Cooking for one (Mark Three)

PasturesNew

I've been brambling ... mine have been left to grow unhindered for about 2 years, the stalks of a lot are dark brown/aubergine ... and 1/4" across. They're 6' high. I am actually going through them inch by inch, using tiny secateurs.... So many of them too, all twisted up with 6' long branches intertwined with gazillions of bindweed - in places the bindweed's 6 pieces thick.

Slow going but getting there.

Agent came to sniff at the house today, I said "Yes" ... and we're off. Photos booked for Thursday.

I picked up two reduced caramelised red onion flatbreads about 3 days ago... ate the first one in two sittings and then realised the date said 27 August, so there was no rush to eat the second one - I've had one half so far today and will have the other half in a bit.

flubberyzing

Well, the phone call I was waiting for did eventually come, after the better part of an hour and a half!
I've had a busy and productive day since then. Scanned some documents that I needed to email, printed and posted a letter, set up an online account for my teacher pension and then did some online banking to move some money my sister sent me into my savings account.

I have a bit of a rule that if I've spent some money, but then get some of it back for whatever reason (for example, I buy petrol to transport myself and a friend somewhere, and friend then gives me some petrol money), then I consider that money I get back a bonus, and it goes into my savings account.

I've also been squirrelling away money I've acquired from selling off some of dad's bits. Mum (with help from sister) has been Ebay-ing bits of his, which have done remarkably well. So I've put away a tidy sum with a view to having a blow-out holiday in his memory next summer. Perhaps it seems silly, but I wanted to use the money from dad for something I'd remember for the rest of my life, as opposed to spending it on petrol and the food shop!!:rotfl:

Food-wise, I had just enough cheese at lunch time to melt under the grill on half a wrap, and then slapped the other half on top. Not a very substantial meal, but it's kept me going! I've got a chicken breast out the freezer for tea, which I'll do with a bit of mash, and the last bit of a YS broccoli.


I had another walk earlier to post my letter, but my leg hurt again, despite strapping. Not as bad as yesterday though. Perhaps I'll try my other trainers next time, and see if that helps. A busy day tomorrow planned. The car goes in for its annual service and MOT Which I envision being expensive. Then a friend is picking me up from the garage because I said I'd help her finish off getting her new classroom ready for the start of term. We may have lunch out as well.

caronc

Farway wrote: »

You are doing well still, my produce is just about over now, toms going strong, plus apples & some figs, otherwise that's it for my home grown this year

Apart from tomatoes & brambles which are still going strong and kalettes which aren't ready yet I reckon it will just be handfuls of things from now unless the weather picks up. Still it was lovely while they were in full flow:)

PasturesNew wrote: »

Agent came to sniff at the house today, I said "Yes" ... and we're off. Photos booked for Thursday.

:j:j fingers crossed you get a quick sale:)

flubberyzing wrote: »

I've also been squirrelling away money I've acquired from selling off some of dad's bits. Mum (with help from sister) has been Ebay-ing bits of his, which have done remarkably well. So I've put away a tidy sum with a view to having a blow-out holiday in his memory next summer. Perhaps it seems silly, but I wanted to use the money from dad for something I'd remember for the rest of my life, as opposed to spending it on petrol and the food shop!!:rotfl:

I think that's a lovely way to remember your Dad:)


Good evening everyone,

The weather never picked up today and it's decidedly chilly this evening. I am just warm enough in my my various layers but unless it warms up a bit I think it's matter of days before I pop the heating on for a bit in the evening.
My friend popped by as planned bearing with her a huge tub of parsley from their garden, I've never successfully managed to grow it and it's a herb I use a lot but works out pricey to buy. It's currently having a soak to get rid of grit & any lurking bugs and I'll get it chopped and frozen tomorrow.:D
My Dad enjoyed his lunch but despite wads of kitchen roll he managed to get tomato soup down his pale blue shirt. Normally he won't care but he was heading to a Drs appointment afterwards and likes to look dapper, he was getting a jab so keeping his anorack on wasn't an option. I'm sure the Dr has seen worse :rotfl:. Apart from the spillage he enjoyed his lunch and there is a portion of soup left which I'll have tomorrow.
I spent a good chunk of the afternoon sorting out an admin issue - the joys of being on a committee;) but I think it's okay now so worth the time spent.:) However I really cba cooking now so glad I just need to cook some spuds and nuke the haggis and neeps. It's a wintery meal but fits with the weather so I'm looking forward to it.:)

Farway

Woke to the rain dripping onto conservatory roof, still warm enough to sleep with window open

Last night's rump steak was excellent, it was on offer from Iceland, think I said L's. It was limited to two per customer so only one pack left, plenty of date though

Nil breakfast, not even a cuppa, I've a fasting blood test this morning, first thing, so kicking heels until then, I'm booked first in but the clinic doesn't open until gone 9.
I've a banana to scoff post blood on way to town & shops. Hoping "my" Wilko has at last reduced it's garden bits

Apart from that, no plans set for the day, and hopefully dinner will be whatever turns up with a YS during my mooch

flubberyzing wrote: »

The car goes in for its annual service and MOT Which I envision being expensive.

I hope your's goes better than my recent car experience

Caron, I'm sure docs have seen worse than food spotted shirts, bit awkward though for your dad. Mind you not everyone is as fastidious, I had to do double take in the dentists' the other week, note up saying please clean your teeth before attending. Is it just me?

moneyistooshorttomention

:rotfl: Farway - at the dentist notice - though I do make sure I've not eaten anything with garlic in if I know I'm visiting the dentist - as I don't tend to think it's very fair to breathe garlic fumes at someone that may/may not have eaten any themselves.

at the throwaway comment about I'd had a cup of coffee prior to seeing last dentist. Errrm....thought hadnt occurred to me/surely a cup of coffee is alright? I had duly cleaned my teeth after breakfast as normal - so just been whiling away time having a cup of coffee out prior to seeing dentist (as the one I use isnt in same town as me and the buses in this area are infrequent imo).

Off to see what the "food highlights" of the day will be here - got a Slimming World mushroom stroganoff recipe to try it. Thought has just struck me that I have stashed a recipe for a vegan sour cream that has ingredients that would come to being "Syn" free - so I could try that out and have that with it. It's based on silken tofu and "soured" with lemon juice - so that would be suitable.

Right - must find where I've stashed that recipe and have a quick reminder to myself as to why I'm doing this - 3 jackets (all in "real" size 14 - ie would now have a size 10 label on them) sounds like a pretty good reminder - as I want to wear them again.

I can see why things "crept" and I went from "real size 14" to "modern day label size 14". No huge/instant major major stressors - but nearly 30 years of a very stressful-to-me job and then the way the first 2 years or so after moving here were and it's no blinkin' wonder I need a diet to get back to normal size. Must just be glad I only went up 2 sizes in response I suppose - it coulda been lot worse....:cool:

caronc

Good morning everyone,

:eek::eek: re the dentist notice......
It's marginally less gloomy here this morning so I'm hoping it might brighten up a bit as the day goes on. It was noticeably chilly when I got up and it still hasn't warmed up much.
I'm not too sure what my plans for today are food and otherwise though lunch will be a repeat of yesterday's tom soup & grilled cheese on sourdough.
My challenge for this morning is to de-stalk and chop a huge bowl of parsley. I might cheat and rather than hand chopping it use the mini processer . The stalks will be frozen separately as I like to add them to stock etc.

Southern-Girl

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

- so a bitta this and a bitta that and a bitta summat else -

:rotfl::rotfl:I do tend to scroll past your 'slang' as I find it very hard to read! Sorry!:(

caronc

The sun is shining - still blinking chilly though!
The parsley has been beheaded;) and I have a massive mixing bowl full of the heads having another soak as they were still a little gritty! When you think it retails at 23p per 10g including stalks I dread to think how much that lot would cost to buy. It should see me through the winter and then some:D.

Farway

Back from blood samples & shops, both painless, the nurse was an expert, all over in under 5 minutes, not quite an armful taken:D

Dinner was solved in Asda, YS whole fresh mackerel, pre packed cook in bag, 65p. Bought some "new" salad spuds to go with it for tonight's dinner, I'll have them both with salad

Yay, at last Wilko has seeds reduced, only by 50% but it's a start. Next year is beetroot instead of runner glut, only two packs bought due to growing space limitations.

Sun's out now. Lunch was PB baguette with more plastic ham & salad filling

caronc wrote: »

The parsley has been beheaded;) and I have a massive mixing bowl full of the heads having another soak as they were still a little gritty! When you think it retails at 23p per 10g including stalks I dread to think how much that lot would cost to buy. It should see me through the winter and then some:D.

Now parsley is something I never use, I'm sure it is useful stuff but most of my cooking is quite plain fare. I've grown it, but only "because I can" and the seed heads are loved by bees.

Now I have to seek out my mint for the new spuds, it's buried somewhere under the mad dahlias:(

PasturesNew

I got up at 5am, no reason, I was just awake.
7.45 I was driving to a car boot... got a couple of useful things I needed and a couple of things I didn't need... as you do.

Lunch was 2 hot sausage rolls.

Spent a lot of time cutting back the big fat brambles again... near the end of those now - but not digging out the root (too hard/CBA). Ground is now "shabby looking" but no longer lethal. Had to do it, the man who sells castles like mine will be taking photos tomorrow... I doubt he'll take a photo of that part of the extensive estate, but it did look a bl00dy mess before.

No idea what I'll eat later.