Quick Questions on ANYTHING part 2. Please read first post for links to other threads

marri_lou

I bought that chinese meal from M&S last night. Got home and thought nice cheap "takeaway". Noticed today it has a use by date of yesterday. Phoned M&S who told me that it was "my prerogative" to check dates not thiers. I won't be back in store to next week. so can't even take it back in the interim.

Feel a bit shortchanged. Could understand if it had a big "whoopsie" on it, but nothing. I feel a bit daft for not checking too.

Any ideas? I have emailed head office (nicely) and explained the situation but based on the woman in store I'm not very optimistic

marri_lou

OrkneyStar wrote: »

I have found a tin of blackeye beans in my cupboard- any suggestions what they are good in ? Thanks

a cold bean salad.

black eyed beans
1/2 a tin of sweetcorn
chopped onion, tomatoes/maybe a bit of celery

Try and get everything chopped small/same size(ish) throw over some tabasco/chilli/ salt/ maybe a wee bit of mayo?

marri_lou

Kadeeae wrote: »

I had to double take your post as I thought that was your home baked stuff. I thought "F!!!. That's some good baking!" :rotfl::rotfl:

phizzimum

I made a batch of cheese scones this afternoon. I was trying to do too many things at once and realised to late that I hadn't put the margarine in.

They seem to have turned out ok - but my question is...will they go stale more quickly without the fat? shall I freeze them straight away?

soba

soba wrote: »

A couple of questions. In a recipe for cookies could I substitute black treacle for molasses? If I need ground cardamom and I only have cardamom pods do I need to grind just the seeds inside the pods? And finally what's the difference between crystalised ginger and stem ginger and are they interchangeable, again for a cookie recipe.

Thanks

Cookies were fine. Very gingery as I put a whole lot more in than recommended. Think next time I make them I'll leave out the cardamom but still keep in the black pepper. Bit of an unusual recipe I think as they also contain balsamic vinegar:eek:

spugzbunny

marri_lou wrote: »

I bought that chinese meal from M&S last night. Got home and thought nice cheap "takeaway". Noticed today it has a use by date of yesterday. Phoned M&S who told me that it was "my prerogative" to check dates not thiers. I won't be back in store to next week. so can't even take it back in the interim.

Feel a bit shortchanged. Could understand if it had a big "whoopsie" on it, but nothing. I feel a bit daft for not checking too.

Any ideas? I have emailed head office (nicely) and explained the situation but based on the woman in store I'm not very optimistic

I may be wrong here but I thought it was illegal to sell food past it's sell by / use by date hence whoopsies. Ah ha - I googled it and the food standards agency says:

I bought a sandwich and when I got home I realised that its 'use by' date was two days ago. What should I do?

Don't eat the sandwich. You shouldn't eat any food product that has passed its 'use by' date, because it might not be safe to eat. In fact, it's illegal for shops to sell food after its 'use by' date.

You could take the sandwich back to the shop where you bought it and ask for an exchange or refund. Or you could contact the trading standards or environmental health service at your local authority. It is their responsibility to investigate if they think a shop is not obeying the law, and to take appropriate action. If you decide to contact your local authority, you may need to make a statement and give them the food product and packaging as evidence.

But remember that 'use by' dates are different to other dates you may see on food products. It's not illegal for shops to sell food after its 'best before', 'sell by' or 'display until' date.

That can be found at http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/asksam/foodlabels/asksamlabellingrules/

So that woman was wrong!

valk_scot

Kadeeae wrote: »

My bread tins are what I suppose are 'normal'. When I do a loaf and it rises nicely, the top third of the bread is quite a bit wider than the bottom two-thirds. I would love to get my hands on a couple of bread tins that would produce this more "squared" effect instead of the smaller (width wise) bottom and "bloom" at the top - if that makes sense

Here are two photos of bread I bought at the supermarket showing how I'd like my loaves to look, more or less. Anyone know where I can find these bread tins??

Also tend to like the thin diagonal lines they imprint on the loaf :rotfl:

If you put a "collar" of greaseproof paper inside the tin rising up to give a loaf of about 4-5 inches, that should do it. Like lining a cake tin. Remember to grease the paper when you grease the rest of the tin.

The thin diagonal lines will come from the silicone tins (?) the commercial bakers use. No idea how tou'de replicate it at home.

ceridwen

Very quick question - is it possible to freeze olives? I bought a very large jar of black olives I spotted at a good price and am wondering if I will get through them in time before they go off - so if I freeze half of them if possible 'twould help.

maltesers_2

ceridwen wrote: »

Very quick question - is it possible to freeze olives? I bought a very large jar of black olives I spotted at a good price and am wondering if I will get through them in time before they go off - so if I freeze half of them if possible 'twould help.

I wanted to know this too as I am forever opening a jar and not finishing them. Someone on Delia online said she has frozen small quantities for using in casseroles and pasta sauces. Also didn't Weezl make a tapenade? perhaps that could be frozen. I doubt whether they will keep their texture so they probably won't be very nice eaten when defrosted but I'm sure they'll be OK cooked.

Lazymoo

I know it's not food related, but it does say questions on ANYTHING!

my bloomin council tax has gone out this morning, I thought we got a break in feb/march? I'm definatly on the 10 month option, I stupidly put the money towards something else, and it has left me so short!

lisa xx