make do and mend for tougher times

kidcat

Am just back from doctors and am not amused!!! I have my third dose of pneumonia, she says my lungs are just not getting chance to heal - the weather apparently! A holiday somewhere warm and dry for a few weeks would help - are these people in the real world, how on earth am I supposed to pay for that?

As for chips I usually use frozen as it works out same sort of price and is considerably quicker, realistically if I am using chips its because its a quick meal so I dont have time for "proper" chips. If I am making posh chips then I used to have a deep fat fryer but that died a while ago, now I use my deep wok to deep fry.

I have used the SC to make loads of puds and all have been excellent, I even made my own Christmas pud in SC last year.

stiltwalker

mardatha wrote: »

Does anybody know anything about clingfilm?? I use it only to wrap soap with, and some kinds won't cut easily with scissors. That drives me totally insane as I have to stand and wrestle with the bloody stuff for hours, as I use fiddly little bits and a lot of them. Are there different kinds of clingfilm?

Sadly I've found that clingfilm is one of those things I have to spend real money on as the cheap ones just seem to shred into fiddly little bits and are really awkward to get off the roll. I try not to use too much as the price of the expensive stuff is horrendous.

Smiley's idea of a charity for holiday is really good kidcat although it may be too late for this summer, there are several around that will either pay for/towards holidays or have big statics/cottages in various areas of the country . Last year short breaks funded our mid week break to centre parcs, sadly in our area the have stopped the overnights this year and also will only fund something that gives both parents (or obv lone parent) a break and there are very few to no activities for under 4's that DD could do without one of us so it seems a bit pointless really. Great for older kids as it will fund some summer camp days type stuff for example. The funding is available nationally but think criteria in different areas may be different so may be worth a shot. It's available to all kids with a diagnosis (or working towards one) who are not receiving Social services funding (ie have a disabled child team social/family worker or are looked after) as different funding is available for them. We access it through our Inclusion Officer but if you don't have one of those try googling short breaks for disabled children with your authority name. This site has a huge list of resources including grants and charities which also may be useful.

Right must go and make the kids lunch as we are off to our support group this afternoon. Hope everyone is doing ok.

kidcat

Smiley and stiltwalker thank you I will look into it later

grandma247

Oh dear kidcat I was afraid you had got it again when you mentioned how you felt yesterday.

[Deleted User]

Hello Toughies, golly you lot don't half natter on a pace. I go away for a week and come back to a novel to read!!!!!! It's lovely to be home again and we had a really nice week in Sweden. Hope all of you are well and your usual chirpy selves and all families are OK too. Will catch up on the reading later today but currently doing laundry marathon to have something to wear next week. The sun's shining - wow!!!!!! Cheers Lyn xx.

Possession

Kidcat, sorry you've got it again. My friend is the same at the moment - she had really seriously bad pneumonia almost 2 yrs ago (multiple organ failure) and if she gets a chest infection as she has now it affects her badly as she has scarring on her lungs. She needs a steroid spray. I think this weather must just be really bad for chest infections.

Mar - I don't suppose you're anywhere near one but I think Julian Graves shops are closing down, do they do dried vegetables at all?

Steak and kidney pudding in the slow cooker:
http://www.tomsbarn.co.uk/tomsbarnblog/steak-and-kidney-pudding-cooked-in-the-slow-cooker/
I haven't made it, or eaten it, but my MIL raves about it.

Popperwell

mardatha wrote: »

Bet there's a run in Basics and Smartprice tinned carrots now. They'll be like tinned tomatoes soon.
Does anybody know anything about clingfilm?? I use it only to wrap soap with, and some kinds won't cut easily with scissors. That drives me totally insane as I have to stand and wrestle with the bloody stuff for hours, as I use fiddly little bits and a lot of them. Are there different kinds of clingfilm?
I've cleared a kitchen cupboard out and am filling it gradually with tinned potates- Sainsbugs Basics are 19p and edible. Count so far is 10 - but they have a use-by date of 2015 so won't go wrong. If the ME is bad and I'm knackered then it saves me standing peeling them.

I think it depends as much on finding one with a decent container and cutting blade. The scenario that you paint is one I have often found annoying.

There are different types of cling film as you probably know. Some just wrap food etc...but there is one that you can actually use in a microwave too so it does more than just wrap food.

And guess what...Tesco's have that kind and it i actually cheaper than some of the more well known brands...

Popperwell

thriftwizard wrote: »

Carrots - if you're anywhere near a farm shop, look out for sacks of horse carrots (ditto apples) which are the ones the supermarkets have rejected - wayyyy cheaper! But they need processing (i.e. preparing & freezing) pretty quickly, and I wouldn't eat them without top, tail & peeling them first.

The suugestion has been that customers and supermarkets should sell more wonky shapes vegetables, they are just as good and taste the same but would be cheaper. They might be able to supply carrots but the growers say because they are thinne/shorter by the time you top and tailthem there will be very little remaining and yet you'll have paid more...

[Deleted User]

fuddle I`m hoping too re weather but have to say that PC is spot on this month, a new coronal hole started to open yesterday and we are entering R5 then in a few days R3 R4 followed by R5 to end of month. Weather action says that the R number is key together with % accuracy. Not good in all

I just had a massive sort and revamp of all my dried foods and now have neat tiers of labelled boxes on easy to reach kitchen shelves. Lots of surplus is going under the stairs but all labelled. Last years dried foods are in pristine condition and I have mega amounts of onion and parsnips. Even the kale is still bright green but it is all kept in the dark. Parsnips are growing very well and the dried ones are a very good sub for potatoes, well mine are as I started on them last october before they got too sweet

Possession

Aargh sports day was cancelled again today but they've just uncancelled it as weather has got much better. But it starts in 15 mins and DH has gone to Mr T in the car. I'd imagine lots of parents won't be able to get there at such short notice, but the forecast is bad for the rest of the week so I think they wanted to grab the chance to do it if they could. DH should make DS's efforts as he is later but might miss DD. : ( No doubt that will cause trauma later, LOL!