Cooking for one (Mark Three)

caronc

Good morning everyone,
Just odd flakes of snow here this morning but still bitterly cold.
I do think we as a society vastly under recognise the work of the emergency and related services that keeps going during adverse weather.
My elder son phoned earlier to say Cardiff is now on red alert and like Central Scotland the area will be basically shutting down this afternoon. I do hope folk in the new "red" areas pay heed and don't end up stranded on the motorway like those that left it too late to leave Glasgow yesterday!
MTSTM - I hope you are hunkered down and have that coat buttoned and a hat/gloves on:)

I've always fancied the idea of a having multi fuel stove and have chimneys but suspect I may like the reality of dealing with it less than the expense merits;)

I had to venture out first thing for a Drs appt, got a taxi there and back as it's too icy under foot for me to manage safely. Usually at that time the town is busy but with the schools shut the streets were virtually empty.

I've just had my usual toast & fruit and lunch will be soup from the freezer and a sandwich. Tonight I'm making tandoori lamb chops and will have those with ratatouille from the freezer and a greek pita bread.

Farway

Morning all. Some snow here, dusting really, but heaps forecast later today, then lovely freezing rain due Friday night. Should keep me in. I've loads of food, and as PN just reminded me, FB pies are still lurking when I'm down to thinking about eating next door's cat

I'm nearly out of fresh milk, forgot to get some on Tuesday. Luckily, and by coincidence, I have UHT milk to hand. It is for my HM yoghurt but any port in a storm

Breakfast was more hearty jumbo porridge, with HM yoghurt & honey

Lunch will be tin of C & B chicken & veg soup. I bought 5 mixed tins on bulk buy offer a bit back, just for such a day as today

Later I'll oik a couple of crumpets from the freezer ready for mid afternoon cuppa

Dinner, is a unsure, probably the last lurking Linda M veg pie to give some freezer space. Maybe with chips, or beans, or both

caronc

PasturesNew wrote: »

I have a very "gung ho and carry on" sibling who drives 90 miles to work, leaving about 6-7am ... and by the time one of the new alerts was issued they'd have been at work, oblivious (except overhearing others in conversation) .... but, with a "gung ho and carry on" they'd just say "wimps" and will no doubt head for home later. That new alert is slap bang the entire journey between work/home.

No motorways .... risks being "stranded on the moors".

I'll phone in a bit, see if, now they're more elderly .... they've taken heed and booked holiday 2-3 days ago.

I hope they do the sensible thing and heed the warning!

Wednesday2000

I'm having jackets with baked beans and maybe a sprinkle of vegan cheese on top for brunch/lunch.

I've had two cups of tea, a cherry yoghurt and a tofu sausage while I'm waiting for them to cook! I don't have a microwave so I'm doing them the proper way in the oven.:)

I will put some Quorn chicken nuggets in the oven too so my husband can have them in rolls for lunch, when he wakes up!

pineapple

No gas supply here and not even a water tank. I have an electric shower, one instant water heater, two storage heaters and a multifuel. The kitchen is still awaiting refurb so I don't even have a cooker. Just a halogen oven, a portable induction hob and a small microwave. Oh and a slow cooker! Late night or early morning I fill up some 5 litre thermos affairs with hot water while on cheap rate. Plus I have a kettle on the stove during the day. It's a small stove but it has a rear flue instead of a top one so I have space on top for cooking. Have done the dog food today and now got soup on the go. Might attempt a sponge later - in a heavy cast iron pot. Maybe with some blackberries (still have some in the freezer that I picked last autumn).
Sometimes it would be nice to be able to just to fire up the gas central heating but I don't have that luxury. Plus even when I had a house with gas, I still had a stove. It's nice to have that focal point of heat and light. Btw, according to the latest news, we are running out of gas! :eek:

moneyistooshorttomention

Pineapple - I've just stuck my fingers in my ears at any thought of running out of gas. Don't wanna know:rotfl:

Glad I've got both fuels in my house - gas-heated water, but electric shower. Gas central heating - but electric fires and some throws. Thankfully - I prefer electric cookers too - so that's what I've got. No question of having to get oil in for the Rayburn - the house had one when I first bought it and it went out the door within weeks of my moving in here.

I did go off to my voluntary work this morning - but confess to wimping out and leaving about half an hour early - as I was getting colder and colder (the place has fires - but no central heating:eek:). Peering out the windows at intervals and it looked like the weather was getting steadily worse. I had located my hats and did have one with me - but "note to self" time as I walked back was "Leather gloves don't cut it" (as one of my hands felt like it was going to start hurting with cold if I was out in much longer).

So - bought myself some bread (having duly ordered it first thing - to make sure they didnt run out before I got there) and bought a large bag of flour (so I'm stocked-up for making my own) and beetled back home as fast as my little legs would carry me and promising myself I'm not going out today again for "love nor money" (well - I'd make an exception if someone promised me a Lottery size win up in 6 fingers or more - but I'd tell them I was rationing my time out to 10 minutes and literally not one second more:rotfl:).

Hope we're all well stocked-up with food. Anyone that is - don't bother going out your door if you can possibly help it - it's WAY too cold.:eek: I'm pitying those I saw out walking - in order to give their dogs a walk. Right now - I bet they wish they had cat/s instead - that would probably just take one little peer round the door/give them a disdainful "you must be joking if you think I'm going out in that" look and refuse to put one dainty little paw out the door.

PasturesNew

Snow's thickened and speeded up a bit.
I've nothing to go out for, having stocked up with tobacco and sausage rolls.

Lunch was: chips topped with the last portion of my mince chilli. That was nice

All out of the chilli now, so later on I'll have two hot sausage rolls.

Tomorrow I might make up the other portion of mince I bought last week as its date is 3 March. I'll just lob it at the SC with some random spices, maybe cut up spuds, onion .... so sounds like a keema coming on there to me as I've got peas in the freezer.

pineapple

It's baltic out there and with the wind driving clouds of icy snow against your eyes it's hard to keep them open. Thinking of digging out the decorating goggles. All sensible people are indoors so only the odd farmer to amuse.
Since yours truly was too mean to get the bathroom (basically a lean to) windows replaced last year, have had to resort to taping cellophane across one of them, plus a double layer of towels to stop the arctic wind whistling through.
Anyhow done the dog's dinner - turkey mince, risotto rice and green beans. Made some spare risotto into a rice pud and made some veggie soup. Nibbled away half a ring of chorizo sausage and started on the coke and red wine.
Have a sudden and rather strange (given the weather) craving for ice cream ....

[Deleted User]

glad I am not the only one nibbling. I feel like a squirrel, keep diving into food stash. Must be nature, see the snow and get the primeval need to keep bodily reserves, ok I mean fat, in place

I am thinking warmed ratatouille later in a small bowl with warmed cheese drop scones. Cba anything else, had a very decent lunch and too many nibbles

halogen

It's mildly chilly here, no sign of snow.:-)

I really need to reign in my food spending but I'm finding it diffcult. I also need to eat less and cook more but I'm finding that tricky too. Any tips appreciated..:-)

I can't be bothered/don't have time for cooking during the week and even if I could, I can't be on my feet for longer than 10-15 mins before the back pain kicks in so long cooks and prep times are tricky. Also I'm starving when I get in from work so it's 1st edible thing in mouth and I've yet to be able force myself to wait until I've cooked something.
I don't do ready meals though, other than occasional frozen pizzas and that's usually a weekend thing as they take too long to cook.
I have tried batchcooking at rhe weekend but that just results in me eating it all on Sunday.
I shop at L1dl mostly with occsaional trips to T3sc0 for stuff what L1dl don't have and i go for the reduced stuff too.
Other than trying to learn self-control...any advice.