It was getting tough in 2006 and the workhouse still threatens us in 2011

scottishminnie

HariboJunkie wrote: »

We're eating winter comfort food as well. Sausage and cheesy mash for tea tonight. I'm sure it's because we bought a new BBQ this year.


How's the scones go Minnie? x

I'm also guilty of a new barbeque - was the tail end of last summer - we used it once and now it's wearing a 2 inch thick protective layer of dust. It was the kiss of death to the weather as soon as it came. We are still using the original gas bottle from our last barbeque - purchased in 1999 - shows just how often we get a chance to use it!

I took photos of the scones but don't know how to upload. I doubled the recipe and made 10 - it should have made 20 but they would have been such little tiddlers I'd have swallowed them in one go:)

I cooked the first 5 for 11 minutes (the recipe said 10-12) and the second 5 for 13. Second batch were perfect, if a little more brown than I would have liked but the first were anemic and only 90% cooked so I would go for 12 minutes+ in future.

I did buy buttermilk as I thought it best to stick with the recipe (for once in my life!) - now wondering what to do with the rest of it.

There is a downside though - although the birds got the 5 not quite cooked ones hubby and I ate the remaining 5. He's now asleep on the couch and I feel like a giant hippo. Next time I must have an immediate home for them to go to:D

hornetgirl

I'm still in two minds as to whether to get a dehydrator, having been mulling over the information kindly provided by Ceridwen a while back.
If I do get one, it would have to be the one Lakeland sell, as I have a voucher I was given for my birthday which I could put towards it. However, reviews on their website appear to be very mixed - people either seem to love it or hate it. Does anyone here have experience of this particular model?
The other concern I have is that someone reported things were taking up to 40 hours to dehydate. Can this really be correct? If so, it doesn't sound like a very economical proposition.
I also learned from a friend today that TJ Hughes have halogen ovens in their closing down sale for £16, so shall be off to investigate those in the morning.

redlady_1

In relation to the washing, I live alone. I wash 1 - The bedding,2 - the towels, 3 - whites, 4 - coloured (at least one load), 5 - the tea towels. Um, so thats 5 loads and there is only me!!! Think the blokey is a typical blokey living in one outfit for the whole week!!!

HJ - Stop horsing around!!!

I have green Choclare tomatoes! Cant wait to try them.

lizzyb1812

HJ - thanks for the info re bramble vodka - I'll be doing that tomorrow

Re the older couple not being able to afford a certain item any more - I too felt bad about that but I wouldn't entertain the thought of buying the item and giving it to them - they might be mortified to realise someone had overheard them saying they couldn't afford something, they might be upset at what could be perceived as them needing "charity" and it all going on in a public setting would make them very embarrassed. And there is always the chance that "we can't afford it" had an unspoken "now we've decided to go ahead with the conservatory/car/holiday/have just retired and our income has dropped a bit so we'll need to cut our coat according to our cloth". Obviously I wasn't there but there could be several interpretations other than the obvious one - although on the face of it it did sound like a sad incident. And a complete contrast to the older couple I saw in a supermarket last week with their I-Pad.

The gasman came today - hot water now restored and the dodgy radiators persuaded to come back to life. Plus he showed me how to sort out the radiators myself if it happened again and confirmed that the boiler should have a good few years of life left in it provided it only needed common parts. Phew! No big outlay required and I'll be cosy this winter without the need for masses of supplementary heating. I'm so pleased I'm going to treat the radiators to a lick of specialist paint before winter. Just got the hot water to the bathroom handbasin to sort out now .........

On the OS/MSE front I picked up the 3 specific things I wanted at a DIY place and then wandered around a bit trying to decide if I could improvise and not buy some of it - ended up not buying anything :T I'll be able to sort out most of what my project needs from stuff I already have and will have a go at making the other bit myself. The trip wasn't wasted though as it was a combined trip to the DIY place and the supermarket nearby.

Comfort/student food here tonight - beans on cheese on toast - yum Weather actually good again today but comfort food isn't just for when it's miserable.

HariboJunkie

redlady_1 wrote: »

HJ - Stop horsing around!!!
.

Sorry. my joke would have been better but she caught me on the hoof.

Anyone guess why my previous post contained a word that was edited out by the swear filter? I was only describing tomato conditions, not being rude and it's really bugging me cos I can't remember the word.

Glad the scones turned out in the end Minnie. I did mean to say that Delia makes small scone and I always double the recipe.

ChocClare

HariboJunkie wrote: »

I've never eaten horse but I'd never say neighver.

Groan and double groan

I've eaten horse. You get it a lot in France - not hugely different from beef, though leaner.

I've also eaten antelope and ostrich. In Normandy (of course... ). Meh. Can't get too excited about game...

Uniscots97

ChocClare wrote: »

Groan and double groan

I've eaten horse. You get it a lot in France - not hugely different from beef, though leaner.

I've also eaten antelope and ostrich. In Normandy (of course... ). Meh. Can't get too excited about game...

eaten horse too (Germany), pheasant, pidgeon, rabbit and hare (the things you did in the 80s when there was no money), crickets, grubs and other insects (far east.... and no at the time I time I didn't know what I was eating).

ginnyknit

Hornetgirl, thanks for mentioning the dehydrator at Lakeland. I have been looking at them and possibly getting one as my Xmas pressie off all the family and that one looks about the right price. Will have a ponder, I ran quickly away from the site before I stopped long enough to buy something I really didnt need - gosh Im behaving myself tonight!

bluebag

So sorry to everyone. The lousy weather is my fault. It happens every time I buy a new tent. The last time was three years ago and I think it rained until October. I should know better really.

But at least it was a mild winter that year, so maybe I am forgiven by December eh?

squeaky

ceridwen wrote: »

One further quick look at tomatoes later

- the main stems of the poorly ones are sorta grey-greeny/sorta mottled like.

As compared to on the 2nd tranche of tomatoes - where the stems are the normal uniform green as normal.

I've been tending to think that maybe I put these tomato plants out too soon - ie before the end of any frosty type weather and didnt acclimatise them properly and that thats maybe what they dont like...

Have you tried asking on the Greenfingered MoneySaving board?