Do you have a secret trick?

Brie

weenancyinAmerica said:

When I was working with the Scouts, we used alcohol wipes or rubbing alcohol (white spirits) to clean off permanent marker from white boards and other places where it wasn't supposed to be. 

Nail polish remover works nicely too.

RobM99

Brie said:

weenancyinAmerica said:

When I was working with the Scouts, we used alcohol wipes or rubbing alcohol (white spirits) to clean off permanent marker from white boards and other places where it wasn't supposed to be. 

Nail polish remover works nicely too.

Nail polish remover is essentialy "acetone" (propan-2-one) and like methylated spirit, highly inflammable!

Rosa_Damascena

YoungBlueEyes said:

I cook as much as I need each time, I occasionally get it right too. If it's too much I sling it on the grass for the birds - wee blackies love it  

We mostly only have rice if we get a takeaway, no matter how many tips and tricks I try I can't really be trusted to do it ha haa!

I am reluctant to feed the birds. A neighbouring cat - which I am sure is genealogical relation of a tiger - has returned to my garden for long stretches, which tells me mice are not far. Its so snooty it never takes from the milk I leave out for it.

maman

Pixie_Cosmo said:

-taff said:

My mother used to water her house plants with any cold tea left in the pot. They never died on her...mine however....

Mine did too, apparently geraniums like tea! 

Isn't there something about hydrangeas and tea? I think it affects the colour. 🤔

RobM99

Rosa_Damascena said:

YoungBlueEyes said:

I cook as much as I need each time, I occasionally get it right too. If it's too much I sling it on the grass for the birds - wee blackies love it  

We mostly only have rice if we get a takeaway, no matter how many tips and tricks I try I can't really be trusted to do it ha haa!

I am reluctant to feed the birds. A neighbouring cat - which I am sure is genealogical relation of a tiger - has returned to my garden for long stretches, which tells me mice are not far. Its so snooty it never takes from the milk I leave out for it.

Many cats are lactose intolerant. It makes their digestive system explode in a most unpleasant manner.

He's right. Love, Dinner The WonderCat =^..^=

Novice_investor101

Latest money saving packed lunch idea, stopped buying small chocolate bars or cereal bars & now make my own chewy flapjack, with golden syrup. So much cheaper & the butter is the only thing I have to buy more than once a month. It used to cost £2-3 a week, now it’s typically less than £5 a month. 

I was astonished to find, in tesco baking aisle, a flapjack premixed kit that said you just need to add butter & golden syrup. So it was £1.60 for a tiny bag half filled with a tiny portion of porridge oats mixed with a tiny portion of soft brown sugar…

RobM99

Novice_investor101 said:

I was astonished to find, in Tesco baking aisle, a flapjack premixed kit that said you just need to add butter & golden syrup. So it was £1.60 for a tiny bag half filled with a tiny portion of porridge oats mixed with a tiny portion of soft brown sugar…

Mai I steal that for a thread idea I have?

YoungBlueEyes

Gawd Rosa, don’t be mentioning mice. There’s so many birds -well, pigeons - that there’s never anything left for mice *phew*

I need to start making himself’s flapjacks and treats that he likes in his packup. I could really do with something to replace his Belvita breakfast biscuit things actually. The cheapo ones are crap he says. Does anyone have a recipe…? 🤞🏻

dancingmaster1651

Instead of stock cubes I use the juice or liquor or whatever it's called from canned veg & fish. I'm not a very organised cook and on a low income so I find 60p for a can of carrots, spinach etc is better than 30p for fresh veg (on Reduced shelf) going yucky before I remember where I put them. The juice is good for thinning out thick 'fresh' soups (the carton type -- again, from Reduced shelf). Fish juice ditto, or for adding to simmering veg -- no salt or other flavouring necessary. Mum always used carrot water for making beef gravy, greens water for lamb. 
For fruit salads, I follow advice from Katharine Whitehorn's 'Bedsitter Cookery' -- anyone else know it? One can of fruit, something nice like lychees or mangoes, then chop in whatever fresh fruit is on special offer -- kiwi, berries, etc, plus banana just before eating. Nice fruit is cheaper in cans, and almost as good as fresh so long as no added sugar. Local corner shops are  more expensive than supermarkets generally but they often have a clear-out of cans nearing the sell-by date; our last haul was cans of guavas, apricots and raspberries for 20p each. 
Thanks for all the helpful tips. 

annieb64

I remember "Bedsitter Cookery" . That and the "Paupers Cookbook" were the only cookbooks I owned when I was a student.  Still have the "Paupers Cookbook" although it's minus it's cover now.