Cook's Essentials TSV 20/11/24

[Toril]

I now always cook from scratch because I’ve changed to a healthy diet. 3 pounds to go and I’ll have lost 4 stone since February so that shows how much rubbish I was eating before. I blame bad habits stemming from lockdown.

I haven’t used my oven for two years and now only use the hob, the air fryers (I have two of them,) and a Cooks’ Essentials slow cooker that I bought ages ago. I bulk cook in the slow cooker and then have one portion of whatever I’ve cooked for my evening meal and freeze the rest. I’ve never produced a watery casserole. In fact they’re probably more tasty than the ones that I used to cook in the oven.

 

[Cashers]

Slow cooker looks handy … I wish my slow cooker made my food taste as good as it smells .. does anybody else have that issue or just tastes weird no matter what I do
834 332
£19.92 £3.95

May, have a look at Nathan Antony cook books. He has a couple - Bored with Lunch and Bored with Lunch even easier. The works well them at a decent price. I've done quite a few of his and they have all turned out tasty, and so simple to prep. They are all slow cooker recipes, lots of variation. Some great curries! Worth a look. He also has a decent air fryer book too.

 

[May]

May, have a look at Nathan Antony cook books. He has a couple - Bored with Lunch and Bored with Lunch even easier. The works well them at a decent price. I've done quite a few of his and they have all turned out tasty, and so simple to prep. They are all slow cooker recipes, lots of variation. Some great curries! Worth a look. He also has a decent air fryer book too.

Brilliant cashers thank you so much !

 

[maymorganlondon]

I now always cook from scratch because I’ve changed to a healthy diet. 3 pounds to go and I’ll have lost 4 stone since February so that shows how much rubbish I was eating before. I blame bad habits stemming from lockdown.

I haven’t used my oven for two years and now only use the hob, the air fryers (I have two of them,) and a Cooks’ Essentials slow cooker that I bought ages ago. I bulk cook in the slow cooker and then have one portion of whatever I’ve cooked for my evening meal and freeze the rest. I’ve never produced a watery casserole. In fact they’re probably more tasty than the ones that I used to cook in the oven.

That’s fantastic on all fronts! Congratulations on the reformed diet and weight loss.
I’m cooking from scratch again too. Slowly losing weight, but I am hoping the slower it goes, the longer the weight stays away.

 

[Toril]

That’s fantastic on all fronts! Congratulations on the reformed diet and weight loss.
I’m cooking from scratch again too. Slowly losing weight, but I am hoping the slower it goes, the longer the weight stays away.

I’ve averaged 2lbs a week and have no intention of going back to my “naughty” ways. Chocolate, sweets, cakes, biscuits and crisps are things of the past and I don’t miss any of them. The bonus is that I feel healthier. The only drawback, although it’s been quite fun, is the fact that I’ve had to buy a whole new wardrobe because I’m now a size 12/14. All my bigger clothes have been donated to the Air Ambulance, so the weight will stay off because replenishing my wardrobe again is not going to happen (and I’m not into naturism. )

 

[maymorganlondon]

I’ve averaged 2lbs a week and have no intention of going back to my “naughty” ways. Chocolate, sweets, cakes, biscuits and crisps are things of the past and I don’t miss any of them. The bonus is that I feel healthier. The only drawback, although it’s been quite fun, is the fact that I’ve had to buy a whole new wardrobe because I’m now a size 12/14. All my bigger clothes have been donated to the Air Ambulance, so the weight will stay off because replenishing my wardrobe again is not going to happen (and I’m not into naturism. )

That is fantastic! I do still have the odd naughty treat, but eating proper food seems to be great at quelling the urge to eat rubbish.
I'm not yet at the stage you are, but will donate everything that's too big to avoid backsliding, as your example shows!
The main thing is really the health angle, isn't it?
I'm not looking to reverse time, but to be as healthy and as active as possible as I head towards retirement age.

 

[Patsy]

My problem is I hate curries,don't eat meat and since I had COVID 2 years ago I find a lot of things I used to eat just don't taste the same or I just can't eat them eg onions,garlic,rice,bread. It's ok until winter as I can eat plenty of salads but cold weather you need something warm.
Hubby does most of the cooking and he batch makes chilli and curry and freezes them but is at a loss for what to do for me.

 

[Grizelda]

My problem is I hate curries,don't eat meat and since I had COVID 2 years ago I find a lot of things I used to eat just don't taste the same or I just can't eat them eg onions,garlic,rice,bread. It's ok until winter as I can eat plenty of salads but cold weather you need something warm.
Hubby does most of the cooking and he batch makes chilli and curry and freezes them but is at a loss for what to do for me.

That's a problem. Could you go back to some of your childhood favouites: beans on toast, eggy bread, etc?

 

[maymorganlondon]

That's a problem. Could you go back to some of your childhood favouites: beans on toast, eggy bread, etc?

I used my air fryer to make a baked egg for lunch today. Whacked it in a toasted crumpet... a muffin would have been better. Lush. Salt, pepper, a touch of nutmeg, a splash of cream and lots of finely grated cheese.
Patsy, how are you with soups? Something hearty with lentils and root veg?

 

[Patsy]

That's a problem. Could you go back to some of your childhood favouites: beans on toast, eggy bread, etc?

Bread can upset my stomach,this all happened after COVID. I can eat crackers.

 

[Patsy]

I used my air fryer to make a baked egg for lunch today. Whacked it in a toasted crumpet... a muffin would have been better. Lush. Salt, pepper, a touch of nutmeg, a splash of cream and lots of finely grated cheese.
Patsy, how are you with soups? Something hearty with lentils and root veg?

Yes I love soup,got a slow cooker and we've got some of our tomato harvest in the freezer for tomato soup. I love root vegetables ,and we had a glut of asparagus this year.
I'll havee a go at your baked egg tomorrow,thank you for that.

 

[Battiola73]

I often make soup from the leftover gravy of slow cooker casserole. Put some extra veg in and maybe a stock cube and a bit of Lee & Perkins. Heat it up in a saucepan. Makes lovely chunky soup.