What things do you make from scratch, to be more wholesome for you and your family?

parsniphead

Fabulous thread missymoo.

I used to so much more but have slipped over the past few years.

I still grow my own veggies as I'm lucky enough to have a largish garden. I could squeeze more in though. I used to have an allotment but it changed as the old fella passed on. Veg and equipment being stolen and stuff sprinkled all over the veggies. I had just had my little one and couldn't risk him eating anything as I didn't know if it had been sabotaged. It's a shame but now I know things are safe from the garden.

Things I used to do and need to start again.

Making my own cleaning things
Making laundry gloop
Making most of my food from scratch
Making my own toiletries
Making and upcycling clothes

I have been saying for years that I would love chickens. I think i really need to get the garden secure so I can do this.

I would also like to get the open fire reinstated to cut down on the gas bill.

This thread is definately on to watch as there is some fantastic ideas. I love the idea of making spreadable butter. I have made butter before but kept forgetting to get it out to spread.

moneyistooshorttomention

Yep...that buttery spread is something I do regularly.

I make up two batches at a time (if I'm going to get my blender dirty anyway = might as well do it for an extra batch at the same time). A batch (ie one pack of butter worth) fits neatly into one of those "takeaway" food containers.

I put both the containers I have just made into the freezer to firm up and, when I can see I will need a new one the following day, I take one out and transfer it to the fridge in readiness.

Straight after making them otherwise they are very "liquidy" - courtesy of all the oil in them. Out of the fridge, however, and they are the right consistency.

missymoo81

Thanks parsnip head, such a shame about the allotment. Yes I'm umming and ahhing about chickens.

Moneyistooshorttomention I love the butter spread recipe, definitely going to give it a go.

Just making sweet potato brownies!

thriftwizard

I'm down at my 89 y.o. mother's as she suddenly became very unwell; temperature of over 39*C and BP over 200/125. When I arrived yesterday she looked ghastly, pale and yellowy with her eyes barely open. But it was astonishing how she perked up after some HM leek & potato soup (BBC recipe) knocked together with the very basic ingredients available from the co-op next door. Her tiny kitchen has no room for fancy gadgets, either, just the stick-blender I left down here when my stepfather was slipping gently away; soup really is easy.

Admittedly the huge dose of antibiotics the on-call Doctor gave her might just have kicked in at that moment. But she's up & about now & looking forward to a Sunday roast that hasn't been hauled out of the freezer & shoved into the microwave! It's at moments like this that the link between the words "nursing" & "nourishing" pops into focus.

missymoo81

Thank you for posting, your poor mother, bless you. I'm a true believer in nourishment. I believe that food can help you feel better, whether mentally or physically.

I meant to say, I've sourced a farmer near my grandparents house, which produces raw milk and lovely cheese as well as butter! I've read that raw milk can help with hayfever and eczema, which I suffer with. So that will be interesting to try.

Thanks for posting everyone, I really appreciate your input.

missymoo81

I've been looking at the by buying it and the make do, Mend and minimise threads, I'm thinking of making some dresses. I had 2 perfect fitting winter dresses, that would look lovely in a summer fabric. Have never made anything like that before. I have a sewing machine. Need to get it out and see how brave I am!

fuddle

Go for it. I once pulled a tweed coat apart and made it in to a skirt. The work it took was immense and I never really got it to sit right but the achievement feeling, especually with no dress making skills or basic sewing skills, was a jolly good feeling indeed.

missymoo81

Thanks fuddle, I'm definitely thinking about it.

WantToBeSE

Morning All

In regards to buying in bulk- many ethic shops sell large quantities of rice, beans, chickpeas, lentils, seeds, nuts etc. If you live within an hour of a city, it may be worth a trip every few months or so. Thats what i do, to avoid ordering from Amazon.

If you cant do that, then rice and lentils are often sold in huge bags in Morrisons and Tesco (not sure about other supermarkets). Its the same with dried herbs and spices.

If you live in the South West, Trago Mills do tubs of dried herbs, spices and massive containers of washing powder/gel, so buying in bulk is easy and normally works out cheaper.

themarsbargirl

Have you tried making up fruit teas and chilling them to give to your children in place of squash?