The commonsense thread

tpsjrm

Tawny75 wrote: »

I haven't, but I have used the traditional teachest one at Guides and it is brilliant. Looking up the thread, I think a good quality cardboard box and some blankets would do the trick anyway.

I wanted to try the haybox principle but rather than buy yet another piece of equipment I might not use again, I figured that a thermos flask might well do the trick. Having bought some cheap belly pork slices yesterday, the time was right to check my theory!
Cut the meat up into small chunks and fried it to seal it, with some onions, mushrooms and sweet peppers, topped up with some left over gravy (tinned soup would work as well, I think). Heated the lot to boiling point then poured it into a large (pre-heated with boiling water) thermos flask. Sealed it, wrapped it in half an old duvet and crammed it into our old cool bag. Twelve hours later, hey presto, a beautiful casserole with meat that fell to bits.

I might even be able to Freecycle my slow cooker now! :rotfl:

faerie~spangles

tpsjrm wrote: »

I wanted to try the haybox principle but rather than buy yet another piece of equipment I might not use again, I figured that a thermos flask might well do the trick. Having bought some cheap belly pork slices yesterday, the time was right to check my theory!
Cut the meat up into small chunks and fried it to seal it, with some onions, mushrooms and sweet peppers, topped up with some left over gravy (tinned soup would work as well, I think). Heated the lot to boiling point then poured it into a large (pre-heated with boiling water) thermos flask. Sealed it, wrapped it in half an old duvet and crammed it into our old cool bag. Twelve hours later, hey presto, a beautiful casserole with meat that fell to bits.

I might even be able to Freecycle my slow cooker now! :rotfl:

I am so impressed.

Keep the slow cooker though:A

Tawny75

tpsjrm wrote: »

I wanted to try the haybox principle but rather than buy yet another piece of equipment I might not use again, I figured that a thermos flask might well do the trick. Having bought some cheap belly pork slices yesterday, the time was right to check my theory!
Cut the meat up into small chunks and fried it to seal it, with some onions, mushrooms and sweet peppers, topped up with some left over gravy (tinned soup would work as well, I think). Heated the lot to boiling point then poured it into a large (pre-heated with boiling water) thermos flask. Sealed it, wrapped it in half an old duvet and crammed it into our old cool bag. Twelve hours later, hey presto, a beautiful casserole with meat that fell to bits.

I might even be able to Freecycle my slow cooker now! :rotfl:

That sounds lovely! I did my first batch cook yesterday, usually I only cook what we need and end up with half a carton of passata or half a tin of tomatoes, but yesterday I cooked enough bolognese for 6 portions. I just need to get some stronger freezer bags. It may not be much but it is a start.

Another common sense thing for me is candles. I buy really cheap ones from poundland or home bargains. Lighting a couple in the evening always makes me feel warmer without putting heating on. Also, close doors! The amount of friends houses that I go into where every internal door in the house is open is amazing.

mummysaver

Tawny, if after you put the food in freezer bags, you pop it into an old marg tub or plastic dish before you freeze it, you will get nice block shapes that can removed from the tubs once solid and stacked, making more room in your freezer. It's an old tip I saw here years ago, and I've found it really handy!

Tawny75

mummysaver wrote: »

Tawny, if after you put the food in freezer bags, you pop it into an old marg tub or plastic dish before you freeze it, you will get nice block shapes that can removed from the tubs once solid and stacked, making more room in your freezer. It's an old tip I saw here years ago, and I've found it really handy!

What a brilliant idea! I would never have thought of that, thank you :T

fuddle

A common sense tip from me about children's breakfasts is that you don't need to buy expensive and quickly used cereals. I have a constant selection of muesli, porridge oats, basics cornflakes and basics weetabix. There's choice for the children (lucky children), you get a decent amount for your money and know that your children are not filled with sugar or additives per say. It also is a good selection for adults breakfast too.

Possession

fuddle wrote: »

A common sense tip from me about children's breakfasts is that you don't need to buy expensive and quickly used cereals. I have a constant selection of muesli, porridge oats, basics cornflakes and basics weetabix. There's choice for the children (lucky children), you get a decent amount for your money and know that your children are not filled with sugar or additives per say. It also is a good selection for adults breakfast too.

Good point F. I got some (admittedly v cheap) Honey Bunches oats cereal from Approved Foods, the children have opened it this morning and literally half the packet is gone! Unfortunately DS doesn't like porridge but he does like weeatabix, cornflakes, shredded wheat and shreddies and that's what he'll be getting from now on.

Miss_Havisham

A couple of thoughts.

The older I get (just 57) the more I realise I don't need new stuff and I actually value the things I've had for years.

For example, my crockery is a complete mish-mash of dinner plates that have survived old dinner services, the odd cheap mug from Wilko's, Mum's old tea plates which we bought in Woolies in the 1960's and are covered in a crazy pattern. My bowls are freebies from Kellogs cornflakes and shaped like half-footballs. I really don't feel the need to buy everything to match.

As soon as I get home I change into really scruffy old clothes (to keep my "going-out" clothes in good nick). My scruffy clothes are regularly patched and stitched to keep them from disintegrating. I sometimes apologise for my appearance if people come to the door, but hey !

I have excellent neighbours and we all grow cuttings of plants or tomato and runner bean plants from seeds in our gardens and exchange them. Freebies always seem to grow better ! I know that as a result we all have the same plants in our gardens but it doesn't notice.

kettlenic

Love this thread- my firends think I am crazy that in my early 30's I am so obessive about saving money the OS way!! But I think it's great and I am learning skills like baking, preserving, jam and chutney making, sewing that may well die out with my generation!!

I plan to pass this on to the kids one day too

Tawny75

kettlenic wrote: »

Love this thread- my firends think I am crazy that in my early 30's I am so obessive about saving money the OS way!! But I think it's great and I am learning skills like baking, preserving, jam and chutney making, sewing that may well die out with my generation!!

I plan to pass this on to the kids one day too

You are not alone, I am a few years ahead....

I am 37 and some of my friends say I am really old fashioned. I am a Girl Guide leader and have been for 18 years. DD 13 is not allowed to go out dressed in low cut tops or short skirts. I always know where she is and she is in bed between 9.30 and 10 each night. I bake, do cross stitch, knit, and quilt. I cook most meals from scratch, and I am just starting to batch cook.

My sister is the same, I thank my lovely mum for teaching me stuff when I was a kid. So much so that this year to save my nephews school some money, we are making 65 nativity costumes! We made some last year for pre school and year 1 and 2 want their own. It is a selfish way of giving something back, as we love to do it.

I want to try making jam but I am afraid I will muck it up!

Common sense is fun:j