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

kezlou

Hows is everyone?

It was gorgeous over the weekend, but today its very windy and cold. ah the joys of spring.

Nice to see you back sammy, fingers crossed with the new house.
Minnie looks so cute

Just wondering has anyone heard from Kittie, haven't seen her for a while.

Congrats Gailey :T:T:T aw what a lovely name . My boys were fast, not even the gas and air was quick enough for them !

lauren congrats on the baby, so cute

Welshcamper, so sorry to hear about your loss x

Lora thanks for letting us know about shegar, hope she gets some rest and her DH too x

Well the yellow orb has left us behind a cloud, its cold and windy but its all good!
Spent a fortune this weekend, ended up going to a cafe and spending money on food, I know its daft and i'm naughty, but i felt we needed a day to lounge in the sun without dragging stuff all over. We even got a bit sunburnt:eek:. But it was great, so relaxing and the boys loved it.

Haven't done much today, instead we dropped off loads of toys, clothes etc at the charity shop. I know i could easily have made money from them on ebay, but i had to bite the proverbial bullet and think, no, get them out of the house now!!!
Next time i'll sell them and see what happens.

Just sowed lots of tomato seeds, lettuces, cucumbers, squash over the past few days. Rhubarb looking good, thought i had killed it last week . Already starting to get little flowers on the strawberry plants and little pea plants shooting up all over the place. Finally green is coming through.:D Just found about four bags of flower seeds so hopefully this will encourage the bees to come our way.

Financial wise were coping, no jobs as yet, but i've just applied for three, so hopefully something should come up soon.

Anyways hope your all enjoying the easter holidays so far x

Seakay

I find dandelion leaves a bit bitter for my taste, even when blanched, but if you enjoy them then they are a very easy and free resource!
http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe2.php?rid=misc-salade-de-!!!!enlit

lostinrates

butterfly72 wrote: »

oohh... whats that then? I've 100s of dandelions all over my allotment! I do make dandelion tea, which is supposed to be good for the waterworks, but never heard of a salad.

Yep, just young dandelion leaves. They are a bit bitter, like chicory. we're trying to blanch some this year, but they are fine as they are . NB. you want to know where they've been picked. I wouldn't want to risk anything had been ''round up''ed if I were going to eat it!

ceridwen

raphanius wrote: »

i hope this is the right place....

i just wanted to say that i'm really starting to feel the need to tighten my metaphorical belt more than ever(it was on the last notch before xmas.) my money doesnt seem to be going as far as it did earlier in the year and i am forced to be imaginative with ingredients i have rather than buying more from mr t. i simply cannot afford to do a weekly shop and thats bad. the government's answer was to give me a rise in tax credit... an extra £2 pah. that'll buy a lot.

i also feel the media is pulling me in two different directions (and before you say it, i know ITS THE MEDIA DON'T LISTEN) but i am a consumer. one the one hand there is a big message to be frugal and a savvy shopper. on the other hand there is a lot of pressure to buy british and organic AND heritage foods. i have a veg box each week as part of my moral obligation to my family and the planet but have you seen the price of organic meat let alone heritage goods they are astronomical.

i find it hard to resist the food p*rn in magazines and want to cook the lastest recipes, i guess out of boredom more than anything but i can't keep buying fancy ingredients while my cupboards are still groaning from the last fad.

anyway i'm off to cook a reasonably priced dinner. rant over. thank for listening.

I understand where you are coming from here - but have you thought of becoming vegetarian. Try googling the "Savvy Vegetarian" website for instance for some ideas. One of the reasons I am vegetarian is I simply can't afford meat I feel "happy" with - the price of "happy meat" is :eek: to someone on a low salary (as I am). Howsomever - my food spend a couple of years back must have averaged £35-£40 per week. These days (and 2 years of inflation later) I think it must be about £20 per week - and thats with me giving higher priority to choosing the organic option in everything and the fact that I have to drink real coffee (as my tastebuds cant stand instant coffee:(). Also - I am still buying some fruit and veg. that I would grow myself if I had a big enough garden - so thats some savings I am currently unable to make. Otherwise - I think my food bill would be between £15-£18 per week (which I think is extremely good for that type of eating:)).

Are you making your own bread for instance? The type of bread I eat is VERY expensive normally if I buy it - hence I make it - for an estimated third of the price:)

ceridwen

butterfly72 wrote: »

oohh... whats that then? I've 100s of dandelions all over my allotment! I do make dandelion tea, which is supposed to be good for the waterworks, but never heard of a salad.

I've not yet been able to "catch" dandelions from a suitable spot - but I understand that one eats them "young" - using the leaves as part of the leaves in a salad with less "bitter" ones.

Better still - blanch them (to reduce bitterness) by growing them as I understand the French do - ie putting flowerpots over them as they grow to keep the light out and ensure they dont get so potentially bitter.

Like I said - no practical experience of trying dandelion leaves yet - as the only ones I encounter ever are on dogwalker territory:mad:.

ceridwen

lostinrates wrote: »

Yep, just young dandelion leaves. They are a bit bitter, like chicory. we're trying to blanch some this year, but they are fine as they are . NB. you want to know where they've been picked. I wouldn't want to risk anything had been ''round up''ed if I were going to eat it!

Ah...that gives me more of an idea then on this:)

Thinks....I tried chicory/endive? for the first time the other day with comments ringing in my ears about "A lot of British people find it very bitter". Hmmm.....loved it...want some more:)

jackieglasgow

My BIL and SIL live in Europe and we are treated to dandelion salad whenever we visit - they cultivate it themselves, and the blanched ones are much more edible than the au naturele type. I couldn't eat them too often though; like Rocket, they are an acquired taste and OK for an occasional different type of salad or mixed with other leaves - but I would not fall over myself to find them personaaly.

lostinrates

ceridwen wrote: »

Ah...that gives me more of an idea then on this:)

Thinks....I tried chicory/endive? for the first time the other day with comments ringing in my ears about "A lot of British people find it very bitter". Hmmm.....loved it...want some more:)

We are v. conservative in Britain about bitter salads. I have to admit I find the very, very biter chicories too much, especially grilled as is popular, but I continue to try and broaden my tastes in this direction. i grow the most beautiful italian lettuce, pale green flecked with red, that I find very bitter but DH just adores. The v pale chicories we get here aren't quite so ''bad'' and I eat them happily now. Its partly trying to learn to appreciate new flavours I think. ceridwen do you know anyone local with a lawn/garden to try a nibble? I'd be glad to share mine :rotfl:. I never worry too much about the weeds in the garden and our dogs and cats. Even in the wild or veg farms birds fly over stuff or a fox will widdle on. I just wash everything really well and obviously some spots are best for not picking. eta: certain times of the month and in the heat of summer I find a dandelion a less ''forced choice'' than a diuretic pill. Personally. (I also take diuretic drinks though....I can REALLY swell in the heat)

mrswive

It all happens on here if you go away for a few days doesn't it?
We've been out of the country at a family wedding and it's taken me ages to catch up.

Congratulations to Gailey on Marley's safe arrival!
Whatever is happening in the world - our own or the big, wide one - the arrival of a new baby is a wonderful occasion which reminds us of what is really important.

I've been inspired to make my own virtual recipe book, so starting that is my job for the week.

We had rhubarb crumble the other day with the first pick from the garden - delish!

Right, it's still lovely and sunny so I'm off to join OH to 'tour the estate' and see what's growing.

mardatha

No matter what I do, I just can't like green food !! yukkk!