make do and mend for tougher times

kidcat

Fuddle - I am really pleased your visit went well, I think your confidence has helped no end

Naked lemons - I slice and freeze, then when I fancy a slice in a drink or if we have guests it looks really good when I pop a frozen slice into their drink.

Katie - I bought the jelly last time thinking the bag would last ages, then I used it for the kids parties and it was all gone in just the two events.

Inspired by PAH I began my blog yesterday, it lacks any sort of vision I guess but it may well help me keep track of myself and where I am going

New machine Mr B is in situ and has settled in well, he is definitely the strong silent type unlike his predecessor who was incredibly noisy and had become temperamental in recent months (I do wonder if he was damaged in the move) and he even has a "self clean" wash!!!

nuatha

monnagran wrote: »

I am still grieving over the massive post I lost yeterday. Can't remember what was in it but feel sure that it was devastingly humorous, incredibly useful and informative and a great loss to mankind.

If it helps, I've taken to writing posts in Word then copying and pasting into the reply box - it saves lost posts and we then get to read your devastatingly humorous and useful posts, while you get yo read my drivel

fuddle

kidcat are you on wordpress? Are you following me too? I have a follower and don't know who it is other than ASD mummy?

SpikyHedgehog

smileyt wrote: »

Morning peeps (waves at Tink and Luxor4t, welcome!)!

Kidcat I hope the new washing machine is the machine of your dreams !

Had a peek at the hoarding thread yesterday and was inspired to go and do something (as opposed to nothing, which has been my modus operandi for the last few weeks due to the depression). To my shame I managed to clear out a huge bag of rubbish, a huge bag of recycling, and a huge bag of assorted 'stuff' which is destined for the charity shop - from my bedroom . I have no idea where it all comes from. Even though it is a lovely day, this morning's plan is to tackle the ironing mountain, which will clear another surface in my bedroom. When my bedroom is done I will have a go at clearing down here. The kitchen is clean, though so that's a start.

Had a brainwave yesterday, too. My Housing Association holds three or four fundays/info days in the local park every year. I live in an area with high ethnic minority populations. So I am going to contact the blood donor and organ donor folks and see if they would want to link up with the HA (have spoken to HA neighbourhood officer and she thinks it's a good idea) and have a stall at the fundays. They might be able to encourage people from the different communities to sign up to give blood or be an organ donor or bone marrow donor as there is a shortage of people from the non-white populations doing this. Plus any white British folks who sign up won't be unwanted! I can't give blood because I just go into shock every time I try - last time I got sent home in a taxi and gently told not to come back again as my body just can't cope with it and they were fed up of having to revive me, plus I could never squeeze a full 'pint' in the allotted time.

Anyway, up and at it. Greyqueen enjoy your holiday; I'm sure you'll have tales to tell when you get back!

What a good idea! I started donating blood again last year, but have only managed once as I keep not being well enough to donate - antibiotics this time from a stupid insect bite.

The HA have been painting our exterior doors & windows this week, so I'm sitting here in a jumper with the front & back doors open... They do look good though, & little effort from me other than choosing the colour for the front door & making cups of tea & letting the painters use the loo (probably because of all the cups of tea...).

Phoned b t & said ' you never came back to me the other day when I asked you what you could do to keep me as a customer so now give me my mac code'. So the nice man did find a good deal for me & I'm staying - but will be phoning them all the time if the router is as pants as the old 1. Nice man said new router would be with me monday, I said I'm away till wednesday...

We're going to stay in a caravan with mum & dad for a few days, taking DS1's best friend, who's had a rough time this summer. His girlfriend finished with him, then various ' friends' went spreading rumours about him, his grandad died, & he's not well. Oh yeah, plus the pressure of waiting for results to check he can have the sixth form place he wants... So the break will be jolly good for him.

Needed new clothes for me, & managed to get a load from CSs, including a skirt I turned into a sundress. It makes me look huge though so will stay here ;-) I'm pleased for my first project & will make more clothes for me. Thanks Fuddle, for the inspiration!

tiny_courageous

elona wrote: »

I got an AF order the order day and some Dr. Oet**** batter mix was in it - thought a bag of it would be handy.

The bag is massive!!! I have about half a stone of batter mix!! Managed to rejig plastic containers so I could fill two huge containers with it and labelled it clearly. I am determined to actually use it up so apart from experimenting with pancakes, maybe fish in batter - I am wracking my brains to think what to use it for.

Anyone think I could just consider it as ordinary flour and use it to make white or cheese sauce etc ? Have promised DH that I will use everything I order and don't want to let myself down by wasting stuff.

I've used the batter mix for toad in the hole, and while it's a bit stodgy, it's basically fine. Also used it for pancakes with no problem. At 19p for a bag that size I couldn't argue!

monnagran

nuatha: You are an :A . Thanks. I'm a lazy so-and-so and when I do make an effort I like it to be appreciated - a brass band and a quick burst of the Hallelujah Chorus wouldn't come amiss.:D

[Deleted User]

Hi FUDDLE - so pleased the visit went so well and you actually enjoyed it. Congrats on cooking such a nice meal in your Halogen Oven that your Ma wants one too. That is such a compliment to you, well done.

It's turned hot and humid here this afternoon, the boy is laying in front of the fan trying to stay cool, bit difficult when you have a built in fur coat!!!!!

We are going to the local pub for supper this evening, big treat for me so, I don't have to get hot cooking in the kitchen. I had another treat too, I bought a Rice Cooker at Li*l having got a book out from the library a couple of days ago and been amazed at what else you can do other than cook rice. I'll let you know if it all works - I'm looking forward to having a play with it when it cools down a bit.

Have a nice evening, Cheers Lyn xxx.

PhGage

elona wrote: »

I got an AF order the order day and some Dr. Oet**** batter mix was in it - thought a bag of it would be handy.

... I am wracking my brains to think what to use it for.

Anyone think I could just consider it as ordinary flour

If the ingredients look like this: Wheat Flour, Raising Agents (E450(i), E500), Vegetable Oils, Salt, Maltodextrin, then I think there's a very good chance that you could use it to make gingerbread. Eg, for this gingerbread loaf recipe, you could use 135g of your flour (it already has raising agents ((E450(i), E500) so I don't think you'd need to include self-raising as well as the plain, particularly because there's some additional lift from the bicarb and milk). Adding the ginger and mixed spices will flavour the cake well.

You could easily omit the crystallised ginger, the syrup and the icing and you will still have a nicely sticky gingerbread.

Given the quantity of batter mix you have it may be worth the experiment If you do try it, I might reduce the butter by 5-10g and add a little bit more milk as I don't think there will be that much vegetable oil in the batter mix.

SDG31000

Evening all

:wave: to all the newbies. Welcome

fuddle I'm so glad the visit went well

kidcat Congrats on the new member of the family. May his spin cycle never tire and his powder dispenser be forever unclogged.

GQ Have fun wherever you are going.

SpikyHedgehog I hope you have a good time and that your DS's friend gets to relax and have fun. My DS1 gets his results in two weeks and I'm already a nervous wreck.

My sewing experiments have continued today. DH has managed to fix the upper tension wheel :T so that has made life easier. My knitting needle case is done and I got adventurous and decided to have a go at a peg bag. It was going really well until I tried to put the hanger in it and worked out that I hadn't taken sewing the top two pieces together into account when measuring. So that all needs unpicking and I'll start again. I think I need to invest in some more fabric as I can't make everything out of opened out pillow cases and old tea towels. Lidl have a sewing machine on offer on Monday along with thread set and a sewing kit. http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/SID-878EA024-25BD9B3D/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/offerdate.htm?offerdate=33505

I went to my first book group meeting today and it went quite well which I'm happy about. I also handed in an appilication form at the new Age UK charity shop. It sounds like they just want warm bodies and that I should get called back. I want something that gets me out of the house and gives me a reason to get up and gouing during my bad patches. I have no work experience and don't think I could handle the stress of working right now. I hope this will help.

I was going to make pizza for dinner, but DS1 had pizza for lunch and I really can't face being in the kitchen with the oven on. There is no ventilation in there and it turns into a sauna. I have no idea what to cook instead. Is ice cream a valid dinner option?

I had better go and think of something. Hopefully DS1 will eat it.

Take care everyone (((((((((hugs)))))))))

[Deleted User]

SDG - Have you got the ingredients to put together a Ploughmans Type meal? that would be nice without you having to cook yourself in the kitchen - and of course the Ice Cream Is an absolute must on a day like this, Isn't it? Perhaps even two helpings, but only 'cos it's so hot!!!!!!! Cheers Lyn.