Cooking for one (Mark Three)

Brambling

caronc wrote: »

One of the definite pluses of no longer working is I no longer mindlessly scoff cakes, sweets, biscuits etc. I seldom eat these things at home but there was always bits to hand and even though I don't really have a sweet tooth I could seldom resist...

Last week there were two lots of sweets brought back from holidays and then donuts because it was Friday and had been a long week trouble is I have a sweet tooth.

Caronc - I had a look at the menu for the walnut tree and it looked fab especially the fish and seafood options. I think it's a good idea if you don't need anything but creates a fantastic memory.

Food today was pasta and pesto for lunch and dinner was duck, with pak Choi and tender stem broccoli stir fried with toasted sesame seeds. Very nice too although I had to clean the top of the hob after cooking the duck I've also made a lasagna for lunch tomorrow as I have a friend coming just need to pop it in the oven and make a salad in the morning.

caronc

Brambling wrote: »

Caronc - I had a look at the menu for the walnut tree and it looked fab especially the fish and seafood options. I think it's a good idea if you don't need anything but creates a fantastic memory.

Food today was pasta and pesto for lunch and dinner was duck, with pak Choi and tender stem broccoli stir fried with toasted sesame seeds. Very nice too although I had to clean the top of the hob after cooking the duck I've also made a lasagna for lunch tomorrow as I have a friend coming just need to pop it in the oven and make a salad in the morning.

I've bought them dinner options before though for local places in Cardiff, but I think they would really appreciate it for there. The seafood looks so good and apparently was brilliant. My son used be a chef (before he became a statistician :eek::eek:) so is always very critical, he said he got lots of ideas so I'm hoping he'll practice some the next time he's home:cool::D
Your duck dish just sounds like something I would love though I find duck is always messy to cook - better a hob to clean than an oven though

Brambling

Wow Caronc that's a big career change bet it's a lot better hours. I suggest next time he's due a visit have a look at the menu and stock up on some ingredients. Is he a typical chef when he cooks at home ie use every pot and pan and forgets there's no kitchen porter to wash up :rotfl:

caronc

Brambling wrote: »

Wow Caronc that's a big career change bet it's a lot better hours. I suggest next time he's due a visit have a look at the menu and stock up on some ingredients. Is he a typical chef when he cooks at home ie use every pot and pan and forgets there's no kitchen porter to wash up :rotfl:

It was indeed, he was doing fab in the cheffing, went to a rock festival and came back saying "Mum. I want to go to uni to study maths":eek:, BSc & MSc and fab job later he made the right the choice. Yes he does use every pot etc. but in fairness does clear up so I can't complain

[Deleted User]

I had that mouth hunger thing coming back from my craft group, so very nearly called into lidls to get cadburys fingers but stayed in the left driving lane, eyes ahead and came home. Quickly bunged a chicken pie in the oven and had a few more bits and an early last meal but it stopped the hunger alright

Day off today and the house is cooling but I am going to layer up to be warm and comfy, I have no inclination to go cycling in this dull weather. Toast and peanut butter for breakfast, later the hemp/berry drink and a banana, lunch needs to be fish and various veg, with a leaf/tomato/LO goats cube/celery starter. Last the granola. So that isn`t enough fruit/veg considering I have had 2 bitty days. Oh dear I have carrot soup and it is nice but I am going to have to slip that down mid morning or it will be wasted

Talking to people at the group yesterday, working in a dark garage is a no no for this craft. Most have insulated light lodges or work in their conservatory, gives me a new angle now on what I want ie space for a lodge/conservatory

moneyistooshorttomention

caronc wrote: »

One of the definite pluses of no longer working is I no longer mindlessly scoff cakes, sweets, biscuits etc. I seldom eat these things at home but there was always bits to hand and even though I don't really have a sweet tooth I could seldom resist...

Having also worked for the Civil Service - I remember the frequent cakes around culture...

Thankfully - once I'd eaten my way through the rollcall of Marks & Spencer cream cakes several times over I got rather fed-up with it. Then people started economising and it became the norm to get jam doughnuts instead and I got fed-up with them even quicker.

I'm thankful that my "temptation points" boil down to:

- if I'm genuinely hungry and no imminent chance of something healthier available

OR

- it's something I've not tried before (with my mental rule of "If I've not tried it/it's within my remit and not of the 'revolting' variety then I must try it to know what it's like").

So I rarely land up eating anything "unexpected" around then - as, though more and more "new" foods are becoming available - it's rare for anyone to serve one up that I've not tried yet.

I know what my own weak points are. Thankfully, now the job is retired from, that's off the scene. Since moving - there are times when people have tried to pressurise me in a way I've not been familiar with/won't go along with (specific to some areas of the country) - and that will sometimes result in me reaching for a drink or two or not bothering with what I get at mealtime as much as I intended to. I'm working on figuring out suitable responses to "area-specific pressures" - culminating in just walking away from bossyboots concerned and know I must learn to have quicksharp response before my "Drink and/or cba" response kicks in. Which reminds me - I've had advance warning that a "potential pressuriser" is likely to come to a regular social thing I go to - must treat myself to particularly nice meal just in case before she does....and make sure there are leftovers for next day...just in case she "starts in on one". Apparently she has "form" for this sort of thing. Forewarned is forearmed. Am guessing she is most likely to start in on her hobbyhorse the 2nd time she turns up (if she comes back again)....

Farway

Morning folks

Dull old day, but never mind, I'm off out for lunch with son & his family, nothing as nice as the Walnut Tree, I think a garden centre cafe is bookmarked, newly refurbed so I'm told. I'll enjoy it whatever, always plants to mooch around and wish I had room for more

I may get some gardening fleece, my poor old runners planted out yesterday, now I see SNOW forecast for the South Downs:eek:

Breakfast was same old porridge banana yoghurt honey mix

Lunch is whatever the [STRIKE]cafe[/STRIKE] restaurant has & takes my fancy

Dinner, depends on whatever lunch turns out to be
There is a Farm Shop at GC, so maybe I'll spot something tasty there

bouicca21

I think it is extremely unkind of people to post about Michelin restaurants and nice garden centre cafes when all I have to look forward to today is lunch with friends at a Spoons.

wort

Morning ! Nice and sunny so far today, had toast for breakfast, and roast beef is planned for tea, dgson is on his way and will want bacon ,sausage and egg.
Yesterday was spent mostly in the garden tidying. I gave 1 of the patios a pressure wash which has taken most of the green off, not got rid of some black marks though:(
Gosh the water it uses. :eek:I'm on a meter and couldn't get it done quick enough!!

My sister called at lunch time, and when her hubby came said he'd drive to the chippy for lunch , but when I rang to order the gfree fish it was closed for holidays:( very disappointed, I had a cheese salad sandwich instead.
Tea was oven chips and tempura chicken gougons with sweet chilli dipping sauce.
Farway cauli cheese will definitely feature this week!!:rotfl:

Brambling

bouicca21 wrote: »

I think it is extremely unkind of people to post about Michelin restaurants and nice garden centre cafes when all I have to look forward to today is lunch with friends at a Spoons.

I would say anything better than cooking your own but a few years ago our local Spoons served a women a salad with half a mouse in :eek: they blamed brought in bags of washed salad where staff just grabbed a handful and dumped on plate. She had start eating when she found it :eek::eek:

Also I think I'm too old for ours as I'm over 20 :rotfl: