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

[Deleted User]

Busy day in the kitchen today, so far I have made 4 jars of beetroot relish, have prepared and salting a batch of bread and butter pickle, have prepared and salting a batch of marrow chutney and have processed another 7 very large bags of apples which are being pressed for the juice for cider in the garden!!! Yesterday I made 2 jars of ripe tomato chutney, 5 jars of pear and chilli chutney and 4 jars of spicy apple chutney, I love it!!! Cheers Lyn xxx

Oh and we've decided to do pickled onions this year so off to the farm shop later in the week for a sack of pickling onions.

Also yesterday I dried a big batch of raspberries and blackberries in the dehydrator and they're super, just like the ones in posh granola cereal, will have to make lots more to see us through the winter.

lynsayjane

MrsLW, it strikes me that you're trying to avoid visiting the SM all through the winter! Do you grow all these things yourself?

The garden in my new house might have the capacity to allow a bit of growing something other than weeds which at the moment is the extent of my gardening knowledge! haha Once we're settled I may have to look for advise on what to grow and how!

LJ
x

katep23

Hi MrsL, any chance of the recipe for your bread and butter pickles please x

Popperwell

Afternoon All,
I'm not surprised many are feeling down/frazzled looking at the posts this morning.

Its a different world to how I remember school life. Or has it always been so and I was ignorant of it all. Its sounds awful and that there is no discretion built into the system especially with the jobs worth taking names and making comments about "Latecomers" I would be so angry. Makes me relieved/happy that I am no longer at school and out of it for both myself and my parents.

Of course there are those who don't care/need coercising in some way but that's not the majority. Its similar with the carry on over uniforms but at last(why has it taken so long?)that subject seems to have been featured in the media/parliament and something may happen to bring costs down as long as it doesn't drag on and it will be too late for many already having difficulties.

I'd say likewise over when holidays are taken. Some commonsense/give and take could work or is that too easy?

I think/I know its cold today without looking at the thermometer but I don't feel so bad(I have avoided going out)I am dressed in appropriate clothes and/or have found the quilt kept me adequately warm earlier.

Been very sleepy today and still not fully awake. Will see how things are later...heard a timid knock on the front door a few minutes ago(didn't get chance to see who it was)and I was not prepared for anyone, if important they'll call back(why not put something through the letterbox)and they only knocked once anyhow.

FairyPrincessk

Afternoon all,

Its been a quiet morning. The heating clicked on at one point. I kept smelling it (I know that sounds strange!) and finally realized what it was. I had to dash downstairs and turn it off. We've never had a thermostat before. It was set at 15, although I don't think it was that cold in the house, or perhaps I'm just well dressed.

I've got some bread rising to go with tonight's soup. Its a lentil and coconut one that is delicious. I've also got my apple spice candle burning, and a nice apple herbal tea. Feeling very cozy, esp. now that unpacking is done and I'm settling back into my quiet. I've started planning for teaching, so I know it won't last, but its nice to enjoy being at home:)

I'd like to second Katep23's request. I probably wont' get around to it now, but I can add it to the file..which reminds me, I haven't been out into the garden to see what is what. I'm such a nosy little so and so, always wanting to know what the plants are up to.:rotfl::rotfl:

Margaret54

Hi everyone Keep warm Pops. It is cold here today and wet now. Put a small wash on the clothes horse. Have heating on low. dh is on night shift again tonight and have chilli con carne defrosting in the fridge which I made extra last week. cook once eat twice handy for days like this.:) Just need to cook some rice to go with it tonight.
So sorry to hear of people having such a tough time. Different worries sometimes similar, all important no matter how big or how small. If it is a worry it is a worry to us.
Did anyone watch Blackout last night? I did and it was so scarey. I remember GreyQueen talking about something similar over on the W.S.H.F forum and lots of people posted about what if.... My dh watched it too and he said look at how fast law and order breaks down. The wee girl had mentioned the generator in front of the people who looked over the fence and of course they came looking to take it and the food the family had. It really was awful scarey. It really made us think....

Pooky

Afternoon all

Was a lovely fresh, crisp morning, had the back door open whilst having breakfast and it was a lovely nippy breeze freshening the place up.....it's now blowing a gale and lashing down, so glad we got out this morning.

DD2 has a stinking cold (the joys of going back to school) and she looked like death warmed up this morning so went back to bed...got her a bottle of lucozade and a puzzle book whilst I was out and she's now sitting up in bed enjoying both. She loves school and rarely has time off, so when she says she's not up to it, I know she must be feeling utterly dreadful.

Spent a couple of hours deep cleaning the bathroom in readiness to decorate in there tomorrow, whilst I'd love a new bathroom, this one is still functional so we will ignore the "champagne" colour suite with gold colour fittings that have seen better days......a coat of paint and a new cupboard in there will do for now. (paint was a bargain £4.59 for a large tin of dulux bathroom specific paint - reduced from £29 a tin)

Sausages and wedges for tea, have lots of lovely marinades from AF so will coat the sausages in something sticky and warming and leave the potatoes with just a dash of black pepper and some herbs. Yum!

[Deleted User]

Hi LJ yes we do grow most of it, we are lucky enough to not only have 1/6th of an acre of garden but an allottment as well. We have a greenhouse and a 24' x 12' polytunnel too and apple trees on the front garden. We do get all the villages windfall and surplus apples for making the cider though and we share out some of the brew when it's ready to drink, nice thing to do and folks like the cider too.

KATE and FPK the bread and butter pickle is the quickest and easiest I've ever made

Bread and Butter Pickle

3 large cucumbers sliced
3 level tablespoons salt
4 onions skinned and sliced
1 pint of white vinegar (also works with malt vinegar)
6 oz white sugar
1 teaspoon celery seed
1 teaspoon mustard seed (yellow, brown or black)

Place the cucumbers, onions and salt in a large bowl, turn all over with your hands to spread the salt and leave for 1 hour. Meanwhile make the vinegar mix, put the vinegar, sugar, celery seed and mustard seed into a saucepan, bring it to the boil stirring until the sugare is dissolved and then simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool a little. Sterilize some screw topped jars with plastic coating on the lids (I find mayonnaise/pickle jars work ok). After the hour of soaking tip the cucumber etc. into a colander and drain the liquid then rinse under the tap and leave to drain again. Pack into the jars and pour over the vinegar making sure the top of the jar is covered with the vinegar, no veg showing through it. It is ready to use after 1 week.

This makes 3 good sized jars and even He Who Knows who doesn't like cucumber will eat it!!! Cheers Lyn xxx.

Pooky

Oh that sounds delish Mrs LW. What a great way to use up cucumbers!

katieowl_2

kidcat wrote: »

I broke down, this week he has taken our names twice already and we have received two fines for taking DS9 on holiday last June which we only did due to the boys disabilities. I pointed out that I couldnt do any better and that if it wasnt good enough then it wasnt good enough. I have nothing left to give - I cannot get from DD7 school to DS9 school any quicker - they are 3 miles apart and its heavy traffic, I manage it in 7 minutes which is the best I can do.

Thankfully she has agreed to have the morning guy leave us alone and not take our names any more - his condescending comments every morning of ooh running a little late are we, were really getting me down, I did say yesterday no I am not I am simply running, but he doesnt seem to get it.

What a Kn*b. I hope he does leave you alone, I don't know how some people sleep at night, knowing how nasty they are!

XXX