Cooking for one (Mark Three)

caronc

unrecordings wrote: »

Yup, there's a strange stage in the middle where you just get confused & clumsy. Plus there's some residual stuff like getting up the stairs one step at a time might be done left handed (left footed), but when I've the energy to go two steps I might do it right handed, or vice versa, or I might just get stuck while I figure out who's in charge

I can so relate to that, for different reasons but ones that probably create the same brain confusion/balance problems. I think unless you experience it, it's very hard to explain why you get stuck doing relatively simple things. I call it "brain freeze";).

PasturesNew wrote: »

As somebody who has always lived alone, which would also imply smaller homes... I've never got round to getting a table. I've currently got a "fake table" set up in the kitchen, which was put there to look like a dining table, just for "viewings". It's just a £19 Ikea table whose legs unscrew. They're £16 now. Well worth it for those who might one day want/need a temporary table, or a craft table, or an office table. https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/linnmon-adils-table-white-s29932181/ I picked up a linen tablecloth from a car boot for just £1 and a £1 bowl at another car boot and a collection of fake/realistic looking fruit for £1 from another car boot... so that's just all sitting there "staged" (badly).

They're expensive things when you add it up. You want a table (not just any table, if it's going to clutter up and crowd the space it has to be a nice one), then it needs chairs... then a tablecloth and a tablecloth for "best" and a tablecloth for Xmas. Then placemats, then "for best", then "for Xmas". Then you want better plates (even a full set!), then "for best" plates, then "for Xmas" plates. Ditto cutlery. So now you need a sideboard to keep it all in .... and, each Xmas, you're eyeing up the Xmas tablecloths etc again

Now let's talk about dishes.... some "for best" - ooh and some Xmas ones.

Best not to buy a table in the first place

IKEA is great for things like that:). Even when I lived alone in a pokey flat I always had a table I could sit at, I can't imagine living without one as I use them for much more than just eating at.

The dishes/tableware I keep for folk coming round are all cheap and cheerful plain white from the SM value ranges. I didn't want anything that would end up mismatched through breakages and also didn't want to worry about the expense of replacing items to match a set if they got chipped or broken. It works for me:D.


It's been a very pleasant though far from warm day here, so nice to see some sunshine even if was cold if you stepped out of the sun. The brambles were pretty unscathed by the recent rain and I picked another decent sized bowlful. I gave the greenhouse a bit of a cull, the toppling toms the other day had created more damage than I thought and I now have a big bowl of green toms to ripen indoors plus another bowl of picked ripe ones. There are still loads of fruits on the plants still in there which hopefully will continue to ripen for a good bit yet. I picked some more runner and climbing beans, enough for dinner tonight and another meal, they are definitely coming to end now though I might get a few more. The courgettes are more or less kaput though I might get a couple more if I'm lucky. The forecast looks good again for tomorrow before the weather breaks again and I'll hopefully get a good bit more done then. I'm tired tonight but it was lovely to get out in the fresh air for a few hours.:)


Lunch was a cheese, lettuce & mayo sarnie with cucumber sticks and another of the big, juicy plums I bought the other day. Tonight it's bangers and mash using some of the mash I made yesterday with LO onion gravy/veg, garden beans and mushrooms.

caronc

Brambling wrote: »

Caronc I followed your cooking instructions for the tofu . Enough LO for another dinner. Combination of yesterday and today's LO is slightly throwing out the meal plan as usual

Did you like it cooked that way- hope it turned out nice and crispy? Rolling unexpected LOs have scuppered many of my meal plans:rotfl:

AndyCF

unrecordings wrote: »

It was the upside-down-ness of it that made me think of a tarte tatin, in fact now I'm imagining a nice potato based moussaka (aubergine being the devil's food)

It is difficult to explain really despite it being so simple. My fault I know! :rotfl:

unrecordings wrote: »

Thanks - in a way I'm quite fortunate, I also made some financially prudent insurance choices twenty odd years ago, so now all I really need to do is keep breathing. Not many people can say that

True. Sometimes a bit of care/prudence goes a long way as such. As you know its not always about saving, just choices sometimes.

I'm aware of a friends father who did something perhaps like that (depends) summary being despite now being retired he is getting about the same per month, from what I recall he did not have a highly paid job though by any means (think min wage plus maybe a pound if that) however compared to a bog basic pension he and his partner are quite reasonable I suppose.

I guess what I am trying to say really is some care and forethought can pay longer term results, at least sometimes. There does seem to be a bit of erm 'fate' involved in it though, otherwise I would be a lot better off now! :rotfl:

I have seen it go the other way though where people have lost out through no fault of their own, not through greed (although in some cases no doubt that was the cause!) but that can be the hand that life deals us. In these cases they would of been better off just spending it as they got it, living normally and they would not of been worse off now.

My thing is thinking about health as if you've not got that then not a great deal else matters too much.

unrecordings wrote: »

So that's my attempt at multi quotes,

The multiquote does work but I don't tend to use it as I want to select area's of text to quote so its easier for me (previous occupation explains this actually!) to in this case quote/copy/back/quote another post/paste/grab the whole lot and repeat until I have everything I need in a posting window at which point I will trim it to the parts required and post. Phew!

PasturesNew wrote: »

They're expensive things when you add it up. You want a table (not just any table, if it's going to clutter up and crowd the space it has to be a nice one), then it needs chairs... then a tablecloth and a tablecloth for "best" and a tablecloth for Xmas. Then placemats, then "for best", then "for Xmas". Then you want better plates (even a full set!), then "for best" plates, then "for Xmas" plates. Ditto cutlery. So now you need a sideboard to keep it all in .... and, each Xmas, you're eyeing up the Xmas tablecloths etc again

Now let's talk about dishes.... some "for best" - ooh and some Xmas ones.

Best not to buy a table in the first place

Yes it can be a slippery slope with all the 'extras' ! I do recall years back we had a dining table in the kitchen but it was one of the ones with two folding sides so it would sit out the way (about 2ft x 1ft when folded up) and expand to about 4ft when 'open' , along with four rock hard chairs. I actually still have two or three of the chairs but one is doing duty with my computer sat on it as there's no desk space!

Regarding the table I mentioned earlier, if you search for "Overbed Table" and glance at the ones that have edges to them, similar to that. The one we did have here did not have a 'hospital' type look to it though. Can't find the exact model. I do see they vary in price by a huge margin from about £10 up to £100.


Dishes, oh its a bit early for Xmas , then again I did ask for a WFF catalogue the other day as their new one appeared, this has the added benefit of me automatically (in theory at least) getting a small A5 two page 'xmas' booklet from them. Used to use them a lot when a full time carer as it was invaluable. I do plan on getting a few small frozen treats for after the 'big day' in if I can but not a conventional 'full meal' shop, merely 3-4 frozen goodies so if I fancy something come the 26th/27th I can zap something. And they are actually nice (honest) not like some cardboardy meals I've had the erm pleasure to consume in the past.

PasturesNew wrote: »

While out I was in a "funny mood" and thought I'd wander into a shop for some sweeties, ended up in a CoOp but didn't see any - so emerged with a LARGE pack of tortilla chips

Oh I know exactly what you mean by this ( the rest of the post made sense too - enjoy! ) I'm quite guilty of going into the local BM with a mindset of just wanting a jar of coffee and/or a pack of plain biscuits and emerging with those items and a bag of crisps and probably something else. The worst case is when I 'forget' the original item I went for!

Wednesday2000 wrote: »

When my husband got cancer a few years it was a depressing conversation with the insurance people as his type of cancer wasn't covered by our policy. Luckily, he is okay now, well, he has to have another scan this week so I shouldn't tempt fate.

So pleased to read he is doing OK now. Slightly upset to read insurance people managed to avoid paying (not unexpected I suppose) but as long as he is OK/ on the mend etc , that is the main thing , you can't buy health!


Still not decided what to have to eat actually. I have a few thoughts. Oh I looked online last night at A1d's online erm shop, the last time I glanced at this about a year or two back I was unhappy as there was very little shown at all, it was not like an online shop more a 'here are a few things we have' , at least now there is a a half decent list of various things, some of which I have got my eye on already! I did plan on Monday as rain stopped play on Friday but apparently its raining Monday too here, but we shall see, if its dry and I feel OK I'm going!

I do have a bit of a thought now to slice up a couple of new potato's and fry them, except I do not have a frying pan at the moment (its a long story) , although I could use my medium saucepan I suppose, but no oil either so that may have to wait. Unhealthy probably I know but just in that sort of mood for some reason.

Brambling

caronc wrote: »

Did you like it cooked that way- hope it turned out nice and crispy? Rolling unexpected LOs have scuppered many of my meal plans:rotfl:

It turned out lovely and crispy and used a lot less oil than when I pan fried it . No room in the freezer so the LOs have to be eaten, I've had to check dates on other food and ensure the plan is in the correct order especially as it includes chicken.

My sister is getting rid of her second freezer and I've had to resist saying I'll come and pick it up, just the two things stopping me not sure it will fit in the car and it definitely won't fit i the kitchen

AndyCF

Oh (saves editing the above huge post) sorry did not quite realise how much there was in it.

Regarding cooking/frying oils please when used in a pan:

I do so little frying that a litre (about 1+2/3rds of a pint) bottle of oil is a waste as its well out of date before I have got a quarter of the way through it, I realise they are good to use for a bit longer but still...

What I wanted to know, these little instant 'sprays' meant for air fryers (friers?) and the like, although a bit more monies possibly it may be for me a slightly more economical choice. Would the oils within said spray be suitable for this ? As in spray gently the inside of the pan base ?

I suppose all I'm asking really is if anyone tried the above with those type of spray oils as I think the local places have them at sane prices, within reason.

I'm torn between cost vs waste here. If it were up to me, I'd love a 1/4 litre (approx half a pint) bottle of cooking oil or smaller but it seems difficult to find. Local shops have 1L bottles or larger, one of them at least has it in catering sizes, including a 20 or 25 litre drum ( ! )

unrecordings

On the oil front, I'm wondering if there's a means of getting little sachets, like you would with mayo, vinegar etc

caronc

Brambling wrote: »

It turned out lovely and crispy and used a lot less oil than when I pan fried it . No room in the freezer so the LOs have to be eaten, I've had to check dates on other food and ensure the plan is in the correct order especially as it includes chicken.

My sister is getting rid of her second freezer and I've had to resist saying I'll come and pick it up, just the two things stopping me not sure it will fit in the car and it definitely won't fit i the kitchen

Glad it worked for you:D. While spare freezer might not fit in the kitchen a) do you know anyone with a bigger car and b) could it go somewhere else? As you probably have guessed I'm in the "you can never have too much freezer space" camp:rotfl::rotfl:

AndyCF wrote: »

Oh (saves editing the above huge post) sorry did not quite realise how much there was in it.

Regarding cooking/frying oils please when used in a pan:

I do so little frying that a litre (about 1+2/3rds of a pint) bottle of oil is a waste as its well out of date before I have got a quarter of the way through it, I realise they are good to use for a bit longer but still...

What I wanted to know, these little instant 'sprays' meant for air fryers (friers?) and the like, although a bit more monies possibly it may be for me a slightly more economical choice. Would the oils within said spray be suitable for this ? As in spray gently the inside of the pan base ?

I suppose all I'm asking really is if anyone tried the above with those type of spray oils as I think the local places have them at sane prices, within reason.

I'm torn between cost vs waste here. If it were up to me, I'd love a 1/4 litre (approx half a pint) bottle of cooking oil or smaller but it seems difficult to find. Local shops have 1L bottles or larger, one of them at least has it in catering sizes, including a 20 or 25 litre drum ( ! )

I don't use much oil and tbh don't ever look at the BBE date, keep it in a cupboard in the dark and it will last for a long, long, time. I've tried the sprays and tbh I felt they were really poor value and I was paying for a lot of water, additives and thickeners. A litre of oil in a coolish dark place will keep for at least year probably much, much more and if you want a spray small spray bottles are really cheap online. Equally a splash in a pan with a rub round with kitchen roll or a cheap pastry brush work just as well. You could get a spray to try and see how you get on then decide from there.

Brambling

AndyCF I found that some of the spray oils for example frylight are no good for frying pans it seems to leave a sticky residue which won't wash off.

I know you can get smaller bottles of some oils although as with a lot of things they work out more expensive per ml than larger bottles. My current bottle of olive oil is 750ml and has been open for at least 6 months I don't look at dates on oil

It may be worth seeing if the £ shop has smaller bottles

AndyCF

Thanks all regarding the oils. Keeping in the dark is a good idea, I do keep them at the end of the pantry area which is slightly dark by its nature anyway, well dull I suppose.

On a fractionally different note: I was given a new deep fryer a while ago, quite a while ago but this one I've yet to use! It is absolutely tiny though, the basket is about the size of a large mug, similar to those sys type microwave mugs if that large. On a positive note it is low wattage and does mean there would be little wastage as it holds so little oil! I purchased a bottle of oil with a plan to use it but ended up giving the oil away last December, still un-opened when I realised it only had a couple of weeks life left (datestamp wise anyway) to a neighbour who does use quite a bit of oil so they were pleased with a freebie even with the short date. The fryer I think you'd not get a decent size chicken/turkey drumstick in it though! Mind you if all you want is some fried chips or a few potato slices it would be ideal. A waffle would not fit, I'll put it that way, then again a deep fried waffle =

Suspect it is "good to use" for months afterwards if its been kept in the dark. I can't recall if the datestamp was a 'use by' or 'best before' affair though.

Pan fry for me is so so rare though hence my thought on a tiny bottle. Pleased to learn some of the airfry oil is not that suitable though, but I could do with a new pan actually. Talking of that the local bargain shop has (or had) a while back some very curious tiny frying pans in , 10 or 12 cm (about 4 inches diameter) , I think they were meant for eggs perhaps. One of those might suit me I think they were about £3 or £4

PasturesNew

I've been here 5 years, not used the hob or oven once. Once I moved in I realised the previous owner must have been a huge (she looked it too) fan of stir fries... there was a thin coating of oil on all the blinds. I don't think people realise just how much oil is carried in all that frying steam... and it settles.

A good business model would be to start a "domestic kitchen deep cleaning service" and publish lots of stir fry recipes on Facebook to advertise ..... make your own customers

I try to cook in ways that minimise muck and cleaning up.