Oldstylers: Could I be your greatest ever challenge?

southernscouser

Hi everyone. If you're not sitting down then I suggest you do (actually how many people use a PC standing up :rolleyes: ). Anyway I'm waffling already. God this is gonna tough for you guys. :rotfl:

Right where am I? OK, come July I hope to have finally moved out from the folks home at the grand old age of 27 and into a nice little rented bachelor pad.

Now, the problem(s) is/are that I'm ashamed to admit I have everything done for me at home. My mum even still makes my bed bless her. So basically I need your help in learning not to cope, but to actually survive! :rotfl:

I'm starting this thread now because I think it's gonna take me a while to digest it all.

I don't even know where to start. :undecided

There's cooking, washing, ironing, cleaning, generally running a tight ship.

I can cook. Lasagne. And chip sandwiches. And I make a cracking pancake. I'm also quite fluent in ordering takeaways. But something tells me that's not quite sustainable.

So I need to learn how to cook. I don't like lamb or pork (except chops), not great with spicey food and detest onions. Fish smells but I'll eat a bit of bass if I have to.

But aswell as cooking, how do I 'shop'. When I go Tesco I buy ingredients for a lasagne and a bar of chocolate. Occassionaly I'll buy dog treats aswell. This is what you are up against!


Where do I start? I know I'm a couple of months ahead of myself but one thing I'm good at (or pretending to be) is preparation!

Basically...................HELP! :rotfl:

ifonlyitwaseasier

oh dear, i recall a blokey cooking thread but can't remember the name. (mr bad example maybe?)

i'd suggest starting to practice now tho whilst still at home and your mum can give you some tips when she tries things for you

whatatwit

Hi SS, mrbadexample has done some really good cooking threads...he has even posted pictures.

I'll see if i can find any and post a few links.

I think food wise, you need to make a list of things that you like to eat and then we can help find the recipes and instructions.

taplady

Hi SS ! nice to see you on the OS board!:T
you sound just like my DS1 - he left home at 17 but comes back most weekends! I stupidly did everything for him like your Mum did:rolleyes:

why dont you check out the meal planning thread for ideas and make yourself a weekly menu than shop for the ingredients - lots of recipes available in the mega index.

Check out the fly lady thread for keeping your home nice and clean.

Read the labels in your clothes before washing them, I do all my washing on the same setting on the machine just divide it into darks and lights. Hang things on hangers straight from the machine or dryer and you wont need to iron much!

I bet your Mum is worried about how you will cope, I know I was!:D with all the help available here you'll soon have it licked!:j

southernscouser

ifonlyitwaseasier wrote: »

oh dear, i recall a blokey cooking thread but can't remember the name. (mr bad example maybe?)

i'd suggest starting to practice now tho whilst still at home and your mum can give you some tips when she tries things for you

MrBE is a legend!

My dad does most of the cooking now. Mum is still the roast queen though! :T

spendaholic

Dog treats really aren't very good for the digestive system. :eek:

I agree with the poster above, start to learn now while your mom is still on hand. If you can make pancakes you can make Yorkshire puddings and, therefore, toad in the hole, so there's a start. And if you can make lasagne you can probably also make spaghetti bolognaise. Are your chips homemade, or do they come in a bag?

Have a go at some recipes, following them to the letter. Before you know it, if you're a typical male cook, you won't be even measuring ingredients before long.

Oh, and in my experience, if fish smells, it's probably gone off.

Good luck.

southernscouser

whatatwit wrote: »

Hi SS, mrbadexample has done some really good cooking threads...he has even posted pictures.

I'll see if i can find any and post a few links.

I think food wise, you need to make a list of things that you like to eat and then we can help find the recipes and instructions.

Thanks twit.

Oooh blimey. I'm quite fussy to be honest. :rotfl:

OK vaguely;

All meats barring lamb, and not keen on pork joints.

Veg: Peas, carrots, spuds, broccoli (only coz my mum makes me :rotfl: ) roasted parsnips, is it sweet potatoes the orange looking ones?, beans, spinach. No like sprouts or cabbage!

Is that enough? :rotfl:


I love pasta, rice. Spag bol, lasagne, stuffed chicken (don't know what it's with, pesto or something, wrapped in bacon :drool:), don't mind salad but prefer it with dressing. Erm, I can't think what else! :doh:

JimmyTheWig

The best way to learn is by doing it.

You need to start by being able to cook a few dishes. Chile-con-carne / spag-bol is quite easy.

Make enough for 3 or 4 portions. Keep some for later in the week and freeze the rest.

If you can do lasagne then you should be alright. (I'd never attempt that.)

Get a microwave. One that has a convection oven facility is a good bet, as it is much quicker to heat up than a big oven when cooking for one.
Standing time on microwave instructions is part of the cooking time, not just to ensure it's not too hot when you eat it.

Don't be afraid to take short cuts. E.g. cut up some turkey breast (much cheaper than chicken) and pour in a tin of condensed soup and you've got a casserole (many variations available from different flavour soups!).

Most things taste good if you add a bit of alcohol. (Stout or ale is good with beef; soak sausages in whiskey overnight for added flavour; try adding archers to creamy potatoes.)

Get advice from someone about food safety. E.g. how do you know if something's cooked, how long can you keep different things in the fridge. Ensure food is piping hot through to the middle and if you're cooking chicken make sure the juice (if any) from the fattest part of the meat runs clear when you stab it.

Pay someone to do your ironing. A local individual is better (price-wise) than a company (check newsagents windows, and ask local cleaners if they do it). When I first lived on my own, a woman up the road charged me 20p per item. Meant I could get my 5 work shirts ironed each week for a pound. Good value, if you ask me.

Buy lots of clothes (charity shops) so you don't have to do washing so often. Choose things that are easy to wash and iron.

Cleaning is over-rated!

southernscouser

taplady wrote: »

Hi SS ! nice to see you on the OS board!:T
you sound just like my DS1 - he left home at 17 but comes back most weekends! I stupidly did everything for him like your Mum did:rolleyes:

why dont you check out the meal planning thread for ideas and make yourself a weekly menu than shop for the ingredients - lots of recipes available in the mega index.

Check out the fly lady thread for keeping your home nice and clean.

Read the labels in your clothes before washing them, I do all my washing on the same setting on the machine just divide it into darks and lights. Hang things on hangers straight from the machine or dryer and you wont need to iron much!

I bet your Mum is worried about how you will cope, I know I was!:D with all the help available here you'll soon have it licked!:j

Thanks tap. It's nice to be here.

Meal planning sounds good. I want to be able to freeze things so I don't have to cook every night. Especially Fridays as I work late, and also would like something to take to work on a Sat that I can bung in the microwave. :think:

Fly lady. I've heard of that! It's not anything to do with tenna or mooncups is it? :undecided

Clothes have labels? You see, my mum ruins all my clothes. She bungs everything in together and if that doesn't do them then her ironing will. Still, I find it less painful to replace them than iron them myself! :rotfl:

That's the one thing I'm dreading, ironing. Quite sadly, I love hoovering, dusting I don't mind, dishes are boring but will do them. But ironing! :eek:

ifonlyitwaseasier

currys? stirfries? soups, stews, casseroles, OMG you NEED a slow cooker then you'll never go hungry

southernscouser

spendaholic wrote: »

Dog treats really aren't very good for the digestive system. :eek:

I agree with the poster above, start to learn now while your mom is still on hand. If you can make pancakes you can make Yorkshire puddings and, therefore, toad in the hole, so there's a start. And if you can make lasagne you can probably also make spaghetti bolognaise. Are your chips homemade, or do they come in a bag?

Have a go at some recipes, following them to the letter. Before you know it, if you're a typical male cook, you won't be even measuring ingredients before long.

Oh, and in my experience, if fish smells, it's probably gone off.

Good luck.

But you can't beat a bit of tripe or a pigs ear.

Knowing my culinary (sp) skills I'll end up making toad in the panacke. :rotfl:

I think I can do spag bol. Just boil it for longer. Not sure how to make spaghetti but it says on the tin so should be alright.

I don't know any recipes though. Does anyone know of a good cookbook for single men or something similar? :think: