I have lost my OS ways, help!

moments_of_sanity

Really enjoying reading this thread and some great advice been given.

I was made redundant last year and due to having CFS and RA I have been unable to go back to work and we have just found out that my 365 days of contribution based ESA is ending (won't put me in support group as they don't consider me to not be able to work) :mad:

I worked full time for the last 26 years so this year has been really tough for us all as before this I was so active, running 30 miles a week and walking my dogs 3 miles every day but sadly getting my shoes tied up now is enough to wear me out and cause pain, not to mention the huge salary hit we have taken.

So now we have discovered my ESA has stopped we are going to have to manage on one salary (2 adults, 1 17 yr old girl, 2 dogs and 2 cats, eldest DD has just gone to Uni for her first year) which is going to be incredibly tight as DH is a courier on not a lot of money :eek:

I am hoping the October GC you are doing Caterina will give me inspiration on menus etc so I look forward to reading more of everyone's posts.

Please don't judge me for having the pets, we have had the cats for 8 years, 1 dog for 5 years and the other for 4 years and it would break my heart to have to part with them (sorry, it has been mentioned to me in RL that I rehome them so that it would be easier on us)

[Deleted User]

MOS your pets are part of the family and I know I love mine (well most days!) as much as I love the rest of the human family so how could we possibly judge you for loving yours???

I was most impressed by the prices in my local Al*i when I went this morning, finding thngs like soap and handwash cheaper than in the 99p shops. I spent just over £7 and came out with a pack of ham, a pack of pate, some soft light cheese, a jar of pesto, a jar of horseradish sauce, a jar of tartare sauce, 2 packs of sweet and sour stir fry sauce , a big pack of chestnut mushrooms, 4 bars of soap and a dispenser of anti bacterial handwash which is amazingly good value. It all helps to stretch the pension and give us a better standard of living so well worth a look in if you have a branch nearby, Lyn xxx.

moments_of_sanity

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

MOS your pets are part of the family and I know I love mine (well most days!) as much as I love the rest of the human family so how could we possibly judge you for loving yours???

I was most impressed by the prices in my local Al*i when I went this morning, finding thngs like soap and handwash cheaper than in the 99p shops. I spent just over £7 and came out with a pack of ham, a pack of pate, some soft light cheese, a jar of pesto, a jar of horseradish sauce, a jar of tartare sauce, 2 packs of sweet and sour stir fry sauce , a big pack of chestnut mushrooms, 4 bars of soap and a dispenser of anti bacterial handwash which is amazingly good value. It all helps to stretch the pension and give us a better standard of living so well worth a look in if you have a branch nearby, Lyn xxx.

Thank you, my pets are part of my family and give me lots of love and company when the house is empty and quiet.

I do have an Aldi nearby and do use it occasionally, maybe I need to use it more! I bought some LED light bulbs for the living room last month as I had read lots of reviews on the energy they save. We are pretty frugal anyway but need to focus my mind a little more and make better use of what we have, maybe pad out meals with more veg/pulses etc rather than the majority of it being meat based.

[Deleted User]

MOS I'm using some TVP mince to bulk out things like shepherds pie mince and bolognese sauce. It's really cheap to buy, I get mine in a health food shop and it's under £2 for 500g which when it's soaked up means I can use 2/3 the amount of mince the recipe uses and 1/3 TVP and not taste the difference. You can get plain or flavoured and it's a personal taste as to which you use and I use a measuring jug to soak the soya before cooking it with the meat and use 2fl oz measure of dry TVP and top it up with 4 fl oz of hot water (6 fl oz in all) and a beef oxo cube and leave it for 15 minutes to rehydrate and increase in volume. Then just cook it in with the mince in the normal way you make the recipe you're doing. That's the basic method but you can add in any herbs or spices that you like to add flavour. It's a very old fashioned stretcher of meat that we used in the 70s when we were just together in our first house and very broke!!!

I should have said that 2oz of soaked up TVP is the equivalent of 1/3 of a pound of mince so the 500g packet should make up to about1 and a half kilos of bulking agent for meat and will last you a very long time.

moments_of_sanity

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

MOS I'm using some TVP mince to bulk out things like shepherds pie mince and bolognese sauce. It's really cheap to buy, I get mine in a health food shop and it's under £2 for 500g which when it's soaked up means I can use 2/3 the amount of mince the recipe uses and 1/3 TVP and not taste the difference. You can get plain or flavoured and it's a personal taste as to which you use and I use a measuring jug to soak the soya before cooking it with the meat and use 2fl oz measure of dry TVP and top it up with 4 fl oz of hot water (6 fl oz in all) and a beef oxo cube and leave it for 15 minutes to rehydrate and increase in volume. Then just cook it in with the mince in the normal way you make the recipe you're doing. That's the basic method but you can add in any herbs or spices that you like to add flavour. It's a very old fashioned stretcher of meat that we used in the 70s when we were just together in our first house and very broke!!!

I should have said that 2oz of soaked up TVP is the equivalent of 1/3 of a pound of mince so the 500g packet should make up to about1 and a half kilos of bulking agent for meat and will last you a very long time.

Thank you so much, I have never heard of TVP so will have a look for it. I have tried quorn mince and I have to say, it was awful, we ate one mouthful and couldn't eat anymore. Does TVP taste similar?

Caterina

Hello moments_of_sanity, good to see you here, hope you will participate to the conversation. Why ever would anyone judge you for your pets, other than thinking how lovely, another animal lover? :T

Just talking about TVP, do you know Approved Food? They sometimes sell Granose stuff, similar to TVP but with different flavours, at ridiculously good prices. Also you can use lentils to bulk up meat dishes. Or even a handful of oats!

Sorry I am just posting quickly because my babysitting time is due in 10 minutes and I got to rush.

Not going to the cinema because DH is tired, suits me fine, I have seen the film free before (preview) and it saves a tenner, what's not to like? :rotfl:

Good night all x

motomoto_2

Hi I'm a lurker !

Caterina please could you share how to make the greek yogurt with the organic milk please ?

Thanks in advance !!!!

Floss

Caterina, don't forget that your bargain cyclamen can go in the garden when it's finished flowering this autumn

Caterina

Hello again after my babysit,

Hello motomoto, I make normal yogurt with full fat milk, warm up the milk almost to boiling point then cover and let cool to around 40 degrees C. Hand hot, I found it is a bit trial and error. Add yogurt from a reputable company, I use Yeo Valley, to ensure it has enough bacteria to create a new batch. Whisk it. (1 lt milk will need 3-4 tbsps yogurt). Put it in a wide mouthed flask which I have previously warmed up with hot water, also to sterilise it, then wrap a woolen blanket around the flask and out it all in a cardboard box lined with old cushions. I leave it for around 24 hours but in winter when I have the radiator on I can leave it for less, near the radiator. The yogurt is a bit grainy but usually not too acidic. The consistency is not as thick or smooth as Greek yogurt. If you want to turn it into Greek style yogurt you can strain it in a double muslin until some of the whey has drained, you can also add a bit of cream to it to make it creamier. Hope it helps.

Hello Floss, thank you for the suggestion!

Off to sleep with a nice big mug of camomile tea now, good night!

motomoto_2

thank you caterina !

could you use this ? ( but with milk rather than using sachets ? )


> http://www.lakeland.co.uk/7531/EasiYo-Yoghurt-Maker?src=gfeed&s_kwcid=AL!49!3!54932994389!!!g!42887479344!&ef_id=U@fMGAAAATIOpWX-:20141002054000:s

Thanks