Cooking for one (Mark Two)

poppystar

PasturesNew wrote: »

I never buy Xmas tree chocolates - I used to, but they're not "good value" so I spend the money instead on general chocolate where I get more for my money

PasturesNew wrote: »

I NEEEEED .... a chocolate Santa.
I'll get one this week. L1dl and 4ldi tend to both sell them so I'll check those out.

I got bought one about 2 years ago and it really jollied up the base of the tree area

Christmas tree chocolates are the best:p Sadly few places do them now round here

How long did it jolly up the base of the tree for? I couldn't sit looking at it for more than a day before Santa would magically disappear, er hem

Farway

Glad wrote: »

maybe get the cleaner a gift voucher?

Good idea, and Money. There two of them cleaning, came as a pair.
But the voucher idea solves all, I'll get M & S vouchers as there is a food hall near me, so if they want a plant / chocs / booze etc they can use them to buy it there.
Of fancy nickers if they go into the Big City:D

poppystar

Trundled out into the snow. I am older, was walking slower and more carefully than everyone else - then to my horror realised that can probably be summarised as 'doddery':eek:

I thought it was better to get a bit more food in today while it was slushy and slippery rather than leave it until tomorrow or Tuesday given the high here is forecast as -1 and the low as -8. And if/when this lot freezes it will be lethal!!

So treated myself to a couple of ready meals, veg and baked potatoes so that's me sorted for four days if necessary - although I love to get out to get fresh air!

Impromptu early meal out yesterday and got a free cocktail thrown in - far too much gin but one feels obliged to drink it all:D

Enough bread for toast at breakfast for two days then it will be eggs which are getting close to (past?!) their use by date.

Discovered some lovely 'superseeded" crackers so been having those for lunch with cheese and a clementine all week. this will continue since the packet has many more in.

Hollyharvey

We were forecast heavy snow from 10.00am on the met office web site and it started just before. It has settled and although it looks very pretty I won't be going out until it's gone . I tripped over a few weeks ago outside and ended up with an infected knee and on antibiotics so don't want to risk another accident. It is only today that I have been able to stand long enough to make food. I've been living on microwave ready meals for a couple of weeks.

I made a chilli for dinner this evening as I wanted something warming and put a lamb stew in the SC for tomorrow so I've got some food suitable for the weather.

All this talk of crumpets made me dig a couple out of the freezer for lunch, and I had one with butter and one with chocolate spread .

Hollyharvey

karcher wrote: »

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.

I'm not fond of Ritz crackers I find them too salty.

I don't have any Christmas decorations either. Even if I did I don't think I would put them up as there will only be me here. Another one here who will be alone over Christmas.

PasturesNew

poppystar wrote: »

How long did it jolly up the base of the tree for? I couldn't sit looking at it for more than a day before Santa would magically disappear, er hem

It did quite well, as I didn't want to lose its jollity for the sake of a bit of a nibble... and I had "other choccies".

Once opened, I think he lasted 2-3 hours

whiteguineapig

another member of the "i don't do christmas" club , i hate it

PasturesNew

Hollyharvey wrote: »

...I don't think I would put them up as there will only be me here. Another one here who will be alone over Christmas.

I think it's important to do something, even "for one", to shake off the daily grind of "for one" .... and if you do something, it at least looks like SOMETHING different could happen ... maybe.

I'm struggling to "justify" buying food "just because it's Xmas" -v- just buying "the usual stuff".

I do want to mark out some illusion of "different days".... and a tree and some different food does that. That's why I am DEFINITELY having turkey on the day - and a bottle of Schloer.

We're inundated with food these days though, so it's harder to see anything as "different/Xmas food" as the quantities sold/packaged for the season tend to be "family/entertaining/party" sized packs.


I have never liked the Christmas foods others seem to associate with the season, the pudding, a cake, mince pies, etc (although I will be buying a box/two of 4ldi's choc/orange ones as they're dead nice!)... overall there's not much that "one" can purchase to mark a difference.

One thing I've noticed is that supermarkets used to make a gazillion festive flavours of stuffing - and now they're not bothering. L1dl have two flavours (£1.19 for one, or £2 for two boxes) and I thought about them but felt they were over-priced and I'd have preferred a larger choice.

I guess, in the main, people never bought festive stuffings so shops stopped stocking them. I'm sure every Artisal and Organic, Fairtrade Farmers' Market has a great selection ... at the usual price. I just begrudge the cost as it's just "bread and a bit of flavour" ... trouble is, sourcing that "bit of flavour" in tiny quantities can be the limiter, for a "one off portion on one day". I'm still working on the stuffing "problem". Happy to have the supermarket own brand sage/onion ones if I have to (but NOT the L1dl/4ldi ones as I just tried one of those and they're odd/tasteless).

My nut roast is being seriously considered as that's "a bl00dy good stuffing" in one way and it's super tasty.... so that would be my stuffing.... and I'd have stuffing on the side too. I've even gathered all except the final 4-5 ingredients for the nut roast too!

PasturesNew

Hollyharvey wrote: »

I'm not fond of Ritz crackers I find them too salty.

I would say that I'd prefer just 1-3 and be done with it ... it's more of a strange nostalgia thing for me. A bit like those slices of lemon/orange candy that's sold in a flat box laid out in a circle with a red lump jelly in the middle.... mum always used to buy one of those. I bought one a few years ago "for nostalgia".... never again, they were like little bits of rubbery sugared goo.

PasturesNew

I've got a great business idea..... this product, which costs "pennies" .... sells at £200 per Kg!!!

£200 per Kg!!!!

How much??? £200 per Kg!!!

But .... the basic ingredient costs "pennies".

Yes .... £200 per Kg!!

What a great business to be in....


Click to discover your destiny: £200

And the base ingredient is only 36% of the end product.... so that's £500-600 per Kg for the base ingredient value!!