Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

dragonlily

Good Afternoon Everyone, very pleased that the treacle tart is proving so popular; I just hope I don't get the blame if anyone puts on weight because of it!

Sounds very popular, think I need to look back on the thread for that one too.

Would like to join you all on this thread if that is ok. I want to try and cut back also. I am really into second hand things, just have to avoid buying too much of them lol.

Today has been a little expensive as we went to a local farm shop that had a craft show on. So ended up paying money for a go on the bouncy castle, a ride on a donkey etc etc. Although, I don't mind that too much as got some lovely pictures and my DD had a lovely time.

We have just spent the last hour and a half playing 'Escape from Atlantis'. I picked it up from the car boot last week for £1.50 as remembered it from when I was a kid. It has been such good fun. I'm chuffed as was worried DD who is 6 might be a little young for it as she is 6 and a half and it was for 8 up but she has managed fine.

x

fuddle

Thank you Bigjenny lovely to see you posting

Many things MMM yesterday. Started with the allotment. DH was strimming back the over grown edges and found oodles of raspberry canes about to flower. I have a keen eye for freebie fruits, know what raspberry canes look like as I have them in my own garden, but I missed these! Never mind we shall probably have a lot of raspberries to preserve some how but that is a very nice feeling.

He also came across a bag of straw. Very well protected and now finds itself on the strawberry patch

Palletts are made into a compost heap. It's a requirement of the plot but given that we're only there for 4 months we'll take the pallets back again when we leave it. We're collecting pallets in the garden to make into a shed for when we do get a permanent plot whether it be this year, next etc. We do know that if we aren't given a plot on the new site in September we are number 3 on the waiting list. Not bad really. We shall see.

Ok, more rhubarb harvested. I decided to roast it this time and have it with ice cream but it was just too tart. Anything I do with rhubarb will be cooked on the hob from now on as I know the girls like it that way.

I do plan to see if I can change my Freecycle location Lyn, thank you for the idea. I was a member up north but I didn't register down in the South. I'm going to put the feelers out for empty jars.

A few other things were kiddy made scarecrows, eggy bread for supper, rubber chicken curry for tea and chicken sandwiches for lunch.

We did go to the garden centre late afternoon and managed to pick up some yellow stickered plants. We got courgette and cucumbers for 25p a piece, marrow and tomato for 50p. It is worth a try for those cheap amounts. If nothing else we might learn a thing or three.

Also disbelief washed over us. We must have visited that garden centre a good half a dozen times since we moved here and never knew of the walk, picnic area, gardens, pigs, goats and chickens! It's a lovely space and a space we have been oblivious about. Picnic up there soon on the cards.

Have a good day MMMers.

silvasava

Mornin All - welcome to the thread Dragonlily :hello:

Fuddle - Raspberries are brilliant - just give a quick rinse, dry off on some kitchen roll & open freeze. They are so versatile in jams, jellies,cakes,flans & tarts. Looks like you'll have plenty this year & you can't beat the taste of a home grown strawberry. You'll need to net your fruit too as the blackbirds love them! Just use some old net curtains. I don't mind losing some of my fruit to the birds but they don't know when to stop lol.
Lazy day today - Roast Chicken for dinner tonight & popping out lunchtime to see a girlfriend for a hour or so.
Have a good day all xx

vulpix

elona,I think house maintenance will pay for itself when you come to sell your house.I have seen some shockers recently on my house hunt.People pay more for a well maintained house.

fuddle sounds like a lovely time you are having,the children will look back on this time fondly.

look away now if you are of a nervous disposition and cannot stomach the manic ramblings of a housemover.

Well it had to happen,I had a bit of a melt down yesterday.Had a bit of a cry and feel a bit more positive today.My SIL has said we can put stuff in her stables.Phew,Mr V's boxes can go there as soon as.He did sort through them and threw some stuff out but then asked me to repack them.

Eldest daughter says she will come back on Thursday and sort her room.Trouble is she is also looking for a house to rent in Manchester and will be moving soon too.She is a clothesaholic.

I also need to photograph the wardrobes and put them on eeeebay for 99p to get rid.Sad to see THE wardrobe go which I brought back to life kicking and screaming earlier this year.I have also got masses of stuff for a carboot sale but my best assistant-dd1 is working today then going to festivals the next 2 weekends.She is under orders that we will be carbooting every weekend from then.Mum has said she will house carboot stuff for us.

Removal van is booked for 19th.MrV's grown up son has booked holiday to come and help,what a star.There will also be dd1 and lovely boyfriend to help too.So stuff is either going to new house or stable.But so much to do to get to that point.

Right,I need to get on,Laters V

vulpix

soz,forgot,x.

meritaten

vhalla - made the treacle tart and apart from a minor mishap it turned out as nicely as the last one! (the mishap was my pastry decided to rise in the middle and the syrup mix formed a moat around it and that is how it cooled! still, I disguised that with whipped cream when I served it. Mum had the biggest piece and before I could serve anyone else, 'stage whispered - could you keep me a little piece back for my tea tomorrow'? everyone who likes treacle tart loved it - the rest had the jam tart I made with the leftover pastry.

vhalla1478

Evening Everyone,

Hope you're all ok - it's absolutely freezing in my neck of the woods at the moment - I had to dig out some warmer clothes to wear; I was obviously too previous and optimistic - totally in character, I have to admit.

Welcome to the 'newbies', I'm sure you will all have a lot to contribute. I have to go over to my DS's in a moment to (hopefully) finish the Monopoly battle. My DDil and I are both rather drooping although the children still remain enthusiastic about it. Of course, it's more about the family get together than the game, isn't it?

I haven't forgotten the recipe but it will be later this evening - I was indulging myself watching my old friend Vince Eager (but known to me as Roy cos that's his name) singing on Youtube; he's 75 today - where have all those years gone? If you're interested,look at him singing 'How Great Thou Art' and 'I'm a Rock'n'Roll Dinosaur' - a lovely self-deprecating guy.

Must fly - Monopoly calls, speak later.

Viv xx

vhalla1478

Here we are, a very summery recipe:-

Strawberry Tart with Marscarpone Cream - serves 6

Plain flour for dusting, 250grams sweet shortcrust pastry, 250gram tub marscarpone, 3 tbsp. Marsala, 284ml tub double cream, 3tbsp icing sugar plus extra for dusting, 400gram punnet strawberries, trimmed and halved.

Preheat oven to 190 degrees/gas 5. Lightly dust a clean surface with flour and roll out the pastry. Line a 20cm fluted tart tin with the pastry, then put in the fridge to chill for 10 minutes. Line the pastry case with greaseproof paper, fill with baking beans and bake blind on a baking sheet for 10 minutes. Remove the beans and paper lining and bake for 5 more minutes until golden. Cool on a wire rack.

Meanwhile, beat the marscarpone and Marsala together until smooth. Whisk the cream in a separate bowl so that it just holds its shape, then whisk in the icing sugar and the marscarpone mixture until smooth. fill the pastry case with the mixture, then top with the strawberries. Dust with icing sugar before serving.

I've just had a voicemail from my DB offshore, so I'm happy!:j

Viv xx

meritaten

How Great Thou Art was my dads favourite hymn - and its popular here at funerals - I wouldn't like to count how many times I have sung that over the years! will go check that out now.

meritaten

My dad would have LOVED that version! he often complained it was sung as a 'dirge', when he thought it very 'uplifting'. I hadn't heard that one before and it was lovely. thanks.