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

Pinkdebster

Thank you Esther!! I'll give it a try this week. If anyone has any others I'd still like them as it's my turn once every month!!

I've got used to doing without food now - in the beginning it was very, very hard - I used to crave the weirdest things........satsumas, toast, tuna - very bizarre. The only time I ever really miss it comes when my other half makes himself a bacon sandwich.....the smell drives me crackers!!!

Knit_Witch

fatless sponge recipe

I haven't tried this but it sounds nice!

[Deleted User]

Hi PINKDEBSTER Vegan cakes often use oil in the recipe rather than butter or margarine. Cup cakes are easy but many recipes online. The one I use that is nice is

1cup of soya milk
1 cup of molasses
2 cups of choc/carob chips
6 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 tablespoons cornflour
2 cups of self raising flour
1 teaspoon baking soda

Melt the choc/carob chips with the molasses and a half cup of soya milk until the chips have melted. Keep the mix stirred while doing this. Add the oil, vanilla and cornflour and stir until well mixed. Leave to coo la little. In a medium bowl sift the flour and baking soda, add the remaining milk and the cooled chocolate mixture and mix well. Spoon into cupcake cases and bake for 15 to 20 minutes at 375 deg F. This makes 6 good sized cakes, hope that helps, Cheers Lyn x.

Pinkdebster

Thank you both so much!! I'm very grateful, as I'm sure my new "best" friend will be xxx

Pooky

I make muffins with oil rather than butter/marg (the recipe is in the index)

Just spoke to my mother as I was sorting dinner, she asked what I was cooking, I said potato peelings and she nearly fell off her perch! What do you mean potato peelings!! So I told her, I keep any clean and useable peelings in a bowl of water in the fridge, then dry them off well, sprinkle with oil, garlic and chilli flakes and roast in a hot oven.....lovely crispy potato skin bits that are great for a junky, snacky dinner with crudit!s and dips. I got tutted at.

Never mind, I shall enjoy what she'd normally throw in the compost.

THIRZAH

Welcome back , Hester-hope you are better soon.

Thank you for the lemon curd cake recipe, Ginny. DD2 loves lemon curd so I'll see if she likes the cake.

Not as hot here today. We had a terrible thunderstorm last night followed by heavy rain but it was too hot to shut the bedroom windows so had to put up with the noise.I'm trying not to complain about the heat as it's so nice not to have to wear a cardigan in the summer and things are actually growing in the garden unlike last year when it was October before we got any runner beans and then they were killed off by frost after a couple of weeks.

We've been out for an eleven mile walk today but then I had tea and cake afterwards so probably haven't lost any weight.I feel really full now and DH (who didn't have cake) is dropping hints about dinner.

fuddle

Pooky wrote: »

Can I urge any of you that can to get down to your local @sda and make a donation towards your local food bank, it's a nationwide campaign and they hand out a very helpful little list of items they'd like.

I didn't know they did this, thanks for pointing it out

Seems like people who are already watching their grocery budgets are pulling together to help those less fortunate. I like that about our country.

Had a lovely day at Sheep Wash - thank you Kezlou Not a penny spent, not even on parking. That is a rarity. :eek:

I saw what I though looked like raspberry canes. Loads of them laden with raspberry fruit. I had to walk on by as I just wasn't certain. I still have the very basics of foraging to learn.

Off to go scour blogs for uber frugal dishes.

Pooky

Fuddle - today was a nationwide campaign by @sda and the Trussell Trust to get donations in. I'm sure most supermarkets have a collection point now.

I purchased everything from their suggested list, doubled up on things like tinned veg and fruit, brought nice coffee and tea bags and it came to £12.12. I can easily make adjustments to this months budget to accommodate that.

There have been times in the past where DH and I have gone without a meal so the girls could eat, I'd hate to see anyone else go through it.

ginnyknit

Many years ago when I was a single Mum I lived on tinned tomatoes so my little boy could eat. There were no food banks then. I used to walk 3 miles several times a week to look after my Dad while Mum worked and one day my aunt who was visiting gave me money for a cab, so I walked home and used the money for food. My shoes had cardboard in but my boy was clean dry and well fed. I will never forget those days as I had my home re-possessed and it turned out the DSS hadnt been paying me properley and turned up on the doorstep(too late to save the house) with a huge cheque and had paid my years, yes, years polltax for me :mad::mad: My heart goes out to anyone who cannot feed their family and thank god for food banks. I couldnt get to Asda today as I had DGS but I do my bit when I can. Isnt it ridiculous that this country is in such a state that thousands cannot feed themselves.

Hester so glad you are ok, was worried when you disappeared and after losing 3 1/2 stone sounds like you nearly did. Look after yourself and get back to full strength soon xxx

Loving the recipes, I need to make rather a lot of scones tomorrow to use up some elderley flour.

fuddle

It's heartbreaking reading your stories of managing. I have my own stories to tell but non so bad as how many of you describing. I'm not ruling out any of that happening to us though. You never ever know what is around the corner. Boy, getting down tonight, it's sad isn't it.

So many people are out there, in the real world, working hard and still struggling to keep up with all the bills and outgoings, food is the last on the list at times - so silly as food is our main tool for survival.

I'm currently half inching blogland recipes to add to my book.

Quick Q if I may - can you successfully freeze chillies (only comes in pack for 50p - need 1) to use in dishes once defrosted. Actually the same for ginger?