SmlSave MFW diary - where to start?

DansMum_2

If you clear the cc debt, SmlSave, are you likely to load it up again for Christmas???

Sorry you're still not 100%....:(

SmlSave

Hello

I've got some good news The window loan and remortgage loan (that I'm counting as an op) has been paid!!!!! Wooohooooooo!

I've been awol for no reason at all apart from being lazy and researching holidays nonstop. We've decided on a cruise and stay deal which I fully expect to cost £4000+ including spending money. This means that we have to save a min of £600p/m. Its lots and lots of money and would save loads in interest alone if it were to be put on the mortage but we're going to spend it on a self indulgent two week delayed honeymoon/pre-baby holiday. yes, still trying - feels like forever!

Gotta run now but we had a good weekend with me practising the planned christmas dish, baking lots and gettting lots of thorns from foraging!

See u!

setmefree2

Good to hear from you smlsave:hello:

DansMum_2

Glad you're back x Mebbe this will be the cruise that Smllet will make an appearance!!!

Radish72

A cruise how lovely, I can never make up my mind whether I would like to go on a cruise or not, so I'm expecting all the details when you get back from it.........


Thinks for a minute after reading above .....................


I don't want all the details :eek:............ just the ones about the ship not the baby making stuff

SmlSave

I don't want all the details :eek:............ just the ones about the ship not the baby making stuff

:rotfl:Message received load and clear Radish

I was going to ring my travel insurance company today at work to check that they cover the Dominican Republic and would cover us if I were unable to travel if 'knocked up' ...but then I remembered that they don't know we're trying! silly me, I'll have to call tonight.

Home Insurance has been renewed and I've got £23 cashback from quidco. Also have ordered a £10 M&S voucher from Valued Opinions

I ate my first ever quince yesterday yum yum. Thank god I liked it as I've got two bags full. I'm going to make syrup, wine, baked quince and jelly if there's enough.

*Jellie*

Please don't eat me
The cruise sound lovely!

museumworker

Cruise sounds fab! I have some quinces from neighbour's garden, so if you could post/point me to some suitable recipes that you'd recommend, I'd love to hear them!

SmlSave

Please don't eat me

I don't know if I can resist Jellie ... you look so scrumptious..droool...although if you're a pudding jelly I probably could but a jelly to spread on my toast with butter...nomnomnom...no - I'll just have to eat you then.


Here you go muse - http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/nov/29/nigel-slater-recipes-quince and http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/quince-jelly-and-other-quince-recipes-revisited-462

My Mum made this: and it was lovely but I'd suggest that you remove the peel while they're still warm as its much easier. Also Mum said that as the juice boiled it overflowed and her oven's now a mess she'd def put a tin underneath!
Braised Quinces and Quince Cordial
Yield: about 4 cups cordial; recipe can easily be halved
8-12 whole quinces (depending on size)
3 1/2 cups/900ml water
1 3/4 cups/350g sugar
few strips lemon zest
First heat the oven to 160C/325F. Wash and pat dry the quinces. You can halve them if they're particularly large, but you can also leave them whole. Place in a baking tray and pour the water on top and sprinkle over the sugar and lemon zest. Cover the tray tightly with aluminium foil and roast in the oven for around three hours. You will know it's ready when the quinces are completely soft and the cooking syrup is a deep ruby-pink - leave them in the oven a bit longer if necessary. Take the tray out of the oven, remove the cooked fruit and strain the syrup into a jug or jar. Allow to cool completely before using. Both will keep well in the fridge for at least a couple of weeks.
To eat the braised quinces, simply remove the papery peel and cut the soft fruit from the core. You can use the fruit in many dessert recipes that call for poached quince, or you can enjoy it on its own with a little yogurt and honey, or some vanilla ice cream. The cordial is delicious combined to taste with chilled champagne or prosecco, or if you're going the non-alcoholic route, simply some sparkling water and ice.

Quince wine:

3lb ripe quinces
3lb granulated sugar
6pts cold water
wine yeast - have used bread yeast in the past
yeast nutrient - never used this, lemon juice and peel seem ok to me
campden tablets - I don;t bother with these but I like living dangerously!

Wash quinces then simply cut into four. Crush campden tab and put in bottom of plastic bucket . Put quinces in then pour over water. cover bucket and leave in a warm (but not hot) room for 1 day. Then add yeast, yeast nutrient and sugar. Cover and stir well twice daily for 5 days.

Then strain into sterilised demijohn with airlock, top up if necessary with cooled boiled water and ferment until bubbles stop in airlock. Rack wine into clean sterilised demijohn, top up with cooled boiled water then add campden tablet. Leave at least 6 weeks - longer is even better - do not bottle unless wine is clear.

Bottle, then leave at least 1 year before drinking.

DansMum_2

Excthuthe me for being a thicko - what is a quince?