Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

[Deleted User]

If only that was true, I wish!!!

Finally stopped for a few minutes, chutney made and labeled, washing in and sorted, all gardens watered, apple trees watered, beans picked, tomatoes picked, raspberries and blackberries picked and in the freezer, onions strung and hung in the greenhouse, supper in the oven, large batch of coleslaw made with homegrown cabbage and onions, tea drunk in quantity, apples chopped juiced and fermenting for cider, what have I missed??? Tomorrow, if I remember!!!

FairyPrincessk

It sounds exhausting but oh so satisfying Mrs. LW!

Shop successfully done and well under budget. Sausage rolls, brownies, deviled eggs, cole slaw, pickles/olives etc. all ready for tomorrow, ready to slip into the cool bag. Just about to take a quick glance at the map and then take my knitting into the lounge to watch something on catch up.

silvasava

Spent this morning with a visit to the gym & then back home to try out the Henry - worked brilliantly so I gave it a good clean & washed the filter ready for next time. Power washed the patio - it looks better but I'd really like to know if anyone can recommend a cleaner to get rid of the black spots that even the pressure washer won't remove I've done a MrsL this afternoon and picked 3lb of cherry plums for jam, 2 cucumbers, some tomatoes, Raspberries and beans!
And I still haven't started my yoga bag!!! Ah well tomorrow is another day!

vhalla1478

Hi again, Folks,

Here's a cheap and filling recipe for you, made with ingredients that are mostly to hand.

Spaghetti with Anchovies, Dried Chilli and Pangritata - serves 4

455g dried spaghetti, 6 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, 2 cloves finely chopped garlic, 16 anchovy fillets, juice of two lemons, 2 small dried red chillies, crumbled.

For the pangritata

8 tbsp. olive oil, clove of garlic sliced, good handful of fresh thyme leaves, 200g fresh breadcrumbs, salt and freshly ground black pepper.

First make the pangritata. Put the olive oil into a hot, thick-bottomed pan. Add the garlic, thyme and breadcrumbs; they will fry and begin to toast. Stir for a couple of minutes until the breadcrumbs are really crisp and golden. Season with a little salt and freshly ground black pepper and drain on kitchen paper.

Cook the spaghetti in boiling water until al dente. While it is cooking, put the oil and garlic in a pan and heat gently. As the garlic begins to soften, lay the anchovy fillets over the top. After a minute you will see them beginning to melt. Squeeze in the lemon juice and sprinkle in the dried chillies. Toss in the drained spaghetti and coat it in the sauce. Taste a bit of pasta - it may need a little more lemon juice and a little extra seasoning. Serve straight away, sprinkled really generously with the pangritata.

Hope you all have a nice evening.

Viv xx

meritaten

ive been making chutney too! gooseberry - which took 4 HOURS to cook down to the right consistency! I thought there was a lot of vinegar to the ratio of fruit..........so made a note on the recipe. (I do that a lot - I also put the 'yield' so I know how many jars I need next time I make it). bluddy annoying when the recipe doesn't tell you.
I love the sound of the peach and nectarine one though - but I have the best part of a marrow to use up and found what sounds like a lovely recipe for marrow chutney on the internet. so will possibly do that if I find some YS peaches or nectarines. the piccalilli was so successful (you could eat it now if you REALLY like mustard!) its very mild so will do a batch with more spice and some chillies added.
I also mended a black cardi in the most delicate of fabrics which had a hole in the back - most pleased with that as its totally invisible! (not due to my sewing skills, but the nature of the fabric). its one of those ones that look like very loose knitting in rayon and its very light and delicate.
I am trying to keep as busy as I can - I am desperate to finish a summer cotton cardi for the baby - but my concentration is shot and I am constantly undoing rows! so reluctantly put it away for now.


I also had some sales bumf from the crematorium about turning mums ashes into vases or jewellery!!!!!!!!!!! NO THANKS! the idea fills me with horror! and she was only cremated on Monday - a bit soon don't you think to be flogging me overpriced stuff? so I HAD to distract myself today.

vulpix

Meritaten,rather crass to be sent such sales leaflets at a difficult time.

FP enjoy Buxton.Loadsa charity shops on the main street.Have a walk up to the Devonshire dome and go inside,interesting building,no charge it is part of the university campus now.Come out of the station and turn right,you can't miss it..I worked there as a 16 yearold nurse cadet.The pavillion gardens is also a nice spot for a picnic.

It sounds like everyone is having a bumper harvest and enjoying lovely homegrown produce.

Viv,quite agree about carbs,needs must,I cannot put weight back on.I am enjoying being slimmer.I catch sight of myself in a shop window and am pleasantly surprised.

Phew spent all day in the front garden.Got half the path laid.I am so slow as i do everything sat on the ground.I have sieved loads and loads of gravel out of the soil.Not at the point of planting anything yet.

GQ have you harvested the garlic yet?I read not to until the leaves fall and what is left on mine after slugageddon are still pert.

I am reading a book about the ladies of Llangogllen (sp?)We are much like them.They withdrew from 18th C society and lived a simple life in a cottage.Spending their time reading,sewing,writing letters and gardening.

Night all Vx

GreyQueen

Umm, my half a dozen garlics somehow disappeared and only the largest one is left. I shall have to tweak that out (they're on the end of the onion bed and got overlooked, I'm afraid).

Today is starting a bit murky but it should get out fine later, so I'll go up to the lottie and do some stuff. I was rather busy about other matters in July and things got a tad neglected.

MrsLW, could you post your recipe for the chutney, please? I think I need to get making some asap, the cougettes keep on coming at me. Trouble is, you have to find non-gardeners in order to give them away, as everyone had gluts at the same time.:rotfl:

[Deleted User]

Will do GQ when I've gotten myself organised today. Have to head to town on the bus for a few bits and I'll do it when I'm home again.

villagelife

Fairyprincess a quick question- what do you do with the mint to dry it as I love peppermint tea and have never dried the mint I grow for this. I do use the mint fresh from the plant.

FairyPrincessk

Thanks for the tips Vulpix!

Village life, I pick it, wash it, pat it dry on a tea towel and then spread it on a baking tray. I'll usually put the oven on 50c for a few minutes and then turn it off and leave the tray in there with the door closed and get it going. If it seems to be drying very slowly I'll put the oven on 50 again once in the morning and once in the evening for a few minutes and then turn it back off. Just leave the baking tray in the oven until it is all completely crispy/dry (but take it out if you're going ot bake something!!). You aren't really using the heat in the oven to dry it, just trying to keep the humidity level lower. In dryer climates you can just hang it up to dry but I find it often goes moldy here. When it is dry I then strip it off the stems and put in jars. I've tried stripping it off the stems before drying but it is easier this way. It really is VERY simple. If it goes mouldy the first time you try just try putting the oven on a few more times a day.

Pack leaves into a tea ball and brew as normal.