Weezl's phase 1- recipe testing and frugalisation- come one, come all!

purpleivy

How do we vote for Weezl to get Post of the Month? Hasn't she had it already?

phizzimum

I haven't managed to read everyone's response but I wanted to make a comment about free range eggs. so forgive me if I'm repeating what others have said.

I've bought FR eggs for years and now we are blessed enough to have room for chickens in the back garden. I voted for FR eggs in Weezl's poll...

however...I am imagining the kind of family we're aiming at has been eating a lot of processed foods, ready meals, take aways. if these products contain eggs they most likely will be battery farmed . so even if the family thinks they only eat FR they've probably eaten more battery eggs than they realise so they're not really compromising their principles, just becoming more aware of what they eat.

as we keep reminding ourselves - this is a subsistence plan which will give families a framework that they can adapt and work within.

please don't give up weezl - although maybe get some more sleep now and again, I don't know how you fit it all in!

weezl74

misskool wrote: »

edit to add: or i can start it and work the way through the postings on here?

That would be brilliant thank you would that not leave you having to do all the admin tho, which is quite a task! What about a googledocs type environment so we could all add comments without burdening one person?

xxx

weezl74

purpleivy wrote: »

How do we vote for Weezl to get Post of the Month? Hasn't she had it already?

I don't think it exists anymore I still have my letter from martin's uncle:money::money::money:

taka wrote: »

What about a google document/spreadsheet for all the recipe feedback? A food version of what they have on the 2010 MFW thread for updates? That way we'd have to fill in certain bits (if you want feedback on certain things) but still be able to add comments on how we got on and what we changed?

Sorry Taka hadn't spotted that, great minds!

nopot2pin wrote: »

Hi misskool...
I am the process of setting up a spread sheet for the comments / feedback for specific recipes...
Although this is proving to be a little more problematic than I had first thought, as everyone has their own variation of a particualar recipe, therefore the findings/comments will always be different.
I am not sure what the correct way ahead is, to collate such variations *confused*

I think you might be right, in that the way ahead, would be a blog, for testers to add there own individual comments (*kicks self as didn't think of that )
At least that way, it is the individuals OWN comments on a specific recipe, and not the thoughts of the persons collating the inforamation....

Weezl, I will wait before doing any more work on the info provided so far, to see what you think

It is complex isn't it. Will ponder and post in a bit... Not long, just got a couple of work phone calls and I'll be back

phizzimum

Allegra wrote: »

Yes, it's triage, not specialist treatment, but that does not make it any less valuable. If someone was bleeding at the site of an accident, and all we had to stop the bleeding was a non-sterile and perhaps none too clean clothing we were wearing, would we hesitate to help the injured person because our makeshift dressings did not meet the recommended standards ? Yeah, I know, not quite the same thing, but does not totally invalidate the point.... I think

excellent analogy Allegra

poohbear59

I have really enjoyed reading this thread but have to confess to not adding to it until now. Regarding men and meat. My DH has always said he goes to bed hungry if he doesn't have meat in his belly. Our finances are at rock bottom and we are trying to feed 4 (3 men) adults, plus usually 3 extras at weekends on £200 per month. Most of the time I have been able to manage but this month we are really struggling financiallyso I have been feeding them all veggie meals at least three times a wekk and have not had a single complaint.

I would love to do some recipe testing (ex HE teacher and now subsistance living) to frugalise more recipes and to test on my family. Send me a pm of anything you would like testing.

Our aim is to have our own business and we are living on as little as possible to make our dream come true some day.

shaz_mum_of__2

weezl74 wrote: »

PS sorry shaz, just seen you've already done a feedback form

No worries just a template for me at the moment i will happily edit to suit everyones needs

Allegra wrote: »

What do people think about replacing a roast with a pie on one occasion at least ? We will sometimes have "pie with all the trimmings" as opposed to a joint of meat, and 100g of meat could easily stretch to feed 4 with some veg/pulses etc. if stuffed inside a nice crust.


great idea i love pies!!

What I mean is that having just £100 to feed 4 for a month will only allow for the food for that month, and not for building up a good storecupboard, stocking up on deals and whoopsies, buying herb and lettuce seeds etc. - all strategies which will allow much cheaper and healthier months ahead.

So, if a debtor's budget allows for £120, then a £100 plan for a month that only caters for 5 a day and £20 put into buying essential gardener's supplies could mean 6 months ahead of 7 or 9 a day with no more money, plus FR eggs, plus whoopsied meat every other day, and so on. In effect, we are giving them a fish and teaching them how to fish.

I know this is not nearly as thought through as it ought to be, but perhaps it is something to think about for the finished resource ? Not just feed-a-family for a month on next to no money, but also make sure that they are fed progressively better for an indefinite period without increasing the budget. And that way, any perceived "deficiencies" of the first month would not matter quite as much, because the way would be paved for addressing those in the future.

like the idea of building up a storecupboard especially as herbs and spices will help alleviate any momotony with the limited choices on offer (no offence meant Weezl )


Weezl - yes the postie bought me a lovely book , i was going to ask if it was you (after spotting the cardiff postmark).........thank you very much just my kind of thing too :kisses3:



ISOM. looked at the blankies , lovely but i can't crochet .........actually thats not true, i can do all the stitches but can't follow a pattern :rotfl:


Shaz

weezl74

Again, lots of interesting stuff to catch up on!

Suggestion from Mr weezl:D- would anyone fancy the idea of doing a real-time recipe test? ie we all try a recipe on the same evening and post in betwixt?

And then all sample and say how we like it?

back in a min

LilacPixie

Question which is something I may of missed. Do the family shop around?? for example. Farmfoods do 2 x 2litre whole milk for £1.50. Iceland does 6 free range large eggs for £1.

I like the pie idea.

Would 'meat packs' from a local butcher be cost saving so free up money for FR eggs too??

taka

weezl74 wrote: »

Again, lots of interesting stuff to catch up on!

Suggestion from Mr weezl:D- would anyone fancy the idea of doing a real-time recipe test? ie we all try a recipe on the same evening and post in betwixt?

And then all sample and say how we like it?

back in a min

I'd be up for that but which recipe and which evening? *need shruggy man here*

The weekend is probably best for me... I'll have the time to make sure I have everything and the time to tidy up afterwards! My kitchen resembled a bombsite after doing the onion tart and carrot cake simultaneously on Sunday!