50p a day til christmas, healthily?!-Weezl's next challenge (part 2)

ceridwen

Seakay wrote: »

You can make dried tomatoes at home, either in a drier or the oven. (Not enough reliable sun to use that). You cut them in half and do them at very low heat cut side up. The easiest way is to do them until they are at the chewy stage, and then store them in oil (cheapish veg oil is fine) so the air can't get at them.

The oil takes on some falvour and is good to use too.

I've done that before - drying my tomatoes in a dehydrator. Still dont know what I got wrong though - when I went to use some a few months later they'd gone mouldy. Any clues anyone?

Yategirl

that happened to me... mouldy HG and HD chilli's I 'spoke' to someone on MSE and she said she dried and froze rather than covered in oil... she did tell me why the mould occurs (but I can't remember sorry) and said it was best not to do that...

freezing wasn't really what I had planned when I bought a dehydrator....

newlywed

Hi all, just reporting in that I tried the slow cooker fruit cake....

I only have a 3.5l sc though so had to do a half a cake in a 1lb loaf tin (as even that didn't fit in very well).

After 3 hours on high, I had cake

And coz of the tea it was a nice browney colour - not pasty and white like I expected


Tis nice (tried some the second I got it out the slow cooker) .... but erm.... I used sultanas, raisins and dried cherries.... and would probably add some sugar next time coz I like things sweet. Needs a bit of marge on it I would say but definitely easy and very edible.... Will report back on the cold version I have for my elevensies.


Oh - and just to warn - if your loaf tin is kind of balanced in the slow cooker as it won't touch the bottom then getting it out without it falling in the water in the slow cooker is a bit tricky But the extra splash of water didn't seem to harm the cake

newlywed

Ok - so elevensies came early today :rolleyes:

Tis much better today, seems to taste a bit sweeter now it's cooled. I like it with a little marge on it too.


So if it was 34 points for the full recipe - that means it must have been about 17 for the half recipe - 1 lb loaf tin (except that I couldn't be bothered doing a half an egg so bunged a whole one in )

And I got 11 slices out of it - so that's about 1.5 points per slice?

Weezl - anyone worked out the rough costing yet?


Also, as I lined the cake tin with baking paper stuff (the one you don't need to grease), I just folded the excess paper over the top with room for the cake to rise - it was held in place by the slow cooker lid and seemed to work just fine

BASHFUL_2

HI EVERYONE!! woops im in capitals. Ok, I really want to make some twinks hobnobs to take to hospital with me for us to munch on as good for energy and hunger!!! Obviously labour is unpredictable and I'm not due for a week, when do you think is the best time to make them so they dont go horrible or hard/stale???? x x

newlywed

Hi... they keep ok in the freezer once made (I have to hide them somewhere from OH and the kids) - just they stick together in the box slightly so maybe layer them with paper or something

BASHFUL_2

also!! I wanted to try and make the ginger cake or boiled fruit cake today but Im not very bright on the cake tin front!!! I have 2 very shallow round cake tins or 2 loaf tins but dont know about size etc...any help please!!!!

BASHFUL_2

Thankyou newlywed, much appreciated, will get them done today or at the weekend :-)

Teresita_2

Hi there folks

Have been a lurker for a while but am trying to join in with your way of thinking. Am dropping hours at work to spend more time with the kids (well if my bosses let me, they arn't renound for their child friendly policy adhering). So am looking for ways to cut back and eat well. You all seem so clued up and a font of knowledge. So hello xxxx

BASHFUL_2

dagnammit! After realising that I need a shallow tray for ginger cake which is what I have, I got all the ingredients out to find I have no black treacle. It would seem the treacle snatcher has been in my cupboards. I think I must be going mad. I definately had some and it has vanished!! Boiled fruit cake it is!!! :-)