How to Get Through The Tough Times The Old Style Way.

HariboJunkie

GreyQueen wrote: »

Jam-making in general Could the experienced jam-makers amongst us counsel me about whether a stainless steel cooking pot, heavy based 8.5 inches diameter and straight-sided 5 inches deep without a lid is adequate to make jam in modest quantities? I have a real space problem as well as needing to watch ma pennies.

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Unless you were to make really small quantities at a time I would recommend a bigger pan as when the jam reaches a rolling boil the contents of he saucepan will double in size and boiling sugar is not to be messed with.
I have a large cast iron pot and have never gone to the expense of a preserving pan but am on the lookout in the charity shops for one. I also don't possess a sugar thermometer as I have managed fine with jam making for years without one so that's a potential area for saving on the set up costs.

silvermaid

Thanks Greying :T
Just went on their website and they have a 'home brewing' department. The nearest one to me is about 10 miles away but they also do on-line shopping.
We still have a pressure barrel and demi-johns - so will we give it a go again? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm :beer:
Cheers, Silver x

mardatha

A pressure cooker pot is perfect, without the lid.

kezlou

I just use ordinary stainless steel pans to make jam.

I bought mine fairly cheap out of tj hughes,think they were £8 each for a large stock pot.

HTH

I don't have a tumble dryer or diswasher so no worries there. The washing machine is about 6month old, so if if caught fire the manufacturers and argos would be getting an earfull.
But i think we have to be careful with electrical goods, i do still put a load in the washer if i go out. Bad i know, but its my responsibility of something goes wrong. We have an old fashioned eletcric fuse bix which take wires so we have surge protectors everywhere too, just to be on the safe side.

I still would like to in the countryside, but its well out of my price range. So just a dream for me.

Right better shoot off and make some bread before i leave for my exam.

[Deleted User]

has anyone ever used soapwort to make shampoo? sounds very easy

http://www.ehow.com/how_2126305_make-soapwort-shampoo.html

nice site here

http://www.greenchronicle.com/health_beauty/soapwort_shampoo_recipe.htm

edit, a very nice site, full of recipes of all sorts. I have put it into favs

born_blonde

Second the recommendation for large pans for jam making. We have one but as Husband was only making a small quantity of chilli jam yesterday he decided to use small stainless steel pan. Took his eyes off it for one second and molten lava all over ceramic hob!
It took ages to clean.

grandma247

I have fallen in love!
I was looking at low tech laundry solutions and found this. I am seriously thinking of getting one when we eventually move. Yes it is expensive but no dearer than a cheap washing machine and it will outlast me. It also has the advantage of using little fuel(only enough to heat the water if it needs it). Also it is a good workout for the upper body .
I have found in the past that washing by hand means it all gets done a lot quicker than waiting for the machine and the home made soap does not irritate my hands so I don't use gloves. I have a spinner (thanks SM) and would buy another if this broke and could not be fixed.

mummysaver

Gillst - love the sound of that book, especially bog myrtle ale! Really made me grin! Friend's parents used to belong to a local wine circle and we certainly tried allsorts of wines and beers, parsnip almost blew our heads off though, whoever made it it seemed to be very strong!

As far as household appliance and fires, thank you all for the warnings. We had a tumble dryer burn itself out, and whilst it didn't actually burst into flames the smell was dreadful, and it destroyed the clothes! If the fire brigade are producing ads then I think it is def something to take seriously.

MaLarkin

Good Morning All

Grey Queen - just goes to show you can never trust these old ladies. Mind you she was pretty old, 90+ and that was back in the 70's also told me she could remember as a child dancing around a bonfire and singing when the news came through to their town that Mafeking had been relieved. Living history.

Well you lot got me thoroughly freaked out last night. First time for 25 odd years I've gone to bed without leaving the dishwasher and the washing machine to come on in the night! Still, carried on reading the thread this morning and maybe I should stop doing that for good. Usually up early enough anyway to take advantage of econ7.

All this "survival after disaster" put the wind up me a bit too. Fell asleep wondering how well I'd manage. Surprised no-one mentioned building up a little library of books that would help us recover some of the skills we've lost.

mardatha

Amazon is great for books on odd skills Ma, I buy them at 1p Just knowing how to do things without gadgets or elect is very handy. Learn how to butcher game, skin and gut rabbits, prepare game birds, waht weeds you can eat etc. Is all handy !