50p a day til Christmas - healthily?! Weezl's next challenge...

cw18

Thanks - much appreciated

Off to investigate now....

Bunny200

can definatly recommend stardrop and vinegar but beware stardrops is a bit harsh on skin so invest in a pair of rubber gloves! Still cheaper than buying loads of different expensive cleaners

loocyloo

just putting left over veggie and tomato sauce in freezer ... unearthed some lambs liver. i love it with bacon, but no one else is keen! can i make that into pate? or any other ideas?

thanks loocyloo

munchki

Hi everyone!!

Been busy around here. Last night made a batch of hm strawb jam from Mr A £1 strawbs. I love the smell of the kitchen when the jam is cooking! Then we were in kent over the weekend and picked up some cherries and DOH sat and watched telly last night and had the great job of pipping the lot. Did a great job now I just have to figure out what I am going to do with them. Have a large bowl sat in the fridge! Today went to Mr A and did the shop, spent £85 but there is not breathing space in the fridge, freezer or cupboards so should be all set for at least 3 to 4 weeks now, although having a bbq this weekend with all the family coming over for DOH bday on Sunday! Still need to bake him a special cake *thinking* Was hoping to get more strawbs at Mr A today but all the £1 were gone and back up to £1.98 a punnet so think maybe time to pick my own somewhere as want to make more jam for xmas baskets.

Just a question, I have some frozen rhubarb can I use that for making jam as i dont know if it will be too watery now? I would like to make some cherry rhubarb jam if it will work with frozen rhubarb.

I just wanted to say I positively love this thread. I have learned so much and was just saying to hubby that not so long ago we were spending £85 a week for the two of us and now spend about that much a month so massive savings!! I think, no I know we are eating a lot better and can still have our wine etc. Wish I could figure out how to make that but think it would be too expensive as would have to buy everything for it!

I even think I will now start making quillows for pressies this xmas, doing special ones with each couples photo put on the pocket of each blanket. Should be lovely in a hamper with a bit of hm jam and a bottle of wine or choccies.

Anyway, a huge thank you to everyone on here, could not do it without all of you and would never look back now!

love and huggles

Kath xx

Plum_Pie

Bunny200 wrote: »

I could get hold of a tree full of cherries but not sure what to do with them as they are really sour:eek: . Can I just stew them with sugar/sweetener or are they beyond any use?

You can make cheerry brandy or vodka (or gin, I guess). Big airtight jar, wash and p r ic k the cherries, add small amount of sugar and lots of booze. Leave to ferment for 3 months at least. Strain through muslin or v fine sieve. Add more sugar (to taste). Bottle and drink. Or give to friends! :beer:

If you're not an alkie comme moi, a quick google of 'fresh sour cherries' (they're often sold dried!) should yield good results. Cherries freeze well with and without their stones so stock up, you lucky thing!
http://www.epicurious.com/tools/searchresults?search=fresh+sour+cherries

loocyloo

another question

in my little veggie patch i am growing some broccoli ... i'm assuming i can cook all the leaves that are growing round the actual broccoli flower bit? i always use the few leaves that are around the broccoli when i buy it ... but the broccolli growing in my patch has masses of big lovely looking leaves ... i'm thinking treat it like cabbage???

think i've answered my own question!

loocyloo x

Plum_Pie

loocyloo wrote: »

another question

in my little veggie patch i am growing some broccoli ... i'm assuming i can cook all the leaves that are growing round the actual broccoli flower bit?

I do - only the smaller ones though. The bigger ones can be a bit tough and too strongly flavoured for my taste. MMMmmm, brocolli...

shaz_mum_of__2

Hi Munchki frozen fruit is fine for jam bung it in a pan with the sugar to defrost overnight then cook in the morning check budget frozen food shops for fruit as well as the supers my local heron does hulled frozen strawbs for 99p and Jack fulton do 2 x 500g blackcurrants for £1.50 most supers have offer on summer fruits /forest fruits regularly too

Winemaking is simple we got most of our kit off freecycle and can make 30 bottles for less than £20 from a kit


Shaz

Money_saving_Diva_2

Hi all! I don't use the QVC bags but I have bought an ionizer from there that helps keep your veg and fridge food fresher for longer and despite the scoffing from my partner, I have one on the middle shelf of my fridge and he has had to eat his words! (and all the veg that didn't go rotten because of it)

It keeps our food fresh at least an extra week or so which means we too can actually use a whole lettuce without having to force-feed salads down ourselves every meal for the usual 3 days it takes for a lettuce to turn on us!! This is the link to the item on QVC - hope that is ok to put here, if not, just delete me) It cost £22 including the postage and the batteries last about two months and they take rechargable ones so all in all it will pay for itself soon! :T

http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/app.detail/params.item.826129/walk.yah.UKHG~UK14

weezl74

Bunny200 wrote: »

I could get hold of a tree full of cherries but not sure what to do with them as they are really sour:eek: . Can I just stew them with sugar/sweetener or are they beyond any use?

I think a chutney made with them would be superb with a sharp white cheese, like a wensleydale, or perhaps a goat's cheese

Or a sauce for pork, a fatty piece like belly pork, and the acidity would slice through it - lovely...

or stewed with lots of sugar and stirred through choc ice-cream, home made 'cherry garcia'....

nomnomnom!