While I still have my sad and eye watering moments, I am surviving being alone without Ray Last Sunday Ray's English family had a send off for him, which was so nice. His closest sister spoke briefly and glasses were raised to Ray. The food looked amazing, and not for anyone on a diet.
There has been enough steak in the freezer for four meals, and I have cooked three of the steaks, two with frozen chips cooked in the air fryer, as the steak was. Two were with salad, one with microwave steamed vegetable. I've also eaten lamb chops with salad. The red capsicum that has been in the fridge crisper since before Ray died is still ok. I will make fried rice, probably for Saturday night, as I need to use up some capsicum and there is Chinese sausage in the freezer to use up, and that is what I am doing, using up freezer food. There is a frozen bolognaise sauce Ray made. I expect I can manage to boil some pasta and heat the sauce to make a decent meal, or maybe two. I think there is frozen garlic bread to go with it in the freezer.
I bought a small take away pizza a week ago. It was enough for two meals. Otherwise, I've lived on what I've cooked and what I've been given. I've had three meals out with friends, and a couple of brunches.
I bought four meals from Katrinas Kitchen frozen, heat in an oven for 30 minutes and four meals from Dineamic, fresh but can be frozen at home, heated in the microwave. I am very impressed by and Katrina's is good for old time Australian food. All meals from both shops are priced at $11.50. Here are a few photos.
Katrina's roast pork. Very nice.
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All I can think of is the two of you preparing to go to England. You said something to the effect of 'unspoken between us is that this will probably be the last time we go to England'. I am so glad you were able to make that trip and to have the time with his family.
ReplyDeleteI did indeed say that Anon, and it came to pass. Yes, I am so pleased we did make the trip last year, about now actually.
DeleteWe tried Katrinas Kitchen for the in laws and found the people there so helpful. Keep cooking, Andrew. You might find you enjoy it and discover you have a new skill.
ReplyDeleteMerlot, it takes so much time. I could be talking Brutus in Bulgaria who promises to love me forever if I can sponsor him to Australia.
DeleteHah!! Brutus in Bulgaria :)
DeleteThe food does look good. Bon Appetite.
ReplyDeleteKirk, I've found the fresh food from Dineamic especially good. I suppose you cook healthy meals for yourself at home.
DeleteYou do seem to be addressing your health via food. I think this is very wise.
ReplyDeleteBoud, I am, but I do need a higher green vegetable intake. I will buy some frozen broccoli to have on hand.
DeleteGosh Andrew that's a tremendous variety of good eats and helpful too for all us singles to get a glimpse of another's solitary eating. I use a wonderful bakery here (Tilt House out on a country road) and they make amazing dinners for singles along with their baking at great prices.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
WWW, I am on the look out for good food. At the chain outlet I noticed Sandwich Chefs make up roast meals.
Deletethecontemplativecat here. You and Ray must have been so special together. The food stuffs that you are getting sound perfect. I am thinking about you, praying for you.
ReplyDeleteCC, it was never perfect but our relationship worked.
DeleteIt looks as if you are eating better than I am at the moment. I love that Ray's English family had a send off for him and raised their glasses.
ReplyDeleteThe send off was so lovely EC.
DeleteSeems you are doing ok with your meals so far. Good idea to eat the frozen food in your freezer for obvious reasons.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful Ray's family gave him a lovely send off. That would make you feel good I expect Andrew.
Margaret, today I gave away minced pork and two lots of chicken to be used for stir fries. Oh yes, the send off was grand and I know his family so well and they care.
DeleteThat sounded a wonderful send off for Ray and I'm sure you would have been at the heart of the memorial celebration. Is there a secret chef in the making over in Melbourne?
ReplyDeleteNo secret chef in me Marie. I eat because I have to. Sometimes I can be excited by food.
DeleteI would happily eat all that myself.. although not all at the same time of course.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear how well you are managing everything. I think of you often.
JayCee, even if we haven't met them, don't bloggers become real people in our lives?
DeleteI can't see any pictures on any of the blogs I read, there seems to be some problem, most sites have a pop-up saying Malware has blocked potentially malicious activity at this site. so far that's about six or eight sites tonight. Maybe tomorrow I can see the foods you are eating. I had a home made pizza tonight with the topping being bits of this and that I had leftover in the freezer. I have also been eating frozen meals I had stored in there and now it is almost empty, so I'm going to have to shop and cook and I really don't want to. Maybe I can have a few days of toast and jam, I've got plenty of jam....
ReplyDeleteThat sounds disastrous River. I can't imagine why.
DeleteBack in about 1988 when our neighbour died, her daughter said she should have lived longer. She was not a tea and toast kind of person and ate very healthy food. Enjoy your jam on toast.
You are certainly making sure you eat properly and that is so important.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to hear that Ray was given a good English send-off and so good that he was able to see them not so very long ago.
JB, I am mostly getting my food right. Yes, it was so good that he could see his family one last time.
DeleteSince I have been in mourning, my sight has faded but worst still I have lost taste for food. I don't live alone so I still have to cook every night, but the food is simpler now with lots of fruits and salads.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if food (and perhaps alcohol) is more for comfort in a time of grief than for nutrition.
Hels, your pain is hard to imagine as I've said before. I don't see food as a comfort for me, nor alcohol any more than it normally has been. I'd like to take to bottle, but I have things to do.
DeleteComing out of hospital, I had grand plans, but living alone, and fending for myself, I've found frozen meals can be quite okay, especially the "healthy ones" you can find in the supermarkets. I looked at Lite & Easy and other options, but they were quite expensive, I thought.
ReplyDeleteJames, do check if there is a Dineamic near you, or they can be delivered. I am really impressed so far. We'd spend more out on brunch each day than what I am spending on an evening meal. Some supermarket meals can be ok, but I've heard we are far behind than what is happening in UK supermarkets.
DeletePerhaps you should launch your own rather unique TV cooking programme. Cue music - "Teddy Bear's Picnic"... "G'Day mates! I'm Andrew and this is Kitchen Shortcuts. Today we'll be raiding the freezer and seeing what we can find before nipping out to buy a few ready meals! Okay let's get cracking!"
ReplyDeleteIt is like that YP. I have two lots of four sausages to use and two lamb chops. But a sausage in one's mouth in pleasurable at any time. I will cook them up. Your like son cooks, but vego stuff. I like me meat, but I could try his cooking if he delivers?
DeleteNo delivery Andrew but you can find BOSH! recipes online.
DeletePost sponsored by Katrina?
ReplyDeleteActually, you are doing a lot better than I would. Mine would be all ready meals and take-aways. Although, since my wife has been reading Steven Bartlett's book about ultra-processed food and telling me about the horrors within, I might try to make more of an effort.
No freebies for me Tasker. I think it's better not to know Tasker, and your country has quite high food standards. It is a whole lot worse across your big pond.
DeleteThose meals sure look a lot better than the TV dinners we used to get here when I was a kid. They came in the same type of divided aluminum tray and even had a dessert if I remember correctly. I'm glad you are discovering solutions to the food issue as you go along.
ReplyDeletePat a work in progress, as you might say.
DeleteSome of those look pretty good to me. Its good you're finding a way to eat without the cooker Ray. Maybe you'll become a celebrated home chef.
ReplyDeleteLol, Strayer. I do like your jokes.
DeleteI wish you all the best, that you continue taking care and that your heart heals from many fond memories. Hugs, my dear.
ReplyDeleteI mean, "with", not "from". ~shakes head~ Best wishes to you and yours.
DeleteThanks Darla. I seem to be managing well enough.
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