A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

ginnyknit

Its good to know when you have lost someone that there is a friend who will hold your hand and listen to your rambling, I hope I am as lucky if ever I need someone.

Drippy weather here, not fun driving in it but it could be worse. All family tucked up and warm at their respective homes, thank goodness they are organised after much bullying by moi! My brother has actually managed to nip round to Mums with the papers and spuds - 5 minute drive - instead of us slogging a 45 mile round trip - it must be bloomin' Christmas :rotfl:

OH snug under a blanket dozing the afternoon away, best medicine when theres no medicine to help you Going to do a bit of crochet and watch a mind numbing film(till spring :rotfl: )

Oh Mardatha your nose will grow, wee and quiet, it does spoil the pc screen when you spray it with coffee you know - Hey Mardatha needs a government health warning for computer monitors :rotfl:

PolkaDotsAndLace

My red lentils are £1.10 for a 500g bag (Great Scot ones from Asda - they don't seem to do any others instore) which I find quite pricey - I think I'll have to have a look out for value oats when shopping today and report back on the disappearing oat situation.

How does everyone make their porridge? OH tends to have to Oat So Simple sachets before work just now, more expensive, so if there was a quick and easy way to make porridge with oats I'd like to get him to try it! I know it'll never be as quick as a sachet, but i can't see him spending more than 5/10 mins making porridge in the morning. Though it would still be good on the weekend.

greenbee

I use 25g oats in 200ml liquid (rice milk/milk/water) and put it on low on the hob when I get up and by the time I've emptied the DW and got everything else sorted it's ready. I'm sure it would be quicker if I could be bothered to watch it. It's also quicker if you soak the oats in the liquid the night before. And you can make it in the microwave. Maybe experiment over the holiday and see what works best?

kidcat

Katie - sending hugs - simply being there for your friend is amazing, but I do know how you feel as though you should be doing something, but the time will come when there will be other things she needs and you can be there too.

Porridge - could I put it in the SC the night before?? Am starting to think the idea of getting up to hot porridge in this weather would be so nice.

greenbee

I think you'd need old fashioned porridge oats (tough ones not quick ones) kidcat, but I don't see why not. I have an ancient aga cookbook which mentions making porridge overnight in the bottom oven.

lizzyb1812

Single serving of porridge in the microwave:

I use 30g porridge but I don't weigh it as this is a faff first thing in the morning. I found a small dish that holds just this amount. 1 dish porridge, 1 dish milk, 2 dishes water. Stir and cook on high for 2 minutes. Stir and cook for one more minute. You will need to use a big container as it will rise up quite a lot when cooking. Add sugar/sweetener/honey/sultanas/apple to taste.

Oooh! Just finished last of the cards and it's snowing :T

zcrat41

Help! I'm in the middle of making the wonderful recipe that some kind lady posted a few days ago - peanut butter balls! Only half have made it into the fridge to be covered in chocolate - they are delish so far! I'm about to melt the chocolate and it says add shortening - is that butter?

I'm going to be the size of a house after discovering this site!

Fruball

katieowl wrote: »

Argh. Took a phone call yesterday eve from my good friend in the village who was sobbing down the phone, and she told me her cousin was dead. I grabbed my keys and went straight round, and she explained that he was due to go home to his parents town yesterday, and hadn't arrived, his sister had made a few phone calls, including to her, and when she still couldn't raise him, she called the police, who went around and broke the door down, and they found him dead - no further details known. My friend was VERY VERY close to him, and we knew him well too as he was a frequent visitor to her house. She is in utter pieces...Her Uncle, the cousins dad is dying in hospital, The cousin was himself getting chemo, and of course earlier this year her husband left her. Happy Christmas.

She's the friend who was joining us for Christmas dinner anyway as she'd have been on her own otherwise.... I'm going to call her in a minute and check she's OK. I poured several glasses of wine down her last night and cooked her another dinner, as one of the cats had eaten the fish that she'd just taken out of the oven before she got the call. I feel terribly useless.

Kate

That is so sad - your friend is lucky to have you so don't feel useless - take care of you both xxxxx

PolkaDotsAndLace wrote: »

My red lentils are £1.10 for a 500g bag (Great Scot ones from Asda - they don't seem to do any others instore) which I find quite pricey - I think I'll have to have a look out for value oats when shopping today and report back on the disappearing oat situation.

How does everyone make their porridge? OH tends to have to Oat So Simple sachets before work just now, more expensive, so if there was a quick and easy way to make porridge with oats I'd like to get him to try it! I know it'll never be as quick as a sachet, but i can't see him spending more than 5/10 mins making porridge in the morning. Though it would still be good on the weekend.

I believe you can make porridge in a thermos flask - put it all in when you go to bed and will be all ready in the morning. My flask isn't great so would probably wrap in a towel and stick in airing cupboard

PolkaDotsAndLace

Great, will have a look for them and experiment! Even if we do end up being too lazy to use them for porridge I can always use them up with mince or for baking, so they won't go to waste.

wen3

Katie so sorry about your friend all you can do is be there for her.

Softstuff, the spiced biscuts have been baked and there are only half left just as the were calling the in-laws arrived they went down very well, thank you. The muffins sound fab as well, will give them a go in the week.