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

Pooky

Just poking my nose in regarding poaching eggs.....I use a flat bottomed frying pan with an inch of boiling water in the bottom, crack the egg in like you would for a fried egg and flick a little hot water over the top to seal the yolk....perfect every time (as long as you don't ind them looking like fried eggs)

Igamogam

kidcat wrote: »

Scottishminnie - I use cling film for egg poaching there is a video on youtube somewhere of how to but basically I get a square of film over a mug drop in the egg then twist the top tight and drop into the water. Works ok too!!

OOh I am going to try that cos we have some of those little poachy pod things and I'm afraid they are in my radar for decluttering as we have had no succes yet with them

maryb

I can't get on with poach pods either - and judging by the fact that Lakeland are asking people to throw good money after bad (IMHO) by selling a gadget for fishing them out of the water, I think I'm probably not the only one. I can actually do poached eggs the 'proper' way but only one at a time which slows things down a bit if we're having a family breakfast. The secret is to put a bit of vinegar in the water which makes the egg white coagulate. I always do that when I boil eggs and it seals any cracks brilliantly

Minihauk

[QUOTE=scottishminnie;46518725Thought I'd post an update on the little egg poachers things which I bought (and my mother was aghast at). £5.98 wasted - utterly useless! I followed the instructions (not normal behaviour for me) and washed them, greased them as directed and then broke an egg into each. The first one "fell" off the side of the pan where it should have been perching and dropped most of the egg into the water and the second one just welded the egg to the inside of the poacher.

It's pretty shameful that I can handle catering for large numbers, fancy cakes and so on but I can't poach a blasted egg!]

I don't know if it is any help, but I ALWAYS poach eggs using a small frying pan. Make sure the water is boiling, then cook as though I was frying them, if that makes sense. There is a little "scum" but it works for me.
hth

HariboJunkie

Evening everyone.

Sorry about the car tax Kersplatt.
Congratulations to your DS Kittie :beer:
Well done on your veggie haul Rosanna. :T
Sorry about your tomatoes ChocClare. Although we have a very short growing season up here we rarely get blight. I have been picking handfuls of cherry toms for weeks and am now picking the bigger ones for preserving. The remaining greens will be added to the chutney mountain.

I'm still suffering from this stupid tiredness. I'm ok in the morning but post lunchtime I am fit for nothing. :( Finished off the pickled shallots today and did some more plum and ginger chutney and apple sauce. The hens are still prolifically laying so even their eggs are getting pickled. :rotfl:

Am about to sit down and do a mega shopping list as I have 3 vouchers for £5 off a £50 spend at Tesco so will stock up on non perishable things for the winter. Better make sure I go in the morning or I'm likely to nod off in the aisles. :cool::D

scottishminnie

kidcat wrote: »

Scottishminnie - I use cling film for egg poaching there is a video on youtube somewhere of how to but basically I get a square of film over a mug drop in the egg then twist the top tight and drop into the water. Works ok too!!

maryb wrote: »

I can't get on with poach pods either - and judging by the fact that Lakeland are asking people to throw good money after bad (IMHO) by selling a gadget for fishing them out of the water, I think I'm probably not the only one

Thanks to all of you who have made suggestions for the poached eggs - I think I'll try Kidcat's cling film suggestion since it's cheap. I'm taking it rather personally now and it's become war against the poach eggs, unfortunately I'm one of those people who hates to be beaten.

Maryb - the shop had poach pods too and when I was looking at them the lady explained I would also need somethong to fish them out so I declined them on the basis of cost and that would be 2 things to clutter up my kitchen. I've kind of fallen out of love with Lakeland, the last few things I've bought have been useless. To their credit I've had full refunds but I simply can't be bothered with the hassle.

I'm glad to know mother's tomato ripening suggestion wasn't as barking as it sounded so I'll now be tacking that. Of course, I won't tell her I solicited other opinions, I'll just smile sweetly when it works and everyone will be happy:)

Meant to confess - I nicked the idea of cleaning my oven with bicarbonate of soda but have made an even bigger mess. It's gone all white and horrible.No idea what I did however I'll have to start all over again!

RAS

scottishminnie wrote: »

Thanks to all of you who have made suggestions for the poached eggs - I think I'll try Kidcat's cling film suggestion since it's cheap. I'm taking it rather personally now and it's become war against the poach eggs, unfortunately I'm one of those people who hates to be beaten.

The core problem is not the poaching method; it is the parlous state of the eggs that we can buy.

When you crack and egg it should sit plump and proud on the plate, only slightly bigger than the original egg with very little liquid surrounding the mound. This sort of egg needs no attention to poach well.

When you crack an egg these days, even an organic free range one just purchased most likely it spreads across the plate with the merest limp raised area of white round the yolk.

The dang things are just old; very very old. Fine for cakes and possibly ommlettes, not much use for anything needing whisked egg whites or for poaching.

Charis

ceridwen wrote: »

Another way I personally think is "If I'm studying myself from the neck down front view in a mirror would I think that I have the figure of a young woman in the 1970s

I have! The only problem with that is I'm thinking back to when I was pregnant (in the 70's).

grandma247

I had a quick look for towel toppers and there are loads, here are just a few. one, two, three, four.

NualaBuala

HI Oldstylers!

I chuckled at the name of this thread and thought it looked a likely place fo find all my old friends (and hopefully some new ones) - if anyone remembers me cos I've been gone so long!

I was trying to rest my wrist (have RSI) - it's improved but still not great. Turns out staying off the laptop is reeeally hard!

Life has been great - a lot of improvements in my health and have so much more energy these days. Not 100% of what I had before I got ME/CFS but am able to get out and do things ... even exercise! :eek: Just got to keep working on the pacing.

The frugalling is going kinda sorta sometimes okish! There has been a lot of spending but mainly on things that are good for me and I feel it's worthwhile. Things are tough over here and we have a scary Budget looming but I have a mindset now that I will cope with whatever cuts come my way.

I'm going to focus on the positive and that is that I am now cooking lots of proper food from raw ingredients rather than depending on takeaways and ready meals (although they still feature occasionally). I feel like a proper Oldstyler with a freezer full of homemade meals, soups etc.:A Does anyone else get a nice warm secure feeling when they see all that? I buy some non-perishable food in bulk for and I like the security that even if my savings disappeared tomorrow, at least I wouldn't starve!

How is everyone doing? Hope you are all ok and that you are keeping the wolves from the door and staying out of the workhouse! It will take me an age to catch up, especially cos I am still trying to stay off the laptop as much as possible. Not just cos of the wrist but trying to reduce my screen time (TV and computer) to be more active and potter around cleaning up the almighty mess that built up all the while I was badly sick. I'm trying hard to keep as active as possible as it's helping me lose weight (badly needed!). :j I've found a few threads here that could help with the cleaning ... must take care not to spend ages reading about cleaning up instead of actually doing it!

Love and hugs,
Nuala