Tips and Quick Questions on “How To Start Being Old Style”

kippers

Welcome to o/s. It is addictive as there is loads of info on this board. If ever you are stuck on anything just post a question and very soon someone will be along to help. Don't worry how stupid your question is as everyone is so helpful on here and chances are others want to know the answer but just daren't ask!

Anyway, flylady is good and the recipe collection is brill. The grocery challenge has loads of info on too. You will have failures but you will have far more successes.

It won't be long before you are halving wash power and dishwasher tablets and using bi-carb and stardrops to clean (LOL) you see

Mumof2_2

I'm very embarrassed here because I didn't know what OS means either :o (hangs head in shame). I'll definitely be checking it all out - I have been flying for 2 weeks and loving it and it looks like there's a whole OS world waiting for me to explore!!!!

exlibris

Mumof2 wrote: »

I'm very embarrassed here because I didn't know what OS means either :o (hangs head in shame). I'll definitely be checking it all out - I have been flying for 2 weeks and loving it and it looks like there's a whole OS world waiting for me to explore!!!!

OS = Old Style - obvious when you know but very puzzling if you come to it new.

Don't be embarrassed there is a whole new language here and you soon pick it up!

HTH (Hope this helps)

Ballerinacaz - you can start to make roll in the bread maker but you have to do the final rise outside it as you have then shaped them and they won't go back. You have probably realised this but it took me a bit to work it out. Don't tell anyone about my embarassment please!

seraphina

If you're after a breadmaker, the latest Which? guide recommends the Kenwood KM450 over the Panny - that'll put the cat amongst the pigeons!

Anyway, OS Is much more a mindset than a set of shiny gadgets - yes, the gadgets can help but are totally uneccessary. You can make bread by hand, you can use (for example) a haybox instead of a slow cooker, you can cream your butter and marge with a wooden spoon rather than a Kenwood Chef.

Rather, OS is about making more from less, to paraphrase Thriftlady's signature. It's not always about the cheapest, but the best value for money, time and personal satisfaction.

And OS is a journey. You can't just jump in and suddenly have a kitchen garden full of veg, kept pest free by chickens and a larder full of hm jams. And OS doesn't mean you don't have a takeaway every now and then!

My OS ways are mainly home cooking and providing related, because that's what I enjoy doing. I think OS is really about household management in the most enjoyable and effective way possible!

Butterfly_Brain

:TWelcome
My favourite OS way is to think outside the box - finding a use for something that I would have thrown out before
Meal Plan and make a shopping list
Home cooking - I love to go in the kitchen and rustle up a meal from next to nothing but I also love to bake - never buy bread, cakes and biscuits you get more for your money if you make your own.
Always have enough stock to keep you going in case of redundancy or a big bill - my advice on that is allow for three months worth including toiletries and cleaning stuff ( I allow between £5 and £10 a week for this)
Keep in touch with everyone on this forum because the friendly bunch on here usually have an answer :rotfl:

lickylonglips

i'm new to it as well, and the things i am doing now is:
baking my own bread - i bought a breadmaker from argos for less than £15
using leftovers creatively
eating less meat, using lentils, barley, beans, eggs, etc. to provide protein
cutting down the size of my portions (freezing chicken thighs in 2s, rather than freezing the whole pack, which would mean I'd cook the lot and end up picking at the leftovers)
trying new recipes
bulk cooking - make extra and freeze the leftovers for another meal
taking lunch to work rather than buying from the shop (sandwich, something with toast, soup, tortilla, pasta or pasta salad)

ivyleaf

Hi Caz :hello:- in your post on the "Getting to know you" thread you say you are only 13 years old at the moment. It's great that you are so keen to be Old-Style already, and there are lots of things you will be able to do, especially cooking-wise, but don't expect too much of yourself because you have a lot of other things to do, what with your dancing and school stuff, so don't try to do too much at once and get worn-out x (Can't you tell I'm a Mum )

At least you won't be like me - I didn't learn to cook until I was married :o

Penelope_Penguin

Hi Caz! There's a thread that has a lot of links, which will help with your question

As this has fallen from the front page of OS, I'll mereg this so that you can see what others suggest

Penny. x

rosieben

Confuzzled wrote: »

...
even if you only do one little thing each day, something maybe as simple as saving that last portion of peas you might have thrown away so you can sprinkle them in a salad or put them in risotto for the next nights dinner, that is something to be proud of for that day. ...

great post and lots of excellent advice Confuzzled, I've put a link to this post on the Grocery Challenge :T

Moniker

ifonlyitwaseasier wrote: »

you can make yog in a flask or a slowcooker as well,


ioiwe

Hey, I have never thought of doing yogourt in the slow cooker. Can you tell me how?

Moniker