Pay for the future and not the past

Suffolk_lass

Not sure about rhubarb in the fridge. Here I chop it into 2-3cm pieces and straight in a zip top bag in the freezer. It is malleable enough to squidge in between other pots and sort of squidge flat. Bags the right size for a crumble - I just bung it in the dish (no sugar), top with pre-made, frozen crumble topping (stored the same way) and leave it on the side while the roast cooks. It goes in at the end and only takes 35 minutes while the meat rests and the veggies are steaming (our range isn't switched off in winter though)

MissRikkiC

Hi @Suffolk_lass Thanks. i was just curious about how long would a jar of chutney keep in the fridge that didnt vacuum enough when adding the lid, to make the popping top, stop popping 

We are back from staying with friends for a long weekend in Sussex which was really nice. I have lots of catching up to do and essentially so much cooking and bread making, washing and gardening but with limited time!

I do need to review our original (holiday) budget for the weekend as i purchased some food bits whilst there as well as beers and the like which were consumed by all. Equally, i got a few extra things from a Waitflower there as we dont have one which need to come from the groceries budget instead so need to work it all out. 

We also discussed at length, camping, van life and generally simpler living which has given me a lot to think about! However for now, ill read other peopls diaries, catch up on life and work (i suppose) and report back soon.

Ps. Does anyone get flour for bread making in bulk who can recommend the best quality/price? Im out of white four now, previously bought from Shipton Mill and have found another supplier at £15.50 for a 16kg bag (Nel-strop) instead of £19.50 however would be curious as to if anyone else buys from somewhere cheaper.....

Suffolk_lass

Ooh sorry, not paying attention. I don't know re fridge, but I do know you could reheat it, and reheat the clean jars and try again. I turn my kilner screw-tops upside down and wrap them in a towel to assist in sealing (but of course you get chutney (tomatoes in my case) on the underside of the disk lid).

We don't keep pickle in the fridge as the cooking in vinegar preserves it. I had the same with some marmalade and just put it in the larder and used it before the popped pots. I rationalised that my Mum's generation used a waxed paper disk and cellophane with a rubber band in the days before pop-tops.

I would maybe try one in your store-cupboard and one in the fridge if you CBA to reheat them. Just keep an eye on the metal lids as the vinegar will eventually make it rust if there are any impurities in the surface or silicone seal. I use the clip top jars in preference for any chutney I make because of this. The exception is pickled onions which go in old mayo jars once, and then get recycled.

MissRikkiC

Thanks @Suffolk_lass very helpful. It turned out that the chutney in the jar with the top pop lid that didnt stop popping was actually eaten that fast that it didnt have chance to go bad anyway! I suspect the others which did seal will be okay. 

Money stuff

Yesterday i had a day where i just couldnt concentrate. Its on account of potentially finding a house that we like and the gubbins that comes with it. We are looking at the house at 4pm today but its meant i havent been able to think about much else! Its money stuff because of the mortgage conversations of course and questions i have had to ask my broker are all around circumstances which could support or hinder our ability to lend what we need. 

I did however pick a tub of tomatoes from the garden, 1 courgette, 1 cucumber (there are currently 21 on the plant!), some chard, 1 big and 1 small sweetcorn some of which have been eaten already. 

During the day i also made a big sourdough (1.5x the recipe), 2 loaves for the week and some courgette and bread soup to last through to the weekend. Dinner was a stir fry with the courgette and chard used from the pickings and some quorn chicken pieces and cashew nuts for protein. Very tasty.

I feel very disorganised at the moment, im not sure if its because we were away for the weekend, or because the routine is out due to the school holidays or generally im being less organised but i feel like i might need to do some things to rectify it. I have been contemplating a capsule wardrobe this last week and if i could make it work for me. I am sick of seeing washing, granted its all in the utility now but there seems just too much of it and i need a way of getting it down. The childrens stuff too. I think this month i might invest in some good bibs for my boy as the ones were using arent dong the job which should help stuff stay clean for longer. The fact theyre only in nursery 1 day a week right now should mean there is less washing but it doesnt feel like it. Maybe some batch cooking this weekend will help, so that i can then use the time id spend making something doing something else instead. I just dont feel like there are enough hours at the moment.