*Stop The Cavalry* It's The 2014 Christmas Chatter Thread

lulu_92

freespirit66 wrote: »

LULU i have left a slow cooker while i have been out with no problem, lots of people prep in the morning or the night before and switch on while they are at work to come home to a cooked dinner

Thanks for this. I have heard of people doing this, my ex used to do this constantly but it was a case of convincing OH that the house won't catch fire!:rotfl: Luckily he has said that we can go shopping for some ingredients next week - bring on winter soups and stews!

mandco wrote: »

lulu thanks for the link some great jewellery bargains.

No problem, I'm glad I can be of help. I came home to two little parcels when I got home last night. One had two pairs of moustache earrings and the other had the matching necklace. What I'm going to do is find some cheap jewellery gift boxes and present them in there. Earring ones should be a doddle to find!

Today's Christmas song that is stuck in my head - Christmas Wrapping by the Waitresses:rotfl:

mrsinvisible

Hi, Lulu and Arthien, slow cooker soup recipes are easy peasy, yesterdays was 1 chicken stock cube, 1 carrot one onion 1 green pepper 2 broccoli florettes and a cabbage leaf all chopped up small top up with 1litre of water and away it goes.
Previous day was half a cauliflower, half a head of broccoli 1 onion and 1 potato all chopped up and stock cube water as previous. Add a swirl of cream, (l use one of those sachets they have in cafes) before serving.
Todays is 1 onion 2 potatoes 4oz red lentils, 1 tsp each turmeric garam masala and cumin, heaped tstp garlic paste. Can add chopped toms or tom paste if you like it, liquid as before.
I make them in my small slow cooker as there is only me and DGS to eat them, but if l need more l use my bigger cooker and increase the quantities.
I add whatever herbs are about and a helping of black pepper, but think the stock cube is salty enough so don't add any more.
I leave it on until l want it, so it is left alone for hours sometimes, and is fine.
Sun shining today, so out with the washing, and maybe an hour or so in the garden.xxx

mrsd1984

Thank you lulu for the jewellery link. I've ordered a couple of bracelets this morning. I've also ordered a couple of games for my ds and J Lewis have wrapping paper at 50p per roll and free click and collect if you live close enough, so ordered 4 rolls and 2 packs of gift tags for £3. I'm guessing they'll be good quality from there!

Ruth_honey

Just popping in really quickly before I go to my craft group.
The sweetie jar sounds like a great idea. But, I once put candles and chocolate coins next to each other in a box after Christmas (unpacking suitcase from Christmas visit home) and the coins took on the smell (and taste!) of the candles quite quickly. So I'd be concerned with YC that they would make the sweets taste odd.

You're gonna hate me for saying this, but I was plugging in my slow cooker to cook up a meal while we went out and when I plugged it in, I could hear a funny noise. Turned out the fuse was sparking in the plug. I'm guessing this is very rare and it would just as likely happen with another appliance-washing machine, fridge etc, but I thought I'd mention it.

Oh a nicer note, the Christmas book has been posted, Feisty. I hope you enjoy it. Had some brilliant post the other day. Chrissie Manby has sent me a signed book for a charity fun day I'm helping with. She also included an extra book for me and a hand written note. If she wasn't already my favourite author, she definitely would be now!

lulu_92

Ruth_honey wrote: »

You're gonna hate me for saying this, but I was plugging in my slow cooker to cook up a meal while we went out and when I plugged it in, I could hear a funny noise. Turned out the fuse was sparking in the plug. I'm guessing this is very rare and it would just as likely happen with another appliance-washing machine, fridge etc, but I thought I'd mention it.

This is what I'm scared of! I suppose I leave the house at 7am, could get OH to make it before he leaves at 11:30. I get home at 6:30pm but he normally has a break that he comes home for between 4pm and 5pm, so it's not too bad..

It used to belong to his nan but we don't know if it's much cop to be honest.

Thanks for the soup recipes mrsinvisible - will definitely try them out! Glad you liked the link and I hope you enjoy the fruits of your labour!

System

I use my slow cooker a lot -it goes on at 8 am and is switched off around 4pm . A lot of the time its just random bits I throw in with a sauce it almost always turn out ok.[don't use any sauces that need milk:doh:]

Christmas wise I've ordered the bulk of my gifts for OH & DD today im just left with bits and bobs to get now.

Arthien

lulu_92 wrote: »

This is what I'm scared of! I suppose I leave the house at 7am, could get OH to make it before he leaves at 11:30. I get home at 6:30pm but he normally has a break that he comes home for between 4pm and 5pm, so it's not too bad..

It used to belong to his nan but we don't know if it's much cop to be honest.

Thanks for the soup recipes mrsinvisible - will definitely try them out! Glad you liked the link and I hope you enjoy the fruits of your labour!

I use mine overnight probably twice a week, and my colleague puts hers on first thing in the morning and then comes back from work to a cooked dinner. Neither of us have ever had any issues but I guess there is always a risk with anything electrical. I would definitely recommend a new one though, older electrical items can be more hazardous. I got mine from Tesco, I think I paid £8, but an identical one is now £15 but on the double-up clubcard thingy.

Thanks mrsinvisible, I'll save the recipes in my book of tasty things to make One question though, do you blend them or leave them chunky?

All this talk of winter food and Christmas, combined with the chilly nights is making me think about getting the electric blanket out soon, mmmm snuggly

ETA: freespirit would this website be any good for sweets if you can't find them in the shops? Something like the apple and watermelon fizz balls or the apple and cinnamon balls? http://www.aquarterof.co.uk/choose-colour-green-c-10036_10043.html?setThumbSize=large

Not sure if this site might be cheaper, but I've got stuck on sweet shopping now lol http://www.thetraditionalsweetshop.co.uk/section.php/9/va/boiled-sweets

And finally, googling 'red white green sweets' brought up this, which I thought would be cute for finishing off the jars http://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Ribbon-SWEETS-Presents~Gifts~Cards~Scrap-Booking~Decoration/dp/B004ZPF7BI

princesskitty29

Just popping on to say hi, Wriggle has been keeping me busy the last couple of days! Not much has been going on here apart from feeding, burping and changing nappies so I don't have much to report!

freespirit really love the money/sweetie jar idea. I'm hoping to make this for a friend this year:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/568086940466862824/

freespirit66

Afternoon everyone,

MANDCO it was a relief as well as a surprise haha oh thats good to know that they are around in those colours, thankyou, blimey the sweet tins already

RUTHHONEY aah i never thought of that with the candles you are right they are really strong, scrap that then OMG how lovely of her to think of you as well, i bet you were thrilled Can you remember when the luggage stickers finish? As i didnt get any last week with my online shop and wondered if it has finished, if so i will get them posted to you

MRSD thanks for the John Lewis tip about wrapping paper

ARTHIEN oh thankyou for those links i have put them in my favourites to have a browse thats very kind of you and i love the ribbon that is now on my wish list

PRINCESSKITTY oh that was one of the things i asked about the miniature booze bottles for they would make such lovely gifts wouldnt they? How is DH? Has he persisted with the feeding?

doodygirl

Hi just popping on to let you all know that toys r us is free delivery this weekend and there's lot f stocking fillers on there starting from 96p!