Cooking for one (Mark Two)

meg72

caronc wrote: »

Oh no another CFO poorly, that's a shame you got smitten Meg:(.
My vac packer is one of my favourite "toys" as well;).
My Dad popped by earlier with two huge sides of wild salmon. His friend had caught and filleted it and it's been a big 'un:eek:. My younger son will portion it and vac pack it. My Dad wan't to split it between him, me and my sister which is lovely and thankfully there is more than enough room in my freezers to take it. I think one I do my post-festive period sort out I might have an empty shelf:eek::D.
I'm definitely CFOing tonight so it will be something easy to have while I catch up on "Call the Midwife"

Thanks Caronc. Ive wanted a vacuum sealer for ages but was put off
by the silly price of the bags. My DD gave me this together with a link to U tube showing how to use the ordinary ziplock bags that I buy anyway. Have just tried it and it works a treat. Very happy bunny. Now if I can just find a cheaper alternative for coffee pods will be hopping around well if I can get my darned breath I would

caronc

meg72 wrote: »

Thanks Caronc. Ive wanted a vacuum sealer for ages but was put off
by the silly price of the bags. My DD gave me this together with a link to U tube showing how to use the ordinary ziplock bags that I buy anyway. Have just tried it and it works a treat. Very happy bunny. Now if I can just find a cheaper alternative for coffee pods will be hopping around well if I can get my darned breath I would

I've tried with ziplocks and it was ok for things I wanted to freeze but they didn't hold in the sous vide. I buy the rolls online and make my own bags from them and they are much cheaper than the sealer bags:).

meg72

Farway wrote: »

That's the root veggies in oven, but left sprouts & leeks out for a wee bit longer, learning from experience

I nibbled a thin slice of stollen, only the crust left now.



There was a move to abolish it, but no politician wants to be remembered for snatching a tenner off pensioners. But it would cost too much to increase it. Apparently Maggie hated the "Thatcher milk snatcher" tag and no one wants a repeat[/QUOTE


I know a tenner dosent sound a lot but if you choose carefully it can provide a few meals. or Christmas treats. This year I bought 4 for £10 roasting joints in Iceland 2 turkey, 1 pork and 1 gammon. Already knew the turkey was good though some people complain they don't like the bacon but its easy enough to just take it off The pork is really good with perfect crackling and a nice little bonus of lovely Pork dripping. Definetely not bad for free lol.

Also got a nice surprise in post this morning £25 severe weather payment. Am feeling a very spoiled little old pensioner.

mcculloch29

"Now if I can just find a cheaper alternative for coffee pods" (Forgot the quote.)
I have a Nespresso machine and get all my capsules from Aldi, I was getting the decaff from CRU Kafe mail order, but Aldi now do them free mail order. That's my one real extravagance, and oh joys, Aldi have really expanded the range, I have caramel, vanilla, spiced, gingerbread, cardamom, Italian, lungo, decaff lungo and easy espresso capsules in at the moment.
I've tried the ristretto, chocolate coffee and espresso as well, all good. They are usually £1.69 for a pack of ten. Far cheaper than anywhere else, other than rather weak and rubbishy pound shop versions.

We have snow, for anyone who doesn't have it, fairly deep and crisp and even, after a heavy snowfall this morning. We then had a steady stream of children with sledges going past the window, heading for the nearest slope, at a local sports field.

I have a lovely park directly opposite, with no road inbetween, just a footpath, and it looks like Narnia.

meg72

mcculloch29 wrote: »

"Now if I can just find a cheaper alternative for coffee pods" (Forgot the quote.)
I have a Nespresso machine and get all my capsules from Aldi, I was getting the decaff from CRU Kafe mail order, but Aldi now do them free mail order. That's my one real extravagance, and oh joys, Aldi have really expanded the range, I have caramel, vanilla, spiced, gingerbread, cardamom, Italian, lungo, decaff lungo and easy espresso capsules in at the moment.
I've tried the ristretto, chocolate coffee and espresso as well, all good. They are usually £1.69 for a pack of ten. Far cheaper than anywhere else, other than rather weak and rubbishy pound shop versions.

We have snow, for anyone who doesn't have it, fairly deep and crisp and even, after a heavy snowfall this morning. We then had a steady stream of children with sledges going past the window, heading for the nearest slope, at a local sports field.

I have a lovely park directly opposite, with no road inbetween, just a footpath, and it looks like Narnia.

Ohhhhhh Thank you will try Aldi really like the sound of Gingerbread flavour.

Farway

Roast veggies turned out well. Def worth doing again

Another crater has appeared in the trifle

Trifle seems to have improved with leaving it overnight, like stew or curry
Overnight keeping could be problematic in a CFO household

MrAPJI

Sorry to see some of you are poorly - hope you feel better soon

It's been pretty dismal here and hasn't stopped raining. Grateful we don't have snow (as yet) as that really can make life difficult.

I'm still ploughing my way through the food from Suffolk, but have to say that it is delicious . I invited my friend (whose wife left him) for a bite to eat and it was nice to be able to share a meal and have a chat. I don't enjoy eating as much since being alone, but I guess that will change in time.

Although retired, I won't draw my state pension until I'm 66 - another 6.3 years - if I make it . I was in a taxi in London recently and the driver was going on and on about the state pension. Had to smile when he said '' it's not even enough to feed a dog on''. I made no comment lol

poppystar

meg72 wrote: »

Hugs love me too. Having got rid finally of the never ending cold got well and truly zapped by this nasty !!!!!!.

I did at least get Christmas Dinner at DDs ut had to come home early. Had to text grandsons not to come Boxing day which really upset me'

Havent had a proper meal since Christmas Day. Thank god for my stash of smartprice rice pudding but don't have much of an appetite anyway Not touched the Christmas treats

Hugs to you too. Like you i'd had the never-ending virus that had me eating loads and that lasted a long, long time. Was feeling great, then a migraine (not painful just aura!) and this nasty which is worse than the last.

Worst thing about no freezer is being unexpectedly housebound and having to raid cupboards. Don't fancy much but that is probably down to having found pasta and a tin of grapefruit segments lurking on the long stay shelf - that should win me a prize for creativity if I get round to using it

Normally I'd have a reasonably stocked fridge but having been away with 'friends' for xmas from hell (one day i might laugh!) it's a couple of stray eggs and the remains of a pack of chocolate desserts (no, can't face chocolate!)

Oh, for someone who just tucked me up and then cooked a tasty morsel or so for me;)


Take care of yourself and lets hope the next year starts better for all of us:)

moneyistooshorttomention

Just had the tofu and aubergine (plus onions and garlic and flavourings of onion salt/garlic salt/paprika and that maple syrup and liquid aminos) sauted up and served with some steamed spinach (with a leftover bit of tahini sauce). Verdict = it was nice/tasty:)

By the time it was ready I was feeling a bit cba (though it was pretty quick/easy) and so some toast is en route to "fill a gap" - when I'm guessing something like couscous would have been a more appropriate accompaniment to it.

EDIT; I gotta ask PoppyStar - so what happened during your stay with those (probably ex by now) friends? Been there/done that - so could probably sympathise....

poppystar

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

EDIT; I gotta ask PoppyStar - so what happened during your stay with those (probably ex by now) friends? Been there/done that - so could probably sympathise....

Bit worried about answering that in case they ever get on here and identify me…. MAY DELETE

***deleted the identifying bits*****

…and, ooh, have they become intolerant and very nasty when talking (surmising) about other old friends :eek:- which I will not join in with.

The cost was a bit high for the xmas meal and alcohol that I know i should be grateful for being included in.:(

And that is just the general bits! we did not argue, I did not complain, I am grateful to have been invited but ….next year I shall just have to ask you all to teach me about making turkey for one!