Tales from The Shire

Fortune_Smiles

badmemory said:

Did you know that if you only have plain flour that you can convert it to self raising?

I've converted all my recipes over to plain flour now so that I only need to stock that.  Whilst I use a lot of bread flour I don't use a lot of self raising/plain so it makes sense for me.

Hi there BM.  I have been converting my plain flour but buy the self-raising when it's available as it's the same price as the plain.  I use both regularly.  I was hoping to try baking some bread during lockdown but I haven't been able to get any strong flour or yeast.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Cheery_Daff said:

So sorry to hear about your friend Fortune xxx Sending lots of good wishes your way xxx

Well done on the gardening. I popped my head in the greenhouse yesterday and my kale and chard seeds have sprouted already, most pleasing! I'm going to order my fence for round the veg plot tonight and get that up as soon as possible (not trying to stop the veg escaping, trying to stop the chickens decimating it all while it's small!) No urgent rush for me though - we're far too high up and exposed to be planting anything outside just yet. 

Love the idea of the painted rocks too. I found a roses & castles book and painted some cardboard egg shapes for my nephew's virtual easter egg hunt the other day and actually really enjoyed it - my paints and brushes were of the toddler variety though, so the results weren't very good... But I might treat myself to some of those pens that let you draw on stones and try again... 

Thank you Cheery.

I am always ridiculously excited when seeds start to germinate - being a novice gardener I can never believe that I've managed to grow anything 😁

I bet the roses and castles designs would work really well on painted rocks.  It makes me smile to think of people finding them and popping them in their pocket.  I've just ordered some $harpie$ - they seem to work well on stones.

Fortune x
  

beanielou

Wish you were nearer then I could give you lots of strong flour. 

badmemory

I haven't seen any bread flour or yeast for at least 6 weeks, although I did pick up the last bag of spelt about 5 weeks ago!  What is so annoying is how much is going to land up in landfill!  Writing this has just given my memory a jolt.  A couple of years ago I bulk bought some Canadian flour from Amazon & very nice it was too!

themadvix

Article on Guardian website today suggests that actually people are wasting less - more time to think about food and at home to use it up. So hopefully not more waste.

rtandon27

I've been after spelt flour for 5 weeks now! Have had various substitutions sent, including wholewheat, self-raising and bread flour!  None of which I buy or use normally! 

Across the pond self-raising is pretty much non-existent so have had to look up various uses for the stuff!  Made some banana bread using the bread flour and it was super dense but had risen to twice it's normal size!  Spelt flour does not rise as much and is very light!  Think I'll have to make actual bread with it next time 😳

Fortune_Smiles

beanielou said:

Wish you were nearer then I could give you lots of strong flour. 

Aw thanks Beanie 😘  I wish we were all neighbours - that would be fab.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

badmemory said:

I haven't seen any bread flour or yeast for at least 6 weeks, although I did pick up the last bag of spelt about 5 weeks ago!  What is so annoying is how much is going to land up in landfill!  Writing this has just given my memory a jolt.  A couple of years ago I bulk bought some Canadian flour from Amazon & very nice it was too!

rtandon27 said:

I've been after spelt flour for 5 weeks now! Have had various substitutions sent, including wholewheat, self-raising and bread flour!  None of which I buy or use normally! 

Across the pond self-raising is pretty much non-existent so have had to look up various uses for the stuff!  Made some banana bread using the bread flour and it was super dense but had risen to twice it's normal size!  Spelt flour does not rise as much and is very light!  Think I'll have to make actual bread with it next time 😳

Who'd have thought that toilet roll, pasta and flour would become such treasure 😂  Found this when looking for $hrop$hir£ Rock$ ideas 🤣



Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

themadvix said:

Article on Guardian website today suggests that actually people are wasting less - more time to think about food and at home to use it up. So hopefully not more waste.

I read that one MV - food is certainly becoming an even more valuable commodity.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Nothing to see here

Not much to report.  We've been having a few lazier days - we are on holiday after all 😉  Mr F has been making a few small repairs around the house and I have been painting more slate and rocks.  Today is set to continue in a similar vein.

I plan to finish off the final bits of rock painting/varnishing.  Also complete another slate painting.  This one's for a friend who's having a hard time.  We were due to visit her new house before lockdown so I'll make it a housewarming present for when we do visit.  Then I'm going to try painting a roller blind 😮  It's the one from Mr F's study.  It's a day light blind and he needs it to be more blackout.  The blind is very good quality so I'd rather not replace it so I'm going to try chalk paint.  The paint I've bought has wax in it already which is supposed to keep the paint supple.  If it doesn't work I will have to replace the blind but that's what I would have had to do anyway so nothing lost.  Wish me luck!

Lunch yesterday was Blue Cheese & Grape Salad with Caramelised Pecans plus some garlic bread to bolster it up a bit.  The caramelised pecans are lovely 😋  I think this would make a good dinner party starter (wonder when we'll have one of those again 🤔).  Supper was Cod and Spinach Yellow Curry with some sliced green chilli added.  There's plenty left over for supper tonight too.

We are joining a video call quiz night this evening with my family.  I may even decant the Celementine, Bay & Peppercorn Gin so I can make Prosecco cocktails with it.  That's as decadent as it gets in the Fortunate household at the moment!

Have a good Sunday all

Fortune x