make do and mend for tougher times

meanmarie

Fuddle...if you have only planted the rhubarb lately do not pick it this year....btw, don't cut it to harvest, catch stalk down low and pull, giving a slight twist as you do. Good luck with it, we love rhubarb and use it a lot, it also freezes very well.

Marie

Popperwell

grandma247 wrote: »

The bags will not melt. The slow cooker is nowhere near as hot as an oven when you are roasting.
I would just put the chicken in the bag with any seasonings and place in the slow cooker. If you have an auto setting on it just use that otherwise work out if you want it in a couple of hours high setting or later on low.

Thank you Grandma, I appreciate that...I'll give it a go and may cook it overnight. I'm running out of space in the kitchen but I could use the draining board that's free an there are no cupboards above...and someone said a slow cooker uses about the same power as a light bulb...so it's energy efficient.

Popperwell

Pooky wrote: »

Pops - my SC just has a "high" and "low" setting and I bung a chicken in on low with a glut of wine or stock for 6 hours. It literally falls of the bones so can be hard to lift out in one bit....that's where the bags will really help.

Anyone needing tuna, Iceland have 4 tins of John west in oil or brine for £3.

Another great idea thanks...I used to love a bottle of wine...will have to get around to making my own again or save up...If there is too much(by roasting a chicken with stock etc...)can I use it again the next day...do I have to transfer into containers and put in the fridge?

I could perhaps reheat the sauce/stock but not reheat the chicken. I haven't the room to consider freezing at present. In a day or two I hope to do some turkey mince and make either something like a casserole or a shepherds pie...

This is all new to me

That's a good offer on the Tuna(we used to have an Iceland on the town)but they are now in neighbouring towns 5-7 miles away...

Popperwell

Sunshine4 wrote: »

Afternoon everyone,

Well today has not started off well as of tomorrow I am unemployed:(
I only work part time, but the lady who owns the place where I work said she is finding it hard to go on. I do feel for her she has owned this place along time, and I do understand.
So the budget will need to be tighten so tight.
My OH is retired, so this afternoon, will be spent going over everything to see what we can cut. So wish me luck.

Oh Sunshine Times are horrible(I am thinking of you and hope things are not as bad as feared)I feel it for all who are strugging and I don't look at one section of society against another(on benefits, unemployed, ill, working, unemployed)we're all finding it difficult.

Sending a virtual hug...

Popperwell

kitschy wrote: »

Big hugs Sunshine - I'm in the same position, and I know other folk here are too. Mine came out of the blue as well, it's a big shock, so please look after yourself xxx

I think you need a hug too...sorry to hear of your news too...

prepareathome

smileyt wrote: »

Sister (and brother) dog lovers - has anyone been following the story of Lennox, the not-pit-bull? His death sentence is set for today but there is a last minute push to plead for mercy for him. This article has the email addresses of the two Northern Irish ministers who have the power to save him so please if you can spare a minute, please send emails. http://www.examiner.com/article/one-last-push-of-urgent-e-mails-needed-for-a-lennox-miracle
Here's the text of my emails, feel free to copy:

'I am writing on behalf of Lennox the dog to ask that you set him free. I have been following his story for the last two years and have been horrified at the way he has been treated. I understand that many people have offered him a home, including dog lovers in the USA. Please grant him his life and allow him to be adopted. It would also lessen the heartache of his family if they knew he had been given a chance to live. Ideally, of course, they would be allowed to have him back.

You have the power to do this - please help.'

Smilet sent off two emails from my account then signed in and sent from hubbies account around 2am this morning so they will have been there first thing this morning, so hoping a inbox full of emails might just do something, even dogs are put down by uncaring owners and he is so wanted and loved..........

Pooky

Pops - I strip the chicken meat from the bones and portion up (will keep in the fridge for a few days), I pop the resulting liquids into a pan and bring to the boil and add a little cornflour to thicken (again, that will last a couple of days in the fridge) we tend to have the meat hot the first day and then cold the next. Third day I use the last scraps of meat to make a soup. (once you've stripped the meat from the bones, put the bones back in the SC, breaking any of the bigger ones with a crack of a rolling pin to release the juices, add a pint of water, some root veg if you want and cook again for a few hours to make a gorgeous chicken stock - which I then use as the basis for the third day soup)

Popperwell

Pooky wrote: »

Pops - I strip the chicken meat from the bones and portion up (will keep in the fridge for a few days), I pop the resulting liquids into a pan and bring to the boil and add a little cornflour to thicken (again, that will last a couple of days in the fridge) we tend to have the meat hot the first day and then cold the next. Third day I use the last scraps of meat to make a soup. (once you've stripped the meat from the bones, put the bones back in the SC, breaking any of the bigger ones with a crack of a rolling pin to release the juices, add a pint of water, some root veg if you want and cook again for a few hours to make a gorgeous chicken stock - which I then use as the basis for the third day soup)

Thank you for that Pooky:DI have learnt a lot in just a few posts...I have heard so much about chicken stocks and using bones from a chicken but never really "Got" it! I'll do as you suggest(I have containers for the fridge too...)Now on my next trip to the shops I'll get some cornflour...

I am not a bad cook but still keep learning...thanks again...

Hobsons_Choice

I have loads of ants on my evergreen clematis! They're either using it as a motorway or a theme park, I'm not sure which. Can't see any aphids on there for them to "milk" so.....will they do any harm do you think?
I usually leave ants to get on with it outside (but not when they come in the kitchen) so I don't want to destroy them unless they're doing damage but I've spent ages training it along the fence this year.

prepareathome

Sunshine4 wrote: »

Afternoon everyone,

Well today has not started off well as of tomorrow I am unemployed:(
I only work part time, but the lady who owns the place where I work said she is finding it hard to go on. I do feel for her she has owned this place along time, and I do understand.
So the budget will need to be tighten so tight.
My OH is retired, so this afternoon, will be spent going over everything to see what we can cut. So wish me luck.

Oh sunshine, I am so sorry to hear that, but if we can help in anyway on how to make your income go further just ask, we might not be able to help in the material sense but I tell you the gals and guys on this forum can I am sure if they had to get not blood but water, milk, grain or whatever out of a stone.

I have had my ups and downs with freegle over the years but recently as you know got some things I really needed so cannot complain.......I do have to move myself and get some bits and bobs sitting in study listed there, the old tv with built video still works fine but never used now never tried to sell anything, its me being me I am frightened if I did manage to I wouldn't be able to get them sent off quickly enough so better just to give away. I to have a wanted ad on, for bed slats - my garden bench has broken, where the wood is screwed onto the cast iron sides has gone to big on 4 of the slats on the seat part, so thought if anyone has bed slats from a broken bed I could drill holes at each end and use them but sadly although people are asking for beds as they say theirs have gone no-one has offered the slats, but will just keep asking as cannot afford a new bench and the cast iron sides are still perfect and it was when bought many, many years ago a rather expensive one.

Anyone any ideas what else I could maybe ask for to replace them......the pallets I have are not long enough or I would use wood from them, or do you think just four pieces of 2in wide, about half an inch thick and 6ft long would be not to expensive. Not bought wood in so long. Still have half a tub of the all in one stain and varnish outdoor wood preserver so don't need to buy that - I did all my fencing in back garden as well as bird table and bench with it last year. Was thinking of doing fence again this summer but not been dry enough yet.

Opps just realised the time I have drs appointment in 15 mins, nothing major just for meds that cannot be put on repeat, so she gives me two months supply at a time and I need another ECG appointment and this time make sure she gives me the referral which she forgot last time so had a wasted journey as they could not do it without them. Hubby off all week so at least he can take me so no taxis needed.....

Hugs, Love and healing to all

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx