May 2012 Grocery Challenge

cheekyvimto71

great advice thanks

jumblejack

Florenceem wrote: »

I have at last come to the end of my stock of J cloths. I want to be frugal - does anyone here use old towels/flannels cut up and hemmed for cleaning?

I use everything that cannot be donated to charity.
Worn out tea towels, vests, even pants!!!! As long as they are used for the jobs that require old rags!!!! I only use the material of a worn out garment when I have removed the zips and buttons! You just never know when they might come in handy!!!!

Florenceem

jumblejack wrote: »

Nice tips, PG.... :rotfl:

Regarding the caster sugar, I NEVER use it and I've never had any complaints! I use standard granulated sugar with every type of baking where caster sugar is called for. No difference at all. The price difference is shocking.
It should be the same price as it is the same ingredient:mad: I wouldn't buy it even if there was a difference in the baking!

I do buy icing sugar though but I don't tend to use icing as much as I used too.

I think the granulated sugar ground down into caster sugar creams in easier when making sponge/victoria sandwich type cakes. jmho.
I always did huge quantities of this cake mixture in my Kenwood - then baked in sandwich tins, fairy cake cases and tray bakes tins. Oh for the days when I was getting 12 + eggs a day from the chickens at the bottom of the garden. The garden was 190+ feet long but those chickens and ducks heard the back door open and started making a racket. The cockerel just made a racket whenever he felt like it. Never had one complaint about noise.

MrsCD

Florenceem wrote: »

I have at last come to the end of my stock of J cloths. I want to be frugal - does anyone here use old towels/flannels cut up and hemmed for cleaning?

Yes, I've used old flannels, old flannelette sheets, old t-shirts and old teatowels as dusters in the past. I never bothered to hem them though - I'm too lazy;)

Florenceem

jumblejack wrote: »

I use everything that cannot be donated to charity.
Worn out tea towels, vests, even pants!!!! As long as they are used for the jobs that require old rags!!!! I only use the material of a worn out garment when I have removed the zips and buttons! You just never know when they might come in handy!!!!

I always keep buttons and zips as well.
I do use old tea towels for cleaning - I have stitched a green X on each of them - just in case Mr F goes to the airing cupboard when I am away! But then will Mr F remember tea towels with a green X on are for cleaning or will he be his useful lovely but forgetful self.
What do you use as washing up cloths?

Florenceem

MrsCD wrote: »

Yes, I've used old flannels, old flannelette sheets, old t-shirts and old teatowels as dusters in the past. I never bothered to hem them though - I'm too lazy;)

The Virgo in me - means I will hem.

jumblejack

Florenceem wrote: »

I always keep buttons and zips as well.
I do use old tea towels for cleaning - I have stitched a green X on each of them - just in case Mr F goes to the airing cupboard when I am away! But then will Mr F remember tea towels with a green X on are for cleaning or will he be his useful lovely but forgetful self.
What do you use as washing up cloths?

All sorts! Even tatty edged face flannels
They ain't pretty but are clean!

abitofhelp

PennyGrabber wrote: »

Re blanching veg before freezing, I never do it. i always freeze things on a baking tray, them put in a bag when frozen, otherwise you get a solid lump and end up having to cook it all! Other than that, no fussing.

I now have a question - I've always made cakes with caster sugar, but it's twice the price of granulated. Can I use granulated instead of caster?

TIA

PG x

PS - I've managed SEVEN NSDs in a row!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi PennyGrabber, i always use granulated, i have never bothered to grind it up before using . It has always worked fine for me. I suppose i could use the magi mix to grind it up but i expect it would be too much of a faff. Anyway nice big batch of brownies, orange & choc muffins, syrup cake & biscuits made today & a batch of jjs herby bread. All made using granulated sugar apart from the bread.

Suffolk_lass

jumblejack wrote: »

I use everything that cannot be donated to charity.
Worn out tea towels, vests, even pants!!!! As long as they are used for the jobs that require old rags!!!! I only use the material of a worn out garment when I have removed the zips and buttons! You just never know when they might come in handy!!!!

I'm still working through a pile of old vests dting back at least 9 years - marvellous for cleaning glass :T

Florenceem wrote: »

I think the granulated sugar ground down into caster sugar creams in easier when making sponge/victoria sandwich type cakes. jmho.
I always did huge quantities of this cake mixture in my Kenwood - then baked in sandwich tins, fairy cake cases and tray bakes tins. Oh for the days when I was getting 12 + eggs a day from the chickens at the bottom of the garden. The garden was 190+ feet long but those chickens and ducks heard the back door open and started making a racket. The cockerel just made a racket whenever he felt like it. Never had one complaint about noise.

I agree, caster creams better but if you're using a mixer it really is only meringues. I just routinely do it and use caster (hm) for almost everything. I also use cane sugar (T&L) rather than beat based sugar as our bodies use it more quickly

MrsCD wrote: »

Yes, I've used old flannels, old flannelette sheets, old t-shirts and old teatowels as dusters in the past. I never bothered to hem them though - I'm too lazy;)

There's more to life than hemming rags, I'm with you on that one - whatever Florenceem says!:rotfl:I use old pillow cases too...:)

SL

Aldahbra

PennyGrabber wrote: »

I now have a question - I've always made cakes with caster sugar, but it's twice the price of granulated. Can I use granulated instead of caster?

Yes you can

abitofhelp wrote: »

Hi PennyGrabber, i always use granulated, i have never bothered to grind it up before using . It has always worked fine for me.

Exactly what I was going to say. I suppose I might for a special cake or something but for normal use why bother grinding it? The only thing is that if you are using volume measurements such as cups you actually get more sugar if you are using caster sugar than if using granulated - bigger grains more spaces between grains, so you might want to adjust your recipes. I don't as I haven't really got a sweet tooth.