Preparing for Winter V

Green_hopeful

@Primrose I think they still work but you might have to use two of the liquid things. We have some old ones and I looked it up. 

Nelliegrace

The chickens like the seeds. I make a thick red soup with butternut squash or sweet potato, red lentils, onion, celery and tomato purée. Lentil soup is my quick standby.
Marguerite Patten did a very good book on soup. A flask of hot soup on a chilly day out, such a comfort food. I might have mentioned it.
We were brought up on soups, hearty soups with bone stock, leftovers soup, “don’t ask” soups which were probably rabbit, Mum’s mushroom soup from our forage field mushrooms, soups from homegrown vegetables and dried beans, cheap and filling leek and potato, and onion soup. 
Ah, soup! Beautiful soup. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9nCIPRBK5IA

sammy_kaye18

Nelliegrace said:

The chickens like the seeds. I make a thick red soup with butternut squash or sweet potato, red lentils, onion, celery and tomato purée.

I dont have any chickens but I would be very tempted by the soup recipe if you can give a rough recipe please? I am looking for more soups etc as daughter and me enjoy them and they are an easy quick and filling meal or snack for when she comes in from school. 
I actually brought some of those cube freezing silicone trays so that one cube is just a tidy portion of soup to have and once frozen can be stored in a freezer bag or tupperware tub and taken out as needed. Im hoping to get a few types frozen to be able to alternate and make use of some cheaper veggies. 


I cant remember who suggested the covid test - the goverment dont supply them free anymore so I have found you can get them for a few ££ in local chemist. DD did also get her period today so I think that might explain why she doesnt feel 100% but I do think I will pick some up to have in the cupboard just in case

sammy_kaye18

Also did anyone see the report on BBC news the other day (might have been yesterday) about supermarkets removing some of their cheaper lines like the asda essentials range from their online shopping? (im using them as that was what was referenced in the news report 

They said that they had been removed from the online shopping apps etc and that it was basically forcing families to buy the next cheapest alternative or to go without (but the actual lines were still available in store) 

They did 6 items and the difference between buying them as part of the essentials store own basic range meant it was almost double the cost. 
They had coffee, tinned peas, tinned potatoes, baked beans, apple sauce, and tinned beans and sausages. 
It should of cost £3.14 but by having to buy the next cheapest product it was £6.23

Its no wonder there is such a need for food banks in this country when even the basics are not available to those who need and rely on the cheapest ranges and things like this just spur me to make sure I have a suitable pantry. 

Also makes me wonder how some of the most vulnerable be that benefits, low wage, retired, elderly will manage if their funds are already so limited and now without the winter fuel allowance too - and the free bus pass if KS gets his way 

Sarahspangles

luvchocolate said:

Primrose said:

WE have some recently expired Covid test kits in a cupboard. Does anybody know whether they would still give an accurate result?  Know a lot of medications are still perfectly viable after their stated expiry date.

I think they may not detect any new strains..but nothing to back this up just my opinion 

That is true, but the vast majority of Covid19 virus currently circulating is within the family tree of the Omicron variant so there are no significant concerns about test arrangements.

boultdj

maryb said:

Making soup is very much winter prep.  Just popped on to say Lidl have got butternut squash in their special veg offers this week until Thursday 99p per kilo.  Sainsbury's are selling them at Nectar price £1.15 each.  Compares well with Tesco at £1.45

By the way always choose a long thin one for preference as you get far fewer seeds

Can you wash and roast the seeds same as pumpkin seeds?

SuzeQStan

Used to love making soups and I’ve got a lot of dried pulses - lentils chick peas etc and they are sealed in their bags or the ones opened are in air tight containers.  But - they are a good 3 years out of date. Have had a phase of not making soup due to a bad experience during pandemic where we forgot to soak the chick peas and my stomach 100% rebelled against it. Less said the better!

Anyway - ive got over the fear now do you think these are still ok to use or should I just get some new bags?  Reckon I’ve got nearly 20 bags!

sammy_kaye18

Sarahspangles said:

luvchocolate said:

Primrose said:

WE have some recently expired Covid test kits in a cupboard. Does anybody know whether they would still give an accurate result?  Know a lot of medications are still perfectly viable after their stated expiry date.

I think they may not detect any new strains..but nothing to back this up just my opinion 

That is true, but the vast majority of Covid19 virus currently circulating is within the family tree of the Omicron variant so there are no significant concerns about test arrangements.

To be honest - even with covid now you are still able to go to work and school etc as well so I doubt many even test anymore when your are able to just go on with life. 
That always really bugged me - especially having ill family members - Im not even sure if you have to make it known to employers etc or not now either? 

Floss

luvchocolate said:

Primrose said:

WE have some recently expired Covid test kits in a cupboard. Does anybody know whether they would still give an accurate result?  Know a lot of medications are still perfectly viable after their stated expiry date.

I think they may not detect any new strains..but nothing to back this up just my opinion 

While they may pick up new variants, they are more likely to give an inaccurate result.

maryb

boultdj said:

maryb said:

Making soup is very much winter prep.  Just popped on to say Lidl have got butternut squash in their special veg offers this week until Thursday 99p per kilo.  Sainsbury's are selling them at Nectar price £1.15 each.  Compares well with Tesco at £1.45

By the way always choose a long thin one for preference as you get far fewer seeds

Can you wash and roast the seeds same as pumpkin seeds?

I've never tried, sorry I can't help