June 2012 Grocery Challenge

chelseabun_3

fozziebeartoo wrote: »

All this talk of jam recipes has reminded me of Freezer Jam......anyone else remember it?

When I was 17/18 and doing A level Home Economics (about 150 years ago ) it was very popular.

No cooking required and the taste of the fruit was always very fresh and you could make small portions, rather than needing large preserving pans etc.

I found a few links, this one has a video:-

http://www.rosemaryconley.tv/Recipes/Starters-Sides-Snacks/Strawberry-Freezer-Jam.aspx

And it uses pectic/Certo and there are recipes on their website too:-

http://www.certo.co.uk/Recipes/Freezer/Strawberry%20Freezer%20Jam.htm

http://www.certo.co.uk/Recipes/Freezer/Raspberry%20Freezer%20Jam.htm

I well remember my 1st attempt at making classic jam (the boiled sort).....it set in the jars and was so hard you had to chip bits off and suck it :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I remember freezer jam, Fozzie! My mum made loads of it when she got her first freezer in the 70s, then progressed to 'normal' jam. We never bought jam when I was a kid!

My first attempt at boiled jam set so hard we couldn't even chip bits off - it went in the bin, jars and all! My auntie suggested tipping it out and adding more water - I didn't dare tell her it was rock solid, as it was her recipe I'd followed! :rotfl:

Craigywv - if you wanted more of a set with your strawberries, you could add a bit of lemon juice. It doesn't affect the taste, and as it's got loads of pectin it helps the jam set a bit more. That's the only difference between the way you do it and the way I've always done it. But strawberry jam is meant to be a bit runny!

I really like the apricot and raspberry idea - I'll have a go at that this year! Apricot is DH's favourite!

Hoping for a NSD today, as I haven't had to go to work as my only client today cancelled! So no tempting supermarkets to drive past!

Have a good day all! CBx

fozziebeartoo

Florenceem wrote: »

I remember making jam for the first time back in the 1970s. I was up until 2am trying to get it to set! It was Morello Cherry jam - my neighbour had cherry trees and gave me a load of cherries - she suggested that I make jam. After that I never bought shop jam again.

Ooooo.....cherry jam is my favourite! :j

Aldi and Lidl both do good cherry jams and I love the taste but the sugar content almost puts me in a coma

But sometimes, nothing but crispy toast, real butter and cherry jam will do even if I DO have to spend the rest of the day, sleeping off the effects! :rotfl:

cleggie

Hey guys

I have a load of bacon to use up, so am wondering what you would use it for (to go into main meals for dinner)?
The only thing i can think of is carbonara, but we all hate carbonara! Any ideas?

fozziebeartoo

I was planning on going out today, but the rain is so heavy (and my flat kitchen roof liable to leak again) I think I had better stay in.....

That would make today my 8th NSD of the month and my 3rd in a row :j

My DR meat order arrived AND I managed to get it in the freezer AND close the door.....woohoo........go me!!

I paid for it back in April so no spend needing to be accounted for today.

I have HM chicken/veggie curry LO from yesterday, so will have that for lunch.....maybe rolled up in a LO tortilla from the freezer.

I have defrosted a a large portion of HM cottage pie meat base which I will top with raw sliced potato LO from the weekend before last and hope it cooks like a hotpot!

Or would I be better par-boiling the Potato???

Either way, that will be tea for DGS and I, because there are already loads of veggies in the mix.

Kitchenbunny

cleggie wrote: »

Hey guys

I have a load of bacon to use up, so am wondering what you would use it for (to go into main meals for dinner)?
The only thing i can think of is carbonara, but we all hate carbonara! Any ideas?

The one dish I make over and over is a tomato and bacon pasta bake. Fry the bacon, add passata or tinned toms and some herbs, s&p, and add to cooked pasta. Top with grated cheese and grill til cheese is melted and slightly crispy (to taste).

Or mushroom and bacon risotto Fairly sure you can get decent results with normal rice too so no extra trips to the supermarket needed. Chop bacon & mushrooms, fry off in a little oil. Add rice, the pour on hot stock (chicken or veg) a bit at a time, stirring until the rice has absorbed it. Then add more until the rice is cooked. It goes lovely and creamy, and you can add some cheese to make it extra rich.

I also make bacon kofte kebabs. Chop the bacon very finely, add about the same amount of breadcrumbs, a beaten egg, herbs and a small amount of mustard powder. Bind with a little milk, then shape onto skewers and grill - turning quite regularly - until cooked.

Hope those help

K xx

cleggie

Kitchenbunny- that risotto sounds YUMMY! I have mushrooms that need using up, so perfect.
Thanks!

adelight

£23.65 spent in Mr M. Stocked up on spices and now have plenty of mince and chicken portioned up in the freezer.
I need to get soda crystals, some grapefruits and some greens but that will be max £5 when the rain stops.

sb88_2

fozziebeartoo wrote: »

I have defrosted a a large portion of HM cottage pie meat base which I will top with raw sliced potato LO from the weekend before last and hope it cooks like a hotpot!
.

I have just done exactly the same for lunch! Using left over mince from yesterdays dinner, made by mother in law! So only cost was the potato I sliced up! Didn't have alot of mince yesterday as loaded up on vegetables!

Still haven't given in to those running trousers yet!

Also! A bit of grated cheese tastes delicious on mince and potato!! especially melted!

Aldahbra

Hello to all the newbies and welcome to the thread.

jumblejack wrote: »

I water my milk down now and it lasts a loooooot longer. Kids and OH haven't even noticed

I'm a bit worried by this, milk it the main source of calcium, are you sure that they still getting enough when their milk is diluted? Children can only use calcium to strengthen bones up to about 20 after that it is all about maintaining what you've already got. So if you don't get enough calcium as a child then there is nothing you can do about it later. It is important that we women keep our levels up too.

http://www.osteoporosis.ca/index.php/ci_id/5535/la_id/1.htm

I found this site, it is Canadian and they do recommend slightly higher daily amounts but the British sites are rubbish, they either talk about so many glasses of milk etc I don't know about everyone else but the glasses in my cupboard range from 30 ml(1floz) to 650 ml (a pint and a bit), or they have some convoluted point system to learn.

Midgetgem82

Just popping on to update on last weeks spends. £37.45 in MrT, £27.34 in Ald* and £1.04 in MrS so not too bad. Have updated my sig.

I made my first ever soup today, carrot pepper and lentil, recipe from page one and had it with JJ's Herby bread which is amazing.
Can anyone tell me how long i can store the soup in the fridge for please