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

[Deleted User]

scary stuff happening globally at the moment. Oil is ramping up again and if it spikes up another $20-30 then we could all very well be into the start of another global recession. Either way, oil prices will affect just about everything we buy. Personally I am getting whatever I need now as I believe inflation will keep on going up at a fast rate

I will also make a heartfelt plea to please try and keep personal criticisms off this thread, we all have different circumstances and opinions but we also have a silken thread that binds us together as a community and the majority of us would like to live in harmony

I am going to see what else we can do in this household re hunkering down even further

RAS

Only just sussed this is the proper "Tough" thread. So glad it is back here; it had really gone off the boil at the Arms.

D&DD

Aw Kidcat I'm so sorry to hear that I am a great believer in fate however so maybe theres an even better one just waiting for you

GreyQueen you can jump in my boat with me as I've always just seemed to miss the 'other' one too :rotfl:

Wmf ooh yes the strike thread..there are rumblings about more action this year possibly too Thankfully the stores are topped up and ready for action if necessary..I've also told him if they're coming out to do it in the summer when the gardens got going too
Our main sticking point is always the strawbs for DS3 but I'm trying forcing some in the greenhouse this year for an earlier crop..will report back on wether it was worth it or not!

ChocClare

Hello gailey, nice to see you back - I was wondering about sammy too. Has anyone heard from her?

redlady_1

Kidcat - I went for a house once. It wasnt really where I wanted but it was all I could afford. Started the proceedings. Turned out it had been repossessed wrongly so I couldnt buy it. I was in such a strop I happened to find "Lil" on the net and even though it was out of my price range I decided to have a look. Needless to say I bought it. The owners took a £12k drop from asking because this used to be their mothers house and they wanted it to be a home rather than a money making scheme. Developers had been all over it like a rash as it was a shack.

What I am trying to say is that when the time is right, then your little home will appear. x

fedupfreda

Yippee

Got back from work today to be told DH has been offered a job at last - after being redundant since september:j:j

Its only temporary and part time but a jobs a job. Things may be on the up after all.:D

Catch you all later x

maryb

Managed to get to the Chinese supermarket today. They didn't have citric acid but I did get 3kg of bicarb of soda for £2.50 plus VAT and a big tub of white vinegar for about the same. But spices weren't any cheaper than from the little Turkish grocer I found the other day. So that will be a regular haunt. Little shops like that aren't always more expensive than the big supermarkets and they are often very good value at a time when prices are rising because they can't just reprice all their stock overnight unlike the supermarkets. So it might be worth buying now if you need regional food ingredients

gailey_2

kittie wrote: »

scary stuff happening globally at the moment. Oil is ramping up again and if it spikes up another $20-30 then we could all very well be into the start of another global recession. Either way, oil prices will affect just about everything we buy. Personally I am getting whatever I need now as I believe inflation will keep on going up at a fast rate

I will also make a heartfelt plea to please try and keep personal criticisms off this thread, we all have different circumstances and opinions but we also have a silken thread that binds us together as a community and the majority of us would like to live in harmony

I am going to see what else we can do in this household re hunkering down even further

Think all the tension in middle east countries where most oil is from will push up petrolprices.
Combine this with high levels of uk tax and inflation reckon we in for rough ride.:eek:

I think something will definatly be announced on petrol in march budget.

Weird during fuel crisis petrol was much lower than it is now.
makes you wonder how high it has to go to make people angry.

I foresee bank of england holding base rate at 0.5percent again:(they seem scared to act then there willbe sharprise.
They dont seem too bothered inflation may hit 5% but targets 2%, they indepndant of treasury sogovernemnet cant do anything.

Think march budget be interesting.
Think most of cuts hit from start of april.
predict poor growth for next quarter figures due out soon I think as last lot jan.

Think bit of stockpiling
lots of homecooking
bargain hunting buying 2ndhand ect
Make doa nd mending.
foraging
growing our own.

will help my family stay on even keel hopefully.
Planning very os baby more cloth nappies and breastfeeding.
so hopefully no3 be cheap.


thanks choc claire-have missed os.

maryb

I splurged on some Debbie Bliss tweed wool today because I found an easy pattern for a nice thick jumper with a cross over neckline. That sort of neckline really lends itself to wearing with a scarf so it will be super warm without feeling all bundled up. And Aran wool should knit up mega fast so I have a chance of finishing it before next winter. DD is full up because she went out to lunch today, DH is away ( he always seems to have a trip over half term grrrr) so no cooking tonight, instead I shall knit.

I nearly fainted at the cost but hopefully on a cost per wear basis it will work out economical. Warm clothes that last for ever are worth a bit of investment. I've got a 15 year old Austrian style loden coat which has worn like iron and is totally windproof and warm. I wish I could find one in a shorter length because a full length coat isn't what I need now I no longer commute

Just as well no-one challenged me to knit only from my stash this year - I wouldn't have lasted long

Greying_Pilgrim

Right guys - here it is. Just to say we've just eaten this - we had it with pecorino cheese (languishing in the fridge) grated on top and 'whoopsied' fresh basil with a drizzle of olive oil, rather than the salsa - but the salsa was a good addition in the summer.

This is an 'original' recipe, in as much as I made it up last summer when we were (thankfully) getting swamped by our tomato crop and I was getting a bit fed up of 'meditteranean' flavourings and wanted to go a little more 'arabesque'. Hence the spices. if spice is not your cup of tea, feel free to change them, the only spice I would be loathed to delete would be the paprika, that really adds to the dish. the sugar is optional too, the dish was sweet enough for us, but then the tomatoes were sweet when frozen. Frozen tomatoes look like and sound like snooker balls don't they? Felt more like Ray Reardon on 'Pot Black' than anything else!

I did a 'rough' costing, and if you'd used tinned tomatoes, then it would be about 58p per portion (not too bad for a main meal) but we were using our own tomatoes, so actually comes in v cheap indeed.

ps i take no responsibility for people reducing their stock of tinned tomatoes for the purposes of this recipe!

Pss I do not intend to offend any italians - it probably should not be called risotto if it does not contain rice


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Pearly Tomato 'risotto'[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]200g Pearl Barley[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]500ml boiling water[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]800g fresh tomatoes, diced (or 2 x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]2 medium onions, finely diced (I used red because I had them, but brown fine)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]1 stick of Celery, finely diced[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]4 Garlic Cloves, finely chopped (we like garlic, so use more/less garlic to suit your taste)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]1tsp Cinnamon[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]1 tsp Paprika[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]½ tsp Ground Allspice[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]½ tsp Turmeric[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]½ tsp Cayenne Pepper (or chilli flakes, chilli powder or fresh chilli)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]2 tsp Oregano (mixed herbs is equally good)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]1 Bay leaf[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]1 Tbsp Olive Oil (or the cooking oil you use)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]1tsp Vegetable stock powder (or for non-veggies chicken stock cube would do fine)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]1 tsp sugar (optional if using tinned tomatoes and may be omitted)[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Fresh salsa (optional)[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]1 large tomato deseeded and diced[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]zest of 1 lemon[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]mint leaves shredded (10 or 12 should do it – or to taste)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]pinch of salt[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Method[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Rinse the barley in cold water and drain. Cook the Pearl Barley in 500ml of boiling water, on a low heat, for about 20-25 minutes (or until tender). Do not let it boil dry, add more water if necessary. Set aside.[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Meanwhile, in a separate pan, cook the onions, garlic and celery in the oil over a medium heat until softened. Add the herbs, spices and bay leaf, stir and cook for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook for a further 2 minutes. Drain the Pearl Barley reserving the cooking liquid (I had about 100ml left). Add the pearl barley to the tomato mix with the vegetable stock powder. Stir. If too dry, add in a little of the reserved barley water – you're looking for a 'moist' consistency, not too watery (but this will depend a little on the tomatoes you've used). Cook over a medium heat for a further 10-15 minutes to combine flavours and heat barley through. Remove from heat. Remove bay leaf. Add salt and pepper to taste. If using salsa, combine all ingredients and top each portion with a spoonful.[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Serves 2 – for a main meal, maybe 4 if served as a starter or accompaniment to something eg pork or lamb chops (but don't take my advice on that – I'm vegetarian!)[/FONT]

Greying