Cooking for one (Mark Three)

[Deleted User]

Last night ausage and pasta was nice, sauce turned out to be a chilli tomatoey sausce, forgot to get spinach from freezer so added peas and just did in saucepan. Have put some carrots and orange juice in pan to make soup for a few days, will add onions and cumin I think. Got some rice from freezer and the last 2 chilli sausages so have searched the net for recipes for tonight.

Farway

Wet & windy again, bit of a nuisance I was hoping to pop out & harvest my grapes, there are only a few bunches but they'll soon rot in this damp. Just checked the weather radar, seems it'll ease to drizzle after lunch so could be my opportunity

PN, congrats on the gas hob, mine lights on it's own, but just in case I've got something like this

It is similar ciggy lighter in operation, but has long stalk to stop burning yourself. Mine's a cheap knock off, under £2

CRB, yes I think they are now transferable due to absolute shambles in administration, people losing jobs due to delays etc but not sure about expiry dates

Andy, the xox cup soup, reminds me of my yoof, used to be able to buy cup of hot *ovril after swimming, does any one still drink that? I liked it BTW, especially as the swimming pool was outdoor unheated, queues of shivering kids waiting for *ovril
Probably be reported now for child cruelty:)


The SC gammon turned out fine, plenty left, thus lunch is gammon + something rolls
Dinner is also gammon + something, but not salad in this weather

purpleybat

PasturesNew wrote: »

It can be a bit annoying to cook in a shared kitchen as you're super-conscious of what's where/what needs washing up etc as you're cooking. Just the other day I cooked my cooked breakfast and had washed up and left the clean dishes just draining until I'd eaten, then the LL appeared and after 2-3 minutes was mithering about who had left the dishes/whose were they? And I was half way through eating my meal and had to say they were mine.... it "grates". Glad I don't have to live forever in any form of shared housing....

that would seriously annoy me too.

i did tho have a thought about the gas stove but i think you would want to get someone else to check if unnerved by it.
my gas stove, after cleaning, if you don't sit the 'caps' (the black discs) on in quite the right place the burners won't light or only burn one side. it's a case of repositioning them which generally is to take them off, pop them on and wiggle them, they should feel secure
if still no joy then i take off the 'holey' chimney thing and do the same.
it should all slot in and feel secure.
it should, in theory, now burn normally
i find sometimes when i dismantle mine to clean it i don't always slot it all back in together quite snuggly.
again, if unnerved by it ask your landlady, i've always used gas stoves so used to them.

supermarkets here are quietest between 10 and 11, seems after the school runners and before the lunch breakers. when i was recovering from agoraphobia i always went then and if i can i still try for that time.

Farway

It stopped raining just long enough for me to whiz out & pick my grapes, 5 bunches:j Plus a bit of sneaky scrumping of a few next door's unpicked apples & pears:money:


Dinner decided, more ham, eggs & chips, but to try and chuck a bit of healthy food in I'm going to make a fresh fruit [[STRIKE]stolen [/STRIKE]salvaged pears, HG apples, YS mango, HG grapes] salad + yoghurt for later.

AndyCF

Afternoon all. Raining here just for a change! :rotfl:

A few 'mentions' but not in the correct posted order sorry.

@Brambling, the instant home made soupy cup was just a random thought! I simply figured some will drink an xox in a mug of hot water so why not use the veggie ones instead and then you're halfway there.

I realised I missed a bit out from my post too, it should of said about the 'extra veg' to put them in a mug of water, microwave them (so they are ready to eat) then put them into the veggie xox mug. Although upon re-reading it, what I did post made vague sense I think.


@Wednesday2000 yes does seem odd about the 'checks' but I'll have to see. I have to be realistic here it is likely a few months time really now the bad weather has started to set in, unless a few 'other things ongoing' actually work in my favour which seems unlikely but you never know.

The couple of placements I glanced at the other day out of mere curiosity (they were not even in my town I just looked at random as location did not matter for this) both wanted the checks but they would 're-reimburse' after a time period which is the fair way really. Its not as though these jobs are high paying.


@Farway I have a similar item for lighting mine. Tis only a 'fag lighter on a stalk' I suppose, bit crude way of putting it I know, sorry!

I did try the alternatives years ago , the one you just have either a battery and it makes a vague spark (not great would never light the oven when I had one that worked) and the one that has no battery and just sparks via a crystal (again not brilliant) so I have one similar to the above now. Occasionally pound shops have them too. The one I have now is the Cr1k3t branded one. Works well enough, but they in general (these type of things) only seem to last a year or two at best before something plastic breaks and you have to replace them.

Not a big concern I suppose. Don't forget to put the plastic in the recycling! It is recyclable.

Can't say I've tried *ovril actually. Cannot remember anyway. Was there/is there not some kind of 'drinking choc' from Bournv ? I've seen the baking one but nothing else, come to think of it I've not seen their choc bars for a long time either. I do remember trying some of the 'baking' one in a coffee and it was not brilliant!


@unrecordings I was not sure on the 'Snack Masters' thing , some of the 'factory' ones are reasonable to watch but I have mechanical fascinations too so that may explain part of the reasoning. The only downside is I get hungry watching these types of things, one reason I keep away from the Food channels now.


@PN Yes there's a few compromised with 'shared' , I've not tried myself but a couple of friends have with mixed results as you'd expect. It was only short term similar to yourself though, a few weeks. Regarding cleanup well it could of been worse and you'd left it all 'sat there dirty' until you'd eaten.

Generally when I've prepared something I'll just fill the pans/bits left over with water hot if possible via kettle but if not cold and leave them on the side of the sink area until I've eaten before anything 'hot cooked' gets cold. I do clean-up as its the first job as soon as I've finished but I'll not stop to 'clean' after prepping unless I have to.

I'm not the type of person who fills the sink with used dishes all day, then at the end of the day/evening has to spend an hour with them all! That's what I meant. Although each to their own if some are happy doing it this way that's fine with me.

Obviously 'shared' I'd probably have to make more of an effort to at least 'put them out the way' I guess all I'm saying is I'd not leave 'empty food remnants' in a pot etc I'd always fill it with water to soak quietly for 20 minutes while I erm 'attended to the yum yums'


Regarding foods here: While in BM earlier between rain showers, decided to take a risk (for me) got two small tins of Hz's beans+sausage. Its the tomato sauce that is the concern however I plan on not wasting it, merely cooking them 'as is' and trying them. The mini sausage content also slightly appeals. Decided if I can't eat it I can strain it out and just eat the content, the small 'absorbed' amount of tomato won't matter.

50p/tin for the Hz' bean/sausage seems reasonable. There were the multipacks of them but they were either lacking sausages or were the large tins, I could not risk the purchase in case I hated them, the £1 for two tins seems a reasonable chance. I only got two in case I liked the first one as they are the smaller tins.

I did see Morrs actually have their copy of these, but they also did a veggie sausage variant too, that looks worth trying just (I think) for the sake of it perhaps.


Grabbed another 50/50 loaf today too , was planning tomorrow on that but while looking for stamps I noted one corner shop had a few left and they had a couple of days on them so good enough for me. It took asking in three shops to get 2nd class stamps actually as the others only had 1st. I actually 'needed' 2nds. I did eventually get them, saves waiting for PO to open tomorrow as the bits are now in the postbox etc.

Jury still out on if I ought to have the 50/50 or the wholemeal however I'll risk this one again then go back to wholemeal and probably as I think I mentioned have a 50/50 every third or so 'purchase time' to alternate it a bit, I think every other time (there's a 50/50 pun there!) is too often.

Farway

AndyCF wrote: »

Can't say I've tried *ovril actually. Cannot remember anyway. Was there/is there not some kind of 'drinking choc' from Bournv ? I've seen the baking one but nothing else, come to think of it I've not seen their choc bars for a long time either. I do remember trying some of the 'baking' one in a coffee and it was not brilliant!

I've seen the Cadb'y one, but plenty of look a likes around. I prefer the convenience of the instant just add water type but never buy them, too calorific. One of the first items I use from the tray when in a hotel room:D

AndyCF wrote: »

Regarding foods here: While in BM earlier between rain showers, decided to take a risk (for me) got two small tins of Hz's beans+sausage. Its the tomato sauce that is the concern however I plan on not wasting it, merely cooking them 'as is' and trying them. The mini sausage content also slightly appeals. Decided if I can't eat it I can strain it out and just eat the content, the small 'absorbed' amount of tomato won't matter.

50p/tin for the Hz' bean/sausage seems reasonable. There were the multipacks of them but they were either lacking sausages or were the large tins, I could not risk the purchase in case I hated them, the £1 for two tins seems a reasonable chance. I only got two in case I liked the first one as they are the smaller tins.

I did see Morrs actually have their copy of these, but they also did a veggie sausage variant too, that looks worth trying just (I think) for the sake of it perhaps. .

I love the sausages & beans, again something I never buy these days since I became more aware of just what could be in the sausages.
I wouldn't buy an unknown brand of these anyway

I found them just a bit spicy / peppery but maybe it was just me. I may just look out for the veggie version , seems others do them including Branst*n

unrecordings

Farway wrote: »

I love the sausages & beans, again something I never buy these days since I became more aware of just what could be in the sausages.
I wouldn't buy an unknown brand of these anyway

I've had some fairly nasty sausage rolls over the years, so stopped eating them about 20 years ago - except for simple vegan/vegetarian ones, so no unpleasant surprises. The Linda Mac ones are really nice.

Funnily enough last time I was in Food Warehouse I got a tin of 'all day breakfast' - think it was Crosse & Blackwell - it replaced the emergency tin I had last year on a bad chemo day

AndyCF

Thanks @Farway

Yes BM do have both some bbq ones and/or Brnstn , unless they are one and the same I cannot recall. I think they have Hz's and Brnst. I don't like vinegar content though either so Worcestershire type sauce content is out unfortunately. I suppose if I see a tiny Hz or Brn tin I should get just one to 'find out for sure' as its been a long time. Same with their hoops and the like.

As per usual with them and other online listings, what is in the shops/stocked in the shop varies from what is online but that's expected. For instance my local does not have -any- frozen bits as they have no freezer, they have only recently expanded the "cool shelf" area from one unit to about 4.

Silly example would be those Smed's tinned pots, no signs of them online but they've been selling them for at least oh 6 weeks if not longer now!

Do you think the ones (if I can find them!) with the veggie sausage would be a better bet then ? I'm thinking only Hz's here simply as I can't get to Morr's anyway, no doubt other markets have them but I'd probably want a decent brand for 'new things' to try to start with.

I am actually aware of one relative who does buy the beans/sausage and does not eat meat, but she cooks them with the saus and removes said items for the doggies to eat. I think its a 'flavouring' thing perhaps. Mind you saying 'no meat' she does eat chipshop "fish cake in breadcrumbs" on rare occasions (the relative not the doggies!) but that is about as far as it goes, and I think that's probably once/twice a year. No other meat foods for her at all, not even say chipshop battered fish etc.


@unrecordings, I did not get around to trying LM's sausage rolls or pies as it insisted on an oven, mind you their regular sausage -does- work OK in the microwave with a bit of care.

The 'all day' things I tried one once and it was terrible, to be fair it was not the 'well known brand' that does three or four different types in these tins it was some erm 'bargain' one. I daresay the well known 'hungry br3kes" branded ones are quite reasonable.

caronc

Good evening everyone,

I'm back to CFO again!

Goodness hot bovril/oxo reminds me of being a wee girl and going fishing with my Dad at the local harbour. I had a hand-line rather than a rod and used to love it:), I could only have been 4 or 5:eek: as we hadn't long moved to near where we used to go. It was always freezing and we always had a flask of a beefy drink with us. You do see it sometimes offered as a hot drink in traditional cafes but can't think of the last time I had it. My Dad was always scared I would fall in and used to rein me to railings with my sister's pram harness and a length of rope if it was really windy which it always seemed to be. :cool: He used to tie me to him until his pal pointed out if he fell he'd take me with him!
I much prefer cocoa to the instant drinking chocolate even though it is a faff. I do sometimes make it in the winter. I like the malted drinks too on a cold night.:)


I didn't expected to read you had been using a gas hob PN, great news . Do you think when you get your new place that you might feel able to use an electric hob if it was one you could switch the circuit off at the wall when not in use?

The weather has been pretty foul since last evening but thankfully for most of the day yesterday it stayed dry and we got the remaining clearance done at my Dad's. I do need to start clearing my dining room as it's has become a bit of a dumping ground for stuff from his house that myself or other folk are keeping and some ornaments we are planning to have valued.

My son didn't go out last night and we had a lovely chilled evening together, treating ourselves to a "posh" Indian takeaway from a restaurant a few miles away (priceyish but very good) and watching "Shaun of Dead" for the umpteenth time as we both enjoy it.:D Our local takeaway/restaurant is decent enough but sometimes the takeaways are less good when the restaurant and take out demand is high at the weekend. Despite making a concerted effort not to over-order the portions were very generous and my son took LOs with him when he left and there's bit left for me to have tonight too and I used up some tandoori lamb in a roll at lunchtime. For dinner tonight I've added onions, baby spuds, cauli and spinach to LO curry sauce and will have some of that with LO tandoori chicken thigh and naan. Between Friday night's cullen skink & garlic bread from the freezer and last night, apart from making us Lorne & tattie scone rolls yesterday for lunch I've really not cooked at all. I plan to remedy that over the next few days as the forecast is dire so I'm not planning on venturing out much unless I have to.

unrecordings

AndyCF wrote: »

Thanks @Farway @unrecordings, I did not get around to trying LM's sausage rolls or pies as it insisted on an oven, mind you their regular sausage -does- work OK in the microwave with a bit of care.

Oh yes sorry - they're frozen/oven bake (we don't have a microwave)