No T Words mentioned at all - a fresh start

katep23

FTM, congrats on the new addition!


MrsL, wow two. He's growing quickly!


Ladies, I need advice on preserving runner beans. We have so many and I do love them but we can't keep up. Any ideas?


Also need ideas for marrows that don't involve stuffing them, it's a big ask I know.

[Deleted User]

I've frozen our excesses but don't really like them when they come out again, I've tried salting beans and have never been able to make them edible afterwards despite following all the old instructions for soaking them and changing water. The two methods I've found most acceptable are dehydrating, where they taste rocessed but not unpleasant when reconstituted and runner bean pickle which is not nearly as unpleasant as it sounds. The only other thing you might consider is leaving them on the vines to mature and dry off then podding them and really letting them dry properly in the airing cupboard/on top of the boiler and using them through the winter as a dried pulse, they are perfectly acceptable dried beans and nice in all bean dishes, hope that helps, Lyn xxx.

Marrows, fiddly but not unpleasant is to peel and seed a marrow, cut it into fish finger sized pieces and flour, egg and breadcrumb them. Fry gently in butter until golden and crispy outside and soft in side then serve them with a mint mayonnaise, rather nice for a change and to use up big marrows without stuffing them.

katep23

Thanks MrsL, the dehydrator is currently chock full of courgettes so will try the runner beans later in the week.

OH will be away most of this week; he is a consultant working for a company and can get sent to any one of the projects they have going on. The site he has been at for about 6 weeks is nearly 100 miles away and around the M25 - he tried to get there and back every day but the travelling was too tough so he is staying down there more.

He will be back Tuesday as that is my college night so he needs to do cats and ducks but I won't be home until 9.45pm and he gets up at 5.00am so we really won't see each other properly from tomorrow morning to Friday evening.

Just ordered some special offer steak from Ocado on my order so we can have a nice night in on Friday.

Tyres didn't get done yesterday as they weren't delivered so I have to go back next Saturday to get them done. Car passed its MOT though which is good but I have realised the service is overdue now and I need to keep up the history as I am considering selling it.

On the plus side, I found out that I can get £100 in fuel vouchers when I do the tyres as they are doing a special deal so that's some consolation.

hoglet121

Wow, how lovely to see so many posts on here!

FTM - many congrats on becoming an auntie again - lovely name!

We had an incredibly busy weekend in the most disgusting weather.

Saturday we voted in our first NZ election, DH wanted some new rugby boots for his upcoming birthday (out of season so hard to find) and then we were all out to dinner for my cousin's daughter's birthday.

Sunday was my cousin's son's Ag Day and he won first place for care and condition of his chicken. The weather chucked it down but spirits were high and it looked like it was well attended. Lots of things for the kids to get involved in. I got a last minute request to bake something for the cafe so I was up at crack of sparrows on Sunday to buy buttermilk and get some cheese scones and muffins baked. The lady in the cafe was very complimentary towards them when I went to collect me tin - really made my day!

The house next to us is up for sale and another of my cousins is interested in buying it. We went to have a look on Sunday afternoon but my goodness it was in bad condition. Just cosmetic stuff but really rank - the kitchen and carpet would need ripping out before she could move in - they're both rotting. It was built at the same time as ours and we were both so surprised to see what poor condition it was in. Anyway, there could still be a plan but it all comes down to money in the end doesn't it. It would suit both of us to be living next door (mostly as we have 5 cats between us and house and cat sitting is always an issue for us both). We shall see!

Well the weather meant that I still haven't planted anything veg in the garden this year - it hasn't stopped raining for 2 weeks - fingers crossed for a break this weekend so I can get some stuff in!

OK, need to do some work now! Have lovely evenings everyone

Hoglet x

katep23

I got a new toy (or rather two!) today. It's a 3L and 4.5L pressure cooker (one lid between the two pans). I have a big 6.5L one which I use for stews and soup but it's too big for doing things like brown rice so now I can! Am very happy.

OH is away tonight so I did a lebanese courgette curry; it was okay but needed far more in the way of herbs so I will try it again another time and double up the quantities of seasoning. I made it in the slow cooker so it was ready when I got in from work - lovely!

Just doing the next stages of the homebrew wine and then it's time for some tidying followed by a very early night - OH was up at 5.30 (should have been 5.00 but neither of us could drag ourselves out of bed!)

scottishminnie

Evening all.

You've all sure been busy over the last week or so. Im still catching up on threads!

I thought of my friends on this thread today - hubby and I visited a pioneer village earlier. The home was kitted out in late 1800's style and Cook was busy pickling and preserving when we arrived. There was an older couple in front of us as we passed through the kitchen and the lady remarked that "nobody ever does anything like that any more". Well I was quick to point out that I know many people who do and much more traditional crafts beyond preserving too.
I could see the "cook" smiling at my indignation. It did give me an idea for the tiny cucumbers which wre appearing just before I left home, maybe I could pickle them:)

Kate- thanks for the recipe. I'll be sure to try it out when I get back.

Hubby and I are currently in an enormous hotel room which has 2 tv's, so he is watching some western movie and I'm glued to the channel with all the home makeover shows. So many ideas for me hubby says its time he restricted my viewing and wonders if the TV has parental controls!

I must go and check my emails now- the amount of spam seems to multiply daily.

flowertotmum

Hello all..what a lovely day it has been..

SM..o i bet that kitchen was just amazing..i love the pioneer life..hard but rewarding..i go on the Tasha Tudor website..what a woman she was..all about self sufficiency..but enjoying it.

Well yesterday was Johnny Appleseed day..we did some apple prints and read his story..learned some facts about his life..then we tried some new ways with apples..fried apple slices sprinkled with sugar..yummy..and apples chipped and dipped in greek yoghurt..yes very nice.
Today we went for another walk up Belton..so lovely..we went to the woods and all over..saw lots of stags..huge antlers..we got some more conkers too.
My new nephew is home today from hospital..he is so cute..the girls keep asking if i we can have a new baby..i would love too being honest..

I did some sewing when i got home..just fixed some bias binding to edge of my hand towels..looks good..i put some new buttons on a cardigan..20p for 6 six buttons and bingo a re-vamped cardigan.
I have got my eye on some lovely winter /hiking boots for the girls and we need some new hats,scarves and gloves this year..they both seem to have had growth spurts.
Tomorrow we are putting finishing touches to our Autumn candles..basically its a glass jar with tissue paper shaped leaves glued onto the outside..a little battery powered tea-light inside and its beautiful.
right i have to go
hope your all ok
love
ftm

candlelight_2013

Hello all,

FTM I do so wish my lessons at school were as interesting as you make yours for the girls. What wonderful memories they will have, you are a Mum in a million.

SM you sound as though you are both having an interesting holiday, you must tell us all about it when you come home. The PM and the inquest are now quiet on the referendum front thank goodness, although they did show pictures on the news of some unrest in Glasgow shortly after.

Hoglet you sound as though you are having a busy time despite the weather. Hope the cats are all OK. We have been really lucky with the weather here although early this morning we had rain, but it is fine now. Yesterday was officially the first day of Autumn, and there you are in early spring:)

Lyn I am trying to keep up with your lovely recipes on other threads as well. I have pickling onions in salt so I must rinse and bottle them this afternoon. Himself helped peel them with me yesterday, they were definitely stronger than the shallots I did the other week.

Kate, do you manage to get more done when your DH is away? Himself worked nights for most of our married life until retirement and I worked days, but I always managed to do a few jobs in the evening. More so in the summer than the winter.

Charlies-Aunt and VJs Mum are you both OK?

AOT did you see my post on the Christmas cake thread, that Frugal Queen had made her fruit cake with gluten free flour?

Hello and hugs to anyone I have missed.

We both had our flu jab this morning, so hopefully will be Ok now for the winter..

Have a good day everyone and hugs to anyone who might need one.

Much love
Candlelightx

ArthriticOldThing

Thanks candlelight. I've had a look at that recipe and will be giving it a go.
I have to wait for the flu jab til next month as surgery doesn't start them til October.

scottishminnie

candlelight_2013 wrote: »

Hello all,


SM you sound as though you are both having an interesting holiday, you must tell us all about it when you come home. The PM and the inquest are now quiet on the referendum front thank goodness, although they did show pictures on the news of some unrest in Glasgow shortly after.

Candlelightx

Yes, we were greatly relieved by the result (as were most of the people we spoke to over here) however I did find it quite ironic that at the exact point the US TV channels were quoting the scottish referendum as an example of how to achieve things peacefully I was looking at pictures of people fighting in George Square! Sometimes I despair:o

Just spotted this - wonder if it will stop the waste?

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29336968