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

fuddle

You may remember our microwave broke when we moved last December? Well we never replaced it and although I miss my homemade rice warmers (nothing a hot water bottle doesn't solve - that's another story as I left the water in one of them and it now needs replacing. School boy I know!) the only other thing I miss my microwave for is jacket potatoes.

I know I can do them in the oven and they really are delish this way but I don't like to without a big batch to freeze (senseless as moving) and/or another use at the same time.

I want to make jacket potatoes for the chilli this evening (DH been in Glasgow last night for works meeting. His meal was 'posh' and nothing to it so wants a good home cooked tea tonight) and in my determination not to use the oven I am going to try in the slow cooker

http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-bake-a-potato-in-the-slow-cooker-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-189271

If this works I will be over the moon and will buy a decent milk pan for warming bedtime drinks because I can't see how I would need to have a microwave again.

Have a good day everyone

Cutest sorry I can't give any tips on making jam. All I did was chuck everything in and hope for the best. I didn't have a thermometer or pectin. I used lemon juice and sugar. My attempts were delicious but didn't set brilliantly but still perfect on toast. Good luck! Let us know how you get on

katieowl_2

fuddle wrote: »

I want to make jacket potatoes for the chilli this evening (DH been in Glasgow last night for works meeting. His meal was 'posh' and nothing to it so wants a good home cooked tea tonight) and in my determination not to use the oven I am going to try in the slow cooker

http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-bake-a-potato-in-the-slow-cooker-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-189271

Worth a go Fuddle. I must say though that the thing I use the Combi Microwave for most is Jacket potatoes. I can't ever bring myself to put the electric oven on for them...and being GF they are my staple diet, the combi bit even makes crispy skin. I want to try making rice pud in the slow cooker too, but I was a bit worried that it might have a slight gravy tang, being as how it's only ever been used for stews?

Thanks for the reminder to buy the Mirror Whiteguineapig!!! I'll buy one for DD too! I've stuck it on my shopping list for town!

My pasties are in the oven now...when they are cold I can pack and deliver them, and I made a list earlier of my 'to do's' in town, and shopping.

Really trying not to go unless I absolutely have to, and save petrol. My 'new' car (a Punto) is MUCH more economic on the gas than the Renault was - mind you it was firing all wrong, so I dare say using more petrol than it should. It's been a complete life saver too, that the bloke who's taken DS on as apprentice, is collecting him every morning and dropping him home, so we only need to do the runs on College day! Think if I'd had to do that daily, it would have finished me off, financially and physically LOL!

Still itchy this morning, now I'm up and I was so HOT in bed I thought I was going to combust. We have heavy mist here again today, so it's not exactly warm! Yesterday apparently there was a big pod of 30+ dolphins off Cardigan Island, I would have gone to have a look, but it was so foggy there was no point

Placed an order with Approved foods on Tuesday, the first I've done for ages, as it seemed that everytime I looked it was just carp. They had some dog food that mine like, and also a brand DD's doggle likes, so we split an order. They also had the vile disgusting, tooth rotting energy drink that DS likes to guzzle at a bargain price, so if I HAVE to buy it, I'll have 3 for £1 thanks!!!

I've got some pasty filling left - Saag Aloo - made with our spinach and next doors spuds (she can't sell the big ones, people only want tiny ones - and once they've been dug up she says they don't keep - there are only two of them and she avoids carbs, so she gives them to me sometimes :T) So there's enough for a side dish if I base dinner around that. Might defrost some chicken for a curry.

DS's boss has just called OH to ask if he can quote for a job too, so fingers crossed that comes off!

Kate

iris

gailey wrote: »

Afternoon guys hope every ones ok.

sorry jem you going through hard time.

I may be home educating younger 2 and nearly considered it with eldest when 1st primary went wrong but thankfully we moved her and now have 1.2mile walk each way.


usual slow week been 7 days not heard about housing benefit.

sent off tax credits form but that,s meant to take 3 weeks.

been no agency work so far this week really could have done with couple days.

seen few vacancies I can apply for.

I went for short 5k run yesterday as want to get back to fitness, lose a bit of weight and just escape the family troubles ended up taking detour thinking be short cut ended up 10miles+ took 2hours.
Today im so achey and tired.

Trying to stay positive. the weathers nice this week that helps.

Having a go at making the lemon cheese cake later.

today was payday hubby,s last pay day from old job just 2 weeks pay so not much only covers half our bills.

hes gets paid friday from agency.

Im really stressed about food so went big tesco ended up spending £60 more than wanted to spend but had nothing in store cupboards.

brought tinned fruit,frozen veg, rice, lentils,passatta, beans , stock ect all stuff can use with reduced stuff in freezer.

Somethings were really cheap but find their pricey for meat, frut and veg and was shocked how much their value pepper was £1.13 and herbs were 85p when sainsburys used to be 19 p not sure what they are now its really does pay shop around just thourght biggest tesco have widest range vaue products.

got 2reduced indina ready meal boxes but really was wrong time to buy reductions.

made hubby compare weights on best value cheese and pasta.

got 2packs value nappies as hate running out.

with some things like value wipes /nappies big 4 seem to pricefix.

tesco value ketchup 18p winner in this house and value choc mouse 18p as was paying 35p co-op.

few packet mixes 30p each for the reduced meats in freezer.

But so many price tags missing annoyed me.

dident get eggs, potatoes or coffee as seemed really pricey.

shocked at price of tuna.

if we can we need to do £25 shop farmfoods get lots frozen fish , will keep doing reductions trying to keep food shop to £100 this month which started today unsure pay date for new job.

its day 3 hubby not smoking hes doing well.

im struggling with energy levels skipping meals and just snacking.

nearly fell asleep in garden earlier.

im just so tired think im mentally drained by it all trying to be positive,

hubbys been home 6 weeks tommorow and now realises how hard it is.

so still living day by day we can just about cover next few weeks if we careful but if no benefits come through im bit worried.

had to say no to eldest over after school sports club and feel bad about that.

still trying to give illusion every things good.

dads coming over on weekend.told him hubby,s changing jobs.

I know im fortunate we live in fairly nice area but in some ways makes me feel worse as feel truly alone least in more inner city areas there,s more mixed incomes and families, a sense of community, hubby thinks im mad but here is so showy.

Trying to find few cheap things with kids , suppost to be checking out sure start which is 3 miles away, try new toddler group.

I know i just need to get out and not isolate myself like we have been but its hard.


I have a bad feeling things wont improve for a few months just hard not being able to plan.

trying to focus on the little things.enjoy the small moments.

Hope everything improves for you soon.

Have you tried this cake. It's really nice and keeps well and best of all it's easy to make and cheap.

"Moist" Lemon Cake

One of our family favourites. I costed the recipe it was about 65p to make makes 8-10 slices
Ingredients

100g margarine
75g caster sugar (I only use about 25g as don't like things too sweet)
2 eggs
175g self-raising flour
1 jar lemon curd(Value is fine ) - I only use 3/4 of a jar
1 level teaspoon baking powder

Method

1. Pre heat the oven to 180 degrees centigrade. Grease a 2lb loaf tin (I line with baking parchment)
2. Place all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix together for about 5 minutes
3. Pour the cake mixture into the prepared tin level the top.
4. Bake for approximately 40 minutes until browned.

This cake gets moister the longer you leave it, if you can!!!

kidcat

Fuddle - I have done jacket potatoes in my SC regularly and they are fine. I prefer oven baked ones but wont waste that much electricity unless its on for something else. If I am using the oven as the potatoes are due out I often throw them into the oven for ten minutes to crisp up.

Katie - I did rice pudding for the first time this year in my SC last week and there was no crossover of taste at all. I did consider next time I do it for group though, using a bowl to cook the pudding in one side of the SC and using the other side for jacket spuds.


Mega busy as usual here, but I am pleased that I am managing to get everything done that I need to and so far its working for me.

Possession

I regularly make rice pud in the slow cooker, it's lovely. I've only tried baked potatoes once and I must say I didn't like them - felt like they had a peculiar taste and the skin texture wasn't right, but I read that if you rub them with oil before you wrap them in foil they're better so will try that next time.
Very bleurgh here, at emergency vets last night until after midnight (glad we got that pet insurance ...), then up at 6 as normal doing school-y things. Have to go back to the vets this afternoon but they seem a lot better than last night anyway.

[Deleted User]

CUTEST jam is easy, I never use the special jam sugar but only granulated. Blackberries are nice in a jam, I prefer them in a jelly as I don't like the pips. The jam will contain enough pectin to set well if you use half and half blackberries and apples but if you're worried add in the juice of a lemon, it won't alter the taste, neither will the apples. You can soak wild blackberries over night in salt water to make sure any bugs are dealt with. The proportion of sugar to jam is 1lb of sugar to each1lb of fruit and make sure that the fruit is cooked completely before you add the sugar as the fruit stops softening when the sugar is added. Keep stirring the mix until the sugar is completely dissolved, you'll know as it stops crunching on the bottom of the pan when you're stirring, then cook it until it reaches the setting point. Have your jars warmed in the oven to sterilize them and pot the jam when it it hot into the hot jars, and I put lids on at that point it makes the jam keep better, Hope that helps, Cheers Lyn xxx.

monnagran

Morning all.

Unusual for me to be here at this time, but it's a displacement activity. I am supposed to be doing my monthly church magazine or ironing. Those are the two things I'm determined to get started today. Seemingly not determined enough.

The Rev is out, having a gossip with another Rev who is also going through a hard time with his church. Why do they do it? It's hardly a mega well paid job considering they appear to work an 80 hour week. They are supposed to have one day off a week but I've yet to see it. At least that is the good ones, I'm sure the lazy ones have nowhere near those hours, and they are the ones who seem to float through life with none of the hassles that the conscientious ones suffer.

Clambers down from soapbox.

It's a fast day here so no cooking.:j:j

The weight loss is slow, mostly because we don't stick to it as assiduously as we should, but I have gone down 2 dress sizes and am having to jettison some trousers as they are even too loose for the safety-pin to cope with. It is wonderful to feel comfortable in clothes again and not feeling that I am going to burst out of them at any moment.

Oh, my! Look at the time.
Does anyone else know that saying....

My God!
Look at the time.
Not a po emptied,
Not a !!!!! painted,
And the house full of Spaniards.

Heaven only knows where it comes from or what it means and when I quote it people look at me suspiciously.

Anyway, it must be coffee time. I'm due a break after spending most of the morning doing zilch.:D

x

Ah, I see the sensibility police are about this morning.!!!!! begins with W ends with E and rhymes with door.

katieowl_2

kidcat wrote: »

Katie - I did rice pudding for the first time this year in my SC last week and there was no crossover of taste at all. I did consider next time I do it for group though, using a bowl to cook the pudding in one side of the SC and using the other side for jacket spuds.

Genius...I never thought of using a separate bowl!

Kate

nuttyp

Morning toughies, how are you all?? I made the trip to @ldi via the paper shop. I bought the mirror for the vouchers. Got to the store and it was packed already, see everyone is joining the band wagon. A lady behind me had 2 vouchers and was separating her stuff into 2 lots.

I have a wedding to go to tomorrow, and I am not organised at all, I have work later on so tonight will be ironing of suits etc.

If I get more time off work then I hope to be able to start baking again soon.

Have a nice day everyone, looks like a good washing drying day.

savingqueen

Thanks for mirrer reminders - I bought 3 in allydees themselves but forgot both the shopping bags and list to use any of them... and actually was so hungry after the gym I had to go home and have brunch. I will use one for this week's ordinary shop, one for next weeks and the final to build up some stocks. I actually ran out of baked beans the other day.... unheard of, we get through tons, a fav breakfast for DS9 for one thing. One small downside to having stocks (without a proper inventory or system ) is I assume we always have the basics in.... and 99/100 we do!

DS6 had yet another big wobble at his new swimming class last night. he only made it as far as getting changed and sitting on the poolside waiting to get in and he put his hand up and I could see him crying. Poor love was shaking like a leaf but able to tell me he was scared. Disappointed for him after all we have been through last couple of years but at least he was able to get upset rather than angry and express it which is massive progress in itself... just not unfortunately in swimming. They have a parent and child session, (no instruction) another night so will take him to that.... a big step backwards but better than not going at all. Downside it, apart from having to go 2 separate eves and leaving DS9 on his own in the waiting area whilst DS6 and I get changed twice.... is yes I have to get in the water too :eek: wobbly bits, thread vein map of Europe and all the trimmings. Good news is I have 2 other friends who are willing to bare all (or nearly all) for the sake of their offspring.

Better get off me bum and get busy again, fighting the urge to lie down and sleep. Need a bath and hairwash so that's next and then hit the shops prepared to battle for the bargains.

sq:)