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

meg72

silvasava wrote: »

Went into Waity's this morning for my Sunday paper - noticed that 750gm of broad beans were (shock horror) 2.99!!!! AND they were in their pods so not many beans there then. I've just gone out in the garden to check on mine & value them so I know how much I'm potentially saving (how sad is that)

Went to a local FarmersMarket yesterday, Broadbeans were £5 a killo and rhubarb £4. Thank my lucky stars for a garden. Both are so easy to grow. Am waiting with interest to see what the price of runner beans will be.

redlady_1

Anyone know what spinach looks like when it's ready for cropping please? Mine appears to be about to flower

hex2

600ml of double cream (reduced to 80p) made 400g of butter. 50p for 250g against 1.10 for cheapest unsalted I can find. It freezes ok so I usually chop it down into 50g blocks for freezing.

smileyt_2

redlady_1 wrote: »

Anyone know what spinach looks like when it's ready for cropping please? Mine appears to be about to flower

It's ready!

Ideally you should pick it before it gets flower stalks on it (this is known as bolting). I'm not sure what happens if you pick it after this. Some leafy plants get tough and bitter but I'm not sure if that applies to spinach. It won't do you any harm though!

redlady_1

Thanks smileyt. I have never grown it before so do I just chop it at the base and then eat the leaves? Christ, I sound like a right div!

THIRZAH

The bread making course was great although we are going to have to make an awful lot of bread to cover the cost of it.My arms are tired after all the kneading.

We used fresh yeast which I've never really used before. Apparently it does freeze so may buy some. The tutor said to freeze it quickly and in small packets.One of the loaves had a sourdough starter in it-has anyone here made one?

elona

I managed to find about half a dozen glass storage jars in the cupboard and am soaking and washing them ready to put lentils, dried peas etc into.

A couple of the jars had dried elderberries in them so I boiled then simmered them with sugar and water and then put the mixture into the slow cooker on low. Tomorrow will cool and strain it into bottles and label. I found some containers on amazon which should arriive later this week and can use them for flour, sugar and salt.

Hoping my kitchen cupboards will be tidier and it will be easy to find things. DH has moved things around in the garage so stuff is not as organised as it was. Youngest not happy at the strong smell of elderberry syrup

Had baked gammon, home grown potatoes and bought veg which I sliced finely and stir fried for lunch. Tea was yellow stickered granary bread with gammon or cheese, coleslaw, salad and olives.
DD returns home on Tuesday afternoon from her holiday in Spain so I want to get things looking nice by then.

I got some scone mix from approved foods which I want to try out but might use the remoska instead of a big main oven. Still have to sort out loads of duvet covers and fitted sheets that were in the airing cupboard but at least all the towels are sorted out and tidy.

babyblooz

I will remember the one about making cream into butter. When I see the whoopsied tubs of cream they are coming home with me to be made into butter to go on my home made scones. In a few weeks I can have them with home made jam as well, because my plum tree is heaving with plums, they are green at the minute but they are swelling more every day and there will be far too many to enjoy just as they are. I see crumbles and jam and all kinds of good things to come. :j

mardatha

Redlady - for goddsake throw the bloody stuff in the bin and buy yourself a sticky toffee pavlova instead!

cat_smith

westlothianlass wrote: »

Was sitting cosy last night (socks, jumper etc the usual summer garb) with a glass of home made rhubarb wine and some twinks and thought life would be hard pushed to get much better:rotfl:.

Oooh. recipe please. I have loads of rhubarb and I'm sick of crumble. :T