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

ArthriticOldThing

Its raining here as well - has been since early hours of morning and it seems to be getting heavier. My sympathy goes to everyone who has to venture out in it.:(

Thanks for the good wishes re white sauce. It seemed to work as the fish pie was very tasty and there is another serving for when I get home tomorrow. Am chuffed really as used up fish that had been in freezer far too long so did not have to throw anything out.:T

Sympathy hugs (carefully) for the sciatica Ginnyknit. It can be soooo painful I know. :eek: Hope it eases soon and GP pays attention. And well done to DD for getting DLA. Typical they take something else back though.

Yes please for recipe Valli. I do have a microwave sadly in need of use as usually only gets switched on to defrost. :rotfl:

Does anyone have a recipe for banana bread please? I've been freezing them when go blackish (can't eat them then) but need to use them before I buy any more.

Valli

Fish Pie (foolproof method using microwave;))

Clean fish, add to dish, add a couple of bayleaves and a few peppercorns (I count them in then I can count the out).
Add milk to cover.

Poach fish in microwave for not very long at all, until opaque (probably 3 minutes max depends on quantity and thickness of fish and size of dish - the more 'spread out' the quicker it willl poach.) This can be done well in advance (if you don't have cats).

Set aside, allow to cool.

Meanwhile prepare potatoes, boil and mash as you normally would.

Lift fish from milk and place on plate. Remove bayleaves and pepper. Flake fish, removing bones and skin and put in cooking/serving dish. (At this point I add frozen peas and sweetcorn, prawns if I want/am feeling flush).

Take spoonful (1oz) cornflour and add to microwaveable jug. Add a little COLD milk, mix well, add salt and pepper. Add the milk from poaching the fish, stir again, and add a large knob of butter.

Microwave for 1 minute MAX. STIR
Repeat until sauce is thick and smooth. Pour over fish (etc) in dish, stir to coat. Top with pots and bake in oven (180 deg c; GM 4/5(?) until potato crispy/ beginning to brown 30 - 45 minutes (approx)


This can, of course, be assembled earlier in the day then cooked through in the evening, in which case it would definitely need 45 minutes in the oven. It can also be frozen, allowed to thaw then finished off in oven (see my sig;))

AOT - you can also make cheese sauce this way, just start with cold milk, add grated cheese at the end. I also use the MW for making Bird's Custard (again, patience, short 'zaps' and stirring frequently help); I make porridge in the MW, use if for scrambling eggs and my 'latest' trick is dissolving jelly tablets - MUCH quicker and easier than the old boiling water and stir for ever of pre-microwave days!

Sunshine4

I have been reading but not posting ,I think I tryed to do too much over the weekend and I am so tired and all my joints hurt.

Sending hugs to everyone.
I love reading all your stories, we have just come through the last six months of hell, and we where homeless for a few weeks. But we got through it together.We now have a a little bungalow and small garden which we will sort out for next year. It needs some TLC which we will do gradully.
I am in bed at the moment as my legs dont want to work today.:(
Love all the recipes got a lovely note book so writing them into that so I dont lose them

Valli

Banana and Sultana cake (fat free)

approx 1lb 3 oz RIPE bananas (you can use less though, I have)
2 eggs (beaten)
6oz brown sugar
4 oz sultanas
8 oz SR flour

Mash bananas in bowl (well), add eggs, sugar, sultanas. Stir well then mix in the flour.

Place in a lined 2lb loaf tin (or a cake tin)
Bake for 1 hour 30 minutes GM 4 (skewer shouuld come out 'clean' as for a 'normal' cake).

Allow to cool (out of tin) store for 24 hours before serving.

Can be frozen; whole or sliced. I freeze in slices for lunchboxes!

BOOKMARKING POSTS (ie with recipes in them)

Click on the post number, then bookmark as you would a website!
This saves JUST that post and not the whole thread! HTH

mrsmortenharket

Minihauk wrote: »

Just de-lurking to say:

Mrs M - would it be possible for you to burn your paperwork? An old metal bin or dustbin. Much cheaper and wouldn't take too long (if you are not in a smokeless area of course)

There is so much. I am not confident with fire (we don't have a metal bin either) and also it is much too much to compost.

Hpefully this will be the wake up call for dh not to hoard so much in the future.

Thank you xxx

fuddle

I've a cob loaf proving. Looking forward to bread and butter supper tonight I hope the bread won't be too heavy for me.

Can I ask about broth mix. I know I have to soak it overnight but then would it be ok in a slow cooker for 6-8 hours?

Also do Lidl sell strong bread flour?

jackel

Hi all. Sorry to hear some of you are finding life difficult moneywize. We are always "on a budget" seem to have been since I first started walking. Always seem to get through(with an occasional ouburst of temper). This tread is a great help.

I think FUDDLE i was you who mentioned you thought of making Jack(a girl called) recipe for Creamy Salmon Pasta. Just because I thought it could never work using fishpaste I had a go and made it at mid-day(we eat our main meal then) and it was such a surprise . It tasted really nice.Portionwize it could have been a bit more generous but apart from that was good. I have always hated fishpaste. She really is a clever girl.

Thankyou VALLI for the Banana and Sultana Cake recipe.
I made a Banana cake but it was not fat free and I am trying to loose weight so will try yours. Thanks again.
jac x.

bunbun2

fuddle wrote: »

I've a cob loaf proving. Looking forward to bread and butter supper tonight I hope the bread won't be too heavy for me.

Can I ask about broth mix. I know I have to soak it overnight but then would it be ok in a slow cooker for 6-8 hours?

Also do Lidl sell strong bread flour?

yes, we get our bread flour from lidl

it is pouring with rain here...

what do you all think of this: OH rang our phone and broadband provider to cancel. put through to disconnections and after a bit person says " I will send you an e mail". e mail says I will knock 5 pounds off bill for x months but don't mention it on the call" this means to me the call is being recorded and I don't want anyone to know:eek: sounds dodgy to me but not sure how it can be.

not haing sausage risotto this evening as ds12 is out and would not be happy as he chose it and wants to cook it. need to look at meal plan and choose something else

bunbun2

jackel the creamy salmon pasta sounds good. I must look at a girl called jack's blog again

valli thank you for the banana and sultana cake recipe. I too have lots of black bananas to use up. thanks too for the fish pie recipe - another one to try!

sunshine sorry to hear you are not well, hope you feel better soon

ginnyknit sorry to hear about your sciatica. well done to your dd in getting DLA

knit witch thank you for the savoury crumble recipe

SDG31000

*pops my head around the door*

I'm here, I'm reading along and cheering/offering hugs as appropriate and thinking of you all.
At the moment my black dog is sitting on my chest and growling and snapping at me, so that's why I haven't been posting. I did pluck up the courage to try to make an appointment with the GP, but couldn't get a double one. So tomorrow will be to get my blood pressure checked and then I'll do my best to make another appointment about my depression.
It is threatening to overwhelm me at the moment and I'm just about functioning still, but it is touch and go. I've decided that I will take ADs if I can get counselling as well, but don't just want the tablets as things need dealing with properly and not just medicated and numbed. My ability to fake being ok is leaving me and that is showing me that it's time to actually do something.

I will post when I feel up to it, but am reading along. Much love and hugs to everyone xxxx