make do and mend for tougher times

elisamoose

PhGage wrote: »

We save quite a lot on the price of cooking fuel by using modern hayboxes for anything that requires long/slow cooking.

We've made several types for different purposes. Probably the easiest ones are polystyrene boxes used in combination with survival blankets: you can use these with fleece blankets or quilts to protect those if you drape one of those round a pan (mustn't be too hot). We also had some offcuts of radiator foil that we used to line the boxes to reinforce the insulation. Bubblewrap also works well to fill voids in the box.

We had fish delivered in a long box a few years ago and we're still using that box with a big, shallow casserole. We make yoghurt and


small amounts of stew in a double-handled saucepan that fits inside a smaller deeper box.

You can see a range of sizes of polystyrene boxes here (I have nothing to do with this or any other packaging company): Polystyrene boxes, fish boxes and thermo. You can collect lots of the shiny survival blankets as discards at any 10K or similar race or they're available with the camping equipment at Poundland.

You bring a casserole/curry/stew up to temperature on the stovetop, then, instead of putting it in the oven, you put it in the polystyrene box (suitably wrapped) and leave it for a few hours. Unlike a slow cooker, it doesn't consume electricity. I have checked it with a digital thermometer and it keeps its temperature for a surprisingly long time.

Instead of manoeuvering a hot pan into and out of the deeper part of the box, we find it easier to:
turn the lid upside down;
put a survival blanket over the lid;
put a little heat mat/diffuser on top of that (will be underneath the hot pan to prevent it from melting);
put the hot pan (with contents) on the heat mat;
bring the survival blanket up and round it, like a sweet;
put the box over the lid and leave everything to cook.
Later, remove the box, move aside the blanket and it should be easy to move the pan.

You need to be confident handling hot pans to do something like this and it shouldn't be attempted by anyone who is unsteady or doesn't have reasonable dexterity. You can't use this as a substitute for roasting. However, if you can manage this, you can use it to make lots of things that range from yoghurt to stews or curries.

Try wonderbag.com.Not tried one but looks a similar idea.

prepareathome

fuddle wrote: »

Thanks possession, I've been staring at it wondering what I can do to try. Dinner sorted for tonight so I think I might play with bread and butter pudding in ramekins for the kids for supper.

School boy error reporting ahead. You know that store of everything I need that is in the cupboard? Well it doesn't contain spare bulbs. The bulb in the cupboard has gone so I can't see my food. :rotfl: Must try harder :D:rotfl:

Also, think I've had it with freezing milk. The bottom of the plastic bottle has been damaged while in the freezer. Came home from the library to milk defrosting all over the fridge. :mad:

((((Fuddle)))) these things are sent to try us but you will overcome and be stronger..........enjoy playing with your halogen oven.......I bought the dearer one but unlike you I don't really have an emergency fund......£20 in savings account is not really a fund is it, but now that is bought I hope to improve that ........hugs and lovexxxx

[Deleted User]

MAR - you're brilliant, come the revoloution Knit us that Guilloutine!!!!!!! heers Lyn xx.

fuddle

prepareathome wrote: »

((((Fuddle)))) these things are sent to try us but you will overcome and be stronger..........enjoy playing with your halogen oven.......I bought the dearer one but unlike you I don't really have an emergency fund......£20 in savings account is not really a fund is it, but now that is bought I hope to improve that ........hugs and lovexxxx

Yey! I already wish I had the extender ring, you made the right call in buying the more expensive one

Mine came with Yodel. It's annoying as didn't have any tracking info but bought Sunday afternoon, dispatched email Monday morning and arrived Tuesday - but I live within 10 miles of Andrew James' warehouse. Fingers crossed for Thursday pah

Smartprice 27p teabags are indeed ok. DH is a Tetley snob so will still have to splurge but for me during the day I don't at all mind.

Well decided to make yorkshire puds for tea. Guess what in

Possession

fuddle wrote: »

Smartprice 27p teabags are indeed ok. DH is a Tetley snob so will still have to splurge but for me during the day I don't at all mind.

Well decided to make yorkshire puds for tea. Guess what in

We are both PG Tips fans and don't really like anything else (apart from MR T Finest, that's OK) but I keep meaning to try Aldi's own. Tried T Value and it's horrible, and don't have a Mr A anywhere near. At the moment Mr M has PG Tips 240 boxes half price so have stocked up on those on a budget that I don't really have. Oh and Mr M also have 5kg bags of basmati rice for £4.

westcoastscot

Thanks for posting about the new Bernadine Lawrence book - I still use the old one but this looks as if it has new recipes - shall add it to my list

WCS

GreyQueen

Evening all. Congratulations to Fuddle on the safe delivery of Jamaica and fingers crossed for PAH's imminent arrival. What will you be calling yours?

Possession wrote: »

What a ridiculous situation. DH is getting stressed through having too many job interviews. He has another tomorrow (for a job he really wants), a recruitment agent on Friday and two more interviews being arranged and they keep clashing with each other. I'm trying to get him to look on the bright side which is that employers want to interview him but he isn't seeing it at the moment, nervous for tomorrow I think. Surely he has to get a job out of this?!!

Best of luck to your DH and I can understand how stressed he feels. Fingers crossed that the dream job will come through for him soon.

silvasava wrote: »

Just a thought after reading all the superb posts today - why do we need so many MP's? Could we not have one per county? That would help
towards the deficeit & maybe a few redundant MP's would galvanise the ones left to get their finger out! Failing that I'm sitting in the front row with Mardatha - I'll be the one in the red hat

I have often wondered this myself but consider it as likely a reform as turkeys voting for Christmas. If anyone wants a spare MP, I can offer mine. Slightly shop-soiled and will probably be chewed-around-the-edges by the time I've finished with him.:rotfl:

fuddle wrote: »

MrsL all of his has had me thinking recently about really getting to grips to get our own place again. I was always hopeful of my own home as a want, now I'm looking at it as a need for retirement.

Just how we're going to save a deposit I don't know but again, we have to try. There's still cuts to be made in our budget, I know there is.

Fuddle, we've never met but I hold you in great respect and high esteem. You seem to me to have sound values, excellent character and determination and the will succeed. I'm sure you and your family will come through and achieve your dreams of your own home and future security. We're rooting for ya, gal.

Thanks very much for the link about modern hayboxes which I have bookmarked for future perusal. I love the thought of cooking for virtually no energy. Particularly as I have just had my combined gas and electric bill for the quarter, which always concentrates the mind wonderfully, don't you find?

I nipped into a shop on the way home to add to the tinned potatoes as I have concerns that the blight infestation will cause a lot of my crop to rot. Gardening might have a public image as a restful and even dull occupation but those of us who actively try to feed ourselves know that it's nature red in tooth and claw. You never stop learning and the weather etc never stops throwing you curveballs.

Today, I shall be taking a small clip of the FB pie mountain by cooking one (2 meals) with h.g. pots, peas and shop-carrots. And repeat for tomorrow with the other half. I'm chilled about eating the same thing more than once as I've done a lot of it and am more interested in getting on with my reading that learning to be more than a so-so cook.

BTW, PAH, did you have at the tension on that sewing machine and did it get any better?

Well, better get that oven on and do a bit more h*usew*rk, if you'll forgive the bad language. I'm experimenting with doing random bits whilst waiting for the kettle etc and have worked around most of the kitchen cupboard doors without consciously allowing myself to be "cleaning".

Hey, for those of us who were watching TV in the 1970s, do you recall those washing machine adverts where a smiley housewife reaches into the top of her washer and pulls out a dress which is already ironed and on a hanger to coo over the whiteness and brightness of her wash to an equally-smiley housewife pal?

I've wanted that machine for years. If anyone can find it for sale, pls PM me without delay.

Laters, GQ xx

ETA Possession, I'm a bit of a tea-wallah (surprise surprise) and had tried Mr T value and they were minging. This was a couple of years ago and I guess they may have re-blended. But Mr S's 27p Basic teabags are very good, and PG Tips was my fave among the name brands.

mardatha

Can I open the bidding (I don't play poker so dono what you say lol) on Sainsbugs Basics Teabags. I have, at this morning's count, 32 boxes of them - I don't want to run out of tea
Whoever said I'm brilliant, I'm not. I'm just very very ratty
TY chip lady for that fabulous Victorian site, I'll settle down later and have a really good read of it. Just now making pink sheep soaps and bath melts that haven't turned out. Instead of gorgeous orange/hippy/flowery wee melts I seem to have a pile of sludge that looks like semi-frozen Irn Bru :eek:

Possession

GreyQueen wrote: »

Best of luck to your DH and I can understand how stressed he feels. Fingers crossed that the dream job will come through for him soon.

ETA Possession, I'm a bit of a tea-wallah (surprise surprise) and had tried Mr T value and they were minging. This was a couple of years ago and I guess they may have re-blended. But Mr S's 27p Basic teabags are very good, and PG Tips was my fave among the name brands.

That's interesting GQ....our main Mr S is 10+ miles away and I rarely go there but we do have a little one (Express? Extra? Whatever they are called!) in town so I'll pop in there and see if they stock them. I've only just finished the teabag haul from the Mr T Just the Difference debacle (yes that's how many we got!) a year ago, so it's a bit of a shock to be buying them again.
Thanks for your best wishes re. the interview. I'm crossing my fingers really hard as this one is a really good match and a good salary too.

Mar, once I've got going I'll see your Mr S teabags and raise you 50 bags of pick n mix (managed to get rid of half of them!).

prepareathome

32 boxes can see I have a lot of catching up to do........I bought 3 last week to see if we like them and we do, went straight from Tetley extra strong to Mr S basics and cannot say I have noticed any difference in strength, yes slight different taste but one just as nice......was planning on buying maybe another 12 for stocks just in case they put price up ........between you Mar with your teabags and GQ with her FB Pies and tomatoes, what is left for the rest of us to have massive stocks in???:rotfl:

GQ not got sewing machine out yet to try......

Not thought of a name for my halogen oven yet..........she is big and red.......the 'boil' comes to mind but will see when I get her (definitely a she as finding am thinking of it as her )how about the scarlet oven...............shortened to scarlet.......as she will be daring doing deeds no nice well behaved oven will do and so much faster, doing many jobs in one night;) Right better shut up before I am banned......

Oh decided to start a proper blog, instead of the google one as it really was a website, will leave it for my gardening deeds when I do any.......so addy is in my profile.....

Hugs and Love