Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

vhalla1478 · 9 February 2015 at 8:32PM

Evening All,

Thank you, littleowl for the info about the risotto; I don't mind leftovers but I do like variety.

I'm actually going further than my son's house tomorrow, (first time since a week last Friday), visiting friends in Louth (my old stomping ground) so I'll have a day off cooking and sewing. It's like an ice rink on the farm but the birds are noisily happy so yet another sign that Spring is on its way.

Here's a recipe for chocaholics

Hot Chocolate Fondant - serves 2

50grams unsalted butter, plus extra to grease, 2 tsp cocoa powder, to dust, 50grams good quality bitter chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa solids) in pieces, free-range egg plus an extra yolk, 60grams caster sugar, 50grams plain flour.

Heat the oven to 160 degree/gas mark3. Butter two large ramekins, about 7.5cm diameter, then dust liberally with cocoa. Slowly melt the chocolate and butter in a small bowl set over a pan of hot water, then take off the heat and stir until smooth. Leave to cool for 10 minutes. Whisk the whole egg, egg yolk and sugar together until pale and thick (the eggs and sugar - not you!) then incorporate the chocolate mixture. Sift the flour over the mixture and gently fold in using a large metal spoon. Divide between the ramekins and bake for 12 minutes. turn out onto a plate and serve immediately. The middles will be liquid chocolate - heaven!

I sympathise with all the unpickers - a job I hate, but if you don't do it you'll never be satisfied with the results; I know from bitter experience.

Have a pleasant evening.

Viv xx

fuddle · 9 February 2015 at 8:58PM

Just finished DD's space explorer tabard. She's very proud of it, all tin foil, cardboard, white paint and she got to try the glue gun. She's drawn a NASA sign and really very pleased with her efforts. She's pulled out a white top, leggings and a sparkly grey cardigan. She's pretty happy but did have a wobble about her friends having a proper suit. It pulled at my heart strings and I did scold myself for being tight but we had a chat about the fun we had had in making it and how she will stand out amongst the other children. I also said that the teacher would be aware of the effort she had gone to as well so she seems happy.

Peer pressure is awful though. I just hope the other kiddies are too young to care!

GreyQueen · 9 February 2015 at 9:24PM

It sounds brill, Fuddle, and do be sure to capture some pix for your personal family album, you want to hold onto that.

Peer pressure is difficult because none of us would want our kids (or any kids, if you're childless like me but have clear memories of being on the outside of certain cliques) to be standing out as Different.

But, if you look at it sensibly, and I have you pegged as a very sensible woman btw, there will always be something which some child can be said to be doing different/ looking different. Kids are extremely conformist little beings but you can't buy your kids social acceptance by the right kit, or the right holidays, you just up the ante until the tiniest little thing is enough to put them on the outside of the top clique.

I had a girl in my class at secondary school, a very very pretty girl with a flawless complexion, who was absolutely obsessed by a single freckle on the tip of her perfect little nose. She obsessed about it endlessly, going on and on and on, at a time many of us were struggling with less than perfect skin and less than pretty features. We hated her for it, frankly.

[Deleted User] · 9 February 2015 at 9:26PM

Hi Chums,any ideas for my DGS Mikey's scooter helmet It fits him beautifully but the plastic clip that holds the straps under his chin has broken.Nothing wrong with the helmet just can't do the blooming strap up.its the sort where you squeeze the side bits in to slide the clasp into a small holding socket Its the holding socket bit thats broken.Seems a waste to buy him a new helmet just for this tiny bit of plastic socket ???He is scooter mad at the moment and adores the one he has.probably once next September comes and he goes off to 'big school' (year 7) his scooter will end up at the back of the shed.But I'm not happy about him haring around without something on his head to protect him from spills.

GreyQueen · 9 February 2015 at 9:28PM

JackieO wrote: »

Hi Chums,any ideas for my DGS Mikey's scooter helmet It fits him beautifully but the plastic clip that holds the straps under his chin has broken.Nothing wrong with the helmet just can't do the blooming strap up.its the sort where you squeeze the side bits in to slide the clasp into a small holding socket Its the holding socket bit thats broken.Seems a waste to buy him a new helmet just for this tiny bit of plastic socket ???He is scooter mad at the moment and adores the one he has.probably once next September comes and he goes off to 'big school' (year 7) his scooter will end up at the back of the shed.But I'm not happy about him haring around without something on his head to protect him from spills.

You can definately buy these clips in outdoor stores and possibly in haberdashers also.

janb5 · 9 February 2015 at 10:36PM

vhalla1478 wrote: »

Good Morning Everyone,

I have to endorse what lynplantinum says about older tools being better and also add that I think that principle extends across many areas. ie furniture and household goods in general.

I came back to the UK just under two years ago with hardly anything - come on folks, I'd had an invitation to live on a yacht in the Caribbean so had sold the majority of my stuff and given loads of things away in gay abandon. Let me just say it didn't work out, it lasted all of 3 months- I'll leave the rest for my autobiography and at the age of 66 I started all over again. Most of my things are old or antique with lots of exuberant charity shops and car boot finds (I used to be an antiques dealer). Even if I had more than my state pension I really wouldn't want most of the over-priced new household goods that are around. I try and buy some little thing for the house most weeks.

Sorry, rant over. Here's a super recipe that was George Washington's mother's, great to give as a present as it keeps, just wrap it in foil and stick a big bow on it. Not exactly basic because of the spices you'll need, but spices last forever and you don't need much of them. It must be a day of waffling, Cheerfulness, so I'll shut up and write the recipe,

Mary Ball Washington's Gingerbread 1784

Half a cup butter, half a cup dark brown moist sugar, half cup treacle, half a cup golden syrup, 3 cups plain flour sifted with a teaspoon cream of tartar, a cup of sultanas or raisins, half a cup of warm milk, 2 tablespoons powdered ginger, one and a half teaspoons cinnamon, one and a half teaspoons mace, one and a half teaspoons nutmeg, 3 eggs well beaten, juice and rind of a large orange, a teaspoonful of bicarbonate soda, dissolved in 2 tablespoonsful of warm water.

Cream butter, add sugar and beat well. Add syrups, milk and spices, mix very well. Mix cream of tartar with flower and then add alternately with beaten egg to the butter/sugar mixture. Add orange juice and grated rind and dissolved soda and raisins. Bake in a moderate oven (350) for 45-50 mins in well-greased baking pans about 12x9x3 inches.

I'm a moderately good cook, but not a baker, but this is fantastic and turns out well every time.

Right, I've no more excuses, I have loads to do today - have a good one, everyone.

Viv x

Viv, I think this recipe is going to be like Twink`s hobnobs- a classic on MSE. I have made it at least twice since you gave us the recipe and everyone loves it. Tonight we finished off the remaining pieces warmed in the MW with Waitrose Madagascan custard. Yummy!

vhalla1478 · 9 February 2015 at 11:07PM

Thank you for that, Janb5, so pleased you're enjoying it!

Viv xx

cheerfulness4 · 9 February 2015 at 11:42PM

I want to enjoy it too but I'm missing Cream of Tartar and Mace. Could you get away with a little more nutmeg as I thought mace was just the outer coating of nutmeg or did I dream that up? Hmm or am I thinking the outer of cloves.
Not sure what I could sub C of T for. :think:

cheerfulness4 · 10 February 2015 at 12:03AM

Got my receipts together so todays spends:

DAY 9

Money Spent Today - £4.24 Vouchers Spent - £0
Money Spent in Total - £26.45 Vouchers Spent in Total - £0
Money left in purse - £0.55p- Float left- £3.73/£15
Jan non-foods left- £1.85/£15

Grocery spends came to £4.24 for 2x 2ltr milk@ 89p each, pk Hot oat cereal @ £1.49, 2 x tins rice pudding @ 15p each, pk cream crackers @ 28p and Pasta n sauce @ 39p.

Spends from non-foods came to £2.94 for pk 6 dble length loo rolls and a pk of 8 washing up sponges.

I made HM Pepperoni Pizza for tea with the last of the Mozzarella from the freezer. The tomato base was frozen l/o from last weeks pizza so that made less work. Some of my orange peppers made it look very pretty.

The freezer is about a quarter full now. :eek: Still, I still think there are quite a few more meals left in there to be made. Oxtail stew tomorrow. Winging it a bit with that as its years since we tried it before and I don't remember the reaction being good. No matter, I want another go at it.

Seeds have now all been listed and sorted in my seed chest. Oh my goodness, I'm such a seed hoarder but fun will definitely be had this year, no mistake.

Silva, not you unpicking, too. What a pair we are.

Forgot to add, did a little Make doing today as I wanted some onion but didn't want to chop into a big one. I remembered my HGrown spring onions down in my raised bed so pulled some. They are great and lots more out there to use in sarnies and salads.

HOWMUCH · 10 February 2015 at 12:23AM

Well done Cheerful on your YS shopping, the batching cooking I did yesterday has resulted in for the freezer 2 portions of lasagna and 4 portions of corned beef hash. I also like variety so it was cottage pie yesterday today was lasagna tomorrow will be corned beef hash and wednesday will be the rest of the cottage pie with the rest of the veg, roasted sweet potatoes, cabbage and carrots. A small amount of each also went to my daughters for DGS evening meals.
Viv thanks again for the recipes. Oh and I booked Heacham Beach Norfolk again for October. So that's 3 Monday to Friday holidays booked for £41.28 each cos I get £1.72 back via Quidco. We love Norfolk because it's flat and OH can walk easier with his sticks. Cathch you all tomorrow xx

PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

Comments

MAY GROCERY CHALLENGE £0/ £250

MAY GROCERY CHALLENGE £0/ £250

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free