Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

I’m so enjoying this thread. There are so many good ideas and everyone is so positive, its great.
A few days ago I posted that I’d sewed some waterproof squares with cotton lining (to sit down on for thermos of coffee when on walks with wet ground/no benches) out of an old waterproof mac. Thanks cheerfulness4 for the photo link instructions

I also made some wine bottle sized drawstring gift bags out of the arms from the waterproof mac – I like to make giftbags for when I take a bottle of wine round to a friends house, they can then use the bag for anything they like


I hope these pictures work. Have a great weekend everyone!
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SQ - I bought a £5 hand held blender from Wilkinsons about 18 months ago - its brilliant for soups. DH laughs at me every time the advert comes on TV for the 'Soup Maker' 'cos I keep saying 'whats wrong with a saucepan & a blender - same result and not over £60.00!!
Zebedy - I can't make the pictures work either - all I end up with every time I try is a little picture icon - shame we can't just cut & paste

Hello again, Folks, let's face it, if necessary we could all manage without gadgets as long as we had a source of heat to cook with and a good knife; but we don't have to. I've had a food processor since I first heard about them. And even now, when the time factor isn't the issue, I really wouldn't want to be without it - in any case mine was brand-new from a friend, who when she bought it, found she already had the exact same model in her cupboard! The only other kitchen gadgets I have are an elderly ice cream maker (I'm very popular with the grandchildren), a donated bread maker of doubtful origin, which I've only just started using and a cheap hand-held whizzer. I use the food processor almost every day as I smashed my elbow ten years ago and I find it easier when I'm preparing vegetables for soup, making pates etc.

That reminds me, someone said they didn't have much success with soup. The trick is to 'sweat' the chopped up vegetables in butter for ten minutes, making sure that they're well-coated by giving them a stir now and then. When you add the stock, bring back to the boil and then reduce the heat down to a simmer for around 45 minutes to blend/bring out the flavours.

I've just been in the freezer looking for something nice for tonight, found some good quality supermarket sausages; this is a great recipe - ancient as it has my ex-husband's writing on it - and is what I'll be doing later.

Sausages with balsamic-roasted onions - serves 2-3, but I would say four by the time you've added other vegetables.

454gram pack good quality sausages, 2 peeled onions, 2 peeled red onions, 8 shallots (don't worry if you haven't got any, just miss them out) 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 4 tbsp. olive oil, tbsp. light brown sugar, 15gram fresh sage, chopped, 4 peeled cloves of garlic, salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Pre-heat the oven to 190 degrees/gas mark5. Cut the onions into wedges, leave the shallots whole and place onions and shallots in a small roasting tin. Douse with 3 tablespoons olive oil and the balsamic vinegar, then add the brown sugar, sage and garlic. Season and cook in the oven for 25 minutes, turning once or twice during cooking, until the onions are tender and are starting to carmelise at the edges. In the meantime heat the remaining oil in a frying pan, brown the sausages over a medium heat, then add them to the roasting pan with the onions. Continue to cook for a further 15-20 minutes and serve with mash and vegetables. This is very warming and filling.

So now I've no excuses, I need to give the living room a good once over.

Viv xx

Thanks Viv we know Lincolnshire quite well, we are quite close by only 30miles from Lincoln, it's Thorpe Park at Cleethorpe's only an hour away.
I forgot to say yesterday I picked up some YS goats milk which I'd never had before only ever had cheese previously. Well I was going to make some rice pudding and freeze some but no pudding rice when I got home. I poured alittle into a glass and did the taste test, very very creamy so decided to use for Drinking chocolate and I will use the rest this evening, not bad for 25p for 1 litre. Hope we are all keeping warm and toasty.