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

ceridwen

GreyQueen - I'm too computer-illiterate to have figured out how to do Word documents...ahem...so for others similarly positioned - I DID manage to figure out how to set up basic blogs and just have a private cookery one.

I've already sent this mornings contributions from Softstuff blog-wards:)

Have sent Kittie's weather forecast off to another blog and added it to list of fave websites on my gardening blog - am still getting my head round it being a necessity to take account of what the weather is doing:rotfl:

juliettet

Just asking if I freeze blackberries, do I wash them first? Still green here but I want to be prepared as blackberry & apple pie is my favourite.

Gigervamp

Soak them in a bowl of water with some salt added. That will make all the wrigglies come out.

After that, I open freeze them on baking trays before bagging them up.

Mrs_Chip

Hello everyone - I am coming out of lurk mode and it seems like I know you all, having read all the last thread and hopped onto this one - can I join your gang?

In serious down-shift mode, in the process of going from two good salaries to none for a while whilst we start our own business - all scary stuff as neither of us are spring chickens!

Reading all your very interesting OS posts has made me realise that I have taken an awful lot for granted over the years, and I need to mend my ways. I grew up in a home that did not have a lot of money, so know how to live the OS way, just got to crank up my OS genes!

Can I ask someone to post a link to ChocClare's Chinese chicken please, it sounds delicious!?

Gigervamp

Welcome Mrs Chip and good luck with your new business!

silvermaid

Gigervamp wrote: »

Welcome Mrs Chip and good luck with your new business!

Exactly so, welcome and good luck

Firewalker

Good morning, peeps. MG, thanks for alerting me about the pictures - it was nothing more serious than a database problem. Also, we created a store cupboard after seeing MG's. If you are interested in what we learned in the process see http://www.themoneyprinciple.co.uk/2011/the-money-principle-store-cupboard-three-things-we-learnt/

It is very handy, and very used - meanwhile we discovered AFs and other ways for smart food shopping. As a result last month our food bill was £240 for three adults and a growing up boy and two visitors for 9 days. Not bad, particualrly compared to what used to happen a year and a half ago.

And we still have a well stocked store cupboard.

FW

suzid

Just had my car's insurance renewal, gulp, it's gone up by 54% _pale__:(. Hells teeth that's a huge increase, didn't expect that sort of rise. I though the 40% Martin was talking about was highway robbery. Will now have to trawl for cheaper quotes but don't hold out much hope as I think they're all going to be much the same and ours also includes roadside rescue so have to figure that one in too.

Put on Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb after I'd opened the envelope and got all emotional. Beautiful music to sooth the raging beast within. Oh well, it's still less than the two policies are currently costing.

Slinks off muttering!

ChocClare

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

Hello everyone - I am coming out of lurk mode and it seems like I know you all, having read all the last thread and hopped onto this one - can I join your gang?

In serious down-shift mode, in the process of going from two good salaries to none for a while whilst we start our own business - all scary stuff as neither of us are spring chickens!

Reading all your very interesting OS posts has made me realise that I have taken an awful lot for granted over the years, and I need to mend my ways. I grew up in a home that did not have a lot of money, so know how to live the OS way, just got to crank up my OS genes!

Can I ask someone to post a link to ChocClare's Chinese chicken please, it sounds delicious!?

Welcome Mrs Chip - I've also been there on the own business front - DH set up his own WHILE I WAS ON MATERNITY LEAVE (where is the rolls eyes smilie when you want it?) so that I had to rush back to work after the minimum time off. It can be very scary, but I honestly think that staying positive makes positive things happen, so keep smiling!

I am delighted that people are still eating my Chinese Chicken, which I posted absolutely AGES AND AGES ago when GreyQueen wanted ideas of what to do with whoopsied chicken thighs. Anyway, here's the recipe - it freezes VERY well and is even nicer reheated, so make double and freeze for another time.

6 tblsps wine (white or red, whatever)
3 tblsps soy sauce
1 tblsp water
1 tblsp sugar
1 teaspoon mustard

Bung this in a casserole and mix. Now add a pack of chicken thighs, and stir well to make sure they are coated in the liquid. Put the lid on and put in the oven on Gas 5/180C until it starts to smell nice. I'm sorry I can't think of the timing - maybe an hour? Now remove the lid from the casserole and cook for a further half an hour to crisp up the skin which goes all sticky and yum.

This produces a LOT of very delicious gravy, so it's nice with mash or rice to soak it up. However, like many casseroles, it tastes even nicer the next day, so if you let it cool that will also enable you to take off any excess fat from the skin.

See, how simple was that? Most return for least effort - my kind of recipe :T

Firewalker

Some of these recipes sound delish. Is there a collection of them? I found a collection on MSE but it seems that the collection is expanding all the time and it may be an idea to think of a different approach.

fw