Ultimate Use by/sell by challenge

gayleygoo

Primrose, I think it was probably the age of the beans that meant they didn't soften. Some recipes I've found that use dried beans often advise against using old beans. However you can try adding a little vinegar (cider, balsamic, malt or whatever) during cooking to try to soften them. If the recipe asks for treacle you should only add it after the beans have softened (I think there is something in treacle that prevents the beans from softening).

What are those tablets that come with dried peas? Would a bit of one of those in the soaking water maybe help?

[Deleted User]

gayleygoo wrote: »

Primrose, I think it was probably the age of the beans that meant they didn't soften. Some recipes I've found that use dried beans often advise against using old beans. However you can try adding a little vinegar (cider, balsamic, malt or whatever) during cooking to try to soften them. If the recipe asks for treacle you should only add it after the beans have softened (I think there is something in treacle that prevents the beans from softening).

What are those tablets that come with dried peas? Would a bit of one of those in the soaking water maybe help?

They are good old bicarbonate of soda add a teaspoon to hot soaking water for dried beans and peas if needed.

Evil_Olive

Primrose - dunno - you could try.... I've never done that.
The slow cooker is the only thing I've found that worked.
I think I would try the bicarb mentioned by galeygoo & joolzred above if I were you - I'll have a go with my chickpeas too

Ask around about a slowcooker - they're like sandwich toasters and often languish unused on top of the cupboard for years - someone might be glad to get rid. I found mine in the loft when I moved in to my flat - left behind by a previous tenant, along with a 70s fondue set

No, I'm not evil (I think?) I was a massive Buffy Fan back in the day and it's a reference from that </sad geek>

booter

Just making a dent in Grandma's stash of Baileys - this one with a bbe of 08/2007. There's a second bottle with a bbe of 05/2008. Oh dear, how will I ever manage it all Oh, and it goes lovely with the last of my "secret" stash of Cadburys Crème Eggs - dated bbe 7/2007. The egg "yolk" was a bit solid - hence the need for the Baileys :rotfl:

Just re-read. Apparently, this family stashes stuff! Wonder what else has been stashed and where?? :rotfl:

Lilyplonk

Oh dear - found some carrots that were w-a-y past their best - along with a 3wk old shrink-wrapped half swede - in the fridge drawer this weekend ............ while I'm at it, I'll confess to 4 x 3wk-old-leeks as well :eek:.

Saturday - some carrots, swede and two leeks were turned into 'Savoury Mince' using up frozen beef mince and served with some 'gorgon spuds' (long sprouty bits) :rotfl:. The left overs were put into containers.

Sunday - remainder of carrots and swede diced and steamed over some more 'gorgon spuds' with another of the leeks. Served up with frozen pork chops for sunday lunch. Left-over diced carrot/swede was added to the 2 containers of left-over savoury mince which has now gone into the freezer and labelled 'pie filling' :j.

The remaining Leek is still trying to make me feel guilty - it might just get cut up into slices and put into the 'freezer veg drawer'.

WASTE NOT - WANT NOT!

Possession

I'm not sure I actually have anything in my kitchen that's in date.

Lilyplonk

Possession wrote: »

I'm not sure I actually have anything in my kitchen that's in date.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: - seriously though, I'm not sure I have either !

oooh forgot - the fresh milk in the fridge IS definitely 'in date' and so are the four cartons of long-life stuff in the bottom of the spare wardrobe .


dgs3 wondered why he was given biscuits with 'santa/reindeer/snowman faces' on them this weekend - but they were in-date - by three days!

MandM90

Last week we had Alpro light chocolate soya milk in our porridge. It expired in march of last year but tasted great.

I didn't tell OH though...

Possession

Lilyplonk wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: - seriously though, I'm not sure I have either !

oooh forgot - the fresh milk in the fridge IS definitely 'in date' and so are the four cartons of long-life stuff in the bottom of the spare wardrobe .


dgs3 wondered why he was given biscuits with 'santa/reindeer/snowman faces' on them this weekend - but they were in-date - by three days!

Yes actually you're right we do have milk, and I think I could find some cheese that's in date given it has months on it. Plus the children's easter eggs and I dare say some of the tins are in date too. That's probably it though. Good job my MIL doesn't look in my pantry, she would NOT approve.

armyknife

I was on holiday in Egypt, I fancied doing a bit of amateur exploring whilst near one of the major tourist traps.
After a while I found an odd depression in the ground, after a bit, well a lot of digging, I broke through this clay brick wall over some rough steps.
This lead to a little room, which was pilled high with useless stuff, but I did find one jar with some inviting looking yellow goo inside. Turned out to be honey, result!