Quick questions on ANYTHING (see first post for Freezing, Reheating, Slow Cooker, +)

freyasmum

angel wrote: »

Thanks for the reply but how long is "long enough"!

I was going to make some to take as gifts on Boxing Day, would making it on say the 23rd be too long for it to keep?

Hi Angel,

That will be fine. Shortbread is a bit of a loner though and prefers to sit in a tin (something air-tight) on it's own. Somehow it doesn't keep so well if there are other biscuits in with it

It can keep at the very least for a week or for up to two weeks.

p.s, make sure you make it with butter, not only will it taste so much better, it will also keep better - so I have found. Not that it gets the chance to hang around here for long

Enjoy your shortbread!

Lx

Churchmouse

freyasmum wrote: »

Hi Angel,

That will be fine. Shortbread is a bit of a loner though and prefers to sit in a tin (something air-tight) on it's own. Somehow it doesn't keep so well if there are other biscuits in with it


Enjoy your shortbread!

Lx

:T :T well done freyasmum, i forgot to mention that:o

freyasmum

Thank you

Can I just say that the up to two weeks was because that is the longest it's had the chance to last in here

Churchmouse

freyasmum wrote: »

Thank you

Can I just say that the up to two weeks was because that is the longest it's had the chance to last in here

If I'm being strictly honest I'm not speaking from experience about a month:rotfl: But they really should be fine, with good ingredients and an airtight tin.:rolleyes:

freyasmum

also liked trying very trying's tip about putting it the oven for a wee while (ta for that!). Though I'm not sure how the recipients of a gift would like to have to re-bake it, lol

Savvy_Sue

poorbabe wrote: »

I've got a sewing machine I haven't used in a few years and I wasn't that great when I did use it . My windows are an odd size, of 55' drop and the width varies from 47 to 74 inches.

Could I, as a complete novice, make a pair of curtains? How difficult could it be? _pale_ They would be in the living room (74 x 55), so they would have to turn out fairly decent.

Thoughts greatfully received.

Curtains are not technically difficult, BUT manoeuvring large quantities of material can be 'interesting', and I'm not sure how easy it is to sew velvet. I seem to remember something about sewing it through a layer of tissue paper?

You need to think first about how you're hanging them: if you're using header tape, take advice from wherever you buy it from. You'll probably need it quite deep, because it's heavy. And you may find plastic hooks snap under the weight.

And measure, measure, measure. I made some curtains this summer: well, I shortened a pair of IKEA curtains and made more curtains out of what I cut off! Measured from both top and bottom, marked both where I was going to fold it and my cutting line with pins, drew a line between my pins, cut - and would you believe it, I'd confused my fold line with my cutting line and one of my curtains was now too short at one end? :mad: Fortunately I just about squeezed a tiny hem allowance out of the too short end, and it's just about OK. They were for someone else anyway, so at least I'm not annoyed by it every time I look! :rotfl:

You will need to do a few sample rows of stitching on the velvet once you've cut, to check your tension is right. That can take a while.

There's bound to be a website somewhere tells you how to measure, to give you enough at the top and the bottom, and how much fabric you need to drape right too.

So, a few other suggestions: had you thought about making linings for your current curtains? Should have learned my measuring lesson 25 years ago: DH's bedroom (we weren't married then) faced due east, and his curtains were thin, so he got some linings made up from blackout material. But whoever measured didn't allow for the header tape, and they were too short - 3" of bright sun beaming through the bottom each morning to wake him! So we let them down, BUT the needle holes were still there, so they still weren't blackout!

Or, had you thought about getting them made up, not necessarily in a shop but looking out for people who advertise locally? Or asking round your friends.

OR, see if there's an adult education class doing soft furnishings. You might have to wait until January, but you'd get lots of help and advice. And they'd probably have seriously good machines to use!

BTW, it takes longer than you think: I spent all day just cutting the bottoms off four curtains, IRONING up the hems with wunderweb (but you couldn't use that on velvet, I don't think) and sewing the tape on the tops.

But good luck!

angel

freyasmum wrote: »

Thank you

Can I just say that the up to two weeks was because that is the longest it's had the chance to last in here

That's why I needed to ask, it's only lasted two days here!!

Thanks for all of the replies btw!

trying-very-trying

angel wrote: »

Thanks for the reply but how long is "long enough"!
I was going to make some to take as gifts on Boxing Day, would making it on say the 23rd be too long for it to keep?

Well, when I was just a lass(before use by dates), I worked in a restaurant, where they made shortbread, using exactly the same stuff that you will be using(no added preserves) and we used to make it during the summer and sell it tinned with the guidelines, that it would be fine to eat by christmas, but popping it in the oven would give the smell, and warm shortbread, which is nicer than cold shortbread.

BungleGirl

I have two questions if that is okay:-

1) Has anyone used the Tesco Value dried milk and/or skimmed UHT? I would be using them both for HM yoghurt and also the dried milk in the breadmaker too. I'm using the tesco standard versions at the moment and wondered if there was much difference using the value ones.

2) I bought the wrong yeast a couple of weeks ago - I got the one that is for hand baking rather than the bread maker. Is there any way I can use it in the bread maker? At the moment the only use I have for it is in HM ginger beer.

Sophie

poorbabe

Hi Savvy Sue

I think you might have talked me out of making curtains for my living room. Not that it would have taken much The curtains are already lined but they are a cream colour and, to be honest, I'm fed up with them and had always planned to change them but didn't "because I can't afford to" :rolleyes:

I'll think about it some more and look for the cheapest option, but I'm determined to have new/different curtains up before Christmas.