make do and mend for tougher times

Possession

annie123 wrote: »

My son asked them that and was told , as a guide, roughly the same as tax credit levels, which for a couple is under 16k ish. It's done on a sliding scale, but as he earns sub 7k he was told he would he probably wouldn't to need to pay anything. Time will tell takes months apparently for the first application.

You can also claim back monies paid out if on a low income, ask dentist for form H....something, dont remember exactly what but it's the NHS low income scheme. Our dentist was aware of the scheme and had all the forms there, but only when asked for.

Yes I thought it probably would be, in which case he won't qualify as my salary and selling the business van takes us just over the new limit.

Mrs Chip - good work on the chocolate!! We await a tempering report now, LOL. And pics!

Wow, five children become little monsters when food is involved! 24 cookies baked, 24 cookies already eaten. (With a little help from DH.)
Pizzas in the oven, but they have temporarily forgotten about food now their little tummies have something in. The girls are upstairs presumably trying on the contents of DD's wardrobe (it's suspiciously quiet) and the boys are charging around with nerf guns and kidnapping Hello Kitty. As you do.
And thanks Pops, I do feel a bit better although am developing a headache now!

Popperwell

Evie you asked about homemade butter...

Is it cheaper than bought after buying cream and running a food processor(I don't know)but perhaps it's easier than even I thought...might have an excuse for digging the food processor out...
http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/1650/homemade-butter.aspx

paidinchickens

OMG it's started to rain so now DH has decided to tile the porch as the tiler is here with tile cutter. The chest freezer and tumble dryer are now crowding round me in the front room :eek::eek: There is only a tiny space left in the house and it is round me and the laptop :eek::eek:

Funny how the dogs have found a space to snooze but the cats are giving me evil stares :rotfl:

PIC x

Hobsons_Choice

Has anyone seen a butterfly in this awful weather? We have a buddlea at the bottom of the garden that gets cut down to stumps every year and then flowers nicely - nary a flutterby on there! I did see one in the centre of town a few days ago...and also saw a thrush there, maybe they're all staying where there's shelter from the bl00dy rain!
Most of the day spent babysitting grandaughter while son runs around getting things ready for her first birthday party on Sunday. It's supposed to be a bbq for the grown-ups, fingers crossed for the weather eh?

Popperwell

Even better...the liquid you drain off is...butter milk. I didn't know that...

http://1greengeneration.elementsintime.com/?p=685

Don't think it makes that much butter so it probably tastes good and better than bought but may be expensive?

SDG31000

PIC I make this for my diabetic DPIL, so I use splenda, but you can use sugar.

Tea Loaf recipe

13oz dried fruit (I use Mr T's value dried fruit)
4oz sugar or 8 level tablespoons splenda
1/2 pint tea (I use assam or earl grey)
2 beaten eggs
6oz plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon spices- cinnamon, ginger, cloves etc. (I use quite a bit of spice, but you can use less)

Soak the fruit and sugar in the tea overnight. Stir in the rest of the ingredients. Pour into a greased and bottom lined 2lb loaf tin and bake at 190C/170C fan assisted for 45 minutes.
You can add some booze in with the tea. Orange liqueur works very well.

Mrs_Chip

Just finish creating my own personal butter mountain (oh those were the days!) and I can report that from 4.54ltrs (8 pints) of double cream I got 2.4kg of butter - nine 250g blocks worth and nearly another one. I currently pay £1.19 for 250g butter so I have got about £11.50's worth of butter for my £6 outlay and I can't think it cost that much for running the Kenwood for 4 x about 4 mins. This butter is MUCH nicer than shop bought coz it's home made l:A. I have also got just under 2ltrs of buttermilk for scone making, which makes OH very happy - he loves being able to eat home-made scones with home-made butter and jam. Simple pleasures!

I will attack the chocolate mountain on Sunday (if I can wait that long) so will report back - with pictures if the results last that long!

Evie74_2

Thank you Pops and Mrs Chip for the buttery insights! Next time there is a load of double cream in the reduced section I shall stock up. What do you store it in? Should it be wrapped in greaseproof type paper or will plastic tubs be OK?

It's amazing how much you learn from this thread!

Evie xx

mardatha

I think this year is a good reminder to have things in tubs as well as in the ground.
Pops yes I have a store cupboard and am on survivalist forums I was just trying to find out what unexpected things wheat is in so I can prep for it.
I've just started a new cupboard for pasta and dried goods. Got pasta, lentils, some dried veg and barley in there now, as well as broth mix. Next I need to start on porridge and get more flour... gawd it's like the Forth bridge, never ends!

Popperwell

Mrs Chip,
How do you store it? Where do you store it? How long does it last? What do you put it in?