Prepping for Brexit thread

Primrose

I had a look at the wonder bag YouTube video. It,s obviously a modern version of the hay box cooking technique I learnt decades ago when I was a girl guide as part of my Cooks badge!

We did once try using a makeshift one with cushions and old towels in a wooden box during the three day week when all the power went off with only moderate success. One of the secrets, if cooking dense meats like stewing steak is to cut it in very small pieces.

I suspect it may work better with practice especially for items which cook more quickly like soups or rice puddings and porridge.
Nonetheless a useful tool in one's armoury in emergencies if you have enough power to get it up to a good boiling/simmering heat first.

Can I ask what materials you used in your home made wonderbag? I imagine old duvets could be usefully repurposed for one of these. Is there a risk that some of the fabric could be scorched by a very hot metal or cast iron pot at the points where it comes into contact?

luxor4t

Primrose wrote: »

....

Can I ask what materials you used in your home made wonderbag? I imagine old duvets could be usefully repurposed for one of these. Is there a risk that some of the fabric could be scorched by a very hot metal or cast iron pot at the points where it comes into contact?

Coming out of Lurk-mode to say that I used polystyrene beads/pellets in mine.I

Thank you for the reminder, I need to make another one as a gift!

Now returning to lurking

[Deleted User]

Furnishing grade cotton upholstery material (I had the piece already in my stash), polystyrene beads (we had a broken beanbag and re-purposed the contents of that), Paracord for the fastening and an old button cord lock harvested from an old rucksack to hold it all closed when the top cushion is in place.

My mince casserole had 4 hours and the potatoes are perfectly cooked through.

I wrap the casserole in an old (very clean) hand towel as is recommended and put it in the bag so the actual bag material doesn't come into contact with the bottom of the casserole dish. I use a cast iron Chasseur casserole dish.

maryb

I love my "purple pumpkin". It's brilliant for rice. I know rice doesn't take long but it's helpful sometimes not to have to worry about timing. It also makes perfect yogurt overnight. I used to use a wide mouth thermos but I broke it and this saves me buying a new thingie. I make a bigger quantity at a time now and strain half of it to make a really nice cheese with salt and herbs

I need to top up the polystyrene pellets in mine, they do compress after a while

I'm going to nick your idea of the cord lock Mrs L, much easier than tying a bow in the gathering tape

adindas

As this is an MSE forum, people who think about growing groceries or doing farming themselves, will need to think about the opportunity cost.

It might be good for people who enjoy doing this thing as a hobby, so nothing attached to money.

But if it is about money and you have opportunity to earn money elsewhere using your valuable time rather than growing your own groceries, it will probably be better and cheaper for you to just buy from the supermarket.

Say apple cost your valuable time to grow, but is it worthy to do that if it just costs you £2 per kg ? You might use your valuable time to earn more money somewhere else.

In farming, I know quite a few people try to impress and make the OH at home happy or making an accused for disappearance for a few days from home by saying he catches the fish himself where in fact he just bought it from the fish market. :D:D:D

I remember in the global country level the theory is introduced by David Ricardo known as the theory of Comparative advantage. The thing you are not good at, you just let the other people do that for you either to buy from them or hire them.

euronorris

grunnie wrote: »

I have a friend who is permanently moaning about being hard up and her income is more than my oh and mine together. She was off to mr t for potatoes and a lettuce. I offered her potatoes if she gave me a minute to dig them up. They're grown in earth and said they would be germy. She also wouldn't take a lettuce but preferred to buy the bags of lettuce in tesco. She is still moaning about being hard up to anyone who will listen.Some people are justlike that.

Ohhh, but fresh garden tatties are the best! I SO wish I had grown some this year!


Alas, I have bought a reduced price potato bag to do some next year instead!

DigForVictory

As an intermittent gardener I can vouch for the opportunity cost of a few seed potatoes bring absolutely worth the very little effort I put in whereas the apple tree has died.
I’m beginning to think my gardening is actually an exercise program (sporadic digging followed by intermittent lugging of ladder & stretching) followed by the distinctly effortful but worth it jam making.
Cereals were dashed hard with & very weather dependent. Peas & beans would have been easier had I fought & won vs bindweed first, & then the lads didn’t eat them apparently thinking I intended it all for seed & none for soup. (Perhaps I need to work on communication as well as gardening & bindweed control?!)
That said, my neighbour has a former builders merchant sack which she shovelled earth into & is now growing courgettes by the galore - I must wash the dehydrator shelves & lend it to her. Then put checking the edible hedge for further edibles into my diary so life doesn’t mean a fruit crop goes straight to bird food!

adindas

DigForVictory wrote: »

As an intermittent gardener I can vouch for the opportunity cost of a few seed potatoes bring absolutely worth the very little effort I put in whereas the apple tree has died.
I’m beginning to think my gardening is actually an exercise program (sporadic digging followed by intermittent lugging of ladder & stretching) followed by the distinctly effortful but worth it jam making.
Cereals were dashed hard with & very weather dependent. Peas & beans would have been easier had I fought & won vs bindweed first, & then the lads didn’t eat them apparently thinking I intended it all for seed & none for soup. (Perhaps I need to work on communication as well as gardening & bindweed control?!)
That said, my neighbour has a former builders merchant sack which she shovelled earth into & is now growing courgettes by the galore - I must wash the dehydrator shelves & lend it to her. Then put checking the edible hedge for further edibles into my diary so life doesn’t mean a fruit crop goes straight to bird food!

Well there will be a lot of people would want you to do an exercise program (sporadic digging followed by intermittent lugging of ladder & stretching) on their garden free of charge. If not you could try picking fruit for farmers, you do get paid while doing exercise :D:D.

You might want to extend it by trying to get an allotment to grow your own fruits on more spacious land.

maryb

I was in Lidl this morning and they were almost out of tinned tomatoes!! Not sure if it was just my branch. Of course, with the £5 off voucher over the BH weekend, that is just the sort of thing people would have stocked up on

Zentimes

Dear God. We are now really plunging into dark, dark territory.


Govt asks Queen to suspend Parliament. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49493632


It's outrageous.