SmlSave MFW diary - where to start?

mummyofonechild

DansMum wrote: »

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

Its a fruit, same family as apples and pears I think

SmlSave

Yep what mummy said. It smells really floral when ripe and tastes amazing. I've never seen it in the shops though.

I've given myself achy eyes by going through the accounts this morning. ow. Good thing is that our grocery spends averages out at just over £200p/m. And the joint acount has an extra £400 in it this month which will cover the house insurance, trip to go karting tomorrow and trip to London.

We're off to london to see BIL sing in the choir at the Royal College of Music. I used £100 Thomas Cook vouchers (from cashback cc) to get a mystery hotel for one night It looks well posh

Just spent £25 on picture frames as there's an art exhibition next week. I doubt I'll sell anything this time as I'm putting in black and white picture drawings of ballroom dancers, generally the brighter works sell better.

I've ordered 10 poussin from the butchers for Xmas (after telling pammy off for mentioning it) We've bot both sets of family coming round! I've decided that they can bring the drinks as otherwise the costs could spiral out of control (I get tempted by all the bubbly bottles) I'm working on a menu and will post my idea for you guys to comment on.

Queen-Bee_2

Sounds great!! At the risk of sounding a bit thick, what is the difference between a poussin and a small chicken? Is it simply a size thing, with each poussin only feeding 1/2 people?
QB

museumworker

Ooh, you've a long weekend too, plus a secret luxury hotel - sounds fab! And for essentially free, well done.

Thanks so much for the quince recipes. I've never made a jelly so they all sound a bit hard for me (*jellie* you'd be safe in my house!). My neighbour has a quince tree and gives me some each year, they also sell them v v cheap in my local turkish shop at this time of year. I am going to try a nigella recipe for quince brandy which sounds superly easy. Can't find it on her website though, is from domestic goddess. Can pm it to you if you like. Did see this one though http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/maggie-beer-quince-jam-1438 which sounds more me proof!

You don't happen to know any good recipes for medlars do you? *awaits barrage of questions about what on earth a medlar is*

SmlSave

what is the difference between a poussin and a small chicken?

I think it's the fact that a poussin in a young chicken, not just small. The poor yummy things arn't even 28 days old. Apparently they're not allowed to be above 750g. 1 poussin will feed two people easily with lots of veg but they look so very pretty as 1 per person.

Quince Brandy!!!! Ohhhhh yummy Please may I have the recipe please when you find it?

Making jelly is easy muse. You just boil up the fruit and water and let the juice drip though muslin/a clean cloth. You then make it just like jam but with the juice so you get a clear jelly.

I should know what a medlar is but can't bring it to mind atm.
Here is a medlar jelly recipe: http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/chefs/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall/medlar-jelly-recipe_p_1.html
medlar chutney recipe: http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/chefs/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall/medlar-and-apple-chutney-recipe_p_1.html
Medlar jelly, cheese and fudge! http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/todo_now/faqs.php?id=144

and if you're any where near Swindon muse I want to try some of your medlar concoctions!

DansMum_2

SmlSave wrote: »

I think it's the fact that a poussin in a young chicken, not just small. The poor yummy things arn't even 28 days old. Apparently they're not allowed to be above 750g. 1 poussin will feed two people easily with lots of veg but they look so very pretty as 1 per person.

Quince Brandy!!!! Ohhhhh yummy Please may I have the recipe please when you find it?

Making jelly is easy muse. You just boil up the fruit and water and let the juice drip though muslin/a clean cloth. You then make it just like jam but with the juice so you get a clear jelly.

I should know what a medlar is but can't bring it to mind atm.
Here is a medlar jelly recipe: http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/chefs/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall/medlar-jelly-recipe_p_1.html
medlar chutney recipe: http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/chefs/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall/medlar-and-apple-chutney-recipe_p_1.html
Medlar jelly, cheese and fudge! http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/todo_now/faqs.php?id=144

and if you're any where near Swindon muse I want to try some of your medlar concoctions!

Poor little things. The big ones are'nt any more than 6 weeks old..... I hope they're free range......

SmlSave

Poor little things. The big ones are'nt any more than 6 weeks old..... I hope they're free range......

They are DansMum and from a local farm too. I eat veal too.....are you still speaking to me?


Ohhhhhhh..... holiday has been preliminarily booked for £10! They price matched the online deal so it's £3518.00 for 7 nights in a hotel and 7 nights cruise. Now DH has had the holiday time approved I just have to call them tomorrow and pay the deposit of £500.

I shall go through the kitchen cupboards this weekend and see if we have enough baked beans to feed us till next year! :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

oooo....yay on the holiday!!! when will it be? (exciting on the babymaking plan too!! ) I think holidays are one of the things I would be happy to spend more money on- still trying to get the best value, but a real break and something which relaxes and re-vitalises me is so important... so I hereby absolve you of any MSE guilt (plus I worked out when I first moved out that I could live on £5 -£10 a week eating just beans on toast... didnt kill me! :rotfl:)
I would pose the question of what a medlar is... but have decided my home baking is limited to cakes, crumbles and biscuits.... wow Im gonna end up the size of a house! :rotfl: ..... but out of curiousity , if anyone does know what a meddlar is (mw I assume you do if you have some?) then feel free to put me out of my misery!

Iris_Blue

SmlSave wrote: »

1 poussin will feed two people easily with lots of veg but they look so very pretty as 1 per person.

I agree , this will look so nice for Christmas dinner. What a lovely idea. I can't wait for you to post your menu.:)

DansMum_2

Course I am, I am vegetarian, but do buy meat for DansDad but is all free range freedom food.... I couldnt live with myself the other way...... Am too much of an emotional animal lover

Well done on booking holiday..... I'll be stowing away!:D