eve until boxing day, it's not that I don't like them I just don't see the point in the hassle

maybe get the cleaner a gift voucher?