Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

carolbee

Re the dehydrator, Iamsalt, what sort of shelf life would the courgettes have? We too have a few...... and seeing you mention dehydrators, am seriously going to consider one, now that we have an allotment.

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

Villagelife that was fast! Did you leave the oven on all night as well? Let me know how it turns out. Mine usually takes several days but I try to minimize oven usage. I did once have a tray that got left in whilst the oven was pre-heating for something. I didn't realize it until the whole house smelled very minty. It didn't seem particularly diminished in flavour when I made tea from it though.

iamsalt--your dry courgettes sound fabulous!

I'm storing away ideas--one time of year I like being a bit further north as it means I get to see all of your lovely ideas for what to do in the garden. I've only just got my first courgette coming along.

Not much MMMing today--coffee with OH's parents in a bit--will take my loyalty stamp cards--I think I'm nearing a free coffee! Then the vintage fair for a bit where I've my mental list complete with price-ceilings and then a quick pop into savers for a few things that are cheapest there. Makes the most of the bus fare. Will clean the bedroom, change linens and vac upstairs this afternoon. OH has said he'll make tea and tidy downstairs and Maggie the cat is on the proverbial naughty step as she attempted to jump over the garden wall this morning during her frolic. She knows full well this is forbidden and waited until OH popped indoors for a minute and was then staring back guiltily when he came back out. OH had to scoop her up and carry her back in, paws dangling, as she hissed in irritation.

Left over spicy aubergine stew for lunch when we get back. Can't remember what OH is making for tea, probably whatever is the fastest as I think there is more [STRIKE]football[/STRIKE] peace and quiet for the knitters on today.

FairyPrincessk

p.s. almost forgot! A couple of fab CS finds yesterday--a wool tweed H0bbs skirt and a cashmere vest top, both £4. It is almost time to sort through my winter clothes again, make sure all still fits and is in good repair. I think there were a couple of skirts that have been snug for awhile so I might be able to retire a few back into the CS circle of life.

iamsalt

Oh, thanks for the tips on the jars, I shall get my rubber golves on and deal with them.

I have no good idea yet on the shelf life, there are people on the forums who dehydrate and they are particularly careful and they last more than a year. I am less careful and have only had the dehydrator since May.

I have dried loads of homegrown chillies and
Mushrooms and onions (only done on nice days with the door open or they smell)are doing well 2 months on, as are the original courgettes I did on the first day. If I see onions or mushrooms reduced I buy them and make good use of them. I bought 4kg of onions for 12p one day! They are now in 3 large jars.


Fruit I dehydrate doesn't last long enough to know how long it lasts IYSWIM as it is usually in my tummy before too long, as a nice way to stop me eating sweets! I love the smell of strawberries in there, and there are some apricots from aldeeee . I do make jams but I don't like them so I wanted different ways I could enjoy my produce,aLong with freezing them.

I have just enjoyed experimenting with the dehydrator, some people really make good use of it. I would say it's handy but think about how you use veg before buying. Most of what I grow we eat fresh but this was for the inevitable gluts. A friend gave me 2kg of cherry toms as they were heading off on holiday in May, so they became sun dried tomatoes and they took a jar on their way back.

elona

WD40 is great for removing sticky stuff. I used it to remove the cartoon motifs stuck all over the kitchen when we bought this house.

They took all the lights and blinds etc which cost us a lot- but kindly left the stickers!!!!!

[Deleted User]

You know that old saying that some things are better left unsaid? I do recall saying yesterday that should we be given something unexpected that we don't grow I'd be making more preserves? .........Just had a phone call from He Who Knows who is off collecting yet more windfall apples from a friend to say 'do you want some greengages?' followed by 'Oh good I'll pick a bucketfull, there are ever so many here!' Too good to chutney so I'll make jam instead, when I've finished the tomato chutney that's simmering away on the hob now. 2 kilos of cherry tomatoes all skinned and cored went into that too!!!

iamsalt

Oooh greengages are one of my favourites. If you need any help Mrs LW I am sure I can assist ��

My friend introduced me to Mirabelles wine, and I have spotted a few in the hedgerows around here, so now I need to get my oh picking and fermenting, I reckon they would make a lovely tart jam which I might like better than most jams!

Just getting wrapped up to venture into the blackberry field behind my house. It's been left unmanaged for so long, I will definitely be benefitting this year, rather than fighting the ones trying to get into my veg beds!
S x

FairyPrincessk

You have been busy Mrs. LW!

My finds this morning include a flanellette sheet and a bowl. The sheet is still in its original wrapper--the pastel stripe pattern that I think was popular in the 1970s? It'll either go on the bed this winter or I'll cut it up into pyjamas. It was a good price either way. The bowl is just another that matches some others we have. It was nice to catch up with OH's parents.

I've pulled some fingerling carrots to go with our tea tonight. OH is trying a new recipe I think--some sort of bacon pasta. I'm off to do my afternoon chores with the radio on and then I think I'll sit and knit.

I was wondering if anyone had a recipe for something similar to the little lotus biscuits that often come with coffee? I really like them and would like to try making something similar.

[Deleted User]

I've just chopped up 3 large bags, 4 large buckets and a very large tub of apples to make cider too!!! He Who Knows has pressed out two gallons of juice so far and he's only about 1/3rd of the way through the chopped apples. We've got 8 gallons burbling away in containers too!!! Little hive of industry here today but as I kept the doors and windows closed up it's NOT a hive of wasps!!! Hoorah!!!

GreyQueen

I love the mental image I'm getting, a sort of Tom & Barbara vibe, with added hiccups. Wish I had enough space to make cider, it's my favourite drink.

Have finally stopped procrastinating and mended the holey fingertip on one of my knit-and-plastic dimple gardening gloves, so that one will be back in circulation. I got these new-from-a-chazzer at 2 prs for only £1.99 but still don't like to waste them. Found I had a perfect thing to mend it with in the form of a smooth cotton yarn on a cone as part of the haul from my pal.

Have been for a long bike ride and fell through the doors of a big Tosspots as they were reducing items. Ya either have that YS mojo or ya don't. As I was several miles from home on a scorcher of a day, I left the meat and fish behind and just got some YS grapes.

Have been pootling around indoors, sorting Stuff out, getting the recycling out and a few bits and bobs. Doing laundry, or rather the WM is.

I like a bit of a potter around on a Sunday, I find it sets me up for the week ahead. Keep on keeping on, lovely peeps.