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

weeze210

3v3 wrote: »

Easy peasy! Do you use Bisto or flour to make your gravy? (Or, maybe you're a Gravy Granules lass?)

Take your juices ..
BISTO: add cold water to your bisto to make a "paste", add to your juices, bring to the boil (stirring all the time) until it browns/thickens
FLOUR: melt some butter in a pan; add equal weight of flour and "cook" (blending all the while) the concoction; gradually add your "meat juices" to this, stirring all the while, until it is the desired consistancy (e.g. thick gravy/thin gravy)!
GRANULES: bring meat juices to the boil, add to gravy granules

I'm currently cooking oxtail in red wine in my slow cooker; I coated the oxtail in flour, then I browned it off in the frying pan (with some butter added) then, I added some stock/red wine to the frying pan with the oxtail ... equals, thickened "gravy" ... then added to the slow cooker. If, towards the end of cooking, it looks too fluid, I'll add a handful of oats to thicken it up

Thankyou, found some Bisto in the cupboard, I usually use granules, and have made the gravy, yum yum x

3v3

weeze - did it work ok for you? The right "thickness"? My family prefer a thicker "mop it up with bread" type gravy Well done!

grandma247

Re: chives,you could chop up the chives and put a little in each compartment of an icecube tray with a little drop of water to make them stick together to use in anything with liquid in or just put some in a bag to add to omelets.

3v3

SDG31000 wrote: »

Another mostly lurker de-lurking for a while. Depression can lead to debt in lots of ways. I know people that shop as a comfort mechnism, one who's partner has had to stop working to look after them and some who have had to pay for services that they can no longer cope with.
In my case my DH had to stop doing all overtime and come off the on call rota for over 6 months each time after I have severe PND. Our income dropped by a third and we had our DS1 and DS2 to support. I still have patches of bad clinical depression and DS1 is now 15.
So blanket statements about depression not being a reason for debt are wrong.
My apologies for going off topic. I have no desire to derail this thread and will not comment on the subject again.

I don't think you have "derailed" the thread; I think you have a valid input! So, no apologies necessary

I agree, depression (be it reactive, or clinical) can have a significant impact on debt. By that same token the reverse is also true! It can make some people so fearful of debt, they pay everything in advance for *fear* of being in debt. (And some poor souls, by paying in advance, get ripped off, which only adds to their problems with depression ).

Do continue to contribute: your opinion is as valid as the next persons

Charis

mardatha wrote: »

Could I borrow a chainsaw and hammer?

3v3 wrote: »

I'll loan you mine if you have some gopherwood to trade?

That took me back years to a concert my oldest son was playing in. One of the leaders recited this poem about Noah and some wood he was after. It still makes me smile and is in keeping with our OS 'share what you have' philosophy.

3v3

Charis wrote: »

That took me back years to a concert my oldest son was playing in. One of the leaders recited this poem about Noah and some wood he was after. It still makes me smile and is in keeping with our OS 'share what you have' philosophy.

LOVE IT!!!!! :rotfl::T:rotfl::T

grandma247

Growing potatoes for winter ( i will not mention the other word) here

HariboJunkie

westcoastscot wrote: »

Fondest wishes to those struggling with illness just now - sometimes we just have to put everything else on hold for a while - remember the seasons will roll around again, and anything we're achieved is a positive which we should try and remember, rather than counting the things we had planned but didn't quite get to.

WCS

I'm so glad you're posting again :A. Wise words indeed. I'm afraid that I have consistently set myself high standards of things to achieve this summer and my health has meant that I have consistently failed to achieve them . But I do try to be positive and my girls have had a good break and we have made some lovely memories which I hope will be with them long after I am gone .
Agree with you about the garden too . My flower garden is all but rotting. I envisioned sitting out on my deck of an evening watching the sun set over the bay, surrounded by lovely colourful, scented flowers. It's happened a couple of times but not exactly frequently :cool:. Veggies have been a disappontment to an extent. Greenhouse stuff is fine (lots of toms) and fruit bushes were very productive as were the spuds but stuff in the veg beds was slow and unproductive. I hope the school garden has survived or I will have lots of disappointed children when term starts.

SDG31000 wrote: »

Another mostly lurker de-lurking for a while..

Yay for delurkers. :j And your post is very wise indeed.

3v3 wrote: »

Do continue to contribute: your opinion is as valid as the next persons

Amen to that. :T
ChocClare I do as WCS does and dry some mint in bags on the pulley to be used in tea and turn the rest into mint sauce/jelly.
Welcome Kersplat :hello: Hope you get lots of support on here.
Taurus, I hope you feel ok today.

Imposed lazy day again today. Am getting bored now:o.

Managed to make a lovely salad to accompany cold roast beef for dinner. Just chucked cooked green lentils, chopped artichoke hearts (cheap from Aldi), chopped red onion and tomato together and made a dressing with whole grain mustard and the oil from the jar of artichokes. Delish.

Dee5565

HariboJunkie wrote: »

Managed to make a lovely salad to accompany cold roast beef for dinner. Just chucked cooked green lentils, chopped artichoke hearts (cheap from Aldi), chopped red onion and tomato together and made a dressing with whole grain mustard and the oil from the jar of artichokes. Delish.

That salad sounds yummy so will try that tomorrow.:D

HariboJunkie

Dee5565 wrote: »

That salad sounds yummy so will try that tomorrow.:D

I don't do measurements (except when baking) so it was a chuck it in and see experiment but the mustardy dressing went really well with the beef. Hope it works for you.