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

KittyBoo_2

I was reading something earlier from the laundry index about cleaning my washing machine. I put some bicarb in the drawer and vinegar in the conditioner drawer and set it on a hot wash with a couple of cream towels that needed a good wash. Unfortunately 2 black socks got in and now the towels are grey. Can't find any suggestions about getting colours out of towels. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks.

Pink.

Hi KittyBoo,

Have a look at this thread: washing color run!!

Pink

2good

Look, it's all very well saving money but frankly I have forgotten the basics of maths!!! In all honesty I have totally forgotten my tables etc. I'm 44 so hardly Alzheimer's material just yet but even so my mental arithmetic is worse than it was when I was about ten!

Can anyone suggest a course/book/set of tests that will help me get back my ability to do simple maths in my head?

And please SOMEONE tell me I'm not the only one who can't add up in ther head..........

Penelope_Penguin

2good wrote: »

Look, it's all very well saving money but frankly I have forgotten the basics of maths!!! In all honesty I have totally forgotten my tables etc. I'm 44 so hardly Alzheimer's material just yet but even so my mental arithmetic is worse than it was when I was about ten!

Can anyone suggest a course/book/set of tests that will help me get back my ability to do simple maths in my head?

And please SOMEONE tell me I'm not the only one who can't add up in ther head..........

Having a DD who as about to take KS3 SATs, and hates Maths, I know hoe you feel. I have noticed, though, that places like WHS and Waterstones are advertising special offers on revision guides. There are lots of publishers, all with slightly different styles.

Why don't you have a browse, and pick the level that suits you best?

HTH, Penny. x

Savvy_Sue

2good wrote: »

And please SOMEONE tell me I'm not the only one who can't add up in ther head..........

You're not the only one who can't add up in your head.

Some people can, some can't.

I can do simple sums in my head, but only simple sums. DH can barely do simple sums without seeing them written down, and he's a maths graduate. DS1 is brilliant at maths, and used to be complete pants at mental arithmetic.

They are actually two different skills: maths and mental arithmetic!

thriftlady_2

2good wrote: »

Look, it's all very well saving money but frankly I have forgotten the basics of maths!!! In all honesty I have totally forgotten my tables etc. I'm 44 so hardly Alzheimer's material just yet but even so my mental arithmetic is worse than it was when I was about ten!

Can anyone suggest a course/book/set of tests that will help me get back my ability to do simple maths in my head?

And please SOMEONE tell me I'm not the only one who can't add up in ther head..........

I find that I use basic maths skills all the time when I'm cooking.

I frequently double and triple recipes, or convert one system of measure to another (US cups to imperial). I divide weights in kilos by 454gm to find out how many lbs something is. My most frequent calculation is to divide the weight of a chicken by 454g and multiply by 20 mins to find out how long to roast it for. I subtract degrees for converting temperatures to suit a fan oven.

I'm always working out the costs of ingredients and cost of making an entire batch of muffins for example. I've just been planning a freezer order from the butcher which has involved a fair bit of mental maths.

It's amazing how much basic maths cooking involves. I'd say I use maths far more as a home cook than I ever did as an o level student. So, what I'd say is get cooking -it exercises you maths muscles

Penelope_Penguin

Good morning! I recently received a small slowcooker from Freecycle. I haven't used it yet, but now that the range is off, I thought I'd give it a go.

Intend to start with a beef casserole. Question is, do I brown the meat and onions first, or bung the whole lot in (raw meat, onions, garlic, stock, veg, seasoning) and leave it to it?

Many thanks, Penny. x

comping_cat

Hi Pen,
I think its personal taste, i know some people do brown off their meat and onions before making a casserole or stew, but i dont (prob because my mum never did) and it always comes out lovely.

Churchmouse

I'd tend to say, do what you'd normally do if you were making it on your range. In the oven or on the hob, I always brown meat and the veg (including all root veg) first, so I do that in the SC. The only time I didn't we could tell the difference. Maybe that's just us

Penelope_Penguin

Thanks you two! Will try both methods. I think if I have time I'll do it CM's way, but if not, I'll do Cat's *bung it all in* and add some Worcester sauce

Penny. x