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

jenagain

lil_me, DS loves the town Christmas lights so that's why we're doing our tree tonight, nothing else until next weekend! Last Christmas I was more controlled but I love seeing his little face all excited!

It's his 2nd birthday on 4th Dec too so we've been getting him all excited about that too - he is obsessed with having a birthday cake and 'making a party' (at least once a day we have to 'make a party mummy!' by hanging banners on chairs and dancing :rotfl:

lil_me

Aww bless he's still just dinky then, my sister waits until the 13th because it's her sons birthday on the 12th, she put them up earlier before he was born, usually the beginning of November at the latest! Making a party, that is cute, mine hate parties :rotfl: they want one or want to go to one then hide all the way through. Kids from schools parties, especiallly with the oldest, I get to sit next to the door with my son while everyone makes a fuss trying to get him through the door. If we don't go he gets upset, when we go he won't go in, can't win!

Right, meals list is done, shopping list is done, next I will go through the cupboards, fridge etc double checking I don't have what I think I don't. Cross off anything I can find by 'shopping from home'. I do this every time now as I find I get home thinking things like I needed sultanas when there is 3 bags hiding in the back of a cupboard!

D&DD

skinnygirlnot wrote: »

Hi,
I've been lurking on this site since the beginning and have resisted buying a doughnut maker...until now!
I had earmarked the russell hobbs one but accidently bought one called 'Indulgence' by Mistral(?) RH one is called 'Temptation' - easy mistake LOL.
But I'm so disappointed.
The recipe said 1 sachet of baking powder so i guessed 1tsp.
Also how much mixture do you put?
My doughnuts were very flat and stodgy.
Can someone post their recipe for me to try please.

Hi Skinnygirl The recipe was further back on the thread here..
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=6808528&postcount=219

In my Dmaker I use a dessertspoonful of batter,they rise up well because of the baking powder.
The recipe I use is the one that came with my original breville maker,the Tchibo recipe didn't make up as nice HTH Happy donut making Dee

*update on neighbour* She was chuffed to bits with her 'makes'..We often chat about moneysaving and next year she is growing veg for the first time.She had a go at strawberries this year and is now hooked!
I explained again to her about the greening of potatoes and sprouting so she's going to ask in future if she isn't sure,I've known her family long enough for her not to be offended thankfully She couldn't believe how much she got from what she had thrown out..It made 2 x 2lb carrot cakes and a big and small cheese and pot pie..:rolleyes: I feel better for telling her though as hopefully it will help her stretch their wages a bit further.

D&DD

How'd the pheasant go Jen?? Are you still wrapped up in tinsel and stuff:rotfl:
Oh I love xmas..once I've finished pressie shopping :eek: *tad behind this year..*
I switch my house phone onto Jingle Bells and drive everyone mad with all the decorations Our DS2 was born on Boxing Day too so its nice to have a double celebration He's going to be a teenager this year..scary thought..wonder if he'll start living in his bedroom and communicating by grunts..:cool:

Have had a good day today as well as making neighbours stuff I made a large brownie mix for DS3's lunchboxes this week..have hid some so hopefully it will last!! Made a large tray of choccie chip sponge and cut it into fingers for the elder 2's lunchboxes.Made a dozen rolls and a dozen burger baps and made up yet more pastry for mince pies tomorrow.
Have saved my gf xmas pud and cakes making until tomorrow as I have to concentrate :rotfl:

Breakfast today was the rest of the porridge with some jam in *DS3 had strawberries and toast!)*

Lunch was ham rolls and cake

Dinner was roast chicken as usual with all the bits oooh I pulled some parsnips from the garden will post pic tomorrow as batteries need charging..someone was slug hunting last night with his new night vision goggles and left them on...

Stores are looking quite good as I had a sort out upstairs and brought loads down to plug all the gaps.:j I have to fill the freezer up with a few more bakes I think then it won't seem so bad!! Feel better now I have a few bits of meat in too...

jcr16

wow what a busy afternnon i had.

The roast was divine. Simple yet delish. i did roast gammon , Roast spuds and cauliflower cheese. It felt like the best meal ever. it was a huge joint , so invited inlaws over. they loved it aswel..

as for cooking .

i made a carrot cake



the cake was gorgeous , but the quork( sp? ) topping had to be mixed with orange juice , lemon juice and cinommon and we all found it very bitter.but cake was so moist. it was a delia recipe.

i also made a bakewell tart from ddd recipe posted. but i added some almond essence to the fillig. it was divine. everyone had second's.



and had some pastry left over so i made 8 ajms tarts and 4 lemon curd tart's. which are also gorgeous.



i've never made a pastry using lard and icing in it. but i can tell u now i shall never be making it any other way.

D&DD

:T :T :T Jcr that all looks fab!!!!!

Bet theres not much left tonight it all looks lush :drool: :drool: :drool:

I don't know what others use for topping carrot cake (we have ours plain) but I'm sure my mum mixes icing sugar with her topping I'll ask her tomorrow

tooties

Evening all,
jrc they look delish, i made carrot cakes and ginger bread and a banana loaf as my bananas were looking tired,
off to get my college bag ready for tomorrow and try and calm my nerves regarding exhibiting my paintings tomorrow night not to mention all my crafty bits, i really really want a donut maker so i hope i make a profit.
hopefully normality will resume on tuesday after college.
have a good evening everyone
tooties

CheekyLittleMonkey

Hello Everyone

I've been reading this thread with great interest. It's fab! :T
Well done to all of you.

jcr16 - I've a couple of carrot cake toppings you can try, here goes:

8oz (225g) icing sugar
8 oz (225g) cream cheese (any), at room temperature
2 0z (55g) butter or marg, at room temperature
2 tsp Vanilla essence
4 oz chopped walnuts or pecans

Combine everything but the nuts in a bowl and beat until smooth then spread the icing all over the top and sides of the cake. Sprinkle the nuts all over the top of the cake.

Maple Butter Icing

3 oz (85g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
12 oz (350g) icing sugar
2 fl oz (65ml) maple syrup

Cream the butter with half the icing sugar until soft. Add the syrup then beat in the remaining sugar until blended. Spread the icing all over the top of the cake (decorate with walnut halves if wished).

I'm predominantly an Indian cook, so if you have any questions or need any ideas for recipies give me a shout.

bellaquidsin

Oooo wonderful, carrot cake topping recipes:j will they freeze successfully?

lil_me

D&DD sounds like your neighbour really appreciated it, I am sure it will really help her, do you fancy moving next door to me? A lady where I used to live used to make me carrot cake and her banana loaf which had fruits and nuts and things in which were fab, I used to do things for her and because I refused to accept money she would do that for me, knew I couldn't refuse cake.

jcr WOW, that looks great, you all make me feel very eager to get more baking done, then I worry about the calories I think I will try some more during the week. I have this problem where most things I try to make go wrong in one way or another, undercooked, overcooked, missing ingredients, fall to bits....always something. Suppose it's just practise really.

CheekyLittleMonkey - I'm still trying to get through a huge bag of chapati flour I bought (I do like chapatis but starting to get bored) oh and gram flour. Anything yummy I can make with those, especially things I can batch cook and freeze to use it up ASAP as it's been open a while now would be much appreciated I have most indian spices, herbs, ghee, etc etc. A good recipe for onion bhajis which I don't need a deep fat fryer and I can freeze to make would be great as I have a huge sack of onions and I know they usually use gram flour in those. I have an addiction for samosas but I think they would be tricky to make, never tried before.

Just been looking at the tray bake tins, think the one I was going to use may be a little shallow, it's only about 3cm deep, would love to buy Mermaid ones but can't afford them just yet. Maybe after Christmas...treat myself