Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

cheerfulness4 · 2 May 2015 at 11:38AM

Hi teeni, you seem to be well on your way to economic recovery.

Lovely to see another knitter, too. You don't garden as well, do you?

I sympathise with you over offsprings divorce, HOWMUCH. Similar situation with one of ours and we also are having to be onhand to support both physically and emotionally over the last few months.
At least the weather is set to get warmer after today for you hols.

As regards my shoes, only in wide width for my particular ones but there were a couple of pairs in the same sort of style in normal width I loved too. You have to have a rummage as some looked a bit cheapish to me but there were a handful of pairs I found that looked much more expensive when worn than they cost.

DH just gone to pick the car up. Think how many pairs of sparkly sandals I could have bought with what that cost.

vhalla1478 · 2 May 2015 at 12:49PM

Hi again, All,

Just having a cup of tea after lunch before I get started on my rug again. I got the lemon curd made and was pleased to be standing over the hob keeping warm; it's not too nice here and there I was hoping to turn off the final storage heater on 1st May. I shall be putting the fire on soon unless things improve significantly.

Thank you, Silva and Cheerfulness for the advice about the sandals. However, I have just done what I believe Americans call, 'shopping your closet' and have to report that I have six pairs of sandals all in 'as new' condition and three pairs are sparkly ones! So... sadly the conclusion is that I really, really do not need/cannot justify a new pair of sandals, however pretty.:sad:

Welcome, teeni, the more the merrier, great to have you on board (oops - that should be silva's line!).

Howmuch, like Cheerfulness, my DS went through a divorce around 5 years ago and although he was stoic about it (Michael is an ex-para), it was still a very difficult time for him; but he is now very happily married for the second time to my very dear DDil who he first went out with when he was 14 - so there is always light at the end of the tunnel and I'm sure your DD will get there; she obviously has a loving family to support her and your DGS. Have a great time in Norfolk, and I hope the weather improves for us all.

I need to get on with that rug. Recipe later, I promise.

Viv xx

cheerfulness4 · 2 May 2015 at 2:31PM

Sorry HowMuch, forgot to say I think it was post 873 and 874 that gave the instructions but i will check and pop a proper link up in a bit and pop it in post one, too.

silvasava · 2 May 2015 at 3:23PM

Teeni - welcome aboard - our little boat is magic - it will expand to fill the space required!
Vhalla - the treacle tart is just finishing in the oven - can't wait to try it. I've been baking 'cos its cold down here too. Granny Spice Cake (DH's favorite) and an Apple Almond Tart. There's no recipe for this 'cos I made it up as I went along but its tasty so here goes.

Line flan dish with shortcrust pastry (size depends on what you have available!) pastry can be your own or ready made.
Roll out a pack of marzipan to fill the base of the flan - small flan case - thicker marzipan or to your taste (you have my permission to scoff any trimmings

)
Cover the marzipan with sliced apples (bit like a tart tatin but mine are never that thin or neat.)
Glaze with a bit of apricot jam & put in the oven gas mark 5.
The marzipan tends to melt & bubble through the apple - you don't need any extra sugar with the apple as there's plenty on the marzipan.
Needless to say this was a Christmas 'leftover' idea but its still around 30 years on!!

Vhalla - I found 2 squeezy bottles of syrup with just enough in so I warmed them in the microwave to get every last drop - must remember to let the pressure out before I completely open them 'cos golden syrup is a bu**er when it sprays over the kitchen like a fountain (managed to salvage enough tho') I expect I'll be finding sticky spots all next week.

GreyQueen · 2 May 2015 at 3:32PM

Afternoon all.

Grinning at the phrases. One I treasure was an eavesdropping overheard when two ladies were dissing a third lady (not present) as so mean she'd not give you the drippings from her nose.

More neck than a giraffe, is also a good one.

Have minimized some of my hair with my new thinning scissors, who knew how much fun home-hairdressing could be? Wash it in the bathroom, step out into the hall where there's a big mirror (car boot rubbish pile salvage, wooden frame refinished by moi) and happily clipped away. Quick vac over the tiled floor and bob's yer uncle.

Been weeding like a good 'un and chatting with some fellow plot-holders, chilly day with some blasts of sunshine between the fast-pmoving clouds, so good to be out in the fresh air.

vhalla1478 · 2 May 2015 at 3:55PM

Hi again, being naughty here - should be finishing the housework, but decided to have a peep and see what was going on.

GreyQueen - your version of that expression is far more ladylike than my friend's, who, when she met a fellow dealer for the first time, remarked 'she wouldn't give you the steam off her s...'

Silva, I'll be holding my breath on the treacle tart until you report back and I'm now off to dig out the marzipan from the back of the wall cupboard so I can have a go at your recipe tomorrow. I WILL be posting a recipe later!

Viv xx

silvasava · 2 May 2015 at 4:36PM

Aye Aye Cap'n - reporting in. Treacle Tart total success. DH recovered enough from 'man flu' to have a large slice ( medicinal purposes only - needs the sugar to keep his energy levels up!)
This one is definitely a keeper - Gold Star Vhalla xx
A tip if anyone finds it useful - DH & I use multi grain or malted bread. I save the crusts if we have'n't eaten them & blitz them in my processor to breadcrumbs. They're in a box in the freezer & can be used directly as they defrost quickly. Great for making your own stuffings, crumble toppings and of course TREACLE TART yum

vhalla1478 · 2 May 2015 at 5:51PM

Here I am once more, Folks, with another 'naughty but nice' recipe to add to the list. Silva - pleased your DH enjoyed his 'medicine' and yes, that's a good tip about the breadcrumbs - I eat a lot of granary and brown bread and do exactly the same.

Tiramisu - which translates as 'pick me up', which is said to derive from the fact that it is so good that it literally makes you swoon when you eat it.

Tiramisu - serves 4 - yeah - whatever!:D

225 grams marscapone, 25 grams icing sugar, sifted, 150ml strongly brewed coffee, chilled, 300ml double cream, 45ml coffee liqueur such as Tia Maria or Kahula, 115 grams Savoiardi (sponge finger) biscuits, 50 grams plain chocolate, coarsely grated, cocoa powder for dusting.

Lightly grease and line a 900 gram loaf tin with clear film. Put the marscapone and icing sugar in a large bowl and beat for one minute. stir in 30ml of the chilled coffee. Mix thoroughly.

Whip the cream with 15ml of the liqueur until it forms soft peaks. Stir a spoonful into the marscapone mixture, then fold in the rest. Spoon half the marscapone mixture into the loaf tin and smooth the top.

Put the remaining strong brewed coffee and liqueur in a shallow dish just wider than the biscuits. Using half the biscuits, dip one side of each biscuit into the coffee mixture, then arrange on top of the marscapone mixture in a single layer. Spoon the rest of the marscapone mixture over the biscuit layer and smooth the top.

Dip the remaining biscuits into the coffee mixture and arrange on top. drizzle any remaining coffee mixture over the top. Cover the dish with clear film and chill for at least four hours. Carefully turn the tiramisu out of the loaf tin and sprinkle with grated chocolate and cocoa powder; serve cut into slices.

My DB has just phoned from Krumlov - I'm freezing -I had to stand outside to hear him and it's raining here That's true love for you.:)

Have a nice evening, All.

Viv xx

Hard_Up_Hester · 2 May 2015 at 6:16PM

Hi all
I've had a week full of MM&M, I sewed some buttons on one of the DGC's jackets so it's all ready to be worn again.
We've had freezer roulette for tea every night this week, I've grabbed a bag out of the freezer in the morning & cooked whatever it was when I got home from work, I knew all the bags contained meat of some description, so it wasn't as risky as it sounds.
I bought the wrong sort of muesli last time I shopped, I'm only allowed the salt & sugar free one, so rather than waste it I made a sort of flapjack, I melted some marg with half a jar of very old of honey and stirred in the muesli. I then remembered that I had 2 Bramley apples i the fridge (I bought them to make apple pie for some expected guests who cancelled at the last minute) I peeled and sliced the apples, added them to the mix. Then I spread it on a baking tray & cooked for 29 to 25 minutes at 180deg & cut it in to squares once cooked. I've tried a few crumbs & it seems to taste ok. I'll take it to work to share amongst my colleagues.

Floss · 2 May 2015 at 7:14PM

Lynplatinum wrote: »

Floss (hope I ve got that correct!??) I saw the mighty Quo @ Apollo Hammersmith - awesome rock venue - I ve seen several bands there and its just got such a good vibe :-) If you go - eat/drink at the nearby Wethers!oons - really fast service - great condition Real Ales and clean as a new pin!!! :beer:

We saw Billy Connolly at the Hammersmith Apollo nearly 10 years ago...and we also ate at a 'Spoons in Sheffield! The City Hall there is a really nice venue. DH has seen Quo every year since he was 17 and usually catches them when they come to Blackpool before Christmas. I've only seen them 3 times - the more recent "cabaret" Quo, Frantic Four (Glasgow - wow!!) and Quostic

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Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

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