Crazy Cat Lady Chapter 4 - The Aftermath

crazy_cat_lady

Right people. Solve the mystery for me. I’m posting this from my phone to post the picture but I’m going on the laptop soon to upload tomorrow’s work... 

Grumpelstiltskin

They look like Black Currents.

crazy_cat_lady

Hello - fancy me opening my laptop and coming straight on here to check my pictures posted. Told you it had been a day of procrastination.
So, those are the berries. I also thought sloes were bigger. I don't think they are the right colour for blueberries - and I did try one. Jeez it was awful. I felt like I'd switched a hoover on in my mouth and it just sucked all of the moisture out of there and I couldn't even smack my lips together. And it's got a mini pip in the middle as well. I am wondering what the heck it was doing in a magic bag from Mr M or if I've ended up with them entirely by accident. They're not very nice and I will eat most stuff (apart from shellfish and melon (see below)). 
I have other mysteries to solve. I have included in my photos a list of my current fruit and veg supply (minus the paper bag full of sprouts I forgot to include) and a little photo of NT2 wondering if there was anything good in the box for her (there wasn't).
I have WAY too much fruit now. Far too much. Billions of pears and apples and a giant yellow melon! Really? I can go with crumble or pie for nice fruit but what is the actual point of a melon? Really? They don't taste of anything but yuck, and I don't want to waste it. I seem to think I had melon a few years ago and did something with vodka with it, like a smoothie or something that someone on the weekly thread suggested. 
There is a big pan of chicken broth just finishing up in the kitchen but as you can see I have quite a lot of stuff to prep and sort if I don't want to lose it. I actually have fridge and freezer space at the moment as well so can freeze stuff if people have any recommendations. I do actually own a few cookbooks but don't want anything too adventurous. I just want healthy and tasty. And cheap. I suspect I might need to get more cupboard ingredients, like herbs and spices etc. And creme fraiche or soft cheese...

crazy_cat_lady

f0xh0les said:

You are going to have to eat one you know.....  if it is sour then blackcurrants, if it is tongue drying face pulling weirdness, it is a sloe.  If you have just been given really small black grapes I am going to laugh my A$$ off.

Oh god - they aren't teeny black grapes are they?

beanielou

I melon.

Honeysucklelou2

They don’t look like sloes...did they taste salty at all? 

Grumpelstiltskin

Sloes have a stone in their centre , Black Currants have tiny seeds inside them.

f0xh0les

They are blackcurrants ccl. They make a lovely jam. Bung them in the freezer until you can be bothered with them, or make your own Ribena!   There is a cough mixture made out of blackcurrants called Black Rob, great for sore throats and the like. Proper old school recipe that one. If nothing else it is medicinal.

The spring onions can be kept on a windowsill in a glass with 1cm of water and they will keep growing until you need them, plus your fridge will not smell of onions.  They will live for a good while longer that way.

I am not a fan of melon at all, but 3 of my kids love it.  I just never bought it because, well, it's melon innit?   They love the stuff now.  You could make up a big fruit salad to live in the fridge for a couple of days, would use up some apples/oranges/melon/strawbs/pears/banana/grapes/nectarines.  Great to have on hand to stop snacking.   It is all screaming P1MMS to me to be honest.    If you keep your fruit somewhere cold  - if you have an unheated porch- it will keep much longer than in the fridge.

crazy_cat_lady

Well at least they weren't teeny black grapes. They are utterly disgusting though - I don't want to eat them. I want to make them into a luxurious blackcurrant cordial or nice jam or something. I couldn't taste any sweetness in them at all but they really dried my mouth out. Yuck!
I do have a freezing cold spot in the house near the back door where I can keep the box - as long as the cats don't see it as a bed. I call it the outhouse but in reality it's like a bit of a porch between the kitchen and back door with a bit of space to be a utility type room, but in reality it houses my chest freezer and tools etc. I have shelves so can store out there for now. I will do that tonight while I look through cookbooks and make plans. I am quite impressed at how my chicken broth has turned out. It tastes ok.
Thanks for the help and advice all of you - it is very much appreciated, as always

badmemory

I've found fruit salad lasts a lot longer (as in a week) if you don't put in apples & bananas.  They can be added when serving though.  Although I suspect than fruit salad for 6 goes pretty quickly whereas for only 2 it can take a while!