Great Tips... one liners

babyshoes

I have started doing loads of stuff. One that hasn't been mentioned yet is using oats to bulk out mince. I was so skeptical at first, but if you do it right you really don't notice them at all.

I find you have to brown them for a little while at the end of browning the mince when they soak up some of the liquid and fat given off by cheap mince, then add beef stock and maybe some soya sauce so they soak up the meaty flavour and colour. Cook that all for a minute or three before adding the rest of the ingredients. I use about 2 handfulls of value oats for a 400g block of mince, which along with lots of tinned tomatoes and chopped onions will stretch to at least 2 generous suppers for the pair of us (ie 4 large portions) , as well as doing lunchboxes for most, if not all of the week (ie 6-10 small portions).

My OH is very fussy about some things, and didn't know they were in there for months, until one day she walked in as I was sprinkling a fist full of oats into the pan...

Hippeechiq

I've learnt to decant washing up liquid into an old empty hand soap dispenser bottle which has stopped OH using half a bottle every time he washes up, meaning a bottle now lasts me about 3 times longer.

To squish toilet rolls before putting them on the holder to prevent everyone in the household from pulling reams off each time they go to the loo - and it really does work.

That liquid hand soap and cheapie bubble bath contain basically the same ingredients. So I now buy the SMs cheapest own brand bubble bath for about 55p (not value) to fill up the hand soap dispensers in my kitchen, bathroom and downstairs toilet. So for well under a quid, I can keep all three topped up for at least 3 months, and there are four of us in the house using it.

To water down my fabric softener by half so it lasts twice as long

That if I've run out of washing liquid for the washing machine, Stardops will do the job until I can get some.

That you can freeze just about anything, resulting in nothing going to waste

Lou76

emiff6 wrote: »

What I've learned on this forum that I didn't know before is that there is a huge community of inventive, knowledgeable and generous people ready and willing to share their ideas and help solve other people's problems, and there is no question, however difficult or tricky, that someone can't answer. These forums are brilliant! Thank you all!

I haven't been on here for a few days, so I have so many more new tips to take in (both on this thread and the rest of the forum), but had to second this post.

Couldn't agree more. :T

zippychick

I've merged this with tips/one liners to keep all the tips together

nuttybabe

stiltwalker wrote: »

Yes - can't remember which thread I saw this on but you have to wash your potatoes thoroughly before you peel them then put your peelings in a bowl and toss through with enough oil to coat lightly (or put straight in the tray and spray with one of those spray oil thingys if you're try to cut down on fats) and bake in the oven til crispy - find it helps to turn and shake them a few times and do this while you have other things in the oven to be really MS. When they are done you can season with salt, black pepper, paprika etc.

HTH

Thank you so much! I didnt know about this before and thought I would try it today. My sister is here so I did this and they have all been eaten. And no-one knows they were peelings that would normally have gone in the bin!!!! :rotfl: I am going to do this with all my peelings and keep in a air tight container so i wont have to buy crisps anymore!!! :T Will have to think of new flavours for them though.


Other things i have learnt from this forum:

twinks
stardrops
washing gloop
flylady
using up leftovers
meal plan
and about 100 other things.

A huge big thank you to everyone. :beer:

Lou76

zippychick wrote: »

I've merged this with tips/one liners to keep all the tips together

Crikey, now I've got even more tips to swat up on.

Best get revising. :rotfl:

chinagirl

On Saturday, using Thursday's left-over stew for a filling in a home made plate pie, that went on to feed 6 folks.
Also, saving slices of left over roast beef to make beef and horseraddish rolls for lunch tomorrow.

squeaky

demented wrote: »

Yep. I do that as well Squeaky, it saves money and also on the washing up. Just got to get my DH to do the same thing lol.

Despite the fact that I'm an Old Styler from way back, I have to admit I'm an idle git - so I'm a big fan of "one pot cooking".

Little_bit_dizzy

fedupandskint wrote: »

I never knew how good stardrops was for cleaning. I use this every time for the kitchen and it goes a long way

Can anyone help me locate stardrops? It would seem 100's of you more experienced MSE'ers have found this wonderful product but from where???

My current (more expensive & fairly evil) kitchen / bathroom cleaners are starting to run down so would love to give ths product a try as many of you have said how amazing it is...

Thanks in advance if you're able to help!

Fruball

MrS sells it - its tricky to find as they usually put it on the bottom shelf, somewhere among the other cleaning fluids but not by the washing up liq... I've never found it in MrT. hope that helps.