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

Greying_Pilgrim

alec_eiffel wrote: »

Pearl barley risotto is called "orzotto", there's a recipe for it in The Pauper's Cookbook. I really like it, far nicer than risotto. Spelt is even nicer but not as cheap! When using pearl barley I do it the Sophie Grigson way and soak the barley first as I think it gets rid of that weird plasticy feel barley can have.

alec eiffel - I wholeheartedly agree about spelt grain being nice - that is our 'treat' risotto grain (with wild mushrooms) for christmas eve supper, we splash out and buy a bag of the stuff grown in somerset - definitely a treat food in this house though!

Thanks for the tip about pre-soaking, I'll give it a shot, although perhaps pre-cooking has the same effect, as I didn't get that tooth 'squeak' when eating the risotto last night.

Greying

alec_eiffel

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

alec_eiffel wrote: »

Pearl barley risotto is called "orzotto", there's a recipe for it in The Pauper's Cookbook. I really like it, far nicer than risotto. Spelt is even nicer but not as cheap! When using pearl barley I do it the Sophie Grigson way and soak the barley first as I think it gets rid of that weird plasticy feel barley can have.

alec eiffel - I wholeheartedly agree about spelt grain being nice - that is our 'treat' risotto grain (with wild mushrooms) for christmas eve supper, we splash out and buy a bag of the stuff grown in somerset - definitely a treat food in this house though!

Thanks for the tip about pre-soaking, I'll give it a shot, although perhaps pre-cooking has the same effect, as I didn't get that tooth 'squeak' when eating the risotto last night.

Greying

Hiya,

Yes, pre-cooking will have the same effect as soaking (I am obviously just very lazy). I buy that same brand of spelt, it is delicious. We have it not infrequently in the winter as a treat when everything we put with it is cheaper. It's a real treat though.

imataloss

Haven`t managed to read all of the thread from yesterday, it`s so busy on here.
Congratulations to those who have got new jobs. To everyone who is not well take care of yourselves.
Those of you asking about slow cookers, I find that casseroles, stews, curries cook really well in the slow cooker. Found last nights tea was a disaster though. Bought some braising steak from a different supermarket. It was not very nice and completely spoilt our tea. I won`t be buying it from there again.

On a brighter note I tread myself to a small pot of mini daffodils at the weekend. The first flower has opened this morning. Spring is on it`s way :j
Also went to DD`s this morning to pick up DGS to take him to nursery. He can really make life much brighter when I see his wonderful smile.

welshcamper

just lot my post! here i go again...

morning all

foggy and dull

Thank you jackieglasgow, maryb and fletch for your ideas, am going to go with Heidi, have most of the things here and the book she needs to take with her:D

mummysaver, we are also going to the cinema today, but no specials on so have to pay full price, going to watch Yogi bear 3d, mother is taking her crafting tomorrow at the Heritage centre, its free yay

Gailey love the party box idea! (DIL due 11th April)

congrats with the new jobs, FTM hope hubby gets something soon.

Daughter had fitting for bridesmaid dress this evening for sons wedding, i better start looking for my frock!

my nan was blind and cooked everything from scratch, never weighed anything but her food was mmmmmm, tried to make her apple dumplings years ago, was total disaster, she used to use whole apples, wrap in pastry, wrap in cloth, boil, cut open with brown sugar and butter, does anyone have any ideas how i could do these without making a total mess of them again?:(

went to do my weekly shop yesterday, prices have leapt up.


been googling campsites for this years holiday. one site i like beginning of July (out of scool holidays) for 2 weeks £371 end of July £602!!

Cheapskate

Hello all

I'm a serial lurker, occasional poster & always-failing GC-er, but I need to really get a grip NOW before finances slip too much. Not been too bad up 'til now, but my wages will take a 75% cut from April :eek:, suspect TC will go down then, too, so I'm starting in earnest this week. DH started his own business last year, but has only been paying himself a SMALL salary since December! It's half term, so have a bit more time at home to go through finances, do food stocktake, plan meals, advertise clothes etc to sell.

I've managed to scan the first few pages - will read the rest later, but thanks to JackieG et al for resurrecting this thread! :j

Off for another cuppa to fortify myself, hope to catch up soon when I've sneaked a peek at my bank statement!

A xo

redlady_1

Jesus WC, that is insane!! I love my camping but not at those prices!!!

GreyQueen

That reminded me of my late Grandma. She was known for keeping a good table and relations used to drop in for Sunday high tea. When she was doing everyday cooking she just used to do it by eye on the quantities and it worked perfectly. When she knew Company was coming she'd weigh and measure and it all went wrong...

I cook by eye not measure, although I do have an OS balance scale with imperial weights as well as a Tala measuring goblet. Works for me unless I'm cake baking, when it all goes a bit wrong. Read somewhere that breadmaking is an art and cakemaking a science, and guess which one I do well........:rotfl:

grandma247

welshcamper where do you want to camp?

schoolhouse

Morning all! Half term fun here too,boys are being so good. Its wet out there so I made them a tent/den in the lounge,not heard from them since:D.They did appear briefly for provisions,juice and gingerbread men from yesterday's activities.

I have bread and apple braid(D&DD's recipe-it is just lush) to be getting on with and a chicken curry. Hoping to start back on some batch cooking to fill up the freezer.Oh,also chicken,leek and mushroom soup for the boys and me.OH not keen on soup though loves noodle soup:think:.

Price rises are a worry,I work for a supermarket that is generally seen to be more expensive but with prices going up everywhere,I have found that I am better of shopping where I work as with my discount(lucky I know) it means I get things cheaper than tesco/asda et al.

Hippeechiq

Greying Pilgrim Thank you so much for taking the time to give such an excellent description of Pearl Barley and options of how to cook it - much appreciated

wmf Re your visit to your son, what about Pasta & Rice too?

de1amo I was channel hopping on Friday evening and saw a bit of Who Do You Think You Are. It was Griff Rhys Jones, and they were trying to find out what had become of his Great (I think it was) Grandmother, who had also been left with 4 children after her husband was killed in a pub brawl, and it was feared that she too, ended up in the Poorhouse

Many of us may well have fallen on hard times, but we really have no idea what true hardship is - do we?