Cooking for one (Mark Three)

caronc

Glad all went ok at the review Brambling - just need to keep an eye on that peak flow. Sisters are handy at removing surplus aren't they, mine popped earlier by to liberate a bag of tomatoes :rotfl:

Re-crisped tofu with green veg sounds lovely, I must buy some more tofu as I really enjoyed it in the ramen and I have ramen stock in the freezer!

Brambling

caronc wrote: »

Glad all went ok at the review Brambling -
Re-crisped tofu with green veg sounds lovely, I must buy some more tofu as I really enjoyed it in the ramen and I have ramen stock in the freezer!

The last couple of times I've brought the smoked Tofoo brand of tofu which doesn't need pressing and has a nice smoked favour .

unrecordings

AndyCF wrote: »

Wish I could find the small cardboard pack of them still but they are obviously long since gone as it was donkey's years ago. I did have a random 'do you remember' search on those foody sites without luck.

That reminds me does anyone remember a 'well known' brand probably beginning with P that still sells a lot of tinned meats but also sells meat paste ? The question here is does anyone remember a time when these used to come in white/off white small oblong-ish (but rounded) ceramic type pots ? They were definately ceramic or suchlike not plastic! Talking possibly early 80's here. For some reason I'm reminded of the vaseline 'half rounded but rectangle shaped' small tubs as its shape is not that dissimilar. I do remember them but no one else does!

For the onions - Whitworth (now Dr Oetker and/or Great Scot?) Got a box in the pantry - seems to be still readily available under the Great Scot brand

For beef spread, our local brand was Binghams. Recently revived by the original family, but looks like Shippams is also still going

PasturesNew

AndyCF wrote: »

The question here is does anyone remember a time when these used to come in white/off white small oblong-ish (but rounded) ceramic type pots ? They were definately ceramic or suchlike not plastic! Talking possibly early 80's here. For some reason I'm reminded of the vaseline 'half rounded but rectangle shaped' small tubs as its shape is not that dissimilar. I do remember them but no one else does!

I remember them.

I'm sure they're still about ... aren't they?

Can't think of the name right now.

AndyCF wrote: »

Note to self: Try to find a brand of frozen chips/fries in a brand you've heard of before and a -small- bag for < £2 this week.

My preferred ones are 1.5Kg at L1dl, 95p. Straight Cut Chips.
I did have to get the 4ldi 1.5Kg version at about the same price the other day; they were thinner fries and I was surprised that they were also fine.

I still prefer the L1dl ones, but would buy the 4ldi ones again. Both bags definitely 1.5Kg. Both <£1.

PasturesNew

I'm twitchy today.

Got to phone to make an appointment to view a little place... but my paperwork hasn't finally been exchanged (was hoping for that last Friday).

The thing is ... what I want to see isn't "perfect" by any means and their pricing is "all over the place". They wanted £345k for it... then, yesterday, dropped to £320k. Others have sold close by this year that are the same size (£280k) and one bigger was on at £300k and sold.

The main thing is .... I don't have £320k, at all. Nowhere. Can't borrow a bean. So I'll view it, but unless they take my lower offer of an amount I have, then that's it, game over on that one And if they did, by a miracle, accept my offer, there'd not be 10p left over for any chance of affording a little conservatory.... it's just one living room, one kitchen, 2 bedrooms, bathroom.

House hunting makes one .... eat a lot more rubbish than usual, for a variety of reasons. So easy to justify trying out every chip shop in the locality of a house each time I do a viewing.

This one's just round the corner from a chippy AND the Co-op. I usually end up in that Co-Op buying their cheese/onion "sausage" rolls I also tried that chippy a few months back when I did a viewing.... it's passable.

AndyCF

@Unrecordings, yes the local BM recently started to have the ShipShape brand in relatively cheaply (pinkish/brownish label on them) an the more usual 'P' brand too (blue label) , not seen the 'B' brand locally, have heard of them but my local shops are fractionally limited somewhat.

Not shown online but from memory the former was only in chicken or beef pots (tiny pots as you'd expect) for about 35p and the latter brand similar size pots were in beef / chicken or a fish, can't remember what sort possibly Tuna for about 45p.

Occasionally I'd get one or two of the latter brand and keep them as a standby, given the small pot size a large cob and you've used it up if you're generous! , Was a time where I'd just get some crackers and make a 'triple' cracker stack using three crackers with a bit of paste in between each, that was quite a nice lunchbox treat actually.

AndyCF

PasturesNew wrote: »

I remember them.

I'm sure they're still about ... aren't they?

Can't think of the name right now.

I've not seen them in that 'container' for a long time, it is just something I can clearly recall (well reasonably clearly!) when growing up. Certainly some kind of ceramic type white/offwhite pot.

Child of the 80's here! , although given who I was raised by it really should be 70's or 60's so I'm sort of half and half with that. Difficult to explain.

PasturesNew wrote: »

My preferred ones are 1.5Kg at L1dl, 95p. Straight Cut Chips.
I did have to get the 4ldi 1.5Kg version at about the same price the other day; they were thinner fries and I was surprised that they were also fine.

I still prefer the L1dl ones, but would buy the 4ldi ones again. Both bags definitely 1.5Kg. Both <£1.

Thanks. That's interesting you prefer the L's over the A's, I would of assumed the quality ( wrong word I know) of the A's was a bit higher but fractionally more pennies.

I do plan on examining their frozen treats when there, only issue is one of defrost on the 40 min walk home perhaps. One local place does have some 'euro' branded frozen ones but they do not inspire somehow and are not that cheap either compared to a 'well known' brand. I need to take another look. Next week for Ald's as that is when pennies should arrive, seems silly to go this week and have 5 or less worth when about this day next week the pantry will be wanting a top-up anyway.

There is a mini convenience 'T's about 20 min away that has a freezer too, but the only issue I've had on the two visits there is it stocks very little T branded bits and it is generally expensive, it is more like a regular 'go local type' place with the odd sprinkling of their own brand. For instance i wanted some T branded soup or biscuits only to be told they did not have any ( ! ) :rotfl: , this was months ago so it may of changed as I've been told its had a bit of a mini refurb.

I probably should buy some kind of cool-bag though as that would likely cost the same as two taxi fares and something I'd always have.

AndyCF

Back now, feral colony just been given their second breakfast. Have to do it in two batches to ensure they all get enough.

My breakfast consisted this morning of a few plain richtea biscuits and a coffee, that's quite enough for the moment for me. Much busy today I think.

PasturesNew wrote: »

I'm twitchy today.

Got to phone to make an appointment to view a little place... but my paperwork hasn't finally been exchanged (was hoping for that last Friday).

I had similar about 5 years ago, did not actually move in the end as the agent messed me about so much and I did not know better. Reality was in much hindsight I should of gone to their office for some common sense as each time I spoke to someone one the phone I was given a different excuse! Spoke to a neighbours son about them a few months later who rented via them and had no issues at all, so it was merely a case of 'bad luck' for me. This did cause a different turn of events that have shaped things the past couple of years both good and bad.

PasturesNew wrote: »

The thing is ... what I want to see isn't "perfect" by any means and their pricing is "all over the place".

I guess they always ask a lot more than they are going to accept. A bit like most things really I suppose. If you had a car that was worth (realistically) say £1000 you could "ask/advertise" it for 2K or whatever you want, but at the end of the day you're only going to get what someone is willing to pay. Only issue here is supply/demand with housing making things a -lot- more than they should be. IMO house prices in general if you look around Europe compared to here, they are about 2 or 3 times what they are "really" worth. Sheer estate agents greed perhaps ? Its only a numbers game unless you own multiple properties. Much I could say about all this. -holds tongue-

I still recall actually years back a colleage at work who was pleased to have found his small house was worth about 80K having only paid 30 something for it fifteen years previous. It was his only property. Thing is "everywhere else" had also risen in price so he was actually not really any better off as moving to a similar property would cost the same! A fact that escaped him.


Anyway I am sure you're call and appointment will go to plan. Bit early to say this but I hope its just as nice as you'd expect to find.

PasturesNew wrote: »

House hunting makes one .... eat a lot more rubbish than usual, for a variety of reasons. So easy to justify trying out every chip shop in the locality of a house each time I do a viewing.

This one's just round the corner from a chippy AND the Co-op. I usually end up in that Co-Op buying their cheese/onion "sausage" rolls I also tried that chippy a few months back when I did a viewing.... it's passable.

Different shops suggest moving a bit rather than "around the corner" , as one relative has moved three times in ten odd years but always within the same village. The change of shops is usually not unwelcome though! ( unless you moved in near here then you'd probably see why I make odd shop comments! :rotfl: )

Good to know chippy is passable, our local is very hit/miss. I very rarely go in. To be frank it is quite obvious to me either its the mega cheap ingredients or older oil (probably the former) as its not as good as it was and it was not brilliant anyway. Where I used to hang about a few years ago there was a brilliant but expensive chippy so I was spoilt in a way but I've yet to find another as good, it was expensive but they were -always- busy even compared to the cheaper chippy not that far away so it did work well.

One thing someone did say to me in the defence of the local one was "its always had a 5-star rating" , I've pointed out that is hygiene not quality, all that means (to me at least) is the place is clean and they know how to store/prep foods. To be fair the place is absolutely spotless at all times, shame the quality is not that good, its not even cheap either but there is not another one within a sensible range, nearest alternative is about 15-20 minutes walk.

caronc

Brambling wrote: »

The last couple of times I've brought the smoked Tofoo brand of tofu which doesn't need pressing and has a nice smoked favour .

I'm keeping an eye for smoked tofu but so far no joy locally.


Good morning everyone,

I'm not surprised you are "twitchy" PN, it never fails to flabbergast me the difference in house prices across the UK, Round here for £320k you could get two of the properties you decribe in decent areas with money left over. Probably three if you were less bothered about the area they were in or didn't mind having to upgrade it. Though as Andy says it's all relative to the local market.
After a wild night (my back gate has blown off it's hinges:eek:) it's dry and sunnyish this morning but definitely on the chilly side. I've had to pop a light jumper over my long sleeved top.
No gardening planned to day, I must tackle a pile of ironing as I've been avoiding it for weeks. I reckon I'll be fairly safe to ignore the shorts and sleeveless tops though!
Lentil soup for lunch again, I'll freeze what's left today and griddled chicken thighs with rice & veg tonight.

caronc

It's a hard slog PN and as you say an area that looks ok sometimes isn't and vice versa!