Family of 5 'shop from home'food storage challenge...

Sassamac

rosieben wrote: »

Ok, my microwave which died on me this morning it was just a cheap manual control one which I got on special for £30 and it lasted me for over 3 years. I’m going to replace it, but will have to be a cheapie again. I’ve found a basic manual control micro for £50 or a delonghi combination micro for £70, both in Argos which is where I got the last one.

I use my micro a lot, make cakes, jam, sponge puddings, scrambled eggs, milky coffee, jacket potts, also give veg a quick blitz if I want to hurry things up, all sorts of other things, so its used several times a day, every day. I’m usually only cooking for one.

so Gizmo-Gurus, advice please, would you recommend a combination microwave or should I just go for the manual micro?

Edited to say, I just looked at comet and they have a much bigger selection, but still need advice re combination versus plain microwave

I have a combination microwave but I have only ever used it as a plain microwave. I think it was still pretty cheap though - £35 rings a bell and its only 3 years old. I guess its always useful if the oven / hob packs up.

Yategirl

Have you tinned tomatoes? pesto? carrots? onion? pepper (optional)? I would soften an onion (with garlic if you have that but not essential), chop carrots (2-3) and pepper and add in. Drain and rinse the beans (all of them!) and put in a casserole with a tin of tomatoes (chopped) and a jar of pesto. Add in any meat scraps if you want an "all in one". Mix well and put in oven for 2 hours or slow cooker all day. This is yummy! We have (without the meat) with either baked potaoes or sometimes sausage, you could serve any leftover meat on the side with the stew. My kids love this!

Sassamac

NoahsPennilessMummy wrote: »

OMG, dont know how this place is moneysaving......just spent £65 on panasonic breadmaker:eek: ......comes in a few days.

my old breadmaker is rubbish and makes awful bread.....am hoping this will change things!

LOL think of it as an investment. I know what you mean though.
I have wanted a BM for ages but I always find something more important to spend the money on, so if I want HM bread I have to make it by hand.

Sassamac

Yategirl wrote: »

Have you tinned tomatoes? pesto? carrots? onion? pepper (optional)? I would soften an onion (with garlic if you have that but not essential), chop carrots (2-3) and pepper and add in. Drain and rinse the beans (all of them!) and put in a casserole with a tin of tomatoes (chopped) and a jar of pesto. Add in any meat scraps if you want an "all in one". Mix well and put in oven for 2 hours or slow cooker all day. This is yummy! We have (without the meat) with either baked potaoes or sometimes sausage, you could serve any leftover meat on the side with the stew. My kids love this!

Thanks Yate, got most of that in the cupboard except Pesto which I never really use (didnt know you could do anything with it other than serve with pasta). It sounds nice though and I reckon I could get away with serving that to DH (who is a meat and spuds kind of guy) if I start with a small proportion of beans to meat.

JayneC

Sassamac wrote: »

LOL think of it as an investment. I know what you mean though.
I have wanted a BM for ages but I always find something more important to spend the money on, so if I want HM bread I have to make it by hand.

Just to let you know I got a good breadmaker from freecycle, it's well worth joining up. I also got a slow cooker and sewing machine amongst other things. If instructions are missing you can usually download them from the internet if you have the model number - did this with the breadmaker and also ordered a measuring jug for it (as you need precise quantities) but was less than £2. I used to use it every day but not used it for a while , should get it out again....
Just found this thread, will be following with interest...

Jayne x

purpleivy

I freeze my bread rolls and my bread, but I do try not to leave it in the freezer for too long. I make the dough in the BM, turn it out when 45 mins is up, shape and put on baking tray with magic carpet, allow to rise..... warm cupboard or low oven (40C) if in a rush. Bake when they loook big enough.

lollyred1 wrote: »

rosieben wrote: »

Can someone give me some tips on rolls- do you make the dough in your bread makers? Can you freze them?

purpleivy

My dd said yesterday, in a very sort of apologetic way, that she liked to eat a burger out of crappy white burger buns! I've promised to try and make some soft white bread, so would like this post with recipe too.

rosieben wrote: »

Very frustrated as I cant find the post that gave the link to the recipe (off MSE). It was something about soft white rolls. I've searched but it doesnt show up, obviously got the words wrong! If anyone sees it please let me know! The recipe looks quite complicated - you make a dough sponge, leave that to rise, then make the dough and mix the two with liquid. In fact its a very easy recipe I do have it, but would love to know who the poster was so I can thank them!

rosieben

Yategirl wrote: »

This was the link yummy soft bread rolls well worth making and freezing, they were gorgeous!

Yes, I have the recipe Yategirl, thanks, dont suppose you happen to remember where the link was posted on here please? I seem to remember there were other recipes in the same thread that I wanted to try. Those rolls are gorgeous, I'm making more this week to freeze

rosieben

purpleivy wrote: »

I freeze my bread rolls and my bread, but I do try not to leave it in the freezer for too long. I make the dough in the BM, turn it out when 45 mins is up, shape and put on baking tray with magic carpet, allow to rise..... warm cupboard or low oven (40C) if in a rush. Bake when they loook big enough.

Just to clarify Purpleivy, it was lollyred who asked the qustion not me

purpleivy

Whoops! sorry