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

Possession

OK now I absolutely have to know what Blueberry Boy Bait is, my mind is going into overdrive.
Strange day. I have been longing for a dog for a while and after the border collie on holiday was such a hit I allowed myself to do a little internet search today. I've only made things worse though as a) finances are already tight, b) DS has asthma, c) my mum is petrified of dogs and wouldn't be able to visit and d) the house rabbits would not appreciate it!

Mrs_Chip

http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2009/07/blueberry-boy-bait/

Don't blame me if you can't get rid of them... :rotfl:

fuddle

Thank you MrsChip do you think they're crab apples?




I am yearning for blue boy bait now. That is on the 'to try' list and soon.

Possession

Ooh Mrs Chip that looks yum.
Fuddle I'm no expert (considering I currently have an apple tree dying in my back garden) but they look too big for crab apples and they're not cookers either.

Mrs_Chip

No, them's eaters! Or they could be cookers, it's hard to tell, but whatever, they will be a very welcome crop!

fuddle

So I can cook with them?

the_cake

Hi Fuddle
They look like nice apples (and free - the best sort!!) but as we don't know what sort they are, I would try cooking with them and see how you go. Some apples cook down quickly to a sort of slush, and some stay firmer and more apple shaped almost whatever you do to them. (A bit like the difference between waxy and floury potatoes, if you like). So, give them a go, but be flexible about what you do with the results. Personally, I particularly like slushy cooked apple with a little cinnamon and sugar (again, be flexible and add sugar very sparingly until you have worked out how sweet they are), cooled and swirled into plain yoghurt. Anyway, enjoy your free foraged food!

jpscloud

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

Thanks jpscloud, I would always want a wild animal to stay as such, but I could not leave him to his fate, I know it would have played on my mind. I have read about several sparrows kept as pets (because of disablity) and they seem to be very adapatble. He certainly learned very quickly where everything in the cage is. He has a very big cage and comes out quite a lot. He does try to fly, but can't see the wall, so just tumbles down - I think he will be happy just hopping about and roosting on me in the evening - for some reason he thinks I am his parent, which I would understand if he had been a tiny chick, but he was nearly grownwhen we found him. He is very good and puts himself to bed at night in his little cat-food box house!

I agree, it's usually best (and not always easy) to leave wildlife to its own chances, but there are special cases and I think this is one of those. If he's eating and hopping about his known space with interest, and roosting happily with you (that is so sweet ) you're definitely doing the right thing for him.

GreyQueen

Wow, that looks like a nice crop of eating apples to me. What a find.

VJsmum

i cooked down some very spongy cox's the other day. they retained their shape well and didnt need added sugar. i mixed in some raisins wnd cinnamon, they were yum and woild otherwise have ended up in compost.

we are waiting DDs AS results tomorrow. goddaughter is waiting for A2. as i work in uni the results are important to us too. However mine isnt a course that people tend to come to thro clearing as it is highly vocational. we shall see.

shopping with DS was expensive but successful.