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

mcculloch29

fuddle wrote: »

Anyone know of any cook books that would help me learn how to cook good, wholesome basic meals like mince cobbler, shepherds pie etc? I'm actually not very good at meal making (baking yes, but not cheffy style meals) so rely on BBC Good Food website for my meal making. There's 2 problems here... 1) the site tends to crash at around 5pm when it's busy and I often find myself alone and clueless making the rest of the meal and 2) they do fancy variations with added ingredients which add to the expense.



So, I'm keen but feel pretty clueless re: meal preps. Basic, good food is what I'd like to learn.

Fuddle, I'd second Delia but also Jocasta Innes' The Pauper's Cookbook as being brilliant.
Shirley Goode's books are out of print now, but you may come across them in charity shops. Shirley also has an excellent blog.

Whilst we are on about charity shops, I regularly see Marguerite Patten's books there.
As a young married 35 years ago Marguerite's Everyday Cookbook was an absolute Bible of mine, I smile when I look at it now, with so many pages stained -I'm a bit of a messy cook.
Such fun I had in learning to cook through its pages, and so many good basic skills that have proved a blessing - pastry, sauces, meringues ...
With just me and adult DS to cook for these days many recipes aren't used so much now, but it was a godsend in its time.

Edit to add... No, Aldi's washing up liquid knocks spots off Lidl's. So much of Aldi's stuff is so much better than anyone else's, particularly the household stuff and toiletries. We get an Aldi later this year (being built now) and I can't wait.

fuddle

All my cleaning stuff comes from Aldi. I think it's fantastic and no different or worse to any other brands I've tried in the past.

Bitterandtwisted.. I remember what you said to me when I first came back and I was moaning about still having the heating on. I remember saying a few weeks back that it was a necessity blah blah but I've those four fleece blankets that normally reside under the coffee table (they're currently my kids' tents upstairs) and they come out on days like these now. I'm trying to not be so quick to hit that on button. My money is precious, not to give to energy company's bosses. It takes me a while but I get there.

You ok Byatt? It must be a bit of a painful day for you one way or another. Hope you're alright.

Oh, and edited to say thanks for the book mentions and website. Tonight when the kiddies are a peeps I'll reserve them online at the library.

shegar

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Eh, I'm a terrible sceptic where washing-up liquid is concerned( among many, many other things). I've never been convinced that because it's is thick and makes loads of suds that it's any better at cleaning than anything else. They add thickeners to make us believe that we're getting something more concentrated than it really is and foam and suds won't clean anything. Therefore I buy whatever is on special offer. Like the twofer I got at the pound shop a while back. If they hadn't burned down the local Aldi in last summer's riot I could have popped over to buy their Magnum gubbins. I'm also missing their Super 6 fruit and veg.

It's overcast and raining here today, and feeling a tiny bit chilly. If I wasn't so skint I'd have half a mind to pop the heating on for a bit, so I've put a fleece on instead. I can't tell you how irksome it was to have to drag one out of the storage-boxes I'd stashed away. I stupidly believed that I'd not have to see them until some time in the autumn. I can't believe that only a few days ago it was boiling-hot here and I was floating around in a sleeveless vest.

I should be stripping the bed and washing the bed-linen but as it's not suitable drying-weather I've lost the will and am having an extra cuppa instead. I might do some comfort-baking later if I can be @rsed

Well ive got a fleece on as usual and ive got the the heating now ,its raining too, its so dam cold and miserable for me..............

BitterAndTwisted

One fleece wasn't enough so now I'm wearing two. AND IT'S RUDDY JUNE. It feels like November today or something. I am most displeased.

I've just been to gloat over my herb-garden, lovely lettuces and geraniums in flower on the windowsills to cheer myself up and remind me that it's summer.

Fuddly: I'm glad you've changed your mind about having your trigger-finger constantly hovering over that "on" button on the heating-system. The only good thing about not being able to afford much heat is the satisfaction of not pouring even more money into the utility companies' overflowing coffers.

Now, off to baking I will go. I fancy some madeira cake and ground-rice bikkies

Molly41

Mardatha - Thank you for the wonderful soaps xx

ginnyknit

Part of the bonus of having a stock of food is that you can force yourself to completely cut out aisles in the supermarket - I worked this one out the other day - I dont go near the shampoo or bath stuff anymore as I stocked up on 8p baby bath and that does most jobs, dont want the bedding, or high priced ornaments, cleaning aisle is not needed as I have gloop, vinegar, bicarb and only use a 1/4 of the soap powder recommended. I skirt the edges of aisles for necessities (but fingers crossed I finally dont seem to need the sanitary product aisle :j ). Only problem is Mr S just had a refit so I need to get my head round the new layout. Also dont seem to have a whoopise section anymore you have to search them out in their normal places.

Miserable day here again, wet, chilly dull. Keeping busy though in true MSE style :beer: Got my nice suede boots on that Mum passed on - they are soo snuggly and comfy.

fuddle

We have the heating on now DH resolve cracked but it was cold in here and bath times called for it really. At least we're thinking more carefully about it now.

I've checked the weather and it's meant to be as low as 3 degrees tonight. So ridiculous when I've flowers on my strawbs!

Byatt

Awwweee Fuddle, thanks, I'm fine, it's only phantom pain now, nowhere near as bad as the first 2-3 years. And it doesn't last anywhere near as long. Just a brief blip in time.

I;m not cold, cat sitting at someone's home, but have the door open, so cats can come and go, but not chilly. Rain is yuk though, but saves watering the plants.

Fuddle, I do find the slanket thing is good for keeping warm. I didn't get the original, but a copy for a cheap price on Ama$on, not the really cheapo ones, as they are a false economy, but I was suprised how good the one i have is. You can't walk around in them, but very cosy. You do adapt. When I first moved in to my cottage I was so cold, and it took a while to realise just how many layers I needed, having had central heating in the past. Now, I have a higher tolerance of the cold, and just a wooly cardi makes all the difference. My DD has learned from my nagging, and she puts extra clothing on now instead of turning the heating up.

jfdi

silvasava wrote: »

I remember a work colleague saying she had a book called '100 ways with Mince' & someone piped up 'Yeah & a 101 if you eat it' I thought it was funny at the time.......!

We didn't work together did we?!!!! Coz I've got that book! :rotfl:

SDG31000

Evening all

I have come home from the party to defrost myself and to see what the monsters want for dinner. I've had to put the heating on as it is freezing and so damp. I don't think it has stopped raining today.
The cakes went down very well the strawberry cheesecake ones were gorgeous and I don't like strawberries.
It was a great party, it is just such a pity that the weather didn't co-operate as my friends put in so much effort. DH nearly maimed himself playing musical chairs :rotfl:
I think I'm going to have dinner, soak in a bubble bath for a while and then snuggle up in bed wearing the flannel pjs I had just put away in the wardrobe. Typical isn't it!

Take care and stay warm everyone xxxx