Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

sb44

looby-loo wrote: »

Hi, I used to have an aluminium one and used it for years until I heard about the alzheimers problem. As I use it a lot I did invest in a stainless one but admit it is expensive but I would think I have got my money back with the things I save oven heat on.

There are two ways I do Breat of Lamb Casserole - the healthy way and the quick way.

The healthy way
Do the first bit in the morning or the day before.

As breast of lamb is quite fatty I cut it up into big pieces - 10 cm x 4 cm (ish)
Put in the PC and brown on a gentle heat for a couple of minutes
Add 1/2 pint water, put on the lid and bring to pressure and then cook for 10 mins. Leave to cool a few mins and remove lid.
Drain all the stock off into a measuring jug or basin
Leave to cool. The fat will rise to the top and set hard. Lift this off and put out for the birds.

Add the chopped veg to the lamb in the PC (leek or onion, mushroom, pepper, anything really. I suppose I do 50/50 meat/veg) Heat and stir a little. Add a can of tomatoes and the now fat free stock, herbs, salt and pepper to taste.
Put the lid on and bring to pressure. As the meat is cooked it really only needs a few minutes to cook the veg to your taste. I do it for about 5 mins then allow to cool under pressure.

It is ready to serve.

Sometimes I open the lid and stir in a little flour to thicken, but not always.

The quick way
Just the same but I don't drain off the stock/fat so is is all still mixed in.

Although I rarely go to supermarkets as I find shopping locally much cheaper in the long run I have to admit that Tesco vuccuum packed breast of lamb is the easiest to use as there is no bone. In the spring they cost £2.50 for a biggish one but last week I found a decent size one was £3.80 and even the smallest were £3.

My biggest saving using the pressure cooker, and where I think it has paid for itself is by cooking a gammon or bacon joint about every two weeks. My OH loves ham sandwiches and ham is expensive (especially when he goes to buy it himself from the deli counter:rolleyes: ) I think about £3 for 4-5 slices.

I buy a gammon joint for about £6 or bacon joint for £4 and pressure cook it.

Remove the packaging, rinse and place in the PC. Just cover with cold water. Bring to the boil then up to pressure. Pressure cook for 12 minutes per pound. Allow to cool.

We have a couple of sices off the end as a hot meal with veg then the rest goes in the fridge to use for sandwiches. I suppose about 10 - 12 slices left so much cheaper than bought ham slices.

Hope this helps

Great!

Thanks for taking the time to write all of that, I shall def think about getting a pc now.

Ta!

sb44

kittie wrote: »

sb44 re pressure cooking: using a clipso pressure cooker on my portable induction hob is by far my biggest energy saver when cooking. A casserole takes 20 mins max and I can steam veg in the basket over the casserole. Cost is about 4p

Thanks Kittie.

I have just had a look on ebay and it looks like both your slow cooker and induction hob are on there so at least I have an idea what price they are.

sb44

donna73 wrote: »

hi, sorry if this has already been discussed but i haven't got time at the mo to read through the whole thread- i' m doing a bit at a time

i was wondering if it would be cheaper to boil full kettle in morning and pour into thermos then use that for hot drinks during the day rather than boiling a little bit for 1 or 2 cups as i need it. i'm guessing it would be better but wanted to check with you experts on here.
thanks

I think Kittie did some prices earlier in the thread and I'm sure she said it was about 1p to boil enough water for 2 cups.

mardatha

I'm boiling a full kettle first thing and filling 2 flasks for tea all day --since I drink tea non stop. The tea doesnt really stay hot and tastes awful

sb44

mardatha wrote: »

I'm boiling a full kettle first thing and filling 2 flasks for tea all day --since I drink tea non stop. The tea doesnt really stay hot and tastes awful

I have used the water from the flask to make tea too and it tasted revolting.

The flask has only been used a handful of times so it isn't an old one and of course it was washed properly.

Won't be doing that again, shall just boil the kettle, it's only for one anyway during the day.

ZCC72

chloe99 wrote: »

can anyone remember about that cling film stuff you put on single glased windows andthen blow it with a hardryer? is it any good, is it cheap and where can you get it from?

I got some last year, after quite a long search! I found it in Focus DIY in Chard, Somerset - although I think you can get it on-line. It cost about £7.00 and did all the windows in my house! It made an incredible difference, and I would recommend it!

Hope this helps.

retiredlady

kittie wrote: »

sb44 re pressure cooking: using a clipso pressure cooker on my portable induction hob is by far my biggest energy saver when cooking. A casserole takes 20 mins max and I can steam veg in the basket over the casserole. Cost is about 4p

Kittie - do you know if all the clipso pressure cookers are suitable for induction hobs? I am particularly interested in the - sorry I copied and pasted it below - not sure how to shrink it! Thanks!
Tefal Clipso Easy 4.5 Litre Pressure Cooker

[Deleted User]

retired lady it has to be made from stainless steel

Is this the one
http://www.electricshopping.com/shop/shop.do?pID=8352&cID=250

it doesn`t say. There is a contact number at the bottom of the tefal website and it would be worth asking
http://www.tefal.co.uk/tefal/products/product/index.asp?category_id=100&dept_id=120&sku=U00254

looby-loo_2

ZCC72 wrote: »

I got some last year, after quite a long search! I found it in Focus DIY in Chard, Somerset - although I think you can get it on-line. It cost about £7.00 and did all the windows in my house! It made an incredible difference, and I would recommend it!

Hope this helps.

How is this film attached around the edges please? Normal Sellotape or what?
Thank you.
I found it in B&Q but my son used it for the front of his solar oven experiment and it did work well, but not on the windows yet

Little_Star_3

ive been wading through this thread, its been a lot of fun! Im determined to keep the bills down and have agreed with flat mate we are going to try and keep the gas off for as long as possible this year!
Im starting early as Im starting a new job this week and dont want my free time away from it taken up too much (not sure if starting in August is a bad thing, flatmate thinks im crazy) anyway, i made draught excluders for all the doors using old throws/rugs that I had from Ikea, old duvet cover for another and pinned them to the base of the doors, I have a blocked (sorta blocked) chimney in my bedroom. When I moved in here they had just put some newspaper inside so I put an old duvet in it and covered with a piece of board, this year I wrapped cling film over it add to the instilation. Ive fitted foil behind the radiators so when they are on it reflects back. I covered half the fish tank with a piece of cling film so they dont freeze. I want to fit some curtains in the kitchen window as they only have a roller blind up. I have the curtains - found them in the attic - but as the place is rented, can anyone advise, what would be the cheapest least messy way to put them up?