As The Workhouse Approaches....How To Do Everything To Avoid It, the Old Style Way

freudianslip

ceridwen did I read that correctly? you can rise dough in the fridge overnight?

So would this work - ingredients in breadmaker of an evening, let the BM do the warming initial rise, knead by hand again for a couple of minutes then form my rolls or bread then put it in the fridge to rise again over night, pull it out before the school and then when I get back bake it in the oven.

Would that work?

saveabobortwo

will do the little blighters ate everything.

Mrs_Veg_Plot

Had a lovely (woopsie) lamb stew from the slow cooker for tea tonight and mopped the gravy up with HM bread .

Going to make a swiss roll now to take to nan when we all go to visit tomorrow.

Still have a mound of ironing to do but feeling too tired to make the effort today. Not getting much sleep. OH very depressed again and not sleeping = restless nights for both of us. Just don’t know how to help him. He is struggling to make it through the day at work now but will not take any time off. He is also getting clingy again which does not leave me a lot of time to get the house etc sorted. I keep trying to give him things to do to distract him but it’s hard work.

When he is well he is the most wonderful husband and I love him dearly, just wish I had a magic wand and could make him better again. I hate seeing him like this as it is so out of character.

One positive out of the negative is that he is worried about money and is happy to embrace my frugal ways which have mainly been picked up from you ladies (and gents). Keep those ideas coming, as we all need them now more than ever.

Off for a cuppa now

Mrs VP

[Deleted User]

grandma247 wrote: »

My youngest and I went to a farm on a educational visit a few months ago and they had made a solar water heating panel so that visitors could wash their hands in a sink in the barn with warm water. The panel was just propped up (and probably fastened) to the barn wall near the floor but facing the sun.
I turned the tap on and even at that time of the year,late march or early april it was pleasantly warm. I am very tempted to get my ds to help me make one and get it fixed to the kitchen roof for washing up water. I will have to do a bit of research I think.

Up to last year I was living in a town house with a south facing patio overlooking communal gardens. I used to get enough hot water for a big bowl of dishes just by laying a solar shower bag (black) on the patio table. I also had a couple of camping kettles out and got hot water that way (it is on one of the other tough threads)

re plants: our patio was about 12 x 16 FEET and that was it (no other garden). I grew and we ate
potatoes
hestia beans
spinach
courgette
parsley, oregano, chives, mint
tomatoes
lettuce

I also grew lots of flowers and had trees and shrubs in pots. I used a vertical planter, which helped

Believe me they provided meal after meal. South facing is just as hard as shaded, in fact harder as constant sun makes the plants suck the soil dry very quickly

ellanutella

Rant alert!

Old style to the max now! Just received a letter informing me I was overpaid back in February when I left my job and would I please like to repay £600+ within 14 days. Not even been in work for a full month yet and that's basically a months wage gone. I think I'm most annoyed that I don't have a leg to stand on, I was paid for work I didn't do so I must pay it back. Unfortunately for them I haven't got it. Am mad at myself too because I did wonder if it was right that I was still getting paid but I'd been told that my leaving had been processed so I knew they knew I had left and therefore assumed it must be right. Big mistake that was.

Shall be on this thread like a maniac from now on

thriftymoo

Hi all!

I've been lurking for a week or so trying to catch up with you all!

I just wanted to say thank you, as you tips and tricks have come in really handy! I tried the Tesco store cupboard and managed to get 50 items for 14 quid I've also recently bought some soap nuts on ebay which i'm going to start using when my washing stuff runs out - i think it works out at about 3p a wash.

I've managed to plant out my veg patch, really expanded this year as I'm really lucky that my flat has quite a big garden (the flat is tiny?!?) I've got potatos, carrots, parsnips, cauli, cabbage, onions, leeks, peppers, aubergines, toms, herbs and salad. They're looking okay at the moment but we'll see how they turn out!!

I've been thinking about preparing for winter lately too. My flat is electric only with storage heaters (boooo! who invented these things!!) and last winter my prepayment meter was eating masses! I need to thermal line my curtains - some one may have already mentioned this, but does anyone know where you can get the lining for cheap?

Anyway I think I've probably bored you all enough for now but i'll be back :P

L x

modern_millie_2

Kimitatsu, the price of oil will be my main financial concern come the Autumn. As you say, it was bad enough last year. Our income is much lower in Winter, so I am making a major effort to pay as many bills as poss over the Summer, and take advantage of bargains when I can. Bought 3 of the £1.25 throws from Mr T today, can visualise us sitting on the sofa in these huddled together for warmth!

Someone was asking about cheap sugar - Mr T have 2 kilo bags for £1.34.

Mightily impressed by your strawbs, taurus (and someone else's tomatoes.....):D

[Deleted User]

I used to raise bread dough overnight when I was doing my soudough thing. I started the dough in the morning and then just folded it several times a day and the last one was in the fridge. You still need to cover it to stop it drying out. I love my sourdough but I have phases with it and just now it is sleeping at the back of the fridge. I think the last time I used the starter was about 5 months ago but I can wake it anytime with a bit of flour and warm water tlc

taurusgb

freudianslip wrote: »

ceridwen did I read that correctly? you can rise dough in the fridge overnight?

So would this work - ingredients in breadmaker of an evening, let the BM do the warming initial rise, knead by hand again for a couple of minutes then form my rolls or bread then put it in the fridge to rise again over night, pull it out before the school and then when I get back bake it in the oven.

Would that work?

It would work very well. I often do this.

ceridwen

freudianslip wrote: »

ceridwen did I read that correctly? you can rise dough in the fridge overnight?

So would this work - ingredients in breadmaker of an evening, let the BM do the warming initial rise, knead by hand again for a couple of minutes then form my rolls or bread then put it in the fridge to rise again over night, pull it out before the school and then when I get back bake it in the oven.

Would that work?

Havent tried exactly that - but I dont see why not...

I make my bread by hand and its a no-knead type of bread - but I'm guessing the same principle would apply. Basically, as I understand it, bread uses warmth to rise - but will still rise even in cool temperatures (ie that fridge) but at a MUCH slower rate. Thats how I've interpreted it anyways.

I give it, say, 10 minutes to acclimatise a bit in the morning after taking out of the fridge and then stick it in the oven to cook. One could maybe give it a teeny bit longer. To my mind - it comes out nearly as good as bread taken straight the way through at that point in time.

One way to find out - try it and see...:) - like I said - its something I do personally "in extremis" - so I think the best result is going straight through with it - but I'd still rather have my bread done in the fridge rise way - then anyone else's bread.

EDIT: I DO still cover my bread whilst rising - in my case with a slightly dampened teatowel (dont believe in using the standard clingfilm).