Cooking for one (Mark Three)

AndyCF

Evening all.

Ah I wish my Morr's was a bit nearer! In reality I think out of all of them its probably the furthest away. Oh well. There is a mini shop closing here soon and we could do with a nearby 'local' type supermarket again really, space for the convenience one. I'm half surprised when the coco shut shop and BM took it over, that one of the 'major supermarkets' did not decide to grab it and turn it into a medium 'convenience place. Having said that within 2/3 miles there is a mini S and a mini T so that would really only leave potential for M's I suppose. Still can't quite accept the public 'reason' for the cc closing! But up to them I guess.

No food news really from me, not been quite with it today. Lunch consisted of a reluctant instant 'cream veg' in a mug soup and three or four of those 'peppered' crackers out of a crisp type bag (as I saw the large share bags last week for £1 and figured can re-seal it a few times and its 3/4 helpings)

I could not really tell the difference with this one compared to the 'vegetable' vs 'cream of veg' , I do normally try to get the former when I can find it. I did once try an ultra cheap 'euro' type pack of them I think it was 40p for the 3 in the box but they were so terrible after a few sips of one the rest got binned. But with a bit of searching it is quite possible to get either Ministrone or CreamVeg (unfortunately only those two varieties) for 59p for the Bat's , this seems quite good value to me! Usually elsewhere they seem to be 80p to £1.20.

Dinner was a blob of mash and some baby carrots, just enough for today, as I say not really 100% , mind you some might say never am! :rotfl:

I do plan on erm 'reviewing those "very long time no see" potato's at some future point, possibly next week. I'll post my findings then.

PasturesNew

Question ... with all this genetically modified food about - how come they've not made a loaf and a cucumber that can make their own way to my door when I want them?

*sighs*

I've eggs to get through, so thought a loaf of bread would be good (toast/eggs, eggs/soldiers, egg sandwiches) and a cucumber (egg/cucumber sandwiches).... but they don't get themselves do they, I have to actually get round to going out.

At 36p for a loaf and 55p for a cucumber, they come nowhere near the £25-40 minimum order required for online shopping.

[Deleted User]

I hate waste but would like to do the chicken breast in flour/egg and breadcrumbs but it does not use all the egg - do you have to throw the rest away or some other use for it. Any ideas please. What do you use instead of cream, usually double, in recipes. I should not have cream and once opened how to use/store the remainder. More ideas please??

AndyCF

I was going to suggest online shop shop but most of them are at 40 or more, with the exception of As's as you know. But then you may have to factor in delivery costs.

Local shops not that local then or I guess other things (not asking just talking generally) I do know what you mean though I would like an erm 'conventional' supermarket even a small one within a sensible range here, as in within 5-10 minutes. To be fair the local shops + BM are not bad but there are obvious gaps.


On a different note, breakfast today consisted of a leftover large sausage roll from the other day, I tend to want to finish these within a couple of days despite it usually saying "within 3" or suchlike. I just had it cold from the fridge. Bit unusual but its what I wanted at that moment in time, perhaps somehow compensating for lack of foods yesterday maybe.

Was halfway through it when I wished I'd had it in the zapper for a minute or three (a bit much maybe but hmm I like stuff really well done!)

Talking of which I was mentioning chickpea's the other day I did notice one local has a 400g tins for 29p ( ! ) which I thought was very cheap, convinced of that now I've looked online at their costs generally too. Seems 40-60p is the going rate. Can't remember the drained weight likely about 250g seems correct to me. Assume its just water not brine they are in but I'd probably throw that out and juse plain water to warm them in, that way I can throw a few carrot slices in as well.


On an unrelated note from one local shop (which shall remain nameless) a few days ago I purchased some veg stock cubes for £1. I usually just get beefy granules or beefy cubes but was curious on trying these, I'd like to try the onion ones at some point too but cannot get them locally. I did ask about the turkey ones too but she said although they are available all year round (apparently) they only have them in 'seasonal' or words to that effect , in another way "come back nearer December!" , for what it is worth the reasoning behind getting the veggie cubes was part curisoity and partly as I had a vague idea of them possibly making some kind of cheap instant 'mug of soup' for emergencies too if needed, even if it was a bit salty or bland.

Anyway something a day later at the back of my mind made me look at these veg cubes, to discover they were dated June So I returned them, they ddi not have anymore but had the large pack they said I could buy or have the other brand (which was a few pence more) Me being slightly cheeky suggested I should get the larger pack for that £1 as I had to come back to return them, but that did not work so I left with my £1 To be fair when I looked again they did have fresh ones in, I usually do look at dates too but it was one of those 'I nearly forgot' things when I'd finished my shop at the time.

caronc

whmf00001 wrote: »

I hate waste but would like to do the chicken breast in flour/egg and breadcrumbs but it does not use all the egg - do you have to throw the rest away or some other use for it. Any ideas please. What do you use instead of cream, usually double, in recipes. I should not have cream and once opened how to use/store the remainder. More ideas please??

You could freeze the LO egg mix but tbh I tend to double dip/crumb so seldom have much LO . I whip spare double cream and freeze it in either blobs or an ice cube tray so I can just defrost what I need for recipes. I wouldn't use the frozen cream for puds but it's fine to cook with. Single cream doesn't freeze that well it tends to separate but you can bring it back together for a sauce by adding slaked cornflour.


Good morning everyone,

It's still raining but the wind has died back. I'm just about to head to the library so hoping not to get soaked today. I'm toying with popping to the butchers along from it to get some lamb's liver for dinner tonight or tomorrow. I'll see how heavy the rain is when I get there.

PasturesNew

Finally budged from the sofa - loaf + cucumber achieved.

While in L1dl I was ambling around plucking at things that caught my eye. I picked up a 6-pack of the Walls' ready baked sausages. Had those before, they're really nice, you nuke them. £1.49.

I also bought their own brand mini "bounty bars" and a bag of salted peanuts.

Wednesday2000

I woke up feeling much better today. I had about 7 hours sleep, finally!

I've had a smoothie and some crackers with avocado.

I'm making a HM lentil, mushroom and spinach curry for lunch. Mmm.:)

unrecordings wrote: »

Ramen (instant noodles) works for me. I go for Nissin and generally buy a selection of flavours from a local Chinese supermarket. The secret is to fortify it with extra bits. You're just pouring on boiling water and waiting for the noodles to soften - in the meantime add little bits of vegetables, maybe some cooked meat - whatever is lying around. If I'm making a 'proper' meal, I'll sometimes put stuff to one side for the next ramen and I've generally got a tub in the fridge of useable leaves, herbs etc

I used to eat them so much when I was at sixth form and uni!:rotfl:

I still quite like them now, actually.:D

AndyCF

I was nearly going to try those, there are the brand you mention and another, both are 'ready to nuke' as advertised but I did not at that time (I think this was about a year or so ago) as they were relatively new then, but I do see good reviews for both generally.

One thing I forgot to mention actually about online, these "click collect" things perhaps is an idea, I've not done this myself as the whole difficulty is the collection/movement of the items not going there and coming back, although perhaps its something to think about if you're able to go and get your items ? I'm merely thinking here you get the benefits of sofa/desk shopping and then when ready / next day just go and grab your 'collection'

A1d is on my radar I will try my best to call in tomorrow (if I am up to it), to be honest I really need to go and have a "look around" their 'new' place anyway, I say new its been open about 6-9 months now! , figure I could just have a look and take a couple of £ coins with me and leave with a few tins of something or other having had a decent look around, that way I gain something and I've also learned what they have.

I do keep meaning to look into the H-Barg place too (about 15 mins away) as I was talking to a neighbour about their online stock and he said there's usually a fair bit more (like BM) than what is actually shown online. Does make sense. The downside is the HB shop is really tiny but still worth a peek. Shame its the other direction to Al's but can't have everthing I suppose. Saturday shop is out of the question as its far too busy unless its mega-urgent I tend to keep out, same as Fri mornings as its usually full then too.

That is one advantage I do have I suppose I can pick my times usually, but in order for this (generally) there are too many downsides with things in general, such is life. I keep going!

Farway

Cooler today, but out shopping & mooching after breakfast

Iceland has offer of frozen chips, so two bags of them, not sure if it's deliberate but the offer ones are "fries" and same brand "chips" are much more.

In the same freezer compartment. Luckily I only had them & milk, so soon noticed total at check out was way over, quick nip back for correct ones sorted it, never would notice if loads of shopping

For my Cornish spuds I had to settle for Cyprus, both begin with C anyway. They look nice & I've had them before, so a good second choice

Of course now I have a freezer full of meat there were loads of YS gammon joints in W/rose, got one anyway, plenty of date on it and I'll slow cook it tomorrow for the weekend

More YS in Wilko, gardening clear out time in there, getting ready for next year, nothing I "needed" but couldn't resist at the price

Lunch was cheese & salad sarnie
Dinner will be one of my new lamb shoulder chops, grilled I think, with some of the Cyprus minty spuds & bit of salad
LO stewed apples to follow

Had another of my pears last night, getting there, bit grainy but juicy this time. I think if I get larger crops next year I'll have to find a way of storing them apart from stewing

Brambling

Hi :wave: I'm home

I've things to do this weekend and no desire to drive back on Friday . I left 6.45am this morning and did spend sometime trying to leave the M27 at Portsmouth 8.30am, I waved Farway . I also had 'fun' :cool: at Chichester but was home just after 10am with a sun tan loaded down with dirty washing and books (we all read a lot and I've come away with a large bag of books from two sister which I'll pass on to another once read) you can't have too many books . His lordship has been very cuddly since I got back, no sulking this time, but he does love my nephew who has been looking after him

I was organised last night and did a quick menu plan and shopping list so a trip to the SM when I got back to stock up, mainly fresh stuff including some YS sea bass fillets which I'll have for dinner and a pack of YS 9 toilet rolls (the puppy brand) for £1, pack looked a little flat but for that price it will still do its job .

Lunch was fruit, cheese and crackers. Dinner will be sea bass, new potatoes and whatever veg which grabs me probably runner beans and broccoli