FRUGAL LIVING CHALLENGE part 3, July - Dec 2010

Erme

Fishcake_Random wrote: »

Hello all,
Not been online for a few days as various things keep popping up. My toothache/jaw ache is finally gone thank goodness so I'm really feeling better. Fishfinger is having a sleepy day today so I am learning to crochet, my first attempt is a granny blanket and its coming along pretty well. I was thinking about using the gigantic bag of wool I brought for a £1 to make some blankets for the people at my nan's care home. Its a SS care home and some of the people there have nothing, and have pretty much just been dumped there. Some amazing people live there to, its such a sadness to see how some people consider life worthless.
I'd never let my parents go in a home unless it was for their own safety as I know sometimes things like alzheimers can make people violent ect. I fully intend to care for my parents the same way they cared for me.
x x x x

Have you seen my photos of my megaghan (ultra big blanket) on facebook and what not fishcake? Crochet is like so addictive..you should join ravelry...that's really good for free patterns and the australian association of crochet (2 secs let me find the link - found it, it's here and it has really good line drawings..

I have lots of patterns off ebay...do I have you email address fishcake and I can scan some and send you some easy ones..

Well....folk want to leave training scheme so best go...

Hugs - will write more later dv

E

landregistrylass

SF>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>. how embarrassing............ its my age!! Forgive me. But the thoughts are the same. There are 100m women in the world and 20 supermodels. Am rubbish at maths, but the ods are ...erm ....lots to 1 that you and I are going to be one of those. Its official. I am shattered. 3 hours in Aylesbury at the free activities. I have brought forward the glass of wine!

redglass_2

Hello,
Coming out of lurkdom to ask what on earth I can do with a 3kg can of grapefruit in syrup (wrong order delivered from Appr**ed F**ds and I don't know yet if they'll take it back as I probably ticked the 'accept substitute' box. ) Can you make jam or marmalade from it? Thought I might do that and add some chili (I'm not crazy about grapefruit) but all the recipes I've found so far specify fresh fruit. I still think it should be possible to do it with tinned, has anyone done this? Any help gratefully received!

I found a new frugal twist this week: you can eat the fleshy stalks of globe artichoke plants. They have to be peeled, but it's not that hard, the skin comes off pretty easily and you end up with something that looks like celery and tastes a bit like artichoke hearts. (You do need to dispose of lots of leaves onto the compost, mind.) The plants are so big there's a fair bit of 'free veg' on each one. I put mine into a mixed veg soup and was very pleased with the result.

grandma247

Redglass I will check my elderly jam book for you it has a few recipes for tinned fruit and juices.

grandma247

redglass
I am pretty sure you can make marmalade with it and if you want peel in it just peel and chop a few rinds of oranges. but you would have to simmer them in a bit of water first to make them soft.
The first part of this recipe I will leave out because it deals with fresh fruit.
Put 5lb of sugar and 3 pints of the fruit into a large preserving pan and heat slowly stirring occasionally until the sugar has dissolved. Check by banging a wooden spoon on the bottom of the pan, if it has not dissolved you will hear a crunch.
add a small piece of butter or marge and bring to a full rolling boil. Boil for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in 1 bottle of commercial pectin.
Stir and skim any froth off the top for 7 minutes to allow it to cool slightly to prevent the fruit floating to the top of the jars.
Pour into clean hot jars and cover.

I think you could also make grapefruit curd too.

grandma247

I have a recipe for orange and lemon chutney and I am sure you could use grapefruit instead and put some chilli in too. This is exactly as it is printed.
3 large lemons,2 medium oranges,1 pint spiced vinegar,white is best for a clearer colour.
8oz onions,6 oz light coloured sultanas,1tsp powdered ginger,salt to taste,1 tsp cinnamon,a little pepper,1lb castor sugar.
wash the fruit and squeeze out the juice. Mince or shred the peel and pulpand discard the pips.
Soak the fruit for 24 hours in the cold spiced vinegar. Next day add the juice and thinly sliced onions. Simmer very gently until peel and onions are tender. Add sultanas, seasoning,etc to taste together with the sugar. Cook till thick.

Using your tinned grapefruit you could strain and keep the juice and the do the recipe but omitting the bit about the peel. You would need to estimate how much fruit you would need to get a similar amount to the oranges and lemons. I think it is probably very forgiving though since you have to cook it till thick.

landregistrylass

I have to take my lovely boys home tomorrow - it will be a sad day.

NualaBuala

landregistrylass wrote: »

I have to take my lovely boys home tomorrow - it will be a sad day.

Awww, I have enjoyed hearing about all your fun. Hope it won't be too long before they stay again.

Kiwisaver wrote: »

Mmmn, now I am envious, if I were nearer I would dress as a witch and come knock on your door. I lurve Haribo Jelly Babies, Fried Eggs, Sours and well almost anything actually.

Probably a tad premature but I have finished my 2011 Budget, sticking to same overall total with a different mix of categories. I have been robbing Peter to pay Paul to afford yoga classes that weren't even on the horizon when I budgeted for this year, so I'm pleased I manage to squeezed that one in as a separate official category and have slashed my 'Everything Else' slush fund for incidental bits and bobs / books / clothes / gifts / pocket money.

Mmmmmm, you are making my mouth water. Last year we had no callers and I wouldn't be all that devastated if I had to eat all the sweeties by myself. In fact if you were to call, you might well be disappointed and have to make do with apples!

I'm haven't set a figure for next year's budget yet. I will wait till after December's Budget to see how the inevitable cuts affect me. I've a feeling I will be glad of what I managed to save this year.

Hope everyone is doing ok.
Hugs,
Nuala

mama67

landregistrylass wrote: »

On way to Post office this morning to post DH's tax return (new job after 2 years of being at home) we saw a van parked up with FREE computer type usage for the children - all sounds, drawing and photo type stuff on Apple Macs. So...........DGS x 3 had a whale of a time. The 2 guys manning the stand were chuffed to bits as they told me they had been having difficulty engaging people (whereas we stuck our heads in and asked what they were doing - me? Shrinking Violet? LOL>>>>>>>>>>> as if.) Now off to park for climbing wall. Wish me luck.

We have something similar comes to allthe local villages once a month called the "Funk Bus", run by the council; so we'll have to see if that continues.

redglass_2

Thanks, Grandma, for finding those for me! :T That's great.