really old style living?

ceridwen

ChocClare wrote: »

Happy New Year, all!

Thanks very much for the links re compost jelly and enzyme cleaner, stitching witch and ceridwen - must give 'em both a go.

.

Ooh...if you do have a go at the enzyme cleaner - do please let us know it went...:)

ceridwen

witchwoopiggy wrote: »

i had a read and found this on her comments hope it helps ..

''Oh, I checked out some sites on making enzymes, they mentioned not to use white sugar but any type of brown sugar, because white sugar is bleached or something. So, I’m glad you haven’t made yours yet, seeing as how I had advised you wrongly last time to try using white sugar. ''

Ah right - thanks for that.

Hmmm....:think: - now if my memory serves me correct = I believe some brown sugar is white sugar that has had summat added back in again (think demerara sugar for instance MIGHT be white sugar with colouring????).

So - that means the next question is "which brown sugar REALLY is brown sugar?" (ie not coloured white sugar IYSWIM). Does anyone know the answer to that one purlease?:)

twinkle_star_2

Demerara is just unrefined sugar so it's not had anything added (just less taken away).

American brown sugars tend to be white sugar with molasses added to colour it. Weird.

Edit: if it says brown sugar rather than muscavdo or demerara then it's white sugar with molasses added back in. Natural brown sugars are sold by specific names.

parsonswife8

ChocClare wrote: »

Happy New Year, all!

Thanks very much for the links re compost jelly and enzyme cleaner, stitching witch and ceridwen - must give 'em both a go.

If any of you have chickens, then you can use apple cores and peel to make cider vinegar for their water.

Pay close attention:

Put apple cores and peel in a jar. You really need at least 12, but you can add ithem gradually - you don't need to eat 12 apples in a row.

Cover with water.

Put lid on loosely.

Leave.

Do you want me to put those instructions up again?

It will start to smell quite vinegary after a week or so. Just keep adding more apples/water as appropriate, and pour off what you want to use..

Do you get pickled eggs????

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

ceridwen

twinkle_star wrote: »

Demerara is just unrefined sugar so it's not had anything added (just less taken away).

American brown sugars tend to be white sugar with molasses added to colour it. Weird.

Ah right....errrr...next question...how to tell which sugars are "American brown sugars"???

So - theres demerara, muscavado, barbados....errr...sure there must be more....

Which ones are "genuine" brown sugars out of these?

maryb

Looking at a pack of unrefined muscovado sugar and a pack of golden granulated, the difference seems to be that the Muscovado specifically states unrefined. Perhaps that's the key

ChocClare

Glad you got your polish recipe, mardatha, I was just about to weigh in with mine from my very ancient Mrs Beeton - beeswax and turpentine seems to be the key...

Where does one buy turpentine, incidentally? Not turps substitute, which seems to be quite widespread - as I need it for something else (only I can't remember what )??

Talking about really old style living, I have started 2011 as an example to you all In a fun-packed first three days of the year I have knitted four dishcloths, baked 2 dozen small cakes, a Victoria sponge, 2 dozen yorkshire puddings (which I have frozen a la Aunt Bessie), and mixed and frozen eggs and cream for three quiches. Oh, and I made a batch of about twenty large pancakes. As you have probably gathered, I haven't been at work between Christmas and New Year but my hens haven't stopped laying even though I had nowhere to sell their eggs, so I had rather a lot to use up. But it's OK - I'm down to 17 now - and none of them taste pickled, parsonswife :rotfl:

I am back at work tomorrow for a rest...

NualaBuala

Very impressive ChocClare! :T
Am wondering how knitted dishcloths compare with bought ones - and what kind of yarn do you use? Would it have to be cotton to be absorbent?

ChocClare

LOL! Actually, I'm sad enough always to knit dishcloths - and I even make them for other people

Yes, you do use cotton yarn - it costs less than a quid for a ball and that makes three cloths. I bleach 'em and bung em in the washing machine and they last for ages - and I tell myself I'm being green :cool:

NualaBuala

ChocClare wrote: »

LOL! Actually, I'm sad enough always to knit dishcloths - and I even make them for other people

Yes, you do use cotton yarn - it costs less than a quid for a ball and that makes three cloths. I bleach 'em and bung em in the washing machine and they last for ages - and I tell myself I'm being green :cool:

Not sad at all CC ... that is truly green and proper old style! :A
If I notice any discount cotton yarn I will get some, just so I can feel smug that I have made my own dishcloths lol!