Cooking for one (Mark Two)

PasturesNew

A sudden strange urge came over me to make the roasties. I was "fearing" doing those at all as they simply take so darned long

I bought the spuds believing I'd bother .... and I appear to be bothering! That's taken me by surprise.

Breakfast is on hold for now. Currently doing roast potatoes and I'll also do roast parsnips and mashed potatoes since I appear to be "on a roll".

I will also at least weigh out/line up all the ingredients for the nut roast, as I have to be standing in the kitchen while the spuds are roasting.... first time for me, for those, in the mini oven, so super-keen to keep an eye on their progress and write down the best temperature/timings so I know for next time.

At home, roasties were always fought over by dad/sibling to do/monitor/decide .... one of those things where it's best to "stay well out of the way" as they argued/fought over what size to cut them, where to put them, when/if to fiddle/turn them etc..... a "stay out of the way if you know what's best for you" moment.

As a consequence.... I've always seen roast potatoes as a "nice to have" item, but a lot of time/hassle .... and I was never overly keen on most of the ones they managed to fight to produce - they were "perfect" for at least one of them .... but not for me.

Wednesday2000

We always used to have dinner at my Grandmother's house, all homemade, veggie soup and bread, then roast turkey, roast potatoes, roast parsnips, carrots in white sauce and brussels. Then Christmas pudding with custard and Yule log. I never liked Christmas pudding unless it was drowned in custard. I still don't like it now, I think it has a funny taste.

Then I think we would have tea later which was leftover turkey sandwiches and cakes.

Wednesday2000

I have to admit that we are having burgers and fries for Christmas dinner this year. I really couldn't be bothered to cook a roast dinner and my husband isn't bothered at all so I am just doing the easiest thing I can think of. We are having Quorn burgers in buns with oven chips, not even homemade and with a bagged salad too, oh the shame. Lol.

Oh well, it's only a day like any other day as it's not like I'm religious or anything.:rotfl:

AndyCF

The 'pigs in blankets' is also a relatively new term for me too, they were just called (as others have said) "bacon wrapped sausage" or similar.

I do not personally recall having any at Christmas 'back then' or even more recently either.

Beginning to wonder if the 'Pigs Blanket' is a supermarket created name over the past few years or perhaps it was their real name in some area of the country and it has just spread a bit more so its become a 'commonly used' name these days ?

Looking at the local bm website, they have some interesting crisp flavours but sadly the local shop is lacking the two varieties I was interested in "Pigs/Blankets" and "Turkey/Stuffing" flavours. I suspect the former will be almost like 'Smokey Bacon' flavour and the latter I'm not too sure about, probably not far off a 'Roast Chicken' type flavour. That is if they decide to get any and I see them. Large 150g sharing bag for 89p that sounds quite reasonable to me, if I can get them ... I tend to eat some and then put the sharing bag into a plastic freezer type 'zip' bag to keep it fresh. Not a brand I've heard of though "Mackies" , looking at their site they do have some interesting varieties and what with me wanting to erm 'sample' slightly unusual crisp flavours anyway it does spark some interest.

Lunch today will consist of two large baked potatoes initially, likely followed by either a bit of mixed veg or a small tin of sweetcorn/peppers. This is a supermarkets own branded one rather than the famous maker (40p vs 79p from what I recall) to be fair the expensive tin is about 1/3rd bigger but they are still the 'mini mini' tins. Just handy to keep one or two on the shelf given their mega long storage life.

PasturesNew

Well, that's all going rather well! I'm petrified of hot fat - and it spontaneously combusting .... but the spuds cooked without event
They're now boxed in the fridge ready for the day.

Parsnips are mid-way being steamed, with the spuds. I have to hook out about 40-50g of parsnip for the nut roast and the rest will be boxed up ready for roasting on the day. The spuds will then continue to cook alone for a bit longer and they'll be turned into mash and boxed up for the day.

I've measured out the breadcrumbs and herbs/spices for the nut roast and lined the tin, so they're ready to be assembled at some point (not today).

Not eaten anything yet - unless you count the one spud I scoffed .... and 3 nuts when I was looking at the nuts for the nut roast.

EDIT: Parsnips boxed (two boxes, one for nut roast and one for roasting) ... and spuds mashed and boxed. All out on the top cooling down for a bit before I pop them in the fridge.



I'm ahead!!!!

To be honest, having done all of that, I'm simply not hungry at all - another reason to do it ahead .... if I prep too much, by the time food's ready I don't fancy any food at all. So it's better that I prepare as much of it as possible ahead, so I can face it on the plate on the day.

MrAPJI

Have to admit that I woke with a bit of a thick head lol. I'm not usually a drinker, but a friend called in to see me yesterday evening, 'with a bottle'. The evening started off with him feeling angry and ended with him in bits. The problem being that he had arrived home to find his wife had gone. Just a note saying she no longer loved him and had found someone else. He says he hadn't a clue that there was a problem and they had been married for 25 years. Honestly, what an xmas present!

I've just enjoyed a bowl of weetabix. PN had mentioned enjoying them the other day and yesterday I brought a packet - made a nice change. Now I've a strange craving for honey and so I will pick a jar up later - haven't eaten that in ages either. Still have some cauli left from yesterday and so I'm going to do something with that later - what exactly - who knows:)

My maternal grandmother always made a trifle at xmas and it was glady received by all. She was another good cook and seemed to be able to conjure up delicious meals from just a few ingredients.
My mum didn't follow in her foorsteps, but was a lot better than me

PasturesNew

Growing up we had Xmas Dinner at home, 5 of us. We had turkey, stuffing, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, brussels, carrots, gravy.

Afters was the Xmas pud my grandmother would post to us - we'd get a parcel from abroad containing the pudding and presents (always a pair of pyjamas at least!).

On Xmas Day my local nan/step-granddad would have their son round, who lived about 8 doors along from them. It was him and his wife and 5 kids.

On Boxing Day, us (2+3) and two sets of uncle/aunt/cousins (2+3, 2+2) would go to nan's for the whole Xmas Dinner thing again - so 16 of us.
Nan was "in with the cattle market people" and her local son would take her down there in his big van and so the table was laden with everything and its dog. There'd always be a raft of meats: turkey, goose, beef, ham - I even remember venison one year! And stacks of fresh vegetables and lashings of gravy - followed by Xmas pud and custard.

We had to share chairs, they were touching and sometimes you got a seat and sometimes you got the "join bit". Most adults either stood or balanced on the armchair arm, or sofa arm to eat.

There was also the usual stuff lying around - nuts, tangerines, sweets.

At tea-time the table would be laden with cold meats, salad stuff, jars of pickles, towers of buttered bread, mince pies, sausage rolls ... and god knows what else. And there'd be a trifle and cake etc.

About tea-time the uncle/aunt/cousins from down the road would turn up to say hello to everybody and have a cup of tea, but as the room was only about 12' square and there were already 16 of us in it, adding another 7 made it a short visit and they stood up.

PasturesNew

Bit cheeky!

MrAPJI wrote: »

....The problem being ....

Yeah, but she's still out there ... and so she might be back.
Bit "cruel" to be whining about that when looking at it from your perspective.

I bet it was a choice between getting drunk with him or just shouting "Get a grip" ....

Wednesday2000

MrAPJI wrote: »

Have to admit that I woke with a bit of a thick head lol. I'm not usually a drinker, but a friend called in to see me yesterday evening, 'with a bottle'. The evening started off with him feeling angry and ended with him in bits. The problem being that he had arrived home to find his wife had gone. Just a note saying she no longer loved him and had found someone else. He says he hadn't a clue that there was a problem and they had been married for 25 years. Honestly, what an xmas present!

You would think after 25 years she could at least have told him to his face!

wort

Karcher- was her name Mary Poppins?

Dinner last night was curry, rice and poppadoms with dgson. I wasn't looking forward to it, as I'm still full of a cold, and have a hacking cough now, not to mention the beginning of a monster cold sore on my nose!!! But the food was good, and eaten with gusto!
This morning had 2 toast and spread cheese, then dgson and I moved the furniture out of the conservatory and put the 2 tables in, feel a bit exhausted now, so after a quick hoover. I'm sitting on the couch this afternoon, late hubby's brother is calling later with cards.

Xmas dinner when I was at home was always buffet style, wether because of being in the pub or the fact that there was so many of us I don't know. Mum used to get a capon, so I never had turkey until I started with 1 of my sisters to do Xmas dinner. She makes a fab sherry laden gf trifle so that will be our sweet on Xmas day ,with a chocolate cake of some sort for the others.
I'm doing smoked salmon and prawns starter, and breaded mushrooms for the ones who don't eat fish. Along with 18 bottles of asti and a bottle of glayva for me and the brother in law!!

Other than mince pies and Xmas lunch ingredients I've not bought any extras for Xmas and never have done. Dd1 is providing the wine and a good amount of the food, and sister is bringing the trifle and other bits.
Does anyone have any tips on cooking parsnips , I always seem to burn them!!