Invite a friend and ask them to bring dinner! 🙄
Chinese Take-away:+44 028 XXXX XXXX
Indian Take-away:+44 028 XXXX XXXX
Fish ‘n Chipper:+44 028 XXXX XXXX
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Or seriously…
Stuffed Sweet Pepper: Halve, core & de-seed a sweet red pepper lengthwise.Spoon about half a can of mixed bean salad into the pepper halves and cover with foil, bake until tender; then top with grated cheese and grill. I might manage a sprinkle of grated hard Italian stuff (Ahem Elly! 😉 )and a few crushed crisps for the topping.
Tuna & sweet corn bake: drain can of tuna & a can of sweet corn.Divide between ramekin dishes.Crack eggs on top and sprinkle over cheese.Bake until set.
Gingered Apples: Slice a dessert apple and put into a bowl, sprinkle with lemon juice and stir to preserve the colour.Cut a 4 inch piece of cucumber into short fat strips and add it to the apple with 2 pieces of preserved stem ginger, thinly sliced. Dressing: Mix a dessertspoon of ginger syrup (from the jar of preserved ginger) with ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger and 2 tablespoons of French dressing and pour over the apples and cucumber.Toss well and serve on a bed of watercress.
Do you have any simple ideas for me to try while on crutches, since I am not a fan of take out/home delivery fast food?
Leave that with me I’ll be back later 🙂
My comment was going to be exactly same as Rhylesgranny’s. Do you use a freezer?
Grannymar, how awful for you. There I was simpering about my arms, meanwhile you are on crutches. Maybe we should pool remaining resources: I limp, you chop.
Baked potatoes (wrapped in foil shiny side in) are great in times of immobility. Other than that: Have a nearly 18 year old hungry angel face, complete with long blond locks, to hand and give him the CRASH course of his life, in cooking (and other housework). Never have there been more heated exchanges in this house than in the last few weeks. Still, he now loves cooking, knows how to do the washing up in current absence of dishwasher, swing a vacuum cleaner, hang a sock or two on the washing line. And I am satisfied that he’ll survive even when I am not around (say, when he goes to Uni – though he is most welcome to send his washing to an as yet unknown address in Italy).
Yes, Grannymar, I know it’s pathetic and never applies to girls (I am the eldest of four – I was practically running a household before I could walk the plank of my own life). Still, there is always an up to the downside of a coin.
I wish you all the best. Shall think of more ideas for your culinary sustenance.
U
Rhyleysgranny – Thanks pal! I thought you might have ideas. Elly will cover the first couple of weeks. I am thinking of when I am suddenly on my own again!
Lily – I do have a fridge/freezer. Alas, last time I went for a small one – more than enough for one person who is able to get about. Not having to shop for dairy products is a blessing and reduced my need for almost daily trips to the shops.
Ursula – Right now the crutches are for practice, post hip-op they will be for real! Roll on the chop! (sorry I couldn’t resist that one!) 😆
About your dairy restriction, is it just milk and cream or does it extend to cheese and butter?
Right ..I’ll put my thinking cap on too.
Neighbours knocked yesterday with a seasonal organic trial pack…Runner beans, potatoes and a pointy cabbage(which I should know the name of) The beans are nearly all gone as I couldn’t resist them raw!
Rhyleysgranny – Milk, butter, cream & most cheeses are out. I manage gratings of very hard cheese, usually for garnish. I hide under the table as I say I bake with Pure, but it works for me. I use Olive or Sunflower oils for cooking.
White sauces are OUT the look is enough to turn me off eating for the day.
I grew up eating ‘dry bread’ so use stewed fruit, chutney, or even Cranberry sauce to add moisture to a sandwich… Now that remeinds me it is time to make lunch
I have some items in the freezer already and a Churchwarden Chicken or lamb will be added this week. I thought you all might come up with something new and tempting to work on my taste buds. I have been warned that the appetite might wander off.
Magpie – all ideas welcome.
Enjoy your prezzie, now was it Pointed, hispi, hearted or sweetheart cabbage? I cheated and got that from Auntie G! 😀
It would be worth making a pot of this and freezing it in little bags. I do that and you can squish it into little spaces. It can be eaten on it’s own with crusty bread. Add a little chilli paste and eat with rice. Stir into pasta (I do a lovely baked pasta but it’s full of sauce and mozzarella so no use) Have it with spuds. use it as a filling on a baked potato. A good all rounder.
http://teandwheatenbread.blogspot.com/2009/06/really-good-ragu.html
This is very good with bread. IT’s just up market bacon and tomato but it is delicious and very quick. All done in the pan. You can add a fried egg too.
http://teandwheatenbread.blogspot.com/2008/10/bacon-and-tomato-hash.html
Another very quick simple dish.
http://teandwheatenbread.blogspot.com/2009/04/quick-chick.html
This you could sub. the cream for tinned condensed soup or just leave it out. Instead of the bag just stick it in a dish and cover with foil.
Chicken Breast baked in a bag with cannellini beans, leeks, cream and marjoram
Serves 2
About 10 baby leeks, trimmed and washed(an ordinary leek chopped does the job)
2 x 200g chicken breasts
1 x tin cannellini beans, drained and washed
1 clove garlic, peeled and sliced
1 small handful fresh marjoram or oregano leaves (I use a tsp dried)
1 small wineglass white wine (dry)
140ml double cream
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
As this is for 2 people make a large envelope/bag to cook everything in
Using wide tin foil, make the bag by placing 2 pieces of foil on top of each other (about as big as 2 shoeboxes in length), folding 3 sides in and leaving 1 side open.
Preheat oven to gas 7/220c/425f. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and mush just some of the cannellini beans up into a pulp with your hands.
Season well and put all the mixture including the creamy sauce in the tin-foil bag, making sure you don’t pierce the foil. Close up the final edge, making sure the bag is securely sealed and slide gently onto a baking tray.
Place the tray in the oven and bake for about 35mins.
Remove bag fro the oven, place on a big plate, take it to the table and tear open the foil.
feel free to vary the recipe – things like cooked new potatoes, a tbsp wholegrain mustard or a couple of handfuls of raw spinach are all good.
I’ll keep looking. If these are no good let me know so I can stay on the right scent 😉
Rhyleysgranny – They all sound very interesting and tasty. I am sure I can adapt them to my needs.
Baked Eggs
2 eggs
1 1/2 tbsp finely diced tomatoes
1 1/2 tbsp finely chopped scallions
2 tsp oil
Salt and pepper to taste
A pat of butter or margarine
Equipment
1 small saute pan
1 small oven-proof baking dish
1 baking sheet
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
2.
Heat oil in pan, add onions and tomatoes, season with salt and pepper and saute for 1 – 2 mins
3.
Turn off heat and set aside the pan
4.
Rub the pat of butter all over the inside of the baking dish
5.
Crack one egg into the dish
6.
Season with salt and pepper
7.
Add sauteed onions and tomatoes
8.
Crack the other egg into the dish
9.
Season again with salt and pepper
10.
Place the dish onto a baking sheet
11.
Slide into oven
12.
Bake for 20 mins
Another handy freezer dish is caramelised onions. They are so sweet and can be frozen in little bags so you can agdd to things without standing chopping and peeling.
Finely chop about 6-8 onions.
Melt a little lard/butter/oil (I prefer lard as it makes the onions sweeter)
A little marsala or sweet sherry.
Melt the lard in a large heavy based saucepan
Add the finely sliced onions and stir until transparent , about five minutes.
Add marsala/sherry and stir.
Turn the heat right down.
Now take a piece of foil and cover the onions right down into the pot until it is nearly touching the onions.
Leave for an hour or two. Let it cool and place in small bags
1 heaped tablespoon equals one cooked onion.
Rhyleysgranny – Wonderful. I never thought of putting a second egg on top to sandwich the filling in Baked eggs! That will be lunch tomorrow! 😀
Simplest solution? Get your toyboys to come one after the other every day till you discard your crutches, to cook once a day. You can of course guide them from a safe distance.
Ramana – Which day will I mark you down for! 😆
I would come cook for you for a day, if I could find my passport1
Firstly I love the sound of the gingered apples.
Right back to ideas, all of these might suit:
http://culinarytravelsofakitchengoddess.wordpress.com/2009/04/06/tis-a-bit-chilli-round-here/
http://culinarytravelsofakitchengoddess.wordpress.com/2008/11/05/southern-comfort-2/
http://culinarytravelsofakitchengoddess.wordpress.com/2008/12/03/when-the-express-route-takes-a-detour/
What about soups? I have several recipes on my blog.
Maynard – How do you cook the passport?
George – I like the look of your recipes and have a think about adapting them.
Soups I have a plenty, they have featured regularly on my Food Monday’s. Now that our summer is over I might start to introduce them once more.
Grannymar,
Did you ever try my famous recipe for Chicken Noodle Soup?
It’s real easy. Take one can of Campbells Chicken soup and put it in a saucepan over medium heat,then take a can of Campbell’s Noodle soup and add to the can in the saucepan. Stir and simmer for 10 minutes.
Eat with Ritz Crackers and enjoy!
Thank you Nancy. Do they still make Ritz Crackers? I have not tasted them for about 40 years! 😉
Grannymar I’d accept all offers of meals, especially when you first get home. I have a few very simple recipes. They usually require some chopping but you could do that while sitting down. I’m a very lazy cook and do a lot in a ‘pan’. If you have a wall oven, baking’s fine but I think you might be better avoiding the bending required for ovens. I’ll have a look and send you some easy ‘grills’ and one pan recipes. You’re very disceplined with all this preparation I must say. How about making a big pot of soup and freezing in single portions. Something hearty like Minestrone is a meal in a bowl. And never forget the humble banana. Minimum preparation and there’s a meal in every one!
Yesterday for friends, I made bean butt chicken. The chickens turn out great and the beans were very tasty!
Question
How are you with Goat’s Milk and cheese or ewe’s milk cheese?
How about mozarella di Buffala …made with buffalo milk?
Have you tried nut milks?
Coconut milk is the most common but somewhere I have a recipe for Almond milk…just thinking around the box if not quite outside!
GM:
I make this regularly and freeze the remaining 5-6 servings. Heats up great!! (either micro or toaster oven).
The Great WWW Stew
1 lb stewing beef cut up in cubes and rolled in corn starch (cornflour to you) and braised in frying pan in about 2 tbls oil.
1/2 large turnip sliced thin
5 carrots sliced.
6 potatoes, cut in chunks
6 portabello mushrooms sliced
Chopped tomatoes if desired.
1 large onion chopped and thrown in to brown with the meat.
Transport everything to crock pot or slow cooker including the leftover corn starch. Add 2 cups water. Simmer as long as you want. I usually make in morning and it is ready for supper. Thicken if necessary before serving.
Variants:
Chicken instead of beef.
Spiced dumplings can also be added 1 hour before serving. If you need recipe for this I will send.
XO
WWW
Plan on eating cold cereal by the refrigerator. You’re not going to be able to carry anything to the stove, oven, or microwave when you’re on crutches.
I’m wondering if a full apron with a fold down tray on the front & pockets for utensils might be helpful.
Baino – Elly will be here for the first couple of weeks to ‘do everything’. It is the weeks when she has gone home to work that I am trying to plan for. I may still be on crutches then, or at least on a stick so easy tasty and nourishing meals will be important to build my energy.
My cooker is free standing with two ovens. The smaller one also houses the grill and the door drops down like a shelf. The soups are taken care of, but I need to sharpen my teeth now and then too! 😉
Maynard – ‘The chickens turn out great’…. Do they dress for dinner? 🙄
Magpie – I live on the edge of a small town with a crappy excuse for a supermarket suitable for people who enjoy plastic food. I need to travel 12 to 15 miles to get decent ingredients. Driving will be off limits for at least 6 weeks. The ingredients you mention are as illusive as the winning lottery numbers. Canned coconut milk is the only one I tried and use it in a smoothie now and again.
WWW – Thanks for that one. It will be added to my list.
BHB – Breakfast is muesli with orange juice in place of milk with a side dish of dried apricots (3), cranberries (50g), dates (5) and figs (2); plus almonds(10), brazils (2) cashews (3) macadamias (2) & walnuts (6). I always look forward to it. It is all washed down with a kettleful of freshly boiled water.
Brighid – Like a gardening apron?
Jeez, Grannymar
I wouldn’t dare to come between you and your brekkie 😉
As regards the preparation of other meals, I think you’ll find that you’re mobile quicker than you think. Could you call on your neighbours to help YOU out with shopping etc.
I was just going to ask you how you got that image into the comment box!
Are we allowed to share in the code?
PLEASE, Missus
Steph – my brekkie sets me up for the day! I have one neighbour that I can call on. She works most days and has a young family, so I will only trouble her for the essentials. My other friends all work and live some distance away.
Steph, you asked for the code..
I hope this works < img src = " http://www.whatevergraphic you want.jpg " />
delete the spaces like you do in an email address
What works? 🙄
Well, Grannymar
Here’s another idea…
How’s about you contact those friends now and ask them to set up a rota of people to take you out for a drive/do the shopping for you at weekends?
Ah! The code has appeared like magic 😉
I’ll have a go at it now shortly. Thanks! 😀
Steph – journeys in cars are not recommended for at least the first 6 weeks while the new hip settles, in to avoid dislocation. Hopefully by then I will be find the confidence to make short journeys myself.
I have acquired a Rollator with a seat/tray and a basket.*
I am hoping it will be helpful about the house.
*Thanks to Jean I learned how to add an image to the comment box! 😀
That rollator looks very practical. I know now what to do if I ever have to undergo a revision again.
It should also help me to move about without crutches after the first week- ten days.