Preparing for Winter V

Uniscots97

Happy_Sloth said:

Primrose said:

Happy_Sloth said:

i've got an electric pressure cooker, it's been a game changer for dried beans,  i've never had much luck doing them on the stove top.  i'm never organized enough to pre-soak them and even when i do they turn out like bullets. 

I got an electric pressure cooker earlier in the year and even if i did nothing else with it it's worth it for dried beans.  this evening i did black beans from dry in 20 minutes, no soaking needed just straight in, switch on the beans setting job done! 

Goodness, didn,t realise electric pressure cookers existed!

Need to bring mysrlf into the 21st century. 

 Still using the ancient Prestige "Skyline" model we were given as a wedding present 50+ years ago, having bought  an identical replacement for around £3 , for obsolete spare parts,  at a car boot sale about 3 years ago ! 

mines an all in one deal it can be used as a slow cooker or pressure cooker i love it and it's much cheaper to run than a traditional one on a gas stove. 

I've been looking at an instant pot that is a slow cooker, air fryer, pressure cooker and dehydrator. If I'd known anyone that already had one and rated it I probably wouldn't hesitate but the £130 (in the sale) price tag is putting me off slightly as it's a big investment  

ZsaZsa

Uniscots97 said:

Happy_Sloth said:

Primrose said:

Happy_Sloth said:

i've got an electric pressure cooker, it's been a game changer for dried beans,  i've never had much luck doing them on the stove top.  i'm never organized enough to pre-soak them and even when i do they turn out like bullets. 

I got an electric pressure cooker earlier in the year and even if i did nothing else with it it's worth it for dried beans.  this evening i did black beans from dry in 20 minutes, no soaking needed just straight in, switch on the beans setting job done! 

Goodness, didn,t realise electric pressure cookers existed!

Need to bring mysrlf into the 21st century. 

 Still using the ancient Prestige "Skyline" model we were given as a wedding present 50+ years ago, having bought  an identical replacement for around £3 , for obsolete spare parts,  at a car boot sale about 3 years ago ! 

mines an all in one deal it can be used as a slow cooker or pressure cooker i love it and it's much cheaper to run than a traditional one on a gas stove. 

I've been looking at an instant pot that is a slow cooker, air fryer, pressure cooker and dehydrator. If I'd known anyone that already had one and rated it I probably wouldn't hesitate but the £130 (in the sale) price tag is putting me off slightly as it's a big investment  

Mine is a little bit different (is the Sage Fast-Slo model) which is slow cooker/pressure cooker but not a dehydrator (I’ve got a separate, large dehydrator for excess garden produce), nor air fryer; I really don’t need an air fryer

would definitely recommend it. It’s a bit smaller than my old, ceramic bowl type so fits better in the cupboard. I can sauté/sear in the bowl before cooking so saves an additional pan and has a “reduce” setting if anything’s a bit watery at the end. Still getting to grips with the pressure cook function, dried beans are definitely a work in progress but I’m not beat yet 🤣. I think things taste better in the slow cooker than my old one too. Can’t put my figure on why, but in my old one everything tasted a bit bland and pretty much all tasted the same, but this one is much more like an oven cooked casserole etc. 

Happy_Sloth

Uniscots97 said:

Happy_Sloth said:

Primrose said:

Happy_Sloth said:

i've got an electric pressure cooker, it's been a game changer for dried beans,  i've never had much luck doing them on the stove top.  i'm never organized enough to pre-soak them and even when i do they turn out like bullets. 

I got an electric pressure cooker earlier in the year and even if i did nothing else with it it's worth it for dried beans.  this evening i did black beans from dry in 20 minutes, no soaking needed just straight in, switch on the beans setting job done! 

Goodness, didn,t realise electric pressure cookers existed!

Need to bring mysrlf into the 21st century. 

 Still using the ancient Prestige "Skyline" model we were given as a wedding present 50+ years ago, having bought  an identical replacement for around £3 , for obsolete spare parts,  at a car boot sale about 3 years ago ! 

mines an all in one deal it can be used as a slow cooker or pressure cooker i love it and it's much cheaper to run than a traditional one on a gas stove. 

I've been looking at an instant pot that is a slow cooker, air fryer, pressure cooker and dehydrator. If I'd known anyone that already had one and rated it I probably wouldn't hesitate but the £130 (in the sale) price tag is putting me off slightly as it's a big investment  

i have a separate air fryer (which i also LOVE) and i don't think i'd use a dehydrator.  the reason I kept them separate is because often use both at the same time.. meat veg in the instant pot and crispy potato's in the air fryer.    

I'm trying to cook in it as much as possible atm with the price rises it does seem to be much more economical than using the oven or hob.  

Wednesday2000

I just read through the Frugal but happy in winter thread on the first page.:) I don't like it when it is very cold, but I do like autumn and winter in general as it feels very cosy to be inside with fairy lights, hot drinks and warm blankets. I am going to make sure I keep up going for a walk every day despite the weather as I can often get the winter blues once the days get darker.

I made a tomato, red onion and fresh basil soup yesterday so I have a bowl left over for lunch today. I have ordered some frozen butternut squash in the shopping as that is one of my favourite soups ever, especially with a can of coconut milk to make it really thick. I'm going to batch cook that soup this week.

I was watching a Youtuber yesterday and he was talking about Halloween already! Bit early! I think if I get a pumpkin this year I am going to use the flesh to make soup so it isn't wasted. I really like those little cute mini pumpkins you can buy.

HappyinDevon

Don’t forget to keep windows clean, inside and out, I always underestimate the power of light/ solar gain through a clean window, mind you my cottage is on a main road so probably get filthier than most!

Primrose

Wednesday2000 said:

I was watching a Youtuber yesterday and he was talking about Halloween already! Bit early! I think if I get a pumpkin this year I am going to use the flesh to make soup so it isn't wasted. I really like those little cute mini pumpkins you can buy.

I read that pumpkins are going to be much smaller this year and probably in short supply for Halloween due to the drought so anybody planning to buy them should get them early.  All winter squashes store well for several months in a cool frost-free garage or shed.

newlywed

@Wednesday2000 a good waterproof coat with a hood makes a huge difference for all weather walks. I bought my salty sea coats on the usual online auction site and just use nikwax to make sure they are topped up with waterproofness.   

That and a flask of hot coffee to sip… and some contact lenses…. So now I’m happy to walk in all weathers!

Even walking in the cloud and rain made a difference to my winter blues as it’s still more proper daylight than being indoors.


a sunrise alarm clock helps me in the mornings too, mine was a cheapy middle aisle supermarket special and especially when the mornings are dark, I cant do without it now.

newlywed

I have a dilemma…. I went out and bought fleece and fur blankets from charity shops yesterday.  The aim was to hang them with hooks closer to the windows than our eyelet curtains are to keep any heating in if we have paid small fortune for it.

one fur throw is much nicer than my old fleece blanket so my plan was to cut up the older fleece instead… but the new throw is single size and the old is double… would that be a silly idea?  We still have an all seasons quilt and two other double blankets, but we would essentially be losing half a blanket….

actually, we have two other double throws on the sofas but in a complete different colour, so could always put them on the bed too if it was that cold.


I am also struggling to decide whether thermal curtain lining, hung straight across like a blind in front of our patio doors would be warmer or cooler than another fleece blanket (that would have to be bought new for a similar price as I can’t seem to find cheap king size ones.). Anyone tried both and can compare?  And also… anyone have any opinion on which is more likely to har our mildew?  

I was thinking fleece are easier to wash…

leftatthetrafficlights

Uniscots97 said:

Happy_Sloth said:

Primrose said:

Happy_Sloth said:

i've got an electric pressure cooker, it's been a game changer for dried beans,  i've never had much luck doing them on the stove top.  i'm never organized enough to pre-soak them and even when i do they turn out like bullets. 

I got an electric pressure cooker earlier in the year and even if i did nothing else with it it's worth it for dried beans.  this evening i did black beans from dry in 20 minutes, no soaking needed just straight in, switch on the beans setting job done! 

Goodness, didn,t realise electric pressure cookers existed!

Need to bring mysrlf into the 21st century. 

 Still using the ancient Prestige "Skyline" model we were given as a wedding present 50+ years ago, having bought  an identical replacement for around £3 , for obsolete spare parts,  at a car boot sale about 3 years ago ! 

mines an all in one deal it can be used as a slow cooker or pressure cooker i love it and it's much cheaper to run than a traditional one on a gas stove. 

I've been looking at an instant pot that is a slow cooker, air fryer, pressure cooker and dehydrator. If I'd known anyone that already had one and rated it I probably wouldn't hesitate but the £130 (in the sale) price tag is putting me off slightly as it's a big investment  

I've got one of these - bought it a few months ago and love it! I'm really pleased with it- I haven't had a slow cooker for years as everything tasted the same but this really doesn't; dried beans to cooked takes about 40 minutes (no presoaking required); dh is a meat eater and swears by the pressure cook then air fry for his belly pork; potatoes, beetroot, swede etc is all done in minutes- the amount of electricity usage has really reduced as a result of the purchase - we pretty much use it every time we cook! 

maryb

If you buy a pumpkin for Halloween intending to use it for soup afterwards, be careful not to buy one described as a carving pumpkin.  They use a lot more chemicals on those since they're not meant for eating