<<<out of cheese error>>>

redofromstart

ooh yes that sounds good @WinterWarrior, could smash up some biscuits too. The lingering ginger nuts would work well with caramel I think

we have lurking fish to eat too, hate the uncertainty and waiting stage pre exchange, so hard to plan anything @greenbee

In other news my newly sealed (ugly, yellow) quarry tiles are looking much better due to some painful elbow grease and expensive chemicals.  

greenbee

Doesn't matter if you think they are ugly yellow tiles. When it comes to selling they're an original feature. 

Seasidegal58

Have I missed something on your diary redo in that you're moving house?🤔

redofromstart

Seasidegal58 said:

Have I missed something on your diary redo in that you're moving house?🤔

Not currently, will be in the short to medium term.

redofromstart

A busy work week has meant a distinctly freezer heavy meal plan, and even (shock, horror!) a visit to the chip shop.  

I have been experimenting a little bit with food purchases though, and quite approve of the Mr T Creamfields cheddar at £4 for 900g.  Huge block but you can always grate and freeze.

MrL had a reduced free range chicken so we are having proper Sunday lunch. While the oven is on I will be using the space to make some kind of flan (cheese n onion I think) and some kind of cake or biscuit using oil (carrot and sultana if the carrots haven't gone too far over in the fridge).

Yesterday we stopped to pick some damsons (tiny but ripe) which I stewed with water and some (also tiny) cooking apples from our tree, before sieving and then jellying the juice at an equal volume with sugar.  33p of sugar made 3 small jars of damson jam.

Veg garden wise, The corn on the cob are ripe I think, love the Delia story about putting the pan on the boil, strolling up the garden to cut the cobs and then running back as fast as you can for the best taste.   Lots of nice cherry toms too, Lots of green ones still on the plants but I expect the blight will strike soon.  Might have to experiment with green tomato chutney and chillies as I have grown plenty of those as well.    Runner beans flower but do not set beans, first year we have had no more than a handful.  The peas in the tunnel have been eaten by DS as they have ripened.  

doingitanyway

Yum. I am such a fan of damsons. They taste like sweets...
Your garden sounds abundant.

redofromstart

First time in a while I have grown anything much @doingitanyway but trying to make sure we use as much as possible

That said, either birds or mice are chewing my corn on the cob. Swines.

Yesterday was overcast so the oven went on, lamb kleftico, beef casserole (brisket from the freezer), dauphinois potatoes, sausage and stuffing tart, and another onion, potato and cheese tart.  Overnight somebody with hollow legs ate half of the sausage tart which is both annoying and gratifying.  

Like everyone else, we are looking at cost control.  I bought 4 giant sherpa hoodies for the boys, only OH has pinched one and I rather like them.  will probably buy 4 more for 'one on , one in the wash' each purposes. 

Mrs Brady Old Lady cat has a boiler habit that can no longer be indulged, but £4 invested on a self heating blanket (Home Bargains) folded in half seems to have done the trick.  Once its colder I will make a microwave rice bag to slide between the layers.  still cheaper than an hours boost for when she does 'Puss in Boots' pleading eyes.  

The ancient chest freezer (that ices back up five minutes after you defrost) will be replaced this week, and the council will be paid to take away freezer, fridge and a mattress.  

£2.50 on tumble dryer balls has really reduced the drying times for the odd times i have used it, although we have mostly line dried.  Cant abide the smell and texture of line dried towels though, although I appear to be in a minority of one on this. And no I don't use scented fabric conditioner. 

I want to invest in an air fryer if anyone has a recommendation?  3 people who actually eat, not a huge amount of work top space and limited interest in rotisserie chicken.     

sashybo

Ooh redo a self heating blanket sounds ideal for the cats, I will need to have a look in my local HB (dangerous!). My Old Cat would be in heaven, I already have a microwave heat pad for him which he loves. 

I too hate line dried towels - they go like cardboard, yuck. I have the tumble dryer balls and do think they help. I have discovered that half drying the towels in the tumble dryer then hanging out stops the worst of the crispiness that I hate. 

We have a Ninja Foodi 9 in 1 - it does air frying, sauté, slow cooking, pressure cooking etc and we really like it. We use it a lot more than I thought we would which is just as well given the price. I thought it was another of DH's gizmos that would hardly be used.

RosaBernicia

Becky Excell wrote a buyer's guide to air fryers that might be of help. 

I have the larger Ninja oven and already love it as it only takes 2 minutes to preheat and switches off automatically.  Haven't actually tried out the air frying function yet but doubt I will be using the main oven again (as I am not organised enough to get your stack of stuff cooked in one go!). 

I also hate stiff towels but they haven't been too bad when line dried here... possibly more breeze up north of the wall and by the sea. 

Thanks for the self heating blanket pointer, off to investigate those. 

greenbee

Line dried towels given 10 mins in the dryer with the dryer balls should turn fluffy and not smell of fresh air. You can just do yours seeing as everyone else likes the fresh air smell!