Do I really spend to much on food?

crux

thriftlady wrote: »

Was it leaf gelatin Crux? That stuff is very expensive. The powder should be a lot cheaper. It comes in little sachets like this. It's 69p a packet .Leaf gelatine is slightly easier to use but this stuff works just fine just follow the instructions on the sachet-one sachet sets a pint of liquid.

What I do to make a sugar-free jelly is to use a tin of fruit in juice. I use the juice as part of the liquid and top up with water, then stir in the fruit. My favourite is orange jelly with tinned mandarins. You can also use fruit juice from a carton like apple or cranberry.

You can use any fruit you like except fresh pineapple or kiwis because they contain a protein dissolving enzyme which will dissolve the gelatine (not sure this applies to agar agar). Tinned pineapple is fine as the canning process destroys the enzyme.

In Morrison's the leaf was the same price as the powder and yes the powder was that one you linked to. Just one of those odd products that is more expensive in one super market than another i guess, unless the label was wrong.

Thanks for the info, here's to better for you, cheaper, fruit jellies that I can eat too

mumto1_2

For those of you growing asparagus, you need to put them in the ground, not in pots. The roots will go 5' down into the ground as they mature.

1st year, dont' pick, 2nd- pick 1 week, 3rd - pick 2 weeks , 4th - pick 3 weeks, and after that you can pick for 8 weeks. You have to leave the stalks after that to go to seed - they will look like 6' tall ferns! If you dont' you won't get any the next year.

ETA: I have a half allotment with 2 rows of 33' of asparagus...... we picked our first 2 lb yesterday and will be picking up to 5 lb every other day for the next 2 months. 3 crowns will be plenty once they get going! You can almost see them grow.....

thriftlady_2

mumto1 wrote: »

For those of you growing asparagus, you need to put them in the ground, not in pots. The roots will go 5' down into the ground as they mature.

1st year, dont' pick, 2nd- pick 1 week, 3rd - pick 2 weeks , 4th - pick 3 weeks, and after that you can pick for 8 weeks. You have to leave the stalks after that to go to seed - they will look like 6' tall ferns! If you dont' you won't get any the next year.

ETA: I have a half allotment with 2 rows of 33' of asparagus...... we picked our first 2 lb yesterday and will be picking up to 5 lb every other day for the next 2 months. 3 crowns will be plenty once they get going! You can almost see them grow.....

You lucky lucky mumto1!

CCP

mumto1 wrote: »

ETA: I have a half allotment with 2 rows of 33' of asparagus...... we picked our first 2 lb yesterday and will be picking up to 5 lb every other day for the next 2 months. 3 crowns will be plenty once they get going! You can almost see them grow.....

thriftlady wrote: »

You lucky lucky mumto1!

Yes, I'm not jealous... It sounds wonderful.

Thanks for the info about growing in pots, mumto1 - it's a shame as I'd love to grow my own, but at least I now know it won't work so I won't try.

mumto1_2

then I wont' mention the 100' of raspberries, 3 gooseberry, 3 red + 3 blackcurrant bushes..... all planted before we got the plot. And we still have enough room for tons of veg.:D


Ooops....

floss2

mumto1 wrote: »

then I wont' mention the 100' of raspberries, 3 gooseberry, 3 red + 3 blackcurrant bushes..... all planted before we got the plot. And we still have enough room for tons of veg.:D


Ooops....

Whereabouts are you......we're coming round with PYO baskets!

jackieglasgow

Thanks for that mumto1 I am quite disappointed as the plats are coming along really well, but there's definitely not enough room for 5 feet of roots! I do have a spot picked out for them in the ground that will become part of my garden soon, do you think they will be safe in the pot for another few months, then transported, or should I just put them somewhere else just now?

Sorry to go OT but it isn't really is it? We're talking about getting good seasonal ingredients cheaply, after all!

CCP

mumto1 wrote: »

then I wont' mention the 100' of raspberries, 3 gooseberry, 3 red + 3 blackcurrant bushes..... all planted before we got the plot. And we still have enough room for tons of veg.:D


Ooops....

You are a lucky bunny. I've got one blackcurrant bush which I bought last year - it's only a couple of feet high but I got a couple of small bowlfuls of currants from it last year.

Now there's a nice budget treat for the summer - stewed blackcurrants with vanilla ice cream. :drool:

ceridwen

jackieglasgow wrote: »

Yes but I'm the only one in the house who likes it so there should (hopefully) be enough for me! (rubs hands in anticipation). Grilled Asparagus with organic soft boiled eggs for me. or sauteed in butter topped with black pepper and parmesan! I am hungry now........

You started something there - I've bought my asparagus today and I shall try that for dinner tomorrow:D

Further on the growing food in front gardens - Crux - have you seen any of the "Edible Garden" series currently on TV (By Alys Fowler). Its on IPlayer. That might give you some ideas....

That reminds me - I read that calendula officinalis (ie pot marigolds) can have its flower petals dried and used as a saffron substitute. I've eaten the flowers as they are - as part of a salad. Never thought of those petals as a saffron substitute though - has anyone tried it? (Its mentioned in the "Plants for a Future" book - and the info in that book is available to look at online for free (google "Plants for a future").

se999

We're househunting, and a garden big enough for a nice asparagus bed and the fruit trees and vege plot is definitely one of our main criteria. Not sure if a polytunnel would be going too far, but at least a decent sized greenhouse (or 2)

In a previous garden I grew red, white and blackcurrants, using them as a mixture is really yummy