My war on waste!!!

Justamum

JackieO wrote: »

When I was young it was called 'Housecraft ' and we learned how to cook, hand wash clothes, iron and clean.

We did that too I remember learning how to wash pure wool. We had to measure the dimensions before washing, carefully wash by hand, then lay the item out afterwards to dry, but carefully pulling it into the same dimensions it had before. I can't be bothered doing all that, life is just too short - if it can't go in the washing machine I don't want it

Justamum

Pollycat wrote: »

It was called Domestic Science when I was at school.
I actually have a Domestic Science 'O' level.

I got a CSE in it My school did CSE Domestic Science, or 'O' level cookery, which was just cookery. The final practical exam for the 'O' level was supposed to be more fancy than ours in DS, but the DS was more practical in a general sense as we learned how to run a home, which everyone, male and female, need to learn to do (we had a boy doing DS actually)

mumps

meritaten wrote: »

I agree mumps - but, recipes are easy to follow only if you know the 'basics' in some cases.
lol - I have had my kids ring me up to explain cookery 'terms' to them! for example 'baste' had my son in a tailspin - he had absolutely no idea what it meant and the book didn't explain! it just said 'baste frequently'!
This is the son who painstakingly took all the 'beans' out of runner beans and discarded the green pods! then complained there wasn't enough to feed a sparrow! mind you he was only about twelve at the time! but, it made me think, if you haven't been shown 'HOW' veg is prepped or heard these terms before - then attempting recipes out of the book could be a very scary thing!

I then spent hours on the computer compiling 'Fifty Favourite Family Recipes'. and each recipe took at least two pages, as I explained every step or term in detail. Gave each of my offspring a copy. Sadly that computer died.............and I lost all that work, the kids had suggested I get it published to help 'students and non-cooks'.

When I got married, I was just 17, I had a brilliant cookery book, I think it was produced by the Milk Marketing Board but it wasn't all milk dishes so not sure if I am right there. It explained basic techniques and in the recipes there were links to the relevant page for whatever the technique was. I have lost the book many years ago, I think it was when I was moving house. I would love to find another copy.

NewShadow

Goldiegirl wrote: »

We all have our limits about what we will and won't do. Personally, taking a load of tubs with me when I go shopping, to avoid using new packaging is way to far for me. Where would it end. Taking empty bottles out, and decanting washing up liquid into your old bottles?

Actually, this is fairly common - at least where I grew up. One brand (Ecover) are commonly stocked as an 'environmentally friendly' option in alternative or healthful shops and sell a range of products in large vats with taps (like beer barrels). You take your empty washing up liquid (or floor cleaner, or toilet cleaner) bottle, and they refill it.

GreyQueen wrote: »

I think I must have been one of the last generations to have had Home Economics lessons. It seems to me probably purposeful to take useful things out of the currriculum and replace them with things of dubious merit, as a way of serving up a generation of consumers as easy pickings for the food industry.

meritaten wrote: »

my DD is now approaching forty and during her school years 'Food Technology' was all the rage. and the cooking component of her final exam was to make 'an egg salad' I believe! mostly she knew the main exports/imports of different countries in the world!

I think there was about a 10 year period when home-ec was useless. I finished secondary education c.2002 (so a little after martinet's DD), and my 'food technology' lessons revolved around designing and marketing pre-made sandwiches. We spent several lessons on pack design...

Thankfully my mother was an awful cook (still is...), so I learnt out of self defence :rotfl:

GreyQueen

mumps wrote: »

When I got married, I was just 17, I had a brilliant cookery book, I think it was produced by the Milk Marketing Board but it wasn't all milk dishes so not sure if I am right there. It explained basic techniques and in the recipes there were links to the relevant page for whatever the technique was. I have lost the book many years ago, I think it was when I was moving house. I would love to find another copy.

Would it have been The Dairy Book of Home Cookery, possibly? It was published by the Milk Marketing Board in 1968 although there have been many editions. The one I'm familar with would have been late seventies, I think.

Cream background hardback, about an inch thick? If so, they're widely available secondhand. There is a sister volume, The Dairy Book of Home Management, too. I think you bought them from the milkman.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Dairy-Book-Home-Cookery/dp/B0007K9D6A

Looks like the 1968 edition is a collectable now. Think the one I'm familar with was the 1978 edition.

meritaten

I was just about to post the same thing GQ! The Dairy Book of Home Cookery is 'Iconic' amongst cookbooks!
forget 'chefs Recipe books! if you want to learn the basics and 'HOW' to cook then get this or the 'Good Housekeeping' Cookbook. mine was a wedding present in 1977, and although I know the basics of cooking I am awful at remembering ingredients and quantities of ingredients. Believe me - I STILL have to consult GH when making pancakes - my copy is in several pieces, has food splatters all over it and I wouldn't part with it for love nor money!
I have seen newer copies in CS, but I think they aren't as good as mine, so the older the copy the better!

meritaten

NewShadow wrote: »

I think there was about a 10 year period when home-ec was useless. I finished secondary education c.2002 (so a little after martinet's DD), and my 'food technology' lessons revolved around designing and marketing pre-made sandwiches. We spent several lessons on pack design...


ROFLMAO! I have seen several versions of my username - but this one had me in stitches!

and there was me thinking I was 'laid back'!

Justamum

NewShadow wrote: »

Actually, this is fairly common - at least where I grew up. One brand (Ecover) are commonly stocked as an 'environmentally friendly' option in alternative or healthful shops and sell a range of products in large vats with taps (like beer barrels). You take your empty washing up liquid (or floor cleaner, or toilet cleaner) bottle, and they refill it.

Wasn't that also the policy with Body Shop when they opened many moons ago?

meritaten

Yeah - but then they discovered 'gift baskets' made much more profit!

Islandmaid

GreyQueen wrote: »

Would it have been The Dairy Book of Home Cookery, possibly? It was published by the Milk Marketing Board in 1968 although there have been many editions. The one I'm familar with would have been late seventies, I think.

Cream background hardback, about an inch thick? If so, they're widely available secondhand. There is a sister volume, The Dairy Book of Home Management, too. I think you bought them from the milkman.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Dairy-Book-Home-Cookery/dp/B0007K9D6A

Looks like the 1968 edition is a collectable now. Think the one I'm familar with was the 1978 edition.

GQ I inherited my Nan,s copy and I love it, it's always my go to recipe book for the basics. She has written some of her recipes in it and tips and changes she tried too - makes me feel 'attached' to her still.

I,ve read this thread with interest, and there are some great tips.

I,ve recently started getting veg delivered from a local market gardener, they deliver the veg in a mushroom box, which you exchange each week - no packaging, just really amazing quality and variety and although it is more expensive than say Aldo, I do save money, as I base my meals around the box, and waste nothing.

Edit: my book is the 1978 version