Preparing for Winter V

Tink_04

We have porridge oats and jam in the cupboard too for stores - packets of cous cous too.

MrsCD

I need to do a stocktake in my prep cupboard to see if I'm short of anything. I'm thinking more about tinned and dried foods in case the electricity goes off and I lose the foods in the freezer! I watched a video on YouTube last night which showed how to 'can' in jars in a hot water bath. She put defrosted raw meat into the Mason jars, packed in tightly, and boiled the jars for 3 hours, after which the jars were left to cool down and sealed themselves. Interesting idea for an emergency.

boultdj

Just a reminder for anyone stocking up on dried goods, store them in glass or tin if mice get in, they will easily eat through thin plastic and then your food is gone.

Cherryfudge

A very good point thanks @boultdj. I am finding that the plastic peanut butter jars I've used for some things aren't quite airtight either, so powder doesn't stay free-flowing.

In fact mice can eat quite thick plastic: there are tooth marks showing how they enlarged the ventilation holes in our kitchen bin!

Working_Mum

I sea swim with friends each week and we used to use my campervan for heating porridge etc in the cold winter months. I've subsequently sold my van so we needed other options. I bought some instant porridge from Waitbloom for our swim on Saturday for 75p per tub. They were very nice.

When I got home I checked out the ingredients - oats, skimmed milk powder & hot water. I measured out half a cup of porridge oats into a small bowl, stirred in 3 dessertspoons of skimmed milk powder and topped up with hot water - I left it for 3 minutes and was amazed at the results! Proper porridge. Helpful if all we have is hot water so thought I'd share.

cornishchick

Working_Mum said:

I sea swim with friends each week and we used to use my campervan for heating porridge etc in the cold winter months. I've subsequently sold my van so we needed other options. I bought some instant porridge from Waitbloom for our swim on Saturday for 75p per tub. They were very nice.

When I got home I checked out the ingredients - oats, skimmed milk powder & hot water. I measured out half a cup of porridge oats into a small bowl, stirred in 3 dessertspoons of skimmed milk powder and topped up with hot water - I left it for 3 minutes and was amazed at the results! Proper porridge. Helpful if all we have is hot water so thought I'd share.

I use a food flask for a very similar recipe. also for cuscus  and those cheap veg rice packs on pack ups , 

Laura_Elsewhere

Working_Mum said:

I sea swim with friends each week and we used to use my campervan for heating porridge etc in the cold winter months. I've subsequently sold my van so we needed other options. I bought some instant porridge from Waitbloom for our swim on Saturday for 75p per tub. They were very nice.

When I got home I checked out the ingredients - oats, skimmed milk powder & hot water. I measured out half a cup of porridge oats into a small bowl, stirred in 3 dessertspoons of skimmed milk powder and topped up with hot water - I left it for 3 minutes and was amazed at the results! Proper porridge. Helpful if all we have is hot water so thought I'd share.

That's very useful- I shall have to experiment with my own post-swim treats this winter at my quarry... porridge would be nice, but also maybe proper homemade rice pudding, with a dollop of homemade damson jam... mmm... 

Nelliegrace

7°C in The Midlands this morning, a grey, wet, and windy day. The thermostat is set at 17°C and the central heating came on for a while. We can turn it down a few degrees more. I went for my swim to use the off peak membership at the leisure centre. It saves a few pennies to have a hot shower and wash my hair there. I took a small flask of tea. 
I dropped into the library to return a book the other day. It had some more chairs and settees set out. I spent some time doing a little of a large jigsaw puzzle. I might take my knitting for an hour next time. It was warm, and there was some company. I can get my groceries on the way home. 
I have got some warmer clothes out, to have a jumper handy to put on as the temperature drops. It is easy to get cold slowly without realising.

Wednesday2000

I did feel very chilly yesterday while I was reading sitting still on the sofa. I had to put on my knitted dress, tights and a jumper. I kept getting up every now and then to walk around. In the evening it felt colder so I closed the door to the room we were watching TV in and put on the portable halogen heater. It did feel very cosy, but also made me more tired.

I think tonight around 9pm I am going to test the central heating just to check it works!

I did go through all my nightwear the other day and checked that I have enough warm clothes. I did buy a couple of new pyjamas from George as they had an offer on nightwear. I have taken my thermal tops out of storage and put them in the drawer too.

My husband put some insulation tape in the gaps inside the under the stairs cupboard and that has made a big difference to the draft we used to get there.

I have a couple of fleecy blankets in the airing cupboard that I know are clean, but they smell a bit musty. It is a nice sunny day today and so I will just air them on the line as they don't need rewashing. I am also going to go through my medicine drawer today and check everything is in date and see if I need to stock up on anything.

Primrose

I suspect we,re wll starting to buckle down for winter thie year with an increased level of anxiety, especially those of us who  are pensioners, live alone or who are disabled. So all hints on anything that will help make life a little easier will hopefully be shared.  Sometimes very simple  things that we haven't thought of can make a useful difference, particularly now heating/energy saving is going to become increasingly important.