Prepping for Brexit thread

Blue_Doggy

D&#8517 wrote: »

Still trying to decide wether it's actually going to happen this time or not!!!
I have a list of bits *mainly cheese * I want to get if it goes ahead..
Don't think we really need anything else but there's bound to be something I missed but I want to start saving for our move now so would prefer not to top up the stores too much more or we'll need a whole van just for that.
Have decided to start on the garden prep now as in digging up anything we're wanting to take and moving it into pots. It's going to be a huge job and probably take us most of the winter to complete and then theres the greenhouse oh boy

Just a word re the “portable garden”: I did this last time I moved, brought loads of pots with me, containing “favourite” and/or “useful” plants. By the time I’d got the new garden cleared and laid out, quite a number had died or become weak (a cold winter and no really suitable storage didn’t help, followed by some “life events” of the unexpected and time-consuming type). The preparation of the new garden took much longer than expected because of persistent weeds.

I still have some of the transferred plants thriving after 30 years, but I’d really brought too many and made a rod for my own back, as well as limiting my opportunities to explore new plants and varieties more suitable for the new garden (soil type, aspect, etc.). The best bets were those which could be propagated by cuttings after arriving at the new place, or where I’d brought seeds with me too.

Not wanting to rain on your parade, more passing on my experience .

DryTheRain

A last minute list sounds like a very good idea D&DD )

Alas only a small freezer compartment here, but hard cheese seems to have a pretty good fridge shelf life and I could probably squeeze some bagged up Aldi ham into the freezer gaps. I like the thought of frying it up with sliced tinned potato, mustard seeds and sweetcorn, a good hearty meal for cooler days ahead.

Am also slightly obsessed with soup and thermals, and finally tracked down Baxter's Spicy Parsnip (soup of my chilly youth) in Waitrose, reduced to 73p, some for me and some for the food bank.

I gather Aldi merino base layers are back in stock too, and would welcome any feedback on them - are they better than the heatgen sort, and if you're wearing both, which goes on first?

DigForVictory

I've an Aldi merino long sleeved top which is a godsend (on a chilly air rifle range teaching scout to shoot).
Not just as it is thin & longsleeved & disappears gracefully under the uniform shirt but it is *warm* & I can still stretch & reach.
No idea about heatgen, I'm afraid.

DryTheRain

Hey thanks DfV, do they wash and dry well?

Heatgen is the M&S version of Japanese style polyester thermals. I had some for Christmas last year, and they're very good (look nice too) but weren't quite enough to fend off the shivers in a chilly flat, so I still ended up swaddled in jumpers like the Michelin man.. i could hardly move! Hence I'm keen on acquiring more lightweight base layers, especially with concerns about microparticles from man made fibres.

MingVase

D3, I've been busy squirreling away my list of things I can't live without :


Bacon
Italian coffee pods
Tea
Lard
Butter
Jam (god knows why jam. but I don't want to be left without it!)
Apples (tins of)
Custard powder & Semolina
Washing up liq
Bog rolls

Soap

Primrose

Semolina seems to be rarely used now which is a shame as it was a staple food in my childhood and nice for using with stewed and frozen fruits.
I probably have an ancient packet tucked away at the back of a cupboard somewhere. Need to replace it. A good food filler if you only have soup and feel you still want something else to fill you up.

I remember my mum used to serve it during the war and immediate post war austerity years with a dribble of Ribena on it to liven it up and encourage us to eat it

Treasurequeen

I have bought batteries, a battery radio, phone that goes straight into phone line, , lanterns that fold down In every room (in case of power cuts)

powdered milk, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, jam, marmalade, soups, stock cubes, store cupboard is full. A few Christmas bits are also stored away. washing up liquid, tissues, toilet rolls

I bought a few blocks of butter and have frozen them.

just need to get some good thermals now.

monnagran

Another vote here for semolina Primrose.
Not only for puddings. Parboiled potatoes tossed with a little semolina make the crunchiest roasties. It makes wonderful shortbread, and laced with a dash of almond essence, makes a cheap and quite acceptable alternative to ground almonds.

MingVase

My staples are porridge oats for breakfast and flapjacks; custard, semolina and fruit crumbles for pudding; home made soup and bread.
I think with that lot you're basically covered for a while.

Primrose

Monnagran. Do you have any specific cake recipes using semolina instead of ground almonds? My OH makes aground almond based cake with marzipan sometimes and a cheaper recipe would be worth experimenting with. Not sure what proportion of ground almonds you would substitute. All or just a percentage of it?