go back to days of yore

cathy_3

so lets get this straight---what your saying is Im a know all??? ;D ;D ;D ;D

(I do tend to be I must admit)  :-[

I used to love semolina with a blob of strawberry jam in the middle and adored tapioco and mmm

rice pud

sadly had to stop making them as they went straight to my hips,

I recently saw fresh cream merangues for £1.25 each, so made 20 (dead easy)out of a bag of sugar and two tubs of Elmlea bogof huge they were - and sadly had to watch the family eat them while I looked on saying

"no honestly I dont want one" :-/

Valkyrie_2

This is a fantastic thread, thanks Cathy It brought back so many memories. There are a few items that you have forgotten about that I used to adore.

Bubble and squeak on a Monday. Mmmmmmmmmmm. Beef stew and dumplings, stanch (mashed potatoes and swede), steak and kidney pudding and steamed apple pudding made with suet.

My mother used to make a fantastic ham and egg pie that we had cold for supper and her apple, rhubarb and gooseberry pies were to die for. Her custard was always a wee bit on the lumpy side but absolutely delicious.

Crusty bread with home made soup is fantastic and because the bread is crusty it takes longer to eat and you feel satisfied with less of it.

My mother would always have a lovely light sponge cake ready for when we came home from school and she could make the most delicious tea breads. Tea breads by the way are the bara brith type and not for tea as such. They were actually made with cold tea. I do this myself and it is delicious. Soak the fruit that you are going to use for the cake in cold tea overnight until it plumps up - makes a fantastic difference to the taste and texture.

I also heard from my mother that during the war it was virtually impossible to ice a birthday cake because of the shortage of sugar and so they used to cut a circle of white paper and lay it over the top of the cake and decorate that instead.

Also, the nicest skirts could be made from a pair of mens trousers. If you didn't have stockings in those days you could draw a line up the back of your leg to simulate a seam. Ahhhh them were the days folks!

cathy_3

and I remember my aunties in the 50s who were teenagers then, using gravy browning on their legs to fake a tan
!!!!

cathy_3

Cathy you havent costed in the amout for the ingredients for the meals you will be preparing instead of having the takeaways.

going by mrs beeton and who am I to argue

the whole years food for the 2 of us and the dog and cat will work out approx 80p

thats if we dont have a picnic for 40

System

Hi, this is the first time I have posted, but I am really enjoying reading this thread. I t's nice to know there are other people as daft/mean/sensible (delete as appropriate) as me.
I love using old cookery books, the ingredients are always cheap, easy & wholesome. My latest acquisition is an original wartime recipe book which my nan (age 95) was turning out & knew I would like.
If I didn't cook in a traditional way I wouldn't be able to keep my job as full time mum & home educator!
I hadn't thought about shopping like the old days ie with cash, though. Worth a try.

System

My kids chose to keep me at home and I'm very proud of them for it! I was offered a better job with much better pay and was all set to take it when my 5 year old asked if I would still be able to go to the christmas fayre at school (no) and my 9 yo wanted me to go see him in his first play (no) so we had a big long talk and the upshot is we spend far more time together baking cakes or having jam buttie picnics or whatever!

They still have a PS2 but have hardly touched it since christmas and I'm even considering getting the extra TV channels taken away over the summer to encourage more creative play.

I can feel smug now (briefly) but I know it's all likely to change when they get a bit older and don't want mum so much  :(

Good for you staying at home with your kids. I did when they were little, it was tough financially but now they are 13 and 10 I am so glad, they grow up so quickly and you can't buy that time back - they are all yours when they are little and their undivided attention is priceless!

We too have started to go back to basic cooking and fresh ingredients only, more from a health point of view. We thought our bills would rise, but the opposite! We are now considering an allottment.

System

hi
I hope this is ok as this is the first time i have done this but can anyone tell me where i can get a cook book that will show me how to cook all of the types of meals that have been mentioned. As this may help me I have just found out my wife is pregnant again. If granny could feed 9 for next to nothing I should be able to feed the 6 of us on just the one wage and pay the mortgage. I figure this has to be the way to go no more fast food just good cheap old fashioned Great British grub.
Now all I have to do is learn how to cook.
P.S. great site and any other advise given would be most welcom on how we can change our habits. yes before someone says it i will be having the snip. ::)

System

Try this book.  Unfortunately you cant buy it new on Amazon but you would have to order it used, which in itself will save you a few pennies.

Its a brilliant book, i love it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0722518226/026-6063220-7226016

System

Thanks for the help I will try the book out.

Wishfairy

hi
I hope this is ok as this is the first time i have done this but can anyone tell me where i can get a cook book that will show me how to cook all of the types of meals that have been mentioned. As this may help me  I have just found out my wife is pregnant again. If granny could feed 9 for next to nothing I should be able to feed the 6 of us on just the one wage and pay the mortgage. I figure this has to be the way to go no more fast food just good cheap old fashioned Great British grub.
Now all I have to do is learn how to cook.
P.S. great site and any other advise given would be most welcom on how we can change our habits. yes before someone says it i will be having the snip. ::)

Don't feel oblidged to get the snip! Big families are great. You just need to get organised. Have a look around http://www.4ormore.co.uk/index.htm for loads of articles and advice for the larger family. Their forums are very friendly too - there are a few of us who don't have a 4 or more kids but we're still made welcome. And there's a few other dads there if you want to talk 'men stuff'!

There's a lot of recipes scattered through the message boards too, for those who want them ;D