Cooking for one (Mark Three)

Wednesday2000

I had toast with PB and one with avocado for brekkie.

It does feel a bit more chilly here. I still have the garden doors open.

Farway

PasturesNew said:

Farway said:

Sun's peeping out now, chilly though

...

Year back we went on holiday somewhere in Devon and the beaches seemed to consist of interesting shells

I did make a lamp with the shells stuck on, it was the '60s so very trendy, went with one I made out of a Chianti bottle

Living in Cornwall I learnt to get very picky .... in storage I have nearly 60Kg of glass alone ... I cut back on shells/stones, so probably only have about 5-10Kg of those in store... but, the plan has always been to get a stone tumbler, which is one thing I'd like room for at my next home (a lean to would be ideal for that, or conservatory)... then I would pick up more stones and make them shiny
The ideal house would also have a little bit of bare wall somewhere in the garden maybe... it wouldn't have to be large ... which I could decorate with shells... not an entire/vast wall of shells, but, say, the side of a set of 3-4 steps or something... or a small corner where I could install a little fountain and build a shell encrusted garden of waterfalls... let's say total size about 30" high and wide. Not a towering monstrosity and outrage to class/decency  

Ah ha, I always wanted a stone tumbler and looked quite hard into the requirements, but along with other day dreams it is on the "one day Rodney" list

My thoughts never went as far as Shell Grottoes though but I suppose I could work on being that mad old codger with the shell clad house

Farway

Change of dinner plan, I forgot to bung the baker spud in the oven & now CBA, so it's MFO stab & ping again

PasturesNew

I nuked the Mr T 69p Lasagne.  They're really nice.  Highly recommended still.  Most cheapo lasagnes are loose and sloppy.  Mr T's is firm and tasty.  Lasagne has never been high on my list of liked foods... I used to like the fat slabs served in a works' canteen, but have only bought lasagne begrudgingly from cheap ready meal ranges and always wished I hadn't.  But this one's definitely a keeper. 

Frozen section. 69p. They do the same size in the chiller at £1.20, which seems mad, but I guess some people are funny about frozen. https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/299596798 
The pricier one has almost double the calories, double the fat, double the saturates, 1½x the sugar and more salt

caronc

Good morning everyone,
I've had a silly young starling fly into my kitchen this morning, panic, poo everywhere and knock over things before allowing me to help it out of the window! More  now required.
Dull and grey here but slightly milder, I'm not sure how long the rain will stay off for.
Yesterday I decided to clear out my herb & spice shelves, I was ruthless as there were some very OOD items which must have survived many previous culls. I seem to have rather a lot of English mustard powder  .
Today it's the turn of a couple of larder cupboard shelves........
Yesterday I used some of the ragu to make lasagne which I have to say was blooming lovely. There's some LO so will probably have for lunch if my son doesn't get there first! (Bought) Southern Fried chicken thighs for dinner tonight with corn cobettes, roasted courgettes, green beans from the garden and a baked spud.

Wednesday2000

I went to the local shop yesterday and realised it was a bank holiday so it was shut! I walked up to Coop and actually found some YS vegan meals, I will have one of those for dinner tonight.

Farway

caronc said:

Yesterday I decided to clear out my herb & spice shelves, I was ruthless as there were some very OOD items which must have survived many previous culls. I seem to have rather a lot of English mustard powder  .

I used to have, it eventually went green & manky, which of course only became apparent on the day I wanted some mustard, ever since I've used the ready made stuff although I prefer the DIY powder

Wednesday2000 said:

I walked up to Coop and actually found some YS vegan meals, I will have one of those for dinner tonight.

I went in my Coop this morning, actually for the Post Office but same shop. And there was a a lovely just right CFO size fresh cauliflower

Maybe dearer than SMs at £1.10 but from previous on line experiences with caulis ,a cauli in the hand is worth two pretty pictures on line

Popped in my bag, and actually paid by scan of credit card, everyday is a school day in these CV19 times

Post Office was me posting off my DNA to US. Sit back & wait now

Yesterday I finished up with cheese & apple for late dinner. I just didn't fancy much, not even a RM MFO.

Lunch today was PB baguette with cheese & salad filling

Dinner I'll try for the baked cheesy spud, eggs & salad today, keeping cauli for tomorrows promised wet weather

PasturesNew

caronc said:

 
I've had a silly young starling fly into my kitchen this morning, panic, poo everywhere and knock over things  

... and that was just you!

PasturesNew

Farway said:

And there was a a lovely just right CFO size fresh cauliflower

I like cauliflower, but they're often so large... and pricey.  I used to know one of the farmers who grew them for Mr T.  He'd always have a big box for sale by his house driveway.... when Mr T were charging about £1, they were 50p in the honesty box at his house. 

Yes, there are a lot of ways to use/eat cauliflower.... but the elephant in the room is you still have to fancy it   

I have 154 recipes that have a cauli in them in my database.... I think the most useful one to use any up is that you can mash it up and use it like mash to make a shepherd's pie.... or how about a cauli/sage/cheese pasty? https://www.donnahay.com.au/recipes/fast-weeknights/cauliflower-sage-and-cheese-pasties 
Or, another pasty, no recipe, but here's the product, Cauli/Chick Pea & Onion Bhaji Pasty http://phatathome.com/product/keralan-cauliflower-chickpea-onion-bhaji-pasty-vegan/ - you can pick out the ingredients from the page and wing it. 
... after that there's loads of recipes I've got, from a biryani, through to an airfryer mix up of cauli/egg/cheese/breadcrumbs then 180C for 5 minutes https://www.facebook.com/groups/1493393300758810/permalink/2933206126777513/
Or something calling itself cauliflower cake https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2014/10/cauliflower-cake-from-plenty-more.html 
Or cauliflower, cheese, potato pie. http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jan/18/cheap-recipes-felicity-cloake-recipe-swap-thrifty 

Endless ... I'll never get round to cooking any of them.  I like the idea of eating these things, that whole ingredients gathering, clearing the decks, having the right cookware, or dishes, in the right size, getting in the cooking zone, doing it, eating it, washing up, clearing away .... too hard. 

There is a Slow cooker curry I might get round to one day. Whole cauli.... huge spud, tin of coconut milk, bit of curry paste. 4-5 hours low. 

PasturesNew

Today I've had: 
The final two sausages, in the final two flatbreads, splash of brown sauce = breakfast. 
Pack of doritos = lunch. 
Two pieces of cheesecake = just scoffing really.

Bit stuck now.... I either have to eat what I've got or go out to Mr T.  If I get flatbreads at Mr T today, I can go to 1celand tomorrow and buy burgers.  That'd be the plan if I can shift my lazy 4rse from here.... 
And, if I go to Mr T now.... I can grab a 69p lasagne and a loaf.
So there I am loaf and flatbreads.... bought on the same day ... not ideal.  So, purchases will be decided based on dates on the packs.  I can always have burgers in two bits of toast if the dates don't stack up.