Cooking for one (Mark Three)

Novice_investor101

Well, the canteen isn't actually subsidised so buying lunches there can cost £4/£5 for a hot meal, drink & snack. It's run by an outsourced caterer.

We're lucky as we can quite often get given canteen vouchers for £2.25 off any food or drink. It's a bit of an ad-hoc small reward scheme that goes down well with the staff. I'm guessing my employer settles up the bill for all the vouchers used.
I only ever buy food from there with the vouchers & it's usually a breakfast treat (bacon & egg sandwich comes to exactly £2.25!) in the mornings.
I always make my own pack up for lunch, but the vouchers definitely help save some pennies when I've not managed to make some lunch to take in.

caronc

Good evening everyone,

Get those exercises done wort they do help, mine are so much part of my life now that it's no effort.:D
Sounds like a frustrating morning Farway, shame the chippy was closed;)
Hello again Andy :wave:

Fingers crossed Money that you've found a gem, I'll need to find a new roofer at some point as the guy I used and liked isn't doing it anymore (ironically because of developing vertigo - he has my sympathy!).

You made it flubberyzing:beer:, I'm not surprised you have said no to returning:cool:. Hopefully the "jeans test" will be in your favour:).
PN - my Gran used to have an egg piecer gadget for micro boiling eggs. Worked a treat:). It looked like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Emsa-2234001200-Superline-egg-white/dp/B000A8BKX8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1539974418&sr=8-5&keywords=egg+piercer

Welcome to the thread Novice, homemade soup is one of my favourite things and I make it a lot though a recipe is seldom followed!! What "type" of chicken soup do you like?



My snuffles continue but are no worse thankfully, the gallons of tea seemed to have done what I hoped.:) My son has arrived and departed to his night out. He's not planing a late one as he is out again tomorrow but we shall wait & see if that pans out or if it's the midnight train clutching a kebab and trying not to fall asleep:rotfl::rotfl:
Today it has been baltic and I ended up popping the heating on for 1/2 an hour mid afternoon so my son could have a shower without freezing his bits off:eek:. Thankfully it's due to be a bit milder tomorrow.
Lunch was a ham & cheese salad wrap. I'm still not sure what to have tonight but definitely want a hot meal. I had a look at what I had by way of RMs but don't fancy any of them, so it will be my fall back of carb+veg+protein bunged in the oven I just need to decide what the combination will be.:)

Novice_investor101

Hi caronc. Well, as ashamed as I am to say it, I've only ever had chicken soup out of a Heinz tin....

I used to make soups (more broths) as a student a long time ago. This consisted mainly of boiling up some carrots, leeks, potatoes & any other veg in a bouillon stock & adding a few herbs & seasonings.

They were very nice, but this time I want to try a "proper" soup that's chunkier & less watery. I boiled up the raw left overs from cutting up/portioning a chicken to freeze (so much cheaper than buying it already portioned) & now have some jelly like stock sat in the freezer waiting to be used.

I'd like to do it in the slow cooker so I can leave it do it's thing whilst I run about doing errands & cleaning the house. Tomorrow will be chicken curry night, so Sunday will be soup day

melweeks73

Good evening,

Well I finally reheated a dish this evening using the microwave (gasp!!) A chicken, bacon and leek bake. Phobias have always stopped me using a microwave particularly a chicken dish. But guess what? I’m still alive!! It’s a revelation 😂

Only thing I haven’t got to grips with is prepping lunch. Meaning I’m going to my works shop and buying junk. Must get more organised.

I’d love to bake cakes, especially from good old fashioned recipes. Reminds me of my Mum who used to have worn, food splattered, well thumbed, Women’s Weekly cookbook. Our whole Christmas menu, came out of that book. Makes me feel nostalgic!

Anyway I’ve taken up more than enough of your time, have a lovely evening 😊

caronc

Novice_investor101 wrote: »

Hi caronc. Well, as ashamed as I am to say it, I've only ever had chicken soup out of a Heinz tin....

I used to make soups (more broths) as a student a long time ago. This consisted mainly of boiling up some carrots, leeks, potatoes & any other veg in a bouillon stock & adding a few herbs & seasonings.

They were very nice, but this time I want to try a "proper" soup that's chunkier & less watery. I boiled up the raw left overs from cutting up/portioning a chicken to freeze (so much cheaper than buying it already portioned) & now have some jelly like stock sat in the freezer waiting to be used.

I'd like to do it in the slow cooker so I can leave it do it's thing whilst I run about doing errands & cleaning the house. Tomorrow will be chicken curry night, so Sunday will be soup day

Thick & chunky is definitely my favourite and ideal for the slow cooker my chicken "broth" tends to be (very loosely) based on the following:-
2l stock - add a stock cube to your HM stock if needed
1 largeish onion diced very small

150g-200g rice or broth mix or mix of rice & lentils(any type) or 200-300g peeled diced potato

500g diced veg (based on what you have - I tend to use a mix of celery, leeks, swede, carrot & kale, but really whatever you have in works ok though I tend to avoid cabbage/sprouts/broccoli as I think it gives it an odd taste)

Chicken pickings - the scrappy bits leftover from the carcass

1 heaped tsp of dried sage or rosemary or oregano
1 crushed garlic clove (optional)
1 bayleaf

2 tbsp each peas & sweetcorn (optional)

Salt & pepper

Bung everything in the slow cooker bar the salt & pepper, peas & corn. Cook on low for 5-6 hours. Half an hour before you want to eat add peas & sweetcorn and salt/pepper to taste. Remove bayleaf. Taking a mug or so out and mash or blend it then popping back in thickens it if you want it chunky & thick (or a quick blitz with a hand blender:cool:)


Think I might be making a pot now soon as I've given myself a notion for some:D

caronc

melweeks73 wrote: »

Good evening,

Well I finally reheated a dish this evening using the microwave (gasp!!) A chicken, bacon and leek bake. Phobias have always stopped me using a microwave particularly a chicken dish. But guess what? I’m still alive!! It’s a revelation 😂

Only thing I haven’t got to grips with is prepping lunch. Meaning I’m going to my works shop and buying junk. Must get more organised.

I’d love to bake cakes, especially from good old fashioned recipes. Reminds me of my Mum who used to have worn, food splattered, well thumbed, Women’s Weekly cookbook. Our whole Christmas menu, came out of that book. Makes me feel nostalgic!

Anyway I’ve taken up more than enough of your time, have a lovely evening 😊

One small step and all that Mel:), what about leftovers for lunch? Do you have a microwave at work?

caronc

Oh - I have turkey broth in the freezer. That's dinner sorted:D

Brambling

Evening . And it's Friday :j:j:j

Hi Andy and Novice :wave:

Flubberzing hope the weight lost is genuine and not faulty scales you seem to be rushing about so maybe it's real, if not can I have your scales :rotfl:

Mel as long as things are hot all the way through especially chicken a microwave is a single persons best friend some things like soups or casserole (Sloppy food :rotfl:) benefit from a stir half way through the reheating time. I often take LOs for lunch especially during the winter, I usually ensure I've cooked enough veg and rice or potatoes etc to make a lunchtime portion. If you have no microwave at work a flask of homemade soup is alway a good choice

Money beans and pulses are free on SW if you get egg bound from your protein choice :rotfl: fingers crossed your young guy works out

I freeze both chilli and ginger but I'm just sitting here wondering why don't I freeze lemongrass as well :doh: I'm usually left wondering what to do with the second stem.

Lunch was the last of the soup, I've will make it again but think I will add a little chilli next time the recipe said 6 portions, it fed me 4 lunches :cool: I don't think I have overly large portions maybe as it's called nanas soup it's 6 children portions :rotfl:

Dinner was a griddled pork chop, mash potatoes (with piccalilli) green beans and purple sprouting broccoli, I cooked enough veg for tomorrow as well, not sure if I'll just heat it or make bubble and squeak, have to see where the mood takes me

caronc

Brambling wrote: »

I freeze both chilli and ginger but I'm just sitting here wondering why don't I freeze lemongrass as well :doh: I'm usually left wondering what to do with the second stem.

If you can blitz it with a couple of tbsps of water or sunflower oil and freeze in an ice cube tray. Add as needed to recipes.
I think many recipes for soup assume a small starter portion rather than it being the main part of the meal (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it :cool::rotfl:)

Brambling

caronc wrote: »

If you can blitz it with a couple of tbsps of water or sunflower oil and freeze in an ice cube tray. Add as needed to recipes.
I think many recipes for soup assume a small starter portion rather than it being the main part of the meal (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it :cool::rotfl:)

Thanks Caronc

I like your reasoning on the soup :rotfl: I also don't have bread with it :rotfl: