The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

PRINCESSX87

I'm like that MLW. I prefer candle light & warmth rather than using lights ect. Looking like we're the only 2 on here so far with winter on our minds!

@acmedia, Its a great thread and the family (Other members are fab!) x

Possession

Fuddle if you can do a bulk shop the butcher will definitely be cheaper, and in any case they can advise you on the cheapest cuts of meat and how to cook them. Don't be embarrassed - talk to them. I have used our local butchers lots because of the business, but even now we've been finished over a year I know that even as a private customer I would get a discount if I phoned them with a bulk order. I am just running down my stocks and then I will do it again- let's say 10 lbs of sausages, 10 lbs of mince, 40 chicken thighs boned and skinned, maybe some burgers because their homemade burgers are lovely, some casserole beef. They deliver it to me (for free) and I divide it all up and freeze it. I get it at trade price for that quantity which is about 15% discount. I'm afraid I can't remember what I last paid, but it was certainly a lot cheaper than Mr T, and much better quality.

[Deleted User]

Hello ACMEDIA welcome in to the thread, we've had many versions of the toughies thread over the years and folks are so friendly and helpful, there is a wealth of warmth and information here and lots of giggling too, nice to have you with us Cheers Lyn x.

fuddle

I admit that I like winter prepping too. I think it feeds my need to molly coddle, make sure we're all ok, prep for rough times and nurture my family.

candles scare me and I so wish I could get over it because I am so sure they would be better value for money/brighter than tea-light that I have. I will buy candles in a jar though. I wonder if it's sustainable to make my own in jam jars etc?

siegemode

Who'd of thought when I mentioned liking raw sprouts that it give rise to so many comments .

So here's a little information on this wonderful little gem.

　

Brussels sprouts were developed from wild cabbage and came from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.

The vegetable was named after the Belgian capital of Brussels after becoming popular in the city in the sixteenth century. Brussels sprouts may have been grown near Brussels as long ago as the 13th century.

Brussels sprouts were not introduced to Britain until the late nineteenth century.

More than 5,000 years ago sprouts were prescribed by ancient Chinese physicians as a medication for bowel problems and other ailments.

According to Guinness World Records, the record for sprout-eating is 31 in a minute but Dave Mynard of London was reported to have eaten 43 sprouts in a minute in 2003. The UK TV presenter Esther Rantzen failed in an attempt to set a new sprout-eating record in 2009.

Brussels sprouts are part of the Brassica family which also includes cabbages, broccoli, kale and kohlrabi.

Sprouts contain high-levels of vitamins A and C, folic acid and dietary fibre, and help protect against colon and stomach cancer.

Half pound of sprouts contains just 80 calories.

Captain Cook made his crew eat sprouts to combat scurvy.

70% of us have a gene known as TAS2R38 which responds to a chemical in sprouts, making them taste bitter.

The earliest reference to 'Brussels sprouts' in the Oxford English Dictionary dates back to 1796.

Brussels sprouts contain something called sinigrin, a glucosinate that may prevent colon cancer.

Belgians claim that the sprouts, eaten at the beginning of a meal, prevent intoxication, while Germans call them rosenkohl, for rose cabbages.

　

Theres also more nutritional info here


http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/brussel-sprouts.html



I get really excited when the come back into season, sad I know, but they really are one of my favourites and have to be fresh and preferable just picked of the stalk. Can't stand frozen or mw ones. I like them with a little seasoning, I count them into the pan and have to allow at least 6 or more for quality testing and at lest 4 to munch whilst prepping.

Oh and my second favourite veg is home grown runners, but I wasn't able to grow any this year so it's a good job we live in a rural part of the country and an area known for it's crops, so many stalls at the side of the road.

ginnyknit have you decided between an indian head massage and a pedicure yet. Think I;d go for the massage. I trained to practioner level but only use my skills on oh. I used to do friends but they seem to have drifted away since we no longer have a social life or go out due to oh's health. As a carer I used to go to the occasional pamper day , but due to cuts they don't have them anymore round our way. I really miss them as I was about the only time I got as me time. The only time I get now is walking around doing the shopping.

Hope you enjoy your session.


On the subject of winter prepping I'm glad it's not just me ! Have already ordered a bargain new warmer duvet and stocked up with candles and tealights. On the look out for some good quality hotties at bargain prices. Also looking for thermal backed curtains, seems crazy in this weather. A few months ago when we were freezing I was looking for an air con unit, but oh was against it:( Really wish I'd convinced him now.

Emm-in-a-pickle

FPK - thanks for that link - It does say cut very early in the day though, so I`ll sleep on it! As for `depriving` the bees, I`ve just been pottering in the caravan of Doom (used only for storage since it retired from travelling for safety reasons!) in front garden - and realised that the very overgrown cottoneaster is in full bloom and HEAVING with bees, so I`m sure they`ll not grudge me a bunch of lavender!

Re Fuel stash, I will defo order some coal this week. But our log man is a star, a `load` always means the log shelter full to capacity, he barrows it and stacks the shelter for me, and a good few extra to fill my `spare` log basket. And he hasn`t altered his prices for his `regular` customers for 5 years. He does now charge more for delivering further afield, but we are one of his closest customers so he assured me we`re ok for a while yet!
Re Butchers - IF I could resist YS labels and free up enough freezer space without filling it up at once, I`d probably do a bulk-buy from a local butcher as there are 2 really good ones in our area - healthy competition!

[Deleted User]

FUDDLE, the little lanterns that take tea lights usually have glass right round the outside, I've a couple from I*ea that were really reasonable that actually have a door catch to keep them closed. When the girls were little we used to make 'Glow Worms' basically just a candle set in a deep jam jar and we used them outside when we had barbecues and inside in the winter. You can stick the candle to the bottom of the jar by melting a little pool of wax from another candle and setting a new candle into it until it hardens, we put them up on the highest pieces of furniture to keep them safe, Cheers Lyn xxx.

Em sounds like you have found a 'diamond' of a fuel supplier, brilliant stuff, keep him well, feed him mince pies and keep him happy then you'll have beautifully warm winters forever and a day!!! Cheers Lyn xxx.

bunbun2

I now have ds14's results, verbally as the letter still not arrived. it is good news, there is no sign of coeliac:j it is such a relief. he will have a follow up appointment but all is good.

we get some of our meat from a butcher. I don't think it is any cheaper than the SM but it is good meat. we pay him at the end of the month on pay day and he does knock money off the bill. we still get a chicken a week but have reduced the rest of the meat we get from him as we need to save money. I do feel guilty as he is very good to us but needs must at the moment.

fuddle

I like the glow worm idea Lyn. I think i'll keep my jars for the tealights? Might be a faff getting them in but at least i'll have a relatively portable and safer option should there be power outages.

Would meat be ok in the trolley walking home for about an hour? Maybe put ice blocks (cool bag type) in the bottom?

[Deleted User]

BUNBUN wonderful news, I hope you are feeling very much better for knowing.

FUDDLE it's fine setting the candles in, just light one and drip the wax into the middle of the bottom of the jar and quickly set another candle into it, it hardens in less than a minute and then is held fast, not hassle pet!!! Put yourself a cold block in a cool bag and your meat will be absolutely fine, deal with it first when you get home though and get it into the cool as quickly as possible, Cheers Lyn xxx.