Preparing for winter III

singlestep

I'm trying to empty my freezer before I go to defrost and restock it again - it's taking longer than I thought! Next winter, I'm going to freeze more prepared meals and freeze less meat and fish as I'm finding I'm quite reluctant to defrost it for just me. I'll have a few standbys but that's it. Apart from that, I'll just try to find a few extra dishes to add to my somewhat limited range. I'm allergic to eggs and so I was browsing the eggless baking thread with interest earlier!

I'm having new bedroom furniture delivered at the end of the month and so I'm taking the opportunity to sort through my things. I had more wearable clothes than I thought and I may never have to buy another t-shirt for the next few years. Once I'm back from holiday, I'll be able to sort through everything but there's a lot of clothes than have gone in to bags for charity shops/for recycling. I think I'm actually quite well prepared clothes-wise for next winter and may only look out for a new coat and new winter PJs, as the ones I have are quite old and/or a bit on the big side.

Justamum

oldtractor wrote: »

well its beginning to feel like winter!

I was for us, and I was getting very fed up and depressed about it, but it's glorious today

[Deleted User]

This morning I started my putting away for next winter. I now have some Mr Mash, some onion gravy granules, some leaf tea, some packets of Instant Spicy Cous Cous, 2 packs of Cheese Spread Triangles, a tin of ham, and some tomato ketchup. I'll add a few things every week from now on and come the cold weather we should be OK. Cheers Lyn .

fuddle

Oh Mrs L, thanks for posting that. I think getting some of that instant mash would be a great idea.

I have asked DH to get ourselves and the children some multivit's to get our systems boosted up for the autumn.

Ordered wool to knit leg warmers for me and DH bought myself and the children fleece welly warmers. He got winter wellies.

We're completing decorating the living room at the weekend which will mean we can get the bay window curtain track. I am determined to not go through another winter with 4 meters of bare window in the living room!

bossymoo

Is anyone thinking of having a flu jab? Reason I ask is, I'm actually full of cold at the moment, but, prior to this, I've had nothing since I had my jab lasts September.

I'd mentioned it to our practice nurse, and since I was classed as my dh carer, and he had cancer, I qualified. She said at the time, she has one every year, and oddly enough never gets coughs or cold either till at least the start of summer! I thought she was barmy but now I'm not so sure...

I'm definitely asking for another this year...

prepareathome

Dare I mention it again here ( mentioned it on the tougher thread)

Last week I bought 60 tins of Mr S basic potatoes 20p - 345g drained weight ( 540g with the water which I use to heat them up in, so saving water). I cannot often peel fresh vegetables so tinned is not just for emergencies for me. I find one tin does both of us if having plain potatoes -boiled, fried etc, but I need two tins if we have mash.

My stores had gone right down so slowly picking them up again. Mr S has 500g basics pasta for 39p and 500g basics plain rice 40p ( nearest ethnic supermarkets or shops are a long way from me).

Approved foods is very good but if you are like me lucky enough to have a B&M stores with in easy reach it sells much the same and similar prices plus they sell many other things apart from food. Most of what they sell is in date, and lots well within the dates but they do have a few things out of date and very cheap.

I had forgotten I bought a pack of three fleeces from them last winter that I put away to line curtains, for £2.99, not massive but two should do one curtain so hoping when I go shopping again next week they have more in ( pack has one each of a different colour). Fleeces are ribbed, never seen ribbed fleece before so hoping maybe that will add a bit more warmth to the curtains. When last in I noticed they still had some snow shovels and sledges around but didn't go down to the soft furnishings aisle, so fingers crossed they will have cheap fleeces ( I know they sell dearer ones all year round with pictures of kittens, bunnies etc but they are £5.99 each and no bigger than the 3 pack.

Remember in winter if there is a major power outage there is a chance you will not have water as it uses electric along the way, so having tins of vegetables, pototoes etc in water is handy as can cook them in it.

Most cities tap water is usually ok if stored in decent containers ( not plastic milk bottles as they can leak) and kept somewhere cool - I have an old pantry and at the bottom I have a few 5 litre water containers that I refill every 6 months, I put the water onto the garden. This could be used at a pinch for drinking, but boiled first but handy to wash in or do dishes etc., Oh yes the water containers are just 5 litre water bottles bought with the water in which we drink all the time as our tap water is to highly chlorinated for me, I feel I am trying to drink swimming pool water, ok boiled for tea, cooking but just no good to drink straight from tap urg......sometimes even having a bath makes me think I am in a swimming pool as chlorine smell is so strong.......

I also keep a few two litre water bottles in freezer filled to about 3/4 to allow expansion when frozen, these are to be used any time power might go off and some food needs to be kept cool ( put a couple in fridge once when power went out and the coldness from them kept my milk nice and fresh for a few days ( mind you we only use skimmed which does keep longer anyway) as the insulation in the fridge slows down them defrosting.

[Deleted User]

BOSSYMOO - DH and I have a flu jab every year, he has had asthma and has a heart condition and they give me a jab as a precaution so I don't pass anything on to him. Last year was the first time I have had the jab from the Doctors Surgery, up until then I paid and had one at the chemists. I haven't had so many coughs and colds since I'ved been having the jab, but that's probably coincidental!

Byatt

I have the flu jab because of an underlying condition; the one year I didn't I was very ill with flu...I wouldn't dare not have it now.

PAH, I hate tinned potatoes but I think you've convinced me! eta, do they taste ok when fried or roasted or put in stews? I find they always seem a bit hard when I try them, and I hate hard pots although every other veg I will either eat raw or al dente.

bossymoo

If the electric goes we will struggle as oven / hob fully electric. Have gch and one gas fire. Maybe I should keep a camping stove... Lol

prepareathome

I would go and spend the vast sum of 20p on a tin ( still showing on the website at that price so store should be the same), I honestly find them great - they taste like new potatoes, and mash up lovely. They fry well ( just have to let them drain a bit ). I have tried others out there but have to admit they are just as good if not better than many - so far not found any so hard they cannot be cut or mashed, nor any bad ones or green ones . I am like you in that I prefer other veg raw or al dente but my potatoes I like soft.

When I first found diffculities in peeling potatoes and vegetables I tried all types of frozen, dried and tinned and was very surprised when these potatoes came out top for me. The tinned vegetables are good but you do get less for your money, so usually dearer brands are better for amounts but on saying that I do have plenty of basics carrots and mushrooms in my stocks - in fact using a tin of the mushrooms in our dinner tonight as no fresh in and hubby been at work since 6am so no way will I get him to take me out shopping when he gets in. I totally forgot to buy some when shopping on Saturday as it was a dried, tin and household shop I never looked at anything fresh......

No I don't work or have any links to MR S honest injun just like them and for value cannot be beaten but eatable - that is what I don't like about MR T their price of their value range is good but I just cannot abide the taste or quality. Mr M not quite as bad but its stuck out on its own away from shopping centre and as they don't have as many things I like I rarely go there. Mr A is just not worth the petrol.

Still trying to grow potatoes along with the rest of the vegetables as nothing nicer than a jacket potato with mashed boiled egg on it mmmmmmmmmm