Cooking for one (Mark Three)

Brambling

She lost her sister ten years ago to it Caronc but the doctor is calling it good news compared to what they thought it was so they are holding on to that.

This year I've become more aware that my four oldest siblings and their spouses are all over 70, there have been some serious health scares this year

caronc

Good morning everyone,

Doctors aren't unrealistically positive in my experience Brambling so if they are saying it's good news I'd believe them <<hugs>>.
I'm having a much needed cuppa after scrubbing the bathroom - suffice to say my balance is still less than co-operative!
Groceries should arrive shortly and then my sis is popping round, my son should arrive before three if there are no hold ups. The place is reasonably clean and tidy and I'm looking forward to just chilling out with my boy for a few hours.
Salady bits for lunch and broccoli & pesto stuffed pasta for dinner.

unrecordings

caronc wrote: »

Sorry to hear you are struggling unrecordings - nothing like a rubber chicken to give lots of lovely meals - chicken dinners are so comforting. Hope you can find have enough oomph to make the carcass and the bits the cat hasn't snaffled into some lovely stock for HM soup. HM chicken soup is hard to beat if you are under par. <<hugs>>.

Yup I was thinking of soup, I've got a great recipe somewhere, but we'll see what's left - carcass was stripped & disposed of days ago (we balance vegan with omnivore in this household). Then of course there's ramen...

pattypan4

This getting older isn`t nice, I have been re-vamping things just in case, who gets what and all in %ages because goodness knows what would be left. I am thinking of doing a formal LPA, now that is scary but I know is sensible
Venison on sale in the local butchers yesterday, bought some and bulked it out good and proper, had some yesterday and have frozen 7 small portions. Its a bit strong tbh but ok, not bothering again. It wasn`t expensive and I crunched on juniper berries
Today is just an all in one steam meal, lots of veg and a small piece of skinned salmon. I am definitely losing weight eating this sort of food and I bought Katie Caldessi book after reading lovely recipes in the DM. I like the sound of all the recipes but as alwaysI will have to adapt them to cook solo. I don`t have the dreaded diabetes but am certainly in that age group when it strikes and am addicted to sugar. Sigh

Wednesday2000

I had a raisin and cinnamon bagel with marg for breakfast.

I had a craving for raspberry jam so I ordered some in the shopping.

I made stuffing yesterday so I'm having the leftovers with steamed broccoli, carrots and peas with gravy for lunch today. It's rainy here so I didn't go for a long walk today. I just popped to the shops to buy carrots and oranges.

caronc wrote: »

Lunch today was crackers with brie, a sliced "Purple Cherokee" beefsteak tomato and some grapes. The tomato was super delicious - but the last one I think I'll get this year:(. It's first time I've grown that variety and they did really well so one for growing next year.

I've never heard of that.:) Sounds interesting.

Brambling wrote: »

I was given a good piece of family news tonight my sis-in-law who was told she had lung cancer a couple of weeks ago has now been told she hasn't although she does have a return of the breast cancer she first had 20 years ago it is a better prognosis and the doctor is really optimistic on her beating it again, the future isn't looking as bad as it was which is why we are calling it good news :T

I'm glad she didn't have lung cancer.xx

Farway

Woke to more rain but needed to get up anyway, shopping day plus I had parcel to collect, from sorting office, I was out when Postie called this time:(

Nothing exciting, but topped up again with YS rolls 6 pack 50p. I had hoped for YS weekend gammon joint in W8rose, but the YS ones were huge & way over my needs or requirements so left tem on the shelf

Lunch was another pair of YS roils with cheese & chutney filling

I'm not that hungry today, I expect I could force down a choc bar or lump of Stilton & crackers.

Because of this dinner is unknown. I've taken some LO own SC gammon out to defrost, and if it's unfrozen come hunger time I may have some with eggs, chips & LO beans, or maybe just bung a slice in one of the new YS rolls
Just have to see how I feel

AndyCF wrote: »

(Not aimed any anyone just general) I want to ask a daft question related to chips , specifically utensils. Those 'potato cutters that you see, I was told to "avoid the plastic cheap ones as it will only last a few go's" , are they actually any good ? The type that you insert a potato in, pull/push etc and end up with some chips. Last time I looked they were about £12 I think for a metal one. Realise a "professional" badged one is about 4 times that price and chip shops will have an automatic 'tub thing' that rumbles and likely chips etc all in one.

I've had both, the plastic fall apart type, useless, and I've a sturdy metal one, from L's I think
Also useless for one person. Two reasons
1/ Can slice chips for one with a knife more quickly, taking into account washing up after
2/ Spuds are not nicely routinely shaped, so finish up with odd shaped chips, skinny bits shaved off sides etc

OK if you spot one going cheap as chips:D in charity shop or car boot, otherwise use a sharp knife

AndyCF

I think the quoting here has got out of dating order, sorry. At least I managed to reply to each quote/partial quote correctly.

Rain stopped play today again. I did manage to get a fruity loaf locally as well as a couple of small beefy paste. Not to have together though I don't think that would go too well.

PasturesNew wrote: »

Just popped out, on a whim, to the local chippy. £2.50 but it's a big portion and they're good.

Our local one is both expensive and a bit (to be honest) grim sometimes. I think I posted a bit about it before so I won't repeat. , lack of competition locally for some reason. There are others but its roughly 1.5 miles to the nearest, excluding the Chinese (£3 but nice) or a selection of take-away type places that 'might' do chips in a vague sense.

unrecordings wrote: »

Today was the main event, not done for a couple of years, roast potatoes, broccoli, carrots, sprouts, in fact a chicken dinner but with lukewarm chicken (the gravy warmed it up a little) - fantastic. And more flobble for the cat. Tomorrow probably chicken rice & peas, thence to Friday and FISHANDCHIPS (nothing for cat there as I like my salt & vinegar)

I keep thinking about getting him a fishcake as they are 50p and breaded, but I'm not that keen on fishcakes myself, but I thought for a 'cat treat' as they are only small I could eat the coating and about 1/3rd of the fish and then give the rest of it to the cat. Maybe.

caronc wrote: »

Doctors aren't unrealistically positive in my experience Brambling so if they are saying it's good news I'd believe them <<hugs>>.
I'm having a much needed cuppa after scrubbing the bathroom - suffice to say my balance is still less than co-operative!
Groceries should arrive shortly and then my sis is popping round, my son should arrive before three if there are no hold ups. The place is reasonably clean and tidy and I'm looking forward to just chilling out with my boy for a few hours.
Salady bits for lunch and broccoli & pesto stuffed pasta for dinner.

I'd concur with that. The last one I saw, she was quite young (younger than me anyway I'd guess) but very direct indeed. To be honest I preferred this, no "beating about the bush" as such.

Hope the grocery order was everything that was required. :T

unrecordings wrote: »

Yup I was thinking of soup, I've got a great recipe somewhere, but we'll see what's left - carcass was stripped & disposed of days ago (we balance vegan with omnivore in this household). Then of course there's ramen...

I see a vague plan of a few bits of veg + a pot or perhaps a soupmaker** = much yums.

** Jury is still out on their usefulness although one neighbour swears by (not at!) theirs.

Farway wrote: »

Woke to more rain but needed to get up anyway, shopping day plus I had parcel to collect, from sorting office, I was out when Postie called this time:(

More rain here today too, had a vague idea of A1ld but it will have to wait, I don't want a free shower when I can wait a day for the visit, tis more of a 'look around' than anything else really.

I tend to do the online 'will leave at local post office' thing for anything I miss, as even though there is a small cost to it, the sorting office is about 45 minutes walk away and when I had the car the parking was nearly £1 a couple of years ago. You could not "chance it for 5 minutes" as there was -always- a warden there as it was a prime 'location' for them. Just a thought ( you no doubt have I guess ) if its more convenient/easier to go to a post office you elect rather than the sorting office. Do have to wait another day I think sometimes though.

Farway wrote: »

I've had both, the plastic fall apart type, useless, and I've a sturdy metal one, from L's I think
Also useless for one person. Two reasons
1/ Can slice chips for one with a knife more quickly, taking into account washing up after
2/ Spuds are not nicely routinely shaped, so finish up with odd shaped chips, skinny bits shaved off sides etc

OK if you spot one going cheap as chips:D in charity shop or car boot, otherwise use a sharp knife

Thanks. Yes knife slightly easier I know its not like I'm doing hundreds it was not lazyness :rotfl: , it was more I though it would be useful really. You do raise a -very- good idea about a good metal ( ? ) one if I should see it cheaply, I'll likely do that.

Brambling

pattypan4 wrote: »

This getting older isn`t nice, I have been re-vamping things just in case, who gets what and all in %ages because goodness knows what would be left. I am thinking of doing a formal LPA, now that is scary but I know is sensible

I am definitely losing weight eating this sort of food and I bought Katie Caldessi book after reading lovely recipes in the DM. I like the sound of all the recipes but as alwaysI will have to adapt them to cook solo. I don`t have the dreaded diabetes but am certainly in that age group when it strikes and am addicted to sugar. Sigh

I think getting a LPA is sensible Pattypan and hopefully won't be needed even though I'm only in my fifties but with no partner or children it's something I have been thinking about if only the medical one. I want to chose who makes that decision over my body if I can't :cool: I've been helping an elderly former neighbour complete hers as she has no family and it's worth doing yourself as the forms aren't complicated and they give plenty of guidelines.

I've not heard of Katie Caldessi I may have to go and google her, not that I need anymore cookery books

Farway wrote: »

. I had hoped for YS weekend gammon joint in W8rose, but the YS ones were huge & way over my needs or requirements so left tem on the shelf

I had the same problem in W8rose today as well, loads of gammon joints YS but all huge i did pick up some green beans (runner and french), broccoli and fennel and apples all half price YS but resisted the meat as i've plenty to eat in the freezer and only wanted to buy fresh food. It was nice to get a walk in lunch time as it stopped raining this afternoon :j

I'm off out tonight to a screening of the National Theatre One Man Two Guvnors as part of their 10 year anniversary, so not sure about dinner as I will have less than a hour once I get home (traffic willing) so may be beans on toast or something similar. I forgot to take out a HM ready meal from the freezer :wall:

Lunch was a goat cheese and fig salad (using up the last of the goats cheese) I think it will soon be the start of the soup making season for work lunches

pattypan4

Thanks brambling, I must admit I was dithering about LPA but I do know that suddenly it can be too late and a court takes over rather than somone you want. I will make an appointment tomorrow as I am going to get my will updated

unrecordings

Talking of LPAs etc , as a general point having gone through this at the end of last year there are discounts available via some condition specific charities (ie Macmillan/Marie Curie etc). And. If you need to protect your unmarried partner, a 'deathbed wedding' does not necessarily have that literal meaning. With the help of your GP things can be arranged much earlier (though it's bloody expensive but worth it for peace of mind)