Preparing for Winter V

Cherryfudge

Thank you for all your ideas, @fionaandphil, @sammy_kaye18, @Laura_Elsewhere and @MrsCD, and apologies if I've missed anyone. I now have a long list to refer to! There are some very good ideas there that I don't think I've ever had in reserve, though some are in the kitchen cupboards for regular use.

I am missing those little boxes of dried onions you used to be able to get... though I've just looked and there are packs on that there big river company.

@sammy_kaye18, those Fray Bentos pies! They bring back memories - my Dad used to get the meat part and I, who hated the meat but loved (still love) pastry, got the top. And they wouldn't take up much cupboard space.

I've thought of a couple more: peanut butter for easy protein (and to use up the inevitable bananas) and also tins of ratatouille. Also oats because overnight oats are always good and don't need to be cooked (and can use up bananas).

Nelliegrace

When did the supermarkets stop selling dried onions? I used to keep some, but then bought fresh, wonky onions.
Aldi sell onion granules with the small jars of spices. I was looking at the ingredients in gravy powder now it is getting expensive and hard to find, (potato starch, salt, wheat starch, colour, onion powder, inactive yeast powder.)

DH likes these bright pocket torches, Letmy A50 Tactical Flashlight. £7.99 for two from Am….

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I have one of these with rechargeable batteries within reach by my bed in case of power cuts at night. Don’t trust the magnet though, I broke a few in the garage when the magnet unstuck from the light as I switched them on.

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boultdj

I buy dried veg from BWFO [Buy Whole Food Online] they do a good range including single veg as well as mixed.

Floss

Nelliegrace said:

 I was looking at the ingredients in gravy powder now it is getting expensive and hard to find, (potato starch, salt, wheat starch, colour, onion powder, inactive yeast powder.)

I use cornflour & a teaspoon of Marmite.

Nelliegrace

Thank you @Floss  I have both of those.
Rhonda Hetzel has a recipe on her blog Down to Earth, which is a useful resource, though she has stopped writing now.

https://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2016/07/gravy-mix-from-scratch.html

My first thought if there are severe weather warnings is have we enough milk. We have long life milk, evap, and dried milk.
We have plenty of flour and other ingredients for bread and cakes.
There is porridge and muesli, porridge is a good comfort food. 
There are always ingredients for soup, lentil soup is quick and easy.
We have eggs and more eggs from the hens. We keep a spare sack of feed.
Tinned fish are a good store item, basic sardines and pilchards are cheap. 
(We have loo rolls.)

We bought a Kelly Kettle set when they were on offer, so I could boil water and cook in the garden, but I hope it will never be needed. 

https://www.kellykettle.com/uk/kits

Wednesday2000

Nelliegrace said:

Rhonda Hetzel has a recipe on her blog Down to Earth, which is a useful resource, though she has stopped writing now.

https://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2016/07/gravy-mix-from-scratch.html

I was thinking about her blog the other day, weirdly enough, as I used to read it sometimes.

sammy_kaye18

@Nelliegrace why would you do that? Between the YouTube people I follow I now have a blog to read! Doh! 

I have to be honest I havent used gravy granules in a while after I learnt to make my own gravy. 

Make a basic rue start of the melted butter and flour and then use the meat juices from your joint or roast and stir until it cooks the flour out, then strain it into a jug or cup or whatever you serve it in. 

Tastes much better and I sometimes add onion or pepper to it then as well. 

Family prefer it as well and nothings wasted then. Ive also made it that way with just the butter, flour and a stock cube before now too. 

mumtoomany

Hi all, @Nelliegrace. Just looked at Rhonda's blog. It seems she's started up again. Another rabbit hole to fall down and waste time! Hugs, mumtoomany.xx

Nelliegrace

You can always knit a dishcloth while you read @sammy_kaye18

I have her books on Kindle. She writes well about her struggle to get debt free. 
Her laundry liquid recipe has saved me a lot of money.
The whole orange cake is good. 
I copied her idea for a wire basket of random napkins on the table, though mine are inexpensive, eB vintage linens. 

sammy_kaye18

Nelliegrace said:

You can always knit a dishcloth while you read @sammy_kaye18

I have her books on Kindle. She writes well about her struggle to get debt free. 
Her laundry liquid recipe has saved me a lot of money.
The whole orange cake is good. 
I copied her idea for a wire basket of random napkins on the table, though mine are inexpensive, eB vintage linens. 

I get a feeling I may get lost enough in her blog let alone her books!