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

Sian_the_Green

weezl74 wrote: »

Sian have you got any lard left? I wondered if you might try a halved batch of these at some point?

125g granulated sugar
120g Lard
Zest of 1 lemon
150g raisins
225g SR flour
pinch of salt

Mix the sugar and fat until blended. Work in the remaining ingredients (it's easier to use your hands tbh.) Press into a greased rectangular tin - to about 1cm thick. Bake fr 30 mins at 180C. Cut into 25 pieces immediately then leave to cool before removing from the tin.

Okay, I made these, and have to say something before I carry on, 25 pieces? 25 PIECES??? Are you insane woman! mmm, I split mine into 16 and it is really really really tasty, I have no idea how you could get that many out of it, well, maybe if it was a bit thinner, but then I don't think it would hold together.

So, I would heartily recommend it to any non-veggies I would suggest creaming the lard first and then adding the sugar, when you stick your hands in to get it to mix together don't worry about it sticking together, when you get it into the tin you can press it down, I used my knuckles, I think this is pretty essential. It is very crumbly once cooked but is very nice indeed, I wasn't convinced it would bind together and it definitely isn't one to eat on a shag pile carpet without a good hoover but it is lovely

Also just made some scones with lard instead of butter and half water, half milk, will let you know how they go...

frugalmumof4

Hi all, I just had to post that we had the most gorgeous day of meals, thankyou weezl!
we had the breakfast pancakes, pea soup for lunch, followed by hm fruit cake which wasnt on the list! and the best bit of all was weezls homemade chutney, with the most delicious sweetcorn fritters and jacket potatoes. we mixed up the fritters as directed, but instead of frying them, oiled a baking tray, used a cookie cutter and filled to make burger shapes, then baked in the oven for 10 minutes, flipped over and then baked for another 10 minutes. Best tea I have had in ages, and all vegan!
Thankyou!

Murrell

frugalmumof4 wrote: »

Hi all, I just had to post that we had the most gorgeous day of meals, thankyou weezl!
we had the breakfast pancakes, pea soup for lunch, followed by hm fruit cake which wasnt on the list! and the best bit of all was weezls homemade chutney, with the most delicious sweetcorn fritters and jacket potatoes. we mixed up the fritters as directed, but instead of frying them, oiled a baking tray, used a cookie cutter and filled to make burger shapes, then baked in the oven for 10 minutes, flipped over and then baked for another 10 minutes. Best tea I have had in ages, and all vegan!
Thankyou!

Good to know the sweetcorn fritters can be oven baked. I think I will try them now. I don't have much luck with fried items. Done like this we could save Shirley oil for cooking, although she will have more electric/gas for the oven! Lots more vegan things for you to try too and you will know if you have caught up with reading that plan 3 is vegan.

Sandra
x

Murrell

HowlinWolf wrote: »

I really wish shirley could afford suet cos then she could plump out some of her dishes with dumplings. Mind you if she saves all her breadcrumbs for a few months she could make dumplings with those!

Dumplings can be made without suet or oil. These are the ones I make and although I use soya milk, there is no reason you couldn't use dairy milk. Years ago I probably adapted the recipe to vegan anyway.

Herby Dumplings
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp mixed herbs
1/4 cup soya milk
Mix in a medium bowl, flour, baking powder and herbs. Stir in soya milk. Stir briefly to mix. Drop small spoonfuls of dough on top of simmering stew or soup, cover tightly with lid and leave to simmer for 10 -15 minutes without lifting the lid.

Sandra
x

poohbear59

weezl74 wrote: »

2 where you'll shop: I have no need for you to do the entire shop at asda if that doesn't work for you. Especially in the case where the ingredient is exactly the same. An onion is an onion, so if you get them cheaper at your local co-op, or market, then please do so It would be helpful if/where you can you could stick to the list for things which may have a significant taste impact on the recipes. If posh nice brand tinned tomatoes are on special offer it would still be really good if you didn't mind giving the planner a whirl with the smartprice ones I have started to put together part of an order for Tuesday from Asda and they don't have a SP mature cheddar available. As I have only just started on home delivery I just wondered if some things are not available online?
I really wanted to make sure I had a delivery slot as it will be cheaper to have the shopping delivered than to drive to the shop.
3 If anyone would like to, and no pressure at all, this is a very personal thing, but perhaps people's DDs/DS's etc might think it was a fun part of the experiment, the testers could weigh themselves(absolutely no need to post your weight on the diary thread!!!!) but thriftlady did this when she and her family ate wartime rations, and some readers were intrigued by whether the family's weights went up/down or stayed the same. All I would be asking for here if anyone fancied it would be a little summary at the end like: Me: weight stayed same, DH: lost 2 pounds, DS1: same, DD1 lost 2 lb but she is happy about that...

or something. IYSWIM? I will give it a try. I believe some will be more agreeable than others.

4 similarly, if you would feel able to, please over the month perhaps post weekly how you and your family are feeling? Health wise I mean Also how much resistance/compliance you feel you are getting from the others/feeling in yourself. Can I ask do I need to follow the plan day to day or can I swap the days meals around eg 6th to 12th? I thnk I might get better compliance that way. If it will spoil the plan then I will stick to the required order.

5 If you/any family member give up, please do say why if you feel you can, else we might always wonder if it was the food, or something else. If real life is full on and you want at any point to stop, please do, but it would be great if you could post to briefly say that. If it is the food that's making you stop, please say that too rather than spare my feelings! If it is not nice or you don't feel well on it then that is very useful feedback Will do.:)But hope I don't need to.

6 I'm assuming you've read enough of the thread to know which nutrients I've had chance to analyse in detail and which ones I haven't. If you are at all concerned about a deficit perhaps consider a multi vitamin/mineral. There are some at asda/tesco that are 1p per tablet. I am pretty sure your plan is much the same as my usuaI and have no worries about nutrients.

7 Can I ask the testers to please use the time between now and tuesday to drain down your freezer supplies a bit, cos I think you're going to need some space! Arty + ariarnia you will need less space, but it might be still worth trying to create as much room as you can
Mine is almost empty.

I am looking forward to starting this.

ETA Were the sweetcorn fritters taken off or are they still on the plan?

We are 5 adults until Easter hols end then just 3 or maybe 4. That may make a difference to my meals too.

artybear

Poohbear!!!!!!!!!!!!:j

You superstar- I was just wondering how I was going to walk home from my nearest shop (Mr T) with all the groceries but you just gave me a brainwave.

Asda delivers to my house so I can follow the exact planner and not walk home with heavy bags!!!:T:T:T:T

FrankieM

I received an email telling me I had a 'free delivery' voucher on my account already. Of course I need to spend over £50 so I may need the full month's shopping list!

weezl74

Good morning, well lots to catch up on there, so will do in a mo, but first another recipe for planner 1 a lovely thick 'milkshake' and if you drink a pint of it it's one of our 5 a day::T:T:T

Fruity thickshake

3 blocks lard
400g sugar
6 tablespoons apple curd
water to achieve desired consistency

method

whisk the lard in your largest mixing bowl, whilst gently adding in your other ingredients.

When the mix is velvety soft and runny enough for you to drink through a straw, (just) enjoy!

NB there are very important nutritional benefits to this recipe, which are very briefly explained here. DO PLEASE CHECK IT OUT BEFORE WE CHAT FURTHER. It will be the only essential consumption on planner 1. It's surprisingly tasty, and a little of the fruitiness does come through.

Thanks m'lovelies :beer::beer:

ceridwen

Just as well you said about checking it out Weezl....had a quick check after retrieving fingers poked down throat....:rotfl:

ceridwen

Duly done.

Reet - done my googling for this morning and still cant find anything positive anywhere about white sugar.....(loads against it...)

Found a nutrition site - and couldnt remember whether its one of the ones you gave earlier for working things out:

http://www.nutritiondata.com/

Hmmm...think it must be a new site to us. I dont recall a widget to work out how many calories I should be having for my sex/height/activity level on the others. Having duly depressed myself for the day by the fact that I'm apparently supposed to eat 198 calories less per day for the age I am (as compared to the younger age I put in in the first place) - I'll go and depress myself even more and go to w**k.