The Simple Bare Necessities feat. Gratitude & Recipes

rtandon27

Aww GP - a toddling tot in the snow sounds so sweet - what lovely memories!

Pippilongstocking

Aw catching up on here is just lovely reading.

Keep warm folks xxxx

Thanks for the dumpling recipe GP - I have to say I tend to revert to packet mix RT - I never use enough suet to justify buying it and then feed it to the birds. The packets are cheap and whilst I don't buy much premixed, they serve the dumpling craving purpose here beautifully. Although I'm sure I could FREEZE the suet - maybe one day I'll be brave and try to do my own.

Keep warm folkies

XX

rtandon27

How did I miss your dumpling advice GP?!?:o

Thank-you for the link! I have no clue what fat Scottish Aunty used but I do remember how dry the dough was so your advice is spot on! Makes sense as the moistness must come from being steamed on top of the stew. As we never buy moo but do buy cluck (more budget friendly), I shall give dumplings a go using something like solid Crisc0 - I think it's called Tr3x on this side of the pond!

Pips if I remember correctly, you can freeze and then grate solid fats, and then return them to the freezer to use as needed - easier to incorporate into cooking without having to defrost first!

Greying_Pilgrim

rtandon27 wrote: »

How did I miss your dumpling advice GP?!?:o

Thank-you for the link! I have no clue what fat Scottish Aunty used but I do remember how dry the dough was so your advice is spot on! Makes sense as the moistness must come from being steamed on top of the stew. As we never buy moo but do buy cluck (more budget friendly), I shall give dumplings a go using something like solid Crisc0 - I think it's called Tr3x on this side of the pond!

Pips if I remember correctly, you can freeze and then grate solid fats, and then return them to the freezer to use as needed - easier to incorporate into cooking without having to defrost first!

rtandon - iirc - isn't tr3x vegetarian? Or you can get a veggie version of it? I can't remember what recipe it was...... I'm thinking pastry for mince pies (sweet) that Memorygirl used to post, and I know she used tr3x, because meat-eaters or veggies could then eat the pies (I assume no suet in the mincemeat - or veggie suet) , so I'm pretty sure it would work dandy. When I get the recipe right, even olive oil works to make dumplings, so it doesn't have to be full-blown meaty suet, if you don't want it to be hth.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

I'm not too sure if we've had lots of snow in the night, or some snow and lots of blow(ing) about of that which was here already But there is quite a bit of it about.

I would have achieved a nsd yesterday, but DH called into mrL on the off-chance, and picked up some bread and milk. So I owe him for those purchases, but currently have no change, as I've spent nowt of my March budget.

Tea last night was very much a hodge-podge. We had fish fingers, which are a Greying Family favourite (highbrow we ain't ), and which BG calls 'fingy's'. Which given they are described merely as 'omega 3' probably aptly describes the 'any fing' in them.........:rotfl: I cooked up some baked tatties, the last of the broccoli all combined (mrAl & mrL bags - the mrAl bags had a lot of bits.......) and a tin of mushy peas. Either mrL have changed their supplier for mushy peas, or I got an 'end of shift' tin, which was definitely more 'mush' that 'YPeas'........:D

Tea this evening will be bottom of the freezer curry - who knows what is in there???? :rotfl:- with dhal and rice.

Can't think of owt else :money:to witter on about - apart from I shall probably be spending very little by keeping out of the shops, and keeping out of the great outdoors generally

Greying X

mcculloch29

I enjoyed my catch up of your day in the snow. I am glad you took the camera, pictures of my two playing in the snow are still treasured and smiled over, over 30 years later.

I have just been perusing Jack Monroes blog, and discovered they have switched supermarkets, to Mr. A.
Mr L or Mr Al probably would not meet the needs of a vegan household, but it makes sense. They are off Twitter anyway, had this been the case a year or two ago, the latest book would probably be long published.
I crowdfunded a library copy, which is not on the catalogue online yet, but hopefully it will have been sent.
Have a lovely day. Our snow is keeping me in.
PS.
Something that may benefit some, and I am spreading the word, if you are sent a cheque, and have no bank locally, you can now pay it in online via an online banking app and a Smartphone camera.

I did this yesterday. Could not pay in a Premium Bond win, but I did pay in a cheque that has been sat in my waist pack since December, waiting for me to cycle past the bank and stop, rather than just cycle past. It is very easy to do.
EDIT The MSE apostrophe curse has struck my phone. Hence Monroe minus apostrophe s.

Greying_Pilgrim

mcculloch29 wrote: »

I have just been perusing Jack Monroes blog, and discovered they have switched supermarkets, to Mr. A.
Mr L or Mr Al probably would not meet the needs of a vegan household, but it makes sense. They are off Twitter anyway, had this been the case a year or two ago, the latest book would probably be long published.

.

I'm obviously behind the times - I thought that mrA was advocated long-time since? I didn't realise Al & L had crept in? I knew mrS had gone by the wayside, for a variety of reasons, that included a housing relocation. I think a vegan would stay hungry relying on our mrA. They don't really stock 'food'.

I'm also confused - is the crowd-funded book published, or not? This is another budget concious book, isn't it? Or is it wholly vegan? I'll admit to not keeping up with events totally, since posting got intermittent, I've kinda lost track - and I'm not a follower of anyone on any other type of social meedja, so easily lose track if it's not totally food related.........

Greying X

rtandon27

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

...Tea this evening will be bottom of the freezer curry - who knows what is in there???? :rotfl:- with dhal and rice...

We've been freezer diving too! - Have made some soup, done some baking & stock is on the boil! Also found some oat pancakes/crepes which we had with the last of the butter & marmalade for breakfast! Love a good freezer clean-out!

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

rtandon - we didn't have as much of interest in our freezer I dug out some mugg (scroll down for recipe), lots of dhal and boiled up some basmati. It was a 'good enough' tea

Well, we did end up getting out and about today - for which I am grateful. I felt better going out with BG and DH rather than on my own. We picked up the shopping, that was on the list - due to it being the start of the month - and I was surprised at how well stocked the shops were. Delivery drivers must have made a supreme effort to get around. DH had picked up some things from the supermercado this morning - again, 'list' stuff due to it being the month start. So money has been spent.

I've had some nice communications from friends - good to see what everyone else is up to and how they are getting along

I had a snooze myself this afternoon - DH was looking after BG - who then went for a snooze themselves anyway, I ended up falling asleep in the chair - awkwardly - twice and then managed to move to the sofa and had a few extra winks before DH batted on about needing to wash socks..........

DH finally listened to me and bled a radiator that has had an air lock in it for at least a day. Apparently I was 'right' and he sat there for 2 minutes getting the air out........ And yes, dear reader, I could have done it myself, but...........

Right, today I am grateful for these 3 things;

Getting out and about with my family

sufficient stocks of what I wanted

us all staying upright!

Ta for popping by. Appreciated.

Greying X

beanielou

Needing to wash socks :rotfl:
Glad you had a good day