Cooking for one (Mark Two)

caronc

Farway wrote: »

Nice to hear, and that's at least two of us "in the money" this Christmas, I received confirmation yesterday regarding my older codgers free TV licence:beer: I suppose it is time off for 50+ years of good behaviour

I just could not get back to sleep this morning, woken by the wind, then thinking I must listen out for Am*zn delivery today. In the end I was making bodged mince pies at 0530. My pastry was bit too damp, but as per PN, who cares what it looks like, no points for presentation when CFO

Due to early rise, breakfast was a Spam & piccalilli sarnie, very CFO, eat what you like when you like

Early Christmas started today, I sampled one of my ugly mince pies, tasted as nice as a good looking one IMO

Weather is fine now, but must stay in just in case the A***n object needs signing for. It will fit the letter box but I just know if I go out a signature will be needed

Lunch, uncertain, not more Spam though, HM mince pie thingy & yoghurt maybe?

Thanks Farway and :beer::beer:on the free TV . I'll happily eat a HM mince pie thingy if you want to lob one in my direction:)

Farway

My A*zn thingy arrived, just right into the letterbox & no signature required. Always the way. At least it's here n time for Christmas, it's a pressie in case you had not guessed

Caron, the mince pie thingys are vanishing at an alarming rate, two went for lunch. Sorry I doubt any will be left this time tomorrow

Dinner, still no idea, beginning to think along CBA line of a ham sarnie using some of yesterday's LO honey glazed ham

PasturesNew

I've made a little batch of 3 rock cakes
Festive flavoured.
They're baking as I type.

EDIT: And now scoffing

caronc

Good afternoon everyone,
I've been hanging about waiting for a delivery due between 1 & 3pm. Just had a text to say it's delayed but their website ain't playing so I don't know by how much:mad:.
Oh well shall trundle off and make a cuppa and then recommence waiting......

Lunch was a use up of two lurking rashers and some mushrooms. I've curry defrosted for dinner later (turkey mince, spinch and aubergine):)

AndyCF

Afternoon.

Well lunch consisted of two huge baked potato's, peas and sweetcorn with a dash of lovely gravy. yum.

My 'not Christmas but you can have it' gift arrived too: Its a deep fat fryer but a tiny one, thankfully its not one of the 'unbranded' clones you see on various sites it is a very well known brand but it really tiny, I was told about this before though. Oil capacity is just under a litre and food capacity is about 400g or less. Although I have a basket with it. To be fair as its just 'to feed me' the low capacity is plenty and the lack of oil quantity to change is a bonus. I do have a bottle of the regular oil (crispydry) and it seems suitable temp wise. I tried to look into what to use and what not to, sunflower seems sensible it seems but not olive.

I do know II'll try to acquire some tongs (stainless steel ideally) at some point, not the 'chip shop' flat type ones though I'd rather have some of the scissor type ones with a "O" type end I think. I'd love any thoughts on this for suitable types, bear in mind the fryer is not deep anyway so 25cm I think is plenty as that leaves loads of 'air space' outside the unit for safety too.

I've not used one before although I am aware of the potential dangers of hot oils, having seen chip pans used before and also what happens when one gets 'out of hand' too. I do have a fireblanket in the kitchen anyway as well as an extinguisher (dry powder) although these are things I've always had, they are not new things. Its not something I'd leave unattended in any case.


I keep looking at those potato croquettes and waffles sat in the freezer, I may try microwaving them this evening, I'll just have one on a plate to 'experiment' for best times and things then I'll have an approximate guide (obviously adding a bit for more) as to how long etc, I plan on trying 1 min / turn / 1 min / turn / quick check then 2 min / turn / repeat a couple of times. Its more a question of being in the right mood/mindframe to want to try them I think. hmm.

Got to confess too, I brought a 'twin pack' of Spam yesterday as it was on good offer and I wanted some 'tin meat' so I may try a bit of that with said croquettes/waffles, unless I just do some mash instead, not really sure yet. I had planned to pickup a tin of some meat and it was that or one of the small tins of ham. There are sometimes reasonable gammon tins but they are too large really no one seems to make a small tin of it that I can find. I know tinned meat = not really ideal but given its mega long shelf life I do like to try to keep one at least 'on the shelf' just so its there if I fancy adding something to a mini meal or even to slice and stick into some bread.

Must grab a couple of tins of 'meatballs in gravy' too when I can find (a) a half sensible brand and (b) at a sensible price as they make a great standby and they do go well either on their own in a bowl or adding to something like my 'mixi mash' , it does work quite well if you gently mix them into the 'done and hot' mash once said meatballs are 'done' too, at least for me.

PasturesNew

AndyCF wrote: »

.... potato croquettes and waffles .... I plan on trying 1 min / turn / 1 min / turn / quick check then 2 min / turn / repeat a couple of times.

One, alone, shouldn't take more than 3 minutes (800w).

AndyCF wrote: »

... 'meatballs in gravy' too when I can find (a) a half sensible brand and (b) at a sensible price as they make a great standby and they do go well either on their own in a bowl or adding to something like my 'mixi mash' , it does work quite well if you gently mix them into the 'done and hot' mash once said meatballs are 'done' too, at least for me.

Since I bought mine at 4sda, I've seen them "everywhere" at 50p/can. Check mysupermarket to see the brands and who has them cheap at the moment.

I've had L1dl in the past too, they're fine.

I get the tomato sauce ones as I sometimes chuck other stuff at that, so it's more of a sweet/sour dish.

Half a tin does me for a meal, served with noodles, rice, chips, pasta, or anything really And, sometimes, with peas.

Farway

AndyCF wrote: »

I do have a bottle of the regular oil (crispydry) and it seems suitable temp wise. I tried to look into what to use and what not to, sunflower seems sensible it seems but not olive.

Rape seed is fine, sometimes marked as Vegetable oil, but you will have to read the label because Palm may have been slipped in, be aware Canola is the same stuff but has price premium because not a lot of people know that

I do know II'll try to acquire some tongs (stainless steel ideally) at some point, not the 'chip shop' flat type ones though I'd rather have some of the scissor type ones with a "O" type end I think. I'd love any thoughts on this for suitable types, bear in mind the fryer is not deep anyway so 25cm I think is plenty as that leaves loads of 'air space' outside the unit for safety too.

I have both, TBH the flat ones are better, but my scissor type are old and wobbly, like their owner

I've not used one before although I am aware of the potential dangers of hot oils, having seen chip pans used before and also what happens when one gets 'out of hand' too. I do have a fireblanket in the kitchen anyway as well as an extinguisher (dry powder) although these are things I've always had, they are not new things. Its not something I'd leave unattended in any case.

If you have a choice, use it near a door or window, that way it can be moved outside sharpish

I keep looking at those potato croquettes and waffles sat in the freezer, I may try microwaving them this evening, I'll just have one on a plate to 'experiment' for best times and things then I'll have an approximate guide (obviously adding a bit for more) as to how long etc, I plan on trying 1 min / turn / 1 min / turn / quick check then 2 min / turn / repeat a couple of times. Its more a question of being in the right mood/mindframe to want to try them I think. hmm.

Why not just bung them in your new deep fat fryer:D

.

My reply is in bold

pollyanna24

I don't often have to cook for just one. Usually when the kids are at their dads, I get a takeaway which is naughty.

But recently I have been baking a couple of fillets of salmon in the oven on a Friday which I lurrvee.

But I'm not feeling the jacket potato that I normally have with it. I get them frozen to make it simpler.

So I'm trying to think what I can have with my salmon (which is garlic, oil and lemon juice with it) instead of a jacket spud and frozen veggies.

moneyistooshorttomention

Is trying to remember what's wrong with rapeseed/canola oil - and cant recall offhand......if it comes back to me why I don't buy it I'll let you know.

Caron - yah....to the receipt of your pension at last. You are now fully justified (well I certainly would in your position:rotfl::)) to crack open a bottle of champagne.

Boy is it ever a relief to have money pressures lessened that little bit when we get the chance....whew...

meg72

pollyanna24 wrote: »

I don't often have to cook for just one. Usually when the kids are at their dads, I get a takeaway which is naughty.

But recently I have been baking a couple of fillets of salmon in the oven on a Friday which I lurrvee.

But I'm not feeling the jacket potato that I normally have with it. I get them frozen to make it simpler.

So I'm trying to think what I can have with my salmon (which is garlic, oil and lemon juice with it) instead of a jacket spud and frozen veggies.

I like having cheese and broccoli pasta sauce with salmon 22p from asda, and fresh chopped tomato.