make do and mend for tougher times

Possession

Popperwell wrote: »

It seems Tesco's were seling the Bread makers at the low price too and they've run out of them too...

I'm not surprised those BMs sold out, I've never seen that Panny with that kind of discount. Of course Amazon won't have sold out, just put up their price in the Amazon way, their prices can change 10 times in a day!

kidcat

I am planning on trying the oven method for dehydrating, for me the danger is I will have that many gadgets that are stored away I wont use them because it takes an eternity to get it out. I found when my BM was stashed away I never used it at all because the rigmarole of getting it all out meant it was quicker not to bother.

fuddle

Dehydrating in the halogen isn't at all cost effective. This experiment is costing me about 70p - 70p each time I want to preserve something is too steep for me.

The oven though, well you could preserve in much higher quantities for a little more. I'll be sussing out the oven for sure.

Pooky

I have an own brand bread maker and it's never missed a beat. I sometimes just use it for dough and then halogen the loaf or make a batch of rolls and halogen them. The dough for 1.5lb loaf makes me 12 decent sized rolls, they only take 12-15 mins in the halogen to cook so a lot cheaper than running the bread machine for a full cycle. I can't knead the dough due to wrist problems so it's great to chuck it In the machine and let it do it for me.

I can't keep everything in stock that I'd need long term, so I'm happy to stock up on essential staples whilst I see them on offer. Any savings made on those go towards supplementing the price rises of stuff I can't grow/store, later down the line.

I got rid of my microwave about three months ago as it was very hit and miss as to if it wanted to work or not. I've not missed it yet.

Was hoping to go out for the day but teenagers have only just surfaced from their pits so we might get out for an hour or two this afternoon, I'm voting for roller skating at the beach, I've not done any skating for a few months so no doubt I shall ache later.

mardatha

I'm sure I read in a wartime book how they dried veg etc then - but I can't remember how.

Popperwell

For now I'm going to buy some bread on the in bakery at Tesco's again and I think I'll do what Pooky and Fuddle do use the halogen oven(or perhaps if only doing an odd loaf use the main oven...)If I get away with the panasonic combi microwave I may do my loaves in that...I'll study the manual...

Not going to buy much in case I go to Aldi on Sunday...still no room in the freezer so it will be packet and tinned stuff but as I said I may get some of their specials...

So all I will buy today is bread...perhaps some more butter(my little luxury)Sadly some of the dates on my fresh food means items need using up quite quickly...some I'll drop the Bread maker for now...

Any ideas what kind of dishes I should use for baking bread in a microwave or halogen oven?

fuddle

pops if you make the bread that I do, the 5 min bread that MrsC suggested there's no kneading, proves while resting and overnight in the fridge and the dough keeps in the fridge for 2 weeks if covered.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/54483643#Comment_54483643

It cooks fine in the halogen, on greaseproof paper but turn it over and cook 10 mins on the other side too. It cooks normal in the oven.

It will save your hands kneading, save heating for prooving and you'll always have mix in the fridge to nip up a loaf. :

Like MrsC said to me, it takes up a little space in the fridge rather than a lot of valuable space loaf size in the freezer

mcculloch29

Re the drying fruit/veg in ovens on mesh trays. Poundland have rectangular and circular meshes for cooking oven chips and pizzas. they work very efficiently, so there's no reason why they shouldn't dry veg out too.
This also has the advantage of giving you a dual purpose product, I use mine to cook jacket wedges (pre-cooked in micro) along with home-made pizzas (or whatever's on offer in Heron) and they are great.

Yes you could buy garden mesh and cut to size, but the ends are horribly sharp, and to neaten them off would take an age. I'd imagine the Poundland meshes to be just as cost - effective.

monnagran

I've been interested in the debate about dehydrators. My freezer is packed to the gunnels but as I'm in Mar's position of not having any garden produce this year I wonder if it is sensible to invest in a dehydrater now. I know nothing about them so would be grateful if someone could direct me to a forum or somewhere I go learn a bit more. I have also turned my unused Dining Room into a store room. My problem is that I'm not only storing for ourselves but for the homeless and needy people who come to the Drop-in we run. I think that lentils etc are going to be more important as a good thick lentil soup will be good and nourishing if all else fails. I must get more organised as at the moment it's a bit ad hoc, I'll suddenly think. " oh, that's a good idea," and get in a few packets or jars.

Anyone with any ideas please pass them on.

D&DD

Right re dehydrating without a dehydrator:D

Apple rings can be dried in the oven on skewers (woden ones soaked in water first so they don't catch)
Think there is info in Pam Corbins book and also fruit leathers can be dried on parchment on a baking tray in the oven ideal for using up gluts
If you look on youtube/google there are literally tons of links to pages for drying without one.
My old good housekeeping black book has info in it too as have the wartime gardening and recipe books and I know a lot of us have the same books here so don't forget to check in those
http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-dry-fruit-in-the-oven-92637
http://www.ehow.com/how_4964887_dehydrate-food-oven.html

The only thing I would say is its probably going to work out pricey as the oven needs to be on for a long time

Bottling/canning fruit is so easy to do and eases the space in a freezer when the garden explodes..not much chance of that this year but maybe useful for next!!