Cooking for one (Mark Three)

caronc

wort wrote: »

Definitely parky out!
With the workmen here the doors are open .its perishing, my nephews been here this morning to sort the back brickwork out so spent a bit of time outside with him.
No clue to tea tonight. I did stick a couple of jackets in oven yesterday whist oven was on but then forgot to take them out. So they've been in the oven all night!! Not sure they'll be safe to eat
?

I'd eat them:).


It's beginning to get dark and already only 3C:eek:, I've just popped the heating on as despite multiple layers including leggings under my trousers I'm cold.

moneyistooshorttomention

Agh! at the thought of temperatures up north Caron...

When I got out of bed this morning the heating had just started to come on and the house thermostat registered 19C. Cue for promptly putting 2 fires on to whack the temperature asap.

I've done my share of economising with the heating in the past - but I've got to the age where I refuse pointblank to do so any longer and the central heating is on all day.

I know exactly how I'd be feeling emotionally if I didn't have the heating on when I need it - we'll start with angry (ie at my income level) and move onto "feeling low mood-wise".

I know myself rather well by now...:cool: - so it's one of the things where I use what I need first and then think about whether they might put up the amount of my monthly direct debit for it later - though I don't think £71 per month for both gas and electric is too bad (though it's coming out of a solo income).

PasturesNew

Wednesday2000 wrote: »

I just took my walk in the park. It's getting a bit boring as I need to put some new music on my phone!

Daft question, but is that what people do? When people went for a walk I assumed they went for a walk - it never occurred to me they'd also play music.

I've never had a music/earphones system, so it'd never occur to me to play music and walk, indeed, I'd feel that was "potentially dangerous" as it'd switch off my general alertness through not being able to hear what's going on around me.

Is that why people who walk don't get "bored" - because they're actually just plodding while listening to something?

I always say "what's the point of going out for a walk ... you've seen it before, when you get there you've seen that .. and now you have to plod home again".

caronc

Completely agree Money, I'll economise elsewhere but when it comes to heating & food I don't stint. I do layer up but if that's not doing it the heating goes on. I'm £75 for mine which given the weather here which I don't think is too bad. I'm still hoping to get a woodburner in this winter which I think will make a big difference in the "toasty" factor. Putting aside the initial cost I'm not really expecting to save much on the gas but gai lots on the comfort scale!

PasturesNew

I must be losing my marbles. The other week I picked up a pack of two cheese/onion Crispbakes (look like fat fishcakes) as they were half price at 4ldi... I tossed them in the freezer. I ate one, I thought I'd eaten the second one ... but it's still in the freezer!

Tea tonight is that cheese/onion thing, chips and baked beans

... I'm still sure I remember eating that 2nd one ... must be going daft though there's only two in the packet....

moneyistooshorttomention

I'm hoping I am going to be more organised re food from here on in.

I've decided to start putting a meal plan for the week down in my "house and body" (A4 page per day) diary and duly put one down for this week. Errrm....fell at the first hurdle - didnt start today - as someone had mucked up re some paperwork that I'd finished as far as I was concerned. Duly done and dusted - and suggestion for improved "customer service" duly made:cool:

So - it'll be "scratch meal" again tonight - as that shot me back into cba mode.....oh well...

PasturesNew

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I'm hoping I am going to be more organised re food from here on in.

I've decided to start putting a meal plan for the week down in my "house and body" (A4 page per day) diary and duly put one down for this week. Errrm....fell at the first hurdle - didnt start today - as someone had mucked up re some paperwork that I'd finished as far as I was concerned. Duly done and dusted - and suggestion for improved "customer service" duly made:cool:

So - it'll be "scratch meal" again tonight - as that shot me back into cba mode.....oh well...

If you're going to be doing that ... then why not find a spot on your worktop to have a "Week per View" diary perpetually open where you write you meal plans ... and jot down ideas for specific dates etc. You could also use that to jot down the "offers of the week" at relevant shops on the right days so you don't forget to add things into the meal plans. Keep food plans/ideas/etc in a dedicated diary right where the work happens.
£land sells A5 week-per-view diaries.

Personally .... the idea's nice, but on the night it's always "what you fancy" isn't it

wort

The jackets been eaten! Followed by a warm gf mince pie with extra thick double cream.:j
The heating is on to warm the house , I'm still sat in the conservatory till it reaches a decent temp in the house!
Enjoying the fireworks through the window, but when did they get so loud? I think I'm getting old I don't like Halloween or bonfire night anymore. Certainly not fireworks going off here there and everywhere, for weeks on end.

moneyistooshorttomention

PasturesNew wrote: »

If you're going to be doing that ... then why not find a spot on your worktop to have a "Week per View" diary perpetually open where you write you meal plans ... and jot down ideas for specific dates etc. You could also use that to jot down the "offers of the week" at relevant shops on the right days so you don't forget to add things into the meal plans. Keep food plans/ideas/etc in a dedicated diary right where the work happens.
£land sells A5 week-per-view diaries.

Personally .... the idea's nice, but on the night it's always "what you fancy" isn't it

Well - I've got that A4 page a day diary anyway for purposes of getting the work on the house/garden done and thence maintenance. I've had to fill a lot of pages in those diaries since moving here with notes re that:cool:. But, now I'm distinctly seeing daylight there at last - I shouldnt have to make too many "house" notes from here on in (fingers crossed that's not famous last words:cool:).

So might as well use for the secondary purpose of "body revamp and then maintenance".

I've got a personal carry-round diary for myself anyway - for social life and appointments. Don't want a 3rd one for food.

The theory is that it will come in handy at any future points where I don't want to think about it - so I can just look up a past week's plan.

Eating what I fancy? That's still in "I wish" category at the moment - courtesy of still being on a diet at the moment. It is working - I've gone from suspicious I had a 44" bust, down to a 42" bust, it's now down to a 40" bust (and corresponding reductions elsewhere). One size to go to get down to Acceptable Size (ie 38" bust) and I'll have gone back down to the "normal" clothes range. Then one more size to go after that to get back to my own normal size (ie 36" bust).

So - I think I'm about halfway there.....

Never mind "Keep dancing" said in the appropriate tone of voice from that dance programme on tv. More like "Keeeeep dieting" said in same tone of voice:rotfl:

You may have realised I'm apparently a perfectionist.....

caronc

Good evening everyone,

38 inch bust Money- I've not had one of those since I finished puberty.....:rotfl::rotfl:Even when very slim I was always top heavy and I've a wide back which doesn't help;).

I seem to find meal planning easier in the winter and it definitely helps me eat a wider a variety of meals. I do need to restart after the engagement do. When the kids were at home and I was working (more than) full time I would have struggled to stay in budget, feed us half decently with a varied diet and not have a meltdown if I hadn't had one. On a Sunday afternoon I used to cook the basis of meals to cover Sunday, Monday and Tuesday;Wednesday tended to be something like a stir fry, Thursday something from the freezer or sausage & oven chips etc., Friday takeaway for the kids if they weren't with their Dad and rissotto or pasta for me, Saturday it varied depending on what we were doing. Obviously I don't need to be as disciplined these days but equally I know now there's just me I'm guilty of not deciding until it limits options then going for the protein + veg+ spuds of some sort bunged in the oven!:o


I've not heard any loud firework bangs yet though there will no doubt be a few in coming days. Ther is big (very good) local display on the beach this weekend so most families tend to go to that. Where I am is away from the places youngsters tend to want to set them off thankfully.


Scotch pie is just about to go in the oven, I hope it is good as I'm anticipating:D