make do and mend for tougher times

jpscloud

Fuddle - I don't think the holey aluminium plate that comes with the accessories bundle would be right for bread - the reason I know this is that I tried to cook an uncooked-dough pizza on mine! It kind of sank into the holes and made an almighty mess on the holey plate! It didn't cook underneath.

I think greaseproof paper on top of the rack sounds good. I may experiment with some rolls one day soon.

becca-2012

Thanks will have a look next time I'm in town. Have seen some cute sets in sainsburys but they are quite expensive and I probably don't need anymore plates.

PhGage

fuddle wrote: »

Bread problem in the halo. It hasn't cooked underneath so I have had to turn it round. I think it's because I have had it sat on a casserole dish. I need a holed plate so the air can get right round.

I think you need to turn the bread over around 10mins before end of cooking to make sure that it cooks fully.

see https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1796167

http://www.halogenovenrecipes.org.uk/recipes/whitewholemeal-bread-loaf.html

fuddle

Thanks jps I really don't want to need the accessory pack. I know I will probably need the extender ring, maybe, but I'd rather do without.

Disaster. My sewing machine has kaput. There's no power at all. I'll get DH to have a look tonight. Drat and double drat.

Dare I say that I'm bored without my girls It's so quiet and has me worried about how I'm going to cope when they are both at school full-time in 3 weeks.

Pooky

Fuddle - the bread looks lovely, I do mine in a round cake tin (shallow) but do turn it for the last 10 mins to finish off.

Check the fuse on your sewing machine, it's probably that.

I always miss my DDs when they're away, I always feel in limbo - no idea how I'll cope when ey leave home, although neither of them ever want to, well for now anyway.

smileyT - great news on the tax rebate! :j

I've just phoned up to ask for my state pension forecast, I know I'm going to need to pay some in to top it up so want to get it organised and a private pension set up. I'm being very grown up (well outwardly, still want to run around in the sea in my knickers kicking water at everyone like I did when I was 7, in my head)

[Deleted User]

omg, the bmx on tv is SO exciting. There`ll be a lot of bmx bikes being ordered for christmas. A great way to keep teenagers off the streets

re halogen bread, use a round cake tin to prove and bake, then take out and turn over for 10 minutes

jpscloud

Kittie, I thought I wouldn't really enjoy the bmx but it is thrilling! If I wasn't a fat old bird, I'd be having a go at that!

Mrs_Chip

Afternoon

Byatt (((hugs))) - so sorry about your news, what a terrible blow. It certainly does put everything into perspective. OH is very fatalistic and keeps on about us needing to do the things we want to do now as we don't know what the future holds (his dad died relatively young of cancer, I think he fears going the same way:() and wants us to spend some of our savings. I want us to work until we get our pensions, then take some time out - who knows which of us is right? I cannot bear the idea of no money coming in at all for another six years, I just know I would be worried the entire time.

Smiley - great news, please spend some of it on something nice for yourself!

Fuddle - that bread looks great, well done you! See it didn't take long for you to be turning out loaves like you have done it all your life, and yes I think your calcs are correct, I remember someone else doing them a while back and it came out at under 50p a loaf at the time. But the cost is nothing compared to the fact that you can say you made it, you know what's in it and and it is so much nicer than bought.

Please everyone who has bowed out, don't stay away, there is room for all views and opinions here. Sometime it is clear as day that a poster is not coping in the RW and we are as helpful and supportive as we can be, but sometimes that also means biting our tongues or holding back our true views. As someone said, it is so much harder to read real meanings when we are not face to face, so generally I tend to cut way more slack on here than I do in RW, and I def try not to post right away if something has got my goat!

Mar - sheepies safely gathered in - thank you SO much! xx

meme30

See I thought it was just me enjoying BMX!

Dh has christened Big Bertha by cooking some sausages, it worked great, Tonight I want to cook, Pork chops with apple and onion rings, and cauliflower cheese. I don't think I can cook them together, so will cook the cauli cheese first and cover it to keep it warm, then the chops. I'm hoping if I put the slices of apple and the onion under the chop grill they will cook in the pork juices. Watch this space!:D

Evie74_2

Afternoon everyone

I am absolutely shattered! But the kitchen stuff is 99% unpacked (and the other 1% probably belongs in the bin/recycling/charity shop box). So I'm just having a cuppa and a catch up before I go and tidy up the devastation of my sitting room (that's what happens when you leave the DDs to their own devices for the day ) and think about packing for our weekend away. I have at the very least to iron wedding outfits (and if I have the energy, to try and tackle the rest of it, but since I'm flagging already that looks doubtful!).

Byatt - I am so sorry to hear the news about your sister - I hope you can spend plenty of quality time with her now before her condition worsens. Dementia is so, so hard for everyone involved; you have all my sympathy and (((hugs))). On a practical note, has your sister made a power of attorney? If not, and if she is still well enough to do so, I would really recommend one to her a.s.a.p. as it may well save a lot of heartache later on. I have lots of personal experience of this sort of thing, unfortunately, and it is so much simpler for her to put a power of attorney in place at an early stage than for someone to have to make an application to the Court of Protection to assume responsibility for financial matters later on. Please feel free to PM me if you need any advice about it.

I really hope that nobody decides to leave the Toughies board as a result of this morning's disagreement - as Meme and Mrs C said we are a Band of Brothers and though I haven't been posting here for long I have always felt welcome and would hate anyone to feel they couldn't join in any more because of a difference of opinion.

OK, I'll be quiet now

Evie xx