It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

mardatha

not any more Ceridwen. I am a re-born HEALTHY EATER !!
(at least while the nonnymouses are about...)
We need to get some Night Nurse and Beechams in, I forgot all about them this winter. NN is the only thing that will give you a decent sleep when you're all snuffly and coughy.

Norfolk_Jim

Hello, have now spent 3 long mornings trawling through all these postings - why its nearly as much of a revelation as Tightwad Gazette was.

The trouble I'm having is with muffins. Seem like a great idea to me (especially when I have a glut of something) and the ones in Mr B and Mr M look fantastic (How do they get them so big and fluffy?) but when I try to make them it always = disappointment all round.

I've followed the recipe in TWG and others I've googled but always my muffins seem small, stodgy and generally very dull fare.

Can anyone suggest how to really make perfect muffins?

Unrelated to muffins -
One thing I do that I dont remember seeing anywhere else on this thread anyway is; once I'd converted the family to skimmed milk (For fat reducing reasons, not financial) I have been buying 4 pint containers of milk. When I'm down to 2 pints in the container I mix up 2 pints from bulk buy powdered milk and top up to 4 pints again. No noticeable difference though I doubt this would work with semi or full milk.

I did try doing it a second time but it had gone sour by the time I was on the final pint, so looks good for 1 filling. Sour milk on Lidl museli (lovely museli) was "interesting".

nesssie1702

I've always been one of those that carries safety pins and paracetamol in my handbag - guess that's what becomes of being a member of the Red Cross from when I was 10 and that isn't yesterday!

Totally agree about the Aloe Vera gel, it's great for burns and sunburn. I also have arnica cream in my 1st Aid Box which is good for preventing bruises.

2cats1kid

mardatha wrote: »

not any more Ceridwen. I am a re-born HEALTHY EATER !!
(at least while the nonnymouses are about...)

We're watching, mardatha!!!

I have lavender oil in the cupboard next to the cooker - any burn I put oil on it straight away and it never comes to anything. Brilliant stuff.

And one time I cracked my hand so badly I didn't think I'd be able to drive the following day - smothered it in arnica cream and wrapped a bandage on so it didn't all just rub off, and next day you wouldn't have known I'd done anything.

mummysaver

Afternoon peartree and norfolk jim! Sorry I can't help with a muffin recipe I just guesstimate mine! dd1 made some great muffins though, I'll grab her recipe and post it in a bit (trialled and errorred by her home ec teacher and refined as well, her home ec teacher is fab!)

nannac - oh you did make me laugh, come the economic total meltdown I want to move in between you and D&DD, at least I wouldn't starve and you'd always bring a smile to my face - no idea what I'd contribute, I do have a well stocked wine rack at the mo though!

Caterina - I'd suggest getting family presents if you feel that they may not be happy about just stopping altogether. I have four children and always felt awkward when people ask what to get them, especially if they have one child. Anyway I suggest a game or dvd or cheap computer game (second hand is quite acceptable here), and make sure it's available easily, I do this with all family and friends, max price I put on it is £10. My kids aren't allowed to ask for money as a pressie (though ds got some from me and his dad this year as he was saving for an x box), and I think everyone is quite happy with buying a game or whatever for them, most people are relieved not to be presented with an expensive list! The only person who insists on giving them individual presents is their nan, and whilst she is more than financially comfortable I still believe that they have no need to ask for big presents, so I usually badger them into thinking of a cd or book that they would like - this year ds had oasis latest album, dd1 had Dawn French's autobiography, dd2 had the latest Now album and dd3 asked for a High School Musical book. Their nan is happy that they have separate pressies from her, and even happier that she can buy them all easily on the high street! Hope that you find something to spend those Smith's vouchers on - don't forget to print off their discount vouchers (if you sign up by email they send you vouchers like £5 off a £10 spend on books).

Rosieben - forgot to say, thanks for the linky to the stockpiling thread, read it yesterday and it did make me giggle, especially the bits about licking car windows and not eating bear or dog livers!

[Deleted User]

la la lala how satisfying is making sourdough bread!!!

I woke the starter a few days ago and the process of baking is now just complete. Not much work and a gorgeous 4lb loaf to show. Dark golden crust with slashes and a nice ringing sound on the bottom. It looks full of those big sourdough holes but I won`t know until tomorrow evening as it now stands uncut to mature. This loaf will keep a good week. OOOh the taste will be so unique as there isn`t a grain of ready yeast gone into it, just wild yeasts from the air, started 3 years ago

That panillo pot with a lid that I bought in aldi 3 years ago for about £4 is worth its weight in gold. I put the final dough into it to raise with the lid on and popped the whole cold pot into my oven at 250c. Well I normally heat the pot and lid but this time I tried cold on top of my thick bakestone and it worked like a treat

Now to get started on making alan dart`s latest creation in simply knitting this month. The yarn arrived today and it is for a gangly body with kneedles and knitting. I made his nativity scene in natural coloured yarns and my dd has it in pride of place. What fun to make. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Alan-Dart-Nativity-knitting-pattern_W0QQitemZ190276824895QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item190276824895&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

too dear on ebay when you can get the patterns from sk

at some stage I`ll make this. I already have the pattern

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NOAHS-ARK-ANIMALS-ALAN-DART-KNITTING-PATTERN-TOYS_W0QQitemZ250346738456QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Crafts_Knitting_Crochet_EH?hash=item250346738456&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1298%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

and I have the yarn for this too but I have plenty of time

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALAN-DARTS-TOOTH-FAIRY-KNITTING-PATTERN_W0QQitemZ310112020136QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Crafts_Knitting_Crochet_EH?hash=item310112020136&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1298%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

frugalswan

There's lots of interesting suggestions here. I thought I had a well-stocked "just in case" cupboard, but I think I'm going to be adding a few more items now I've read this. Particularly the calamine lotion, and some arnica. Wish I could try the lavender oil thing (just in case!) but I can't use lavender as it gives me really bad headaches

x Frugalswan x

catznine

I can't use lavender oil either as I am highly allergic to it (hayfever bigtime ) If I ever end up in an old folks care home I shall have to get a medi alert re-that allergy as I believe it is used a lot)

Thanks to all the good information here I am up dating our 1st aid box (arnica cream is top of the list) as well as the larder.

oystercatcher

Just back from going round the sales for the first time , and first supermarket shop for 8 days!
I found wind up laterns for £9.99 in Millets original price £34.99 !! I bought two to have tucked away. It does say best first charged by the power lead supplied (for car) it cannot normally be charged by hand....well I take that as a a challenge and am giving them a little wind every so often to see if I can fully charge them, there's a light so you know!

I'm working nights tonight and tomorrow and REALLY not looking forward to it .

Oystercatcher

[Deleted User]

remember not to use arnica on any open wound, just on bumps and bruises