Cooking For One

It may come to a shock to those that don’t know me but I am single. I know, right? An old chap like me is still sitting at home, twiddling his thumbs looking for escorts singles in my area. I am cool with it. I have no desire to breed or get married. Getting a girlfriend leads to issues about money, how fat she really is, and the annoying question of ‘is she prettier than me‘. Don’t say anything. Even if the gal is hotter, keep you’re mouth closed. Cause once you do, you’ll never get a word in the rest of the night. That my friends. That is why I am single. Plus, do you think a woman will follow my simple rules to being my wife?

Set of Rules 1

Set of Rules 2

So I am a bachelor. I live alone. Living alone has many advantages. I can be messy and have no roommate of female to question it. If I leave a plate in the sink, I’ll get to it when I want to get to it. I am not going to wash it cause you have company coming over. The bed is never mad. The TV is always available for me and never do I have to sit through a crappy show like “Grey’s Anatomy“.  There are endless benefits to being a single guy. But there is always another side. Where there’s a ying, there is a yang. Folks, here is the biggest issue when you live alone.

Food.

Oh, how I love food. I do. I will eat it up. My blog was going to be all about food but I moved away from that and just talk about whatever comes to mind. I did keep track of what I ate for the year of 2010. I am going to do it again this year. I will log all the food I eat and everything I drink. If you look at it, you’ll notice that I rarely ate at home. It’s just a hard thing to do. It’s hard to cook for one person. You always have left overs. If I feel like it, I will stuff my face full of food and eat every last bit of what I cooked. No worries. I don’t gain weight. I can eat whatever I want. It’s a gift and a curse.  Tonight I made some beef and noodles. It was delicious. You can’t measure servings for one person. I made enough for 4. I ate half. I still have some in the fridge. I’ll eat it tomorrow.

This is the issue I have. This is what I deal with. It was a good meal. I just don’t like having leftovers. I have a weird thing against it. I will eat it. I just prefer food to be hot. To be fresh. To be as fresh as it can be. I rarely have leftover cause I rarely have food in my fridge. I have beer. I have soda. I may have butter and eggs. I got the essentials. I just can’t open my fridge and grab something out to make for dinner. I grab fast food more than anything. I should eat healthier but I probably won’t. My health and eating habits is not what I am talking about here. I just want to let couples and families know that while you struggle with family life, we (the bachelors) have to struggle with making a meal for one. We will never get it down. We’ll always be stuck with a bowl of leftovers in our fridge. If there were only a way to fix this.

Recipe: Peanut Butter & Jam Bars

I would like to share with you a recipe my mother found many, many years ago. If you’re a fan of anything made with peanut butter, then you will love these tasty treats. They are simple to make. Believe me. If I can make them, anyone can. Give it a shot. Your family and friends will be begging you for the recipe.

 

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup of packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup of shortening
  • 1/2 cup of peanut butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour*
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 cup red raspberry jam**
  • Glaze (below)
Heat oven to 350°. Mix sugars, shortening, peanut butter, and egg. Stir in flour, baking powder and baking soda. Reserve one cup of dough. Press remaining dough into an ungreased rectangular pan, 13x9x12 inches; spread with jam. Crumble reserved dough and sprinkle over jam. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Cool; Drizzle with glaze. Cut into bars, about 2×1 1/2 inches. Will make 3 dozen cookies.
Glaze:
  • 2 tablespoons margarine or butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons hot water
Heat margarine in 1-quart sauce pan over low hear until melted. Mix in powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat in hot water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until smooth and of desired consistency. 
*If using self-rising flour, omit baking soda and baking powder.
**You’re welcome to use a different jam but I prefer the taste of raspberry. 
Note: Unbleached flour can be used in this recipe.
High Altitude Directions (3500 to 6500 feet): For all-purpose flour, no adjustments are necessary. For self-rising flour, bake about 20 minutes.
I hope you enjoy these bars. My mom makes them all the time. I don’t know where she found the recipe but I am glad she did. They hit the spot. Try them out and let me know what you think of them!
Finished product should look like this.

I Don’t Eat There Anymore.

I am a picky eater when it comes to many things (like potatoes). It isn’t just food, it’s a lot of things. We all have our little quirks when it comes to things. I have an issue with straws. I’ll use them in certain style cups and won’t in others. I can’t use them in glass cups. I can’t and I won’t. I worked with a guy who could only have 14 ice cubes in his cup. Or was it twelve? No matter. That eff’ed up. Can’t talk really. I have problems of my own. Aside from my cup and straw rule, food is an important thing in my life. I like food. I really, really like food. If I had the chance I would eat all day. You might be thinking, what about gaining weight? Aren’t you worried about that? No I am not. I was gifted with a strangely high metabolism. I can eat and eat and not gain a pound. I am not worried about when I hit forty. I don’t think I’ll hit forty with my life style. If I don, that will be a joyous day. The angels with sing and a parade will be held in my honor.

Continue reading

November Stats – Part II: Food

I am just knocking these out. I should have kept up with them in a more timely manner but I slacked on it. Let’s jump right into the facts and be amazed at everything I ate during the month of November. From Thanksgiving dinner to the leftover Halloween candy.

Donuts:

In the month of October, I had a total of 12 donuts. While I do love a nice donut in the morning, I only had 10. Only two less than the previous month. Donuts and cookies are my crack. I do love a good donut in the morning.

  • 5 of these donuts were my all time favorite, Maple Cinnamon Rolls.
  • The last 5 were long johns.
    • 3 were maple Long Johns.
      • 2 were from Quiktrip.
      • 1 was from work.
    • 2 were chocolate long johns from work.

Muffins:

I only care for one muffin. That’s blueberry. This month I had,

  • 5 Blueberry Muffins.

Cookies:

Still the one thing I always find myself munching on. I prefer peanut butter cookies and oatmeal raisin but if I see a cookie, I’ll eat it. This month I had 21 cookies. A few more than October. Like I said, I like cookies.

  • 2 were Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.
  • 3 were M&M Cookies.
  • 4 were Peanut Butter Cookies.
  • 12 were Chocolate Chip Cookies.
    • 9 were at work.
    • 3 were ate at my friends house.

Halloween Candy:

Since I really had no kids come by knocking on my door for candy, I was stuck with a bowl full of goodies all to myself. I always make sure when I buy candy for Halloween, it’s candy I’ll eat. If I am getting stuck with it, I want to be sure I’ll eat it. Can’t let this stuff go to waste. I had a grand total of 58 pieces of candy. I should see a dentist.

  • 11 were Reese’s Pieces.
  • 1 was a Butterfinger Crisp.
  • 5 Mini Bags of Whoppers.
  • 2 Mini Packages of Starbursts.
  • 1 Mini Box of Milk Duds.
  • 11 Bite Size Baby Ruth.
  • 16 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
  • 11 Mini Reese’s Mini Fast Breaks.

Other Random Goodies:

This will conclude the sweet treats I ate throughout the month. The remaining treats totaled 9 random goodies.

  • 1 Cinnamon Biscuit.
  • 2 Blueberry Breakfast Loaves.
  • 1 Ultimate Breakfast Bar (it taste like cinnamon.)
  • 1 Chocolate Chip Granola Bar.
  • 1 Piece of Monkey Bread.
  • 2 Blueberry Cream Cakes (no idea what this is or how I got my hands on it…)
  • 1 Peanut Butter Breakfast Chew (again…no idea.)

Dining Out:

I have been trying this month to go out so much and eat fast food. I actually try to cook at home. When I say this month, I am referring to December. You’ll see that I made no attempt at cooking at home. I said it once and I will say it again. I cook all day at work. I don’t want to go home and cook again. You think porn stars go home after a long day at work and want to jump in the sack? I don’t think so.

  • 3 Trips to Popeye’s Chicken -3 Piece Dinners (7 thighs, 2 legs)
    • 3 sides of mashed potatoes and gravy.
    • 3 biscuits.
  • 1 Cold Cut Combo
    • 1 bag of Sun Dried Tomato and Monterey Jack Sun Chips.
  • 4 Chipotle Burritos (rice, chicken, corn, lettuce & sour cream)
  • 5 Double Quarter Pounder With Cheese
  • 3 Twenty Piece Chicken Nuggets (6 BBQ Sauces, 6 Sweet & Sour Sauces)
  • 1 Ten Piece Chicken Nugget (1 BBQ Sauce, 1 Sweet & Sour Sauce)
  • 1 Double Whopper With Cheese
    • 1 side of onion rings.
  • 1 Philly Time Deluxe Phillysteak Sandwich
  • 1 Trip to Ming Garden
    • order of General Chicken and Steamed Rice.
  • 1 Sonic Breakfast Burrito.
  • 1 plate of 54th Street Bar & Grill Chips and Salsa.
  • 3 Trips To Bob Evans for the Farmer’s Choice.
    • 6 eggs over easy.
    • 9 pieces of bacon.
    • 6 pancakes with syrup.
    • 3 orders of white toast.
  • 4 Slices of Northern Lights  Pepperoni Pizza.
  • 16 Pieces of Papa Johns Pineapple & Canadian Bacon Pizza.
    • 9 slices were hot, 7 slices were nuked in the microwave.
    • 1 boneless Hot Wing (it sucked. tossed the rest.)

Eating At Home:

Here is a list of things I actually ‘cooked’ at home. Not really cooking. It is more just me throwing something together quick cause I don’t want to eat fast food every night. God, looking at this list. I really need to eat better. I hate to see what my insides look like.

  • 6 Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches.
  • 1 Rotisserie Chicken.
    • 1 side of mashed potatoes with beef gravy.
  • 1 Turkey and Cheese Sandwich on White Bread.
  • 8 Beef Hot Dogs.
  • 1 Plate of Spaghetti & Meat Sauce.
    • 2 slices of white bread.
  • 26 Valerian Root Pills.

Thanksgiving Dinner:

I was lucky enough to have two dinners. I usually stuffed myself silly during this holiday. I’ll break it down better what my mother prepared (11/25) and what my sister prepared (11/26)

11/25

  • 2 plates of:
    • Ham with ketchup (yep. I’m white trash.)
    • Creamed Corn.
    • Mashed Potatoes With Gravy.
    • Biscuit
    • 1 cherry pie slice.

11/26

  • Turkey
  • Carrots
  • Dressing
  • Ham
  • Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
  • Deviled Eggs
  • Ritz Crackers
  • Assorted Cubed Cheese
  • Rolls.

Eating At Work:

Here is a list of the meals I consumed on break during work.

  • 15 slices of Pizza
    • 1 Slice of Cheese Pizza
    • 4 Slices of Pineapple and Canadian Bacon Pizza
    • 4 Slices of Pepperoni Pizza
    • 2 Slices of Buffalo Chicken Pizza
    • 4 Slices of Chicken Alfredo Pizza
  • 2 BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches.
    • 2 sides of macaroni and cheese
    • 2 sides of mashed potatoes and gravy
  • 4 Plates of Orange Chicken and General Chicken
    • 4 sides of steamed rice (8 sugars total on rice)
  • 4 Orders of Medium Spicy Beef Lo Mein (no vegetables, no oyster sauce)
  • 1 3 Piece Smoked Chicken Dinner (2 thighs, 1 leg)
    • side of mashed potatoes and gravy
    • side of baked beans
    • 1 yeast roll
  • 1 Breakfast Burrito (ham, green peppers, egg, cheese, salsa, sour cream)
  • 1 Sausage, Egg and Cheese Muffin
  • 1 Breakfast at Lunch
    • 2 eggs scrambled
    • 2 biscuits and gravy
    • 4 strips of bacon
    • 2 sausage links

Snacking At Work:

I snack. See?

  • 4 slices of Oven Roasted Turkey Breast.
  • 4 Pieces of Grilled Mediterranean Chicken.
  • 1 Smoked Chicken Thigh
  • 1 Slice of Turkey Sausage Pizza
  • 5 Oven Baked Chicken Strips with BBQ Sauce.
  • 1 Beef Little Smokie.
  • 4 Pieces of Chicken Fried Steak.
  • 1 Bag of Rold Gold Pretzels.
  • 1 Taste Test of Home Made BBQ Sauce.

And there you have it! This is the log for the month of November. I am one month away from finishing this project. Keep watching. I am hoping to have it posted right after the stroke of midnight! Happy new year!

November Stats – Part I: Drinks

Its November. It’s the month of being thankful for things. What am I thankful for? Beer and coffee. I am thankful for those things. I am also thankful for the logging I have done with the food and drinks I have consumed this year. It is something I am proud of. I am very excited about tally up a number of things and seeing exactly what I ate and drank. Some questions I have,

  1. How many beers did I have?
  2. How much coffee did I drink?
  3. How many times did I go to McDonald’s, Burger King, Popeye’s?
  4. How many servings of mashed potatoes did I eat?
  5. Donuts?
  6. Cookies?

That is just some. I am working and have a few months tallied up. I will not go through every item I ate and drank but I will log and show you the items I know I excessively eat and drink. I got one more month left. Hell, I have just two more nights before this year is up. I know this log is flawed. I know I didn’t capture everything I ate. I am sure there are some things I might have missed. But to look back and see it, I did a fantastic job. I can go and say that the log is 99% accurate. That is how sure I am with the crap I ate. Tomorrow is going to be the final day. I am hoping to be up at midnight, well at least somewhat sober at the time to post the final log for the year. To post the last of the ‘2010 food and drink log’. Too bad I can’t get famous for this. That’ll be awesome. Okay. Let’s get to the facts. Here are the results for the month of November. Here is everything I drank during the month of the Turkey.


Coffee:

This was a slow month for me and coffee. Normally, I drank over 60. This month I had 54. Let’s see how it all breaks down.

  • 7 of those coffees were from Quiktrip. I remember going here more than normal. It’s not the worlds greatest coffee but like I said before, coffee is coffee.
  • 23 of these were Caribou coffees.
    • 22 were small cups.
    • 1 was a larger cup. I have a thing against drinking from the larger cups at work. I like the smaller cups.
  • 4 were Starbucks. I have really cut back on the Starbucks trek. I can recall when I would go here everyday. I am not upset. I can honestly say, I prefer Caribou over Starbucks.
    • 3 were the large sizes. I like the large size Starbucks. I hate the small size. Funny how it’s reversed with coffee companies.
    • 1 was a small size. It was bought by a friend. Beggars can’t be choosers. Free coffee is just that. Free.
  • 9 were had at Bob Evans. Still looks right. I usually have about 3 cups per visit.
  • 11 were had at home. They were all Folgers.

Soda:

This is just an essential item in my life. Maybe I drink too more soda. Maybe the amount of caffeine I have is the cause of my attacks. I could use this food log to see if I could change my habits next year. But thinking about it, I won’t. If I was aware all year of the amount of soda and coffee I drank so far and I haven’t cut back, I can be sure as hell I won’t do it next year. Aside from that, I had a total of 51 sodas. Oh, look! That was less than less month. I am doing great! Less coffee and less soda. I wonder what my beer will amount to!

45 of these were cokes. The cokes break down to,

  • 22 of these were had at work. Out of these,
    • 20 were 20 oz size styrofoam cups.
    • 2 were 10o oz size plastic cups.
  • 14 were cans of coke.
  • 2 were cokes in plastic cups had at our family’s Thanksgiving Dinner.
  • 3 were had at McDonald’s.
    • 2 were large sizes.
    • 1 was a medium size coke.
  • 3 were had at Chipotle
  • 1 was a large coke had at Burger King.

The remaining 6 were Pepsi.

  • 3 were had at Popeye’s.
  • 1 was had at Ming Garden.
  • 1 was had at Philly Time.
  • 1 was a can of Pepsi.

Alcohol:

Ah…my vice. The one thing that I sometimes drink far too much of. Not very wise but I am hoping for a low number. If last month I had 65, I hope I drank less. That will mean this could be the healthiest month of the year. I know next month (December) will not be the lowest month for my alcohol intake. Believe me. I’ve looked it up already. For the month of November, I had a total of 43. Holy live failure, Batman! That is low. I really didn’t drink much this month. I don’t know why. Maybe I worked too much. I don’t know. But this is low number. I’ll have to check my graph and see it is really is the lowest month for drinking alcohol.

  • The total for the month, 43, were all Bud Lights.
    • 40 were Bud Light Bottles.
    • 3 were tall mugs had at the local bar.

Etc…:

This is the rest of the stuff I drank during the month of November.

  • 20 8 oz tumbler size waters.
  • 9 chocolate milk pints.
  • 5 Orange Juices.
    • 3 were had at Bob Evans.
    • 2 were 16 oz size minute maid juices.
  • 1 Strawberry Kiwi Hi-C

The end of another month. I am getting closer to the final blog. The food log will be up soon. It could be tonight or tomorrow. It really depends if I go to a friends house for a drink or 8. Hang tight.