'supporting each other through really tough times'

Bigjenny

Can I ask those of you with steamers how long you cook your vegetables for please.

I must admit that I like my veg done, not al dente, every time I use the steamer even after 20 mins it all seems hard, any longer then I think I might as well use a saucepan IYSWIM.

Light dusting of snow here this morning, soon cleared but had been foggy all day and cold.

[Deleted User]

JENNY I put the root veg in the bottom steamer and softer things in the top one, I start the bottom one 10 minutes earlier than the top one and just keep checking with a skewer to get the timings right. If you have the pieces of veg too thick they take an age to cook so cut into fingers rather than chunks and if it's something like swede which takes a long time even when you boil it start it 15 minutes earlier. If you check every 5 minutes you'll soon get the timings right. I even use the water from the pan to make the gravy, really thrifty yes? Hope that helps. Cheers Lyn x.

GreyQueen

Jenny, my veg is done in about 15-20 mins. I put water in the bottom and spuds (halved or quartered depending on the size they started, mine ar HG and vary a lot) and put the softer veg on top like carrots and or/ peas/ beans, broccoli.

You need to get a steamer saucepan up to a good rolling boil before turning the heat down. If you're adding a second steamer on top of the first, keep the heat a bit higher. It'll still use less energy than another pan.

I use my plate as a lid, which warms it nicely; parents use 3-5 plates depending on how many of us are at theirs. This works because we both cook on gas and the pan supports are strong enough to take the extra weight. HTH.

Pooky

I love my steamer, it gets used most days here. I did venture into an electric one at one point but gave up on it and went back to my hob version.

Colder than a cold things cold bits here. Can tell the snow is on its way as both DH and I are sparking with static and the cats are not venturing far. I've got the fire burning away, the calor gas blasting in the kitchen and the heating is on, I want the house up to a good temperature at least once a day to stop frozen pipes. The snow shovel is in the porch along with an extra sack of wood and bucket of coal and we've enough food to keep us going........bring it on!

Hardup_Hester

OMO, I lurk mainly, but Fish Week refers to a poster who has recently resigned from a job in catering due to manager problems, said manager has to cook fish & will probably serve fish fingers. Sorry if I've got it wrong, someone will explain it better than me later I expect.
I've just had to rush over to DD's and babysit for her so she could go & babysit for money, lol.
Hester

meme30

Cold here but thankfully no snow yet. Friend in Edinburgh has been sledging with her son so I think Mar must be having a white out.:D
OMO:_ Welcome, we are a friendly bunch by all means lurk away but better still post as well. I loved reading the 'Holly and the Ivy for the last few months.:) I think 'Fish Week' is a busy week in Katieowl's workplace.
Fuddle:- I have been thinking about your post earlier. You said you would be starting walking at 7.30 in the morning. Please try and check if the school will still be open, It would be awful to struggle there and it be closed because of the snow. I know you may have to wait until 8 am for someone to be in school to phone but it would be better to be late than frozen for nothing.:snow_grin
Kidcat:- sounds like you need some extra painkillers this week. :grouphug:

sonastin

The best way for me to describe it is to liken my internal monologue to a radio station playing in my head all the time. These negative thoughts are like you are listening to the wrong station - you need to consciously change the channel in your head so that you are "listening" (thinking) something more positive. If you feel like there isn't enough of a cushion to cope, deliberately work out just how long you could cope with what you've got - enough to last so many weeks/months without a penny more coming in, enough to repair/replace some/all of you big ticket items, etc. Think about how well you are currently living on so little expenditure so how little you would need to bring in if you lost your current income. Think about how lucky you are that you're not in the situation that requires you to live hand to mouth. Think about what you could do if you needed to to make a bit more money. Don't let yourself think about how much things cost and how prices are rising and whatever as those are the thoughts that are making you ill. Force yourself to focus on the positives. With practice, you'll find that your outlook changes but it does take work and a lot of conscious effort to begin with.

katieowl_2

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

KATE - I think cranberry and mascarpone sweetened with honey and put into filo purses would be very nice, very scandinavian. If you have any dark chocolate to crunch up and put in too that would be luxurious. Mmmmmmmmm Hungry now, Cheers Lyn xxx.

Maybe? I've bunged the cranberries in the freezer now as I noticed you could freeze them for a year downpayment on next Xmas LOL!

Can you make savoury marscapone...off to google

kate

kidcat

OMO - sorry I missed welcoming you so a big welcome from me too.

Fish week I believe is a week in Katies area that promotes and celebrates fish, in Katies and her DD previous job they used to do lots of exciting new recipes and HM stuff as part of that. I seem to remember they put alot of work into last years promotion and if my memory serves it was a major success.

Of course I may be imagining it all - I am taking the yucky painkillers that make it difficult to remember my own name - I keep pointing at the kids and saying errr you!!!

Fuddle - is there anyway your OH could help with the morning school runs this week while its so bad? I am sorry I cant remember what he does but is it maybe even possible that you could drop him at work and then have the car? Or could he bus to work just until you get the new car?

greenbee

Katie - I used cranberries that I froze at LEAST two years ago in this year's mince pies, and to make cranberry vodka. I then fished them out of the vodka to make chocolates with... They were very nice and no one would have been able to tell how old they were