Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers Garden Vegetable Medley Pouch amazes me....
Just 6 minutes in the microwave and i had a nice bowl of steamed sugar snap peas, roasted potatoes (ok, these came out a little overcooked and not crispy, but one can't have all), red peppers and garden herbs.
I toasted one whole wheat slice of bread with a hint of olive of oil on top (if i am in the mood i pour myself a glass of red wine to go with). After the veggie i made a mini fruit salad bowl with blueberry and strawberries and pears
Dinner was served..
These days (now months) i just don't have anymore the time and the will of cooking more than this...
Its only my daughter and I.....and often only me, when she stays with her father...so in the week ends i usually skips meals alltogether..
Luckily she loves my easy chicken salad and usually she wants toasted buttered bread slices with orange juice or apple juice with it...
After dinner, later on ....i will indulge in a square of dark chocolate and my usual Oikos Organic Greek yogurt.....so gooood......i like the plain one.....
It will come a time where i will have again friends seated around a big wooden table covered by a nice white table cloth, and beautiful, old mismatched china and heavy nicely stained glasses, and big bowls in the middle of the table and bottles of wine..
I will walk from the kitchen and i will say:
"Come on, people. Dinner is ready"
Even my dog will be happy. More food for him to be sneaked under the table..
The moon will be up, and round and shining too.
gingersoul posted on Nov 05, 2009
| views: 230
Comments
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uniquely-ironic said on Nov 05, 2009....
There is a market not far from my house that does awesome small salads and individual pizzas. Like you, if it's just me, I don't want to spend a lot of time cooking. -
MissMimi said on Nov 05, 2009....
It sounds like just the kind of dinner that I would love to have.
And I hope when you do the big meal at the beautiful table, that I might be seated next to you. :) Okay, just a little pushy to invite myself... ;)
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GrapeKoolaid said on Nov 05, 2009....
I don't really do a lot of cooking myself either. It's nicer to cook with, or for people, I've always thought.
How I would love to stand next to you in the kitchen and help you cook, and pester you and be a general nuisance...
It would indeed be nice to break bread with you. :)
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cuppajava said on Nov 05, 2009....
Sounds rather interesting -can you send some my way? -
gingersoul said on Nov 05, 2009....
U-nee-k....seriously...it seems i am eating less and less in these past months....its like my body understands the situation and doesn't push too much for being fed..
Finally the market seems having come to the terms that there is a growing number of people who is single and doesn't want to buy big bulk of food to prepare their meals..and individual portion are definitely coming to cost less than before...its good...its real...
Mimibella...are you kidding? You will seat at the head of the table...maybe close to the french doors that open to the patio?
We will leave them open so we listen to the sounds of the night around the house......sounds like a very nice plan to me...:-)
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gingersoul said on Nov 05, 2009....
Grapey......oh, but be careful if you stay in the kitchen with me...i am well known in the whole Western and Eastern Hemisphere that i can be very dangerous handling those knives.....
If you will cry it will not be because of the onions....i am afraid....lol....
CJ.....the time my veggie pouch arrive is will be all melted and disgusting.....lol.....
How about you coming over when we will prepare this huge table with friends?
You can pick your seat now....
Where would you like to seat? Close to whom? ..;-)
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CayenneMan said on Nov 05, 2009....
I just flashed back to when I was a kid. I used to love " Cook in bags" that you would toss in boiling water. As I recall, some of those quick meals were pretty damn good !
I can remember veal parmesan, cream chipped beef, sirloin steak, and the list goes on and on. I bet you cood really fool some folks with those quick meals if they were served properly by candlelight with a bottle of wine. I wonder if they still sell " cook in bags" ?
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beyondtheveil said on Nov 06, 2009....
ginsoul- Like you and everyone else here it seems, I really enjoy those quick meals. Such a variety to choose from and always tasty. I almost never have wine though. I like it and have some, just forget it's there. I need to change that. -
cntlvmenuf said on Nov 06, 2009....
It is weird....cooking for oneself. I too when I Iive alone I end up skipping meals...all because its not as fun to cook for one, healthy as it is. It is also wasteful since I can never make enough just for one person....and leftovers are only good after so many days. Now that my brother moved in with me, I've been experimenting on some recipes online.
I am looking forward to Thanksgiving when I will have a full house again. Its like since my brothers and cousin went to college, I've established a tradition where they spend most of the holidays at my place. I always look forward to those times coz we've made some pretty good memories.
Save me a seat at your table gingersoul! Nothing complements a meal better than enjoying it with friends and loved ones.
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GrapeKoolaid said on Nov 06, 2009....
Amore: I can think of worse ways to go than be mutilated by you with a kitchen knife. So long as it takes place in the kitchen. You know how I feel about kitchens... I love them... I love the magic that transpires therein. A little fire here, a little flash there, and voila! A slab of meat and veggies turn into a delight in senses. What's not to love? :) -
Hegemone said on Nov 06, 2009....
Mmmmm, I totally know which veggie thing you're talking about ... making my mouth water, lol. That's my favorite kind and I can't tell ya how many times I've gotten it and maybe a turkey sandwich or something and called it lunch or dinner. It's good stuff! Nothin' wrong with staying minimalistic if you have no real need to go all out, and you're right, there may just be a day again where you do a bunch of entertaining, but until then you ought to enjoy the single serve yummy stuff you've found. :-) -
RollingC said on Nov 06, 2009....
Sounds like a quick and easy meal that is tasty......I'm more of a sandwich maker myself when it comes to cooking for me only. I'm not that much of a cook really but I can come with the basics. (which I don't call cooking) -
Voltaire said on Nov 06, 2009....
I for one like to do it all myself, preferably from scratch.
Even Pizza I do all myself these days.
Salad to, of course.
But that's what I am used to from my grandparents.
Even alone its great to cook for two days and then only have left overs for two additional days.
That's being lazy for me.
And taste wise I think its worth it.
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gingersoul said on Nov 06, 2009....
C-Man....well....now they got more sophisticated but the concept is the same...i like the Italian brands Bertolli or Barilla pouches but they are quite expensive ..around 6 dollars and pretty caloric...I prefer use steaming pouches only for the vegetables..You know, frozen green are always better than the fresh one....unless you shop early in the morning at the fresh market....all those green i see at the grocery stores ...i leave them there.....poor vegetables with no nutrients and flavors....bleach....maybe the ones at Whole Food and Central Market i can trust them a little ...Beybey...yes, come on,....live a little...add some wine....and think of me...lol...Cntlv....anytime, girl......you are welcomed anytime at my table...;-)Grapey....uhmm.......mutilation is a mutilation...plus, i didn't specify which part you would run the risk of being departed from.....lol...Heggie...that's my point too.......;-)Rolling.....i do love cooking...a lot...but the ridiculous size of my actual kitchen has dumped my enthusiasm and my ability.....can't use the oven too much because in the summer heats up the room too much....can't prepare elaborated recipes because of lack of counter space......stuff like this....so i think this pouches are the natural evolution....for now....Voltie.....i am used to do everything from scratch as well...as a proud direct descendent of an Italian mamma...lol..When i go to visit her in Italy i love to cook in her big, spacious, accessorized kitchen, believe me,...My daughter knows how to make pizza from scratch as well...and fettuccine pasta too....;-) -
GrapeKoolaid said on Nov 06, 2009....
It matters not, as long as it's coming from you. ;) -
beyondtheveil said on Nov 06, 2009....
grape & soulgirl....Geez, you two can get so damn gooshy-gushy-huggy-bear-kissy-face sometimes......... -
GrapeKoolaid said on Nov 06, 2009....
insinuation of genital mutilation is gooshy gushy?
You do a strange courtship out there in NM, my friend. :)
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beyondtheveil said on Nov 06, 2009....
grape- You have to read between the knives. -
starchini said on Nov 06, 2009....
Regret: I wish that when I was single and feeding only myself I would have taken a little more pride in coming up with good quick ideas like yours. I swear for over a year I ate spaghetti-O-s and chicken straight from the can-cold. If I was feeling feeling fancy id microwave some Ramen Noodles...GUH... -
Voltaire said on Nov 06, 2009....
Ginger,
My father is a pole, he learnt me to cook.
He to has a big kitchen, lovely.
I don't but it doesn't stop me to keep trying. ;)
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gingersoul said on Nov 06, 2009....
Voltie....see if having a daughter with tons of activities to shuttle to, a house to take care of, a stressful full time job with lots of overtime and a free lance job on the side and a demanding dog would make you stop trying.....;-pWait....what does it mean you father is a...pole? What the heck is a pole?...:-)Grapey and Beybey....you two cracked me up.....lol..BeyBey...... i wasn't being gooshy-gooey at all...seriously.....me and knives are not matter of gooshiness....;-pStar....it's never too late, girl.....:-) -
MsBradford07 said on Nov 06, 2009....
I love their yogurt. I need to be at your house. -
gingersoul said on Nov 06, 2009....
MsBrad.......please, come over any time ....would you like some wine?That yougurth is d-el-i-c-i-o-u-s......:-)Not everybody likes it because has some sour aftertaste...and its definitely not the sugary kind .....and its thicker too.....my daughter tried it and her expression of disgust has been priceless.....lol.... -
Voltaire said on Nov 06, 2009....
Ginger,
Hahah that's different circumstances. ;)
Oh I LOVE dogs. Have a weakness for husky and similar dogs. :)
What it means that my father is a pole?
He's from Poland, that's what it means. ;P
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Lucytorial said on Nov 06, 2009....
I'm with you on the yoghurt... I love coconut and lemon sponge with a dollop of greek yoghurt on it.... hmmmEating has always been something to share with others, its not easy when you are a lone to make a feast and sit there talking to yourself about how wonderful it is. -
gingersoul said on Nov 06, 2009....
Voltie.....LOL....sorry.....didn't know this term...
Poland is such a beautiful country....so full of tradition and history...so do you live there?
My dad had a Husky ....all white-gray fur and beautiful, disturbing piercing blue eyes...due to lack of imagination he called him ...Husky....lol...
Lucy....yes.....cooking and eating for me has mainly a meaning of taking care of people and sharing something you created with them......it transcends the mechanical action of slicing and baking....
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gingersoul said on Nov 06, 2009....
There are many movies that express this magic, tight connection between love and friendship and cooking...
Like this one....."Eat drink man woman"
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gingersoul said on Nov 06, 2009....
or this one.....;-)
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gingersoul said on Nov 06, 2009....
...even this rat loves to cook....LOL......
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gingersoul said on Nov 06, 2009....
..and i really like this one too..."Mostly Marta" with a fine Italian actor, Sergio Castellitto, with a German production....:-)
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wombat said on Nov 06, 2009....
Dang you--making me hungry.
I read recently about a lady who set the table, cooked for one complete with candle light etc.. after her husband had passed.
I will re-think my micro pasta and keep this post in mind.
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gingersoul said on Nov 06, 2009....
I know, right?
Just posting all these video made me drool.....lol.........
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Voltaire said on Nov 07, 2009....
Ginger,
No problem. No we don't live in Poland, but in Sweden.
Though I've been to Poland a few times, its a quite nice place and the people are very hospitable. (Well those I've meet anyway)
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queenparanoia said 13 days ago....
ok i got lost after you said chocolates... -
steppenwolf68 said 9 days ago....
Ginger, as usual, you capture one! And your videos, as usual, captivating!
Having grown up in a hotel, I can only agree with everyone about small kitchens! Really! But missing a meal from time to time is good for us... ever heard of "dinner cancelling"? But you only feel better the next day....
Here are two quick and funs: Make garlic butter with lots of fresh basel. Then cook spaghetti nr. 5 al dente, Warm mozzarella and wedges of very ripe small tomatoes. Mix it all up and serve with grana padano and fresh basel!
Or linguine with smoked salmon, shrimp and caviar. I also make a little flan out of an egg or two with ca. 2 tbl.sp crème fraïche, little milk, little salt u. blk. pepper. No cheeze! Fast, easy and healthy!
Ciao! Thanks again for the videos!
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steppenwolf68 said 9 days ago....
sorry! I got downstairs to cook lunch for my boy and upon opening the fridge I saw what I had forgotten above...
when doing the pasta for the salmon, blanch a stick of celerey for about 2 min.
then, just before serving, slice it rather thin and mix it in with the shrimp and flan! the celerey should still crunch.
that gives the whole thing something extra not found in the recipie books
ok, ciao, I have to drive him to piano ........
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gingersoul said 8 days ago....
Steppen.....the fact that you live in Europe gives you extra points in my book you know that, right?..;-)
Plus, having grown up in a hotel..
I had a friend when i was in middle school.....she was the daughter of a hotel director....a big, luxurious hotel.....
I was the happiest when i could visit her and spend heh afternoon in that place,,,her family had the top floor and live there so me and her would play and roam all over the places and we would always end up in the kitchen,...i remember they had a cook from North Africa....he was so nice to us...
About your ideas...well..so good...but i try not to mix bread with pasta in the same meal.....i would go in carbs coma...which would make me very happy but not my waist line which i have to keep the way it is....lol..
But those linguini are divine...mmmm..
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steppenwolf68 said 8 days ago....
Hi again, Ging! Yes, reading thru a lot of the comments here I was, I must say, shocked at the number of people relying on precooked foods! Do you guys know what chemicals are in that stuff? I heard on TV recently that the average German gets over 500 grams of chemicals in his diet every year - and thems not food folks! What do Americans get?
But I more than agree that a small, unequipped kitchen is more than just a pain in the....!
A slice or two of garlic bread is ok! You do have a dog to walk! And pasta is not that fattening. The sauce is the problem, and that tends to apply to the north of Italy. But you know all that.... And a nice glass of red with it takes care of an awful lot of the bad....
And here, Gingi, is the hammer! Hope you're sitting down! My son (11) has a friend from his old school, with whom he is still in contact, whose mother has a restaurant with one Star from Guide M.!!! When he visits his friend, they get to go into the kitchen when it's time to eat and pick out anything they want!
Wish I could change places with him, at least once!
Comment on "My quick and solitary dinners."
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