From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Humdinger1

Late to the party, but can i add my school cooking story? Made shepherd's pie and unaccountably left it in my locker.  It was put in the dustbin at home three weeks later when my mother threatened to call a public health inspector in.  Cookery lessons were utterly dreadful but I got over them and love cooking now.  Fab as ever to catch up @Greying_Pilgrim love Humdinger xx 

Greying_Pilgrim

Humdinger - it's a wonder any of us cook having had domestic science lessons at school - no wonder children now have less impetus to cook, and don't even have the chance to be 'put off' by school.  

So I popped to the market town along.  Eventually got my haircut after waiting 3/4 hr. 

The shop where we'd seen some trainers in the summer had none in stock 🙄 (it's kind of an outlet shop).  I got soaking wet wandering to MrS to check they didn't have anything (it was a long-shot, I should have known better). 

But I did get some bits and pieces in h3r0n f00ds, as they still have their branch there.  I got 3 x L1nda Mc lincolshire veggie sausages @79p ea.  (BB Nov), I got a pack of 6 ready made jellies (useful for lunchboxes), for £1 (BB Nov), and a couple of bags of oven chips, as I see h3r0n have gone back to stocking Av1ko brand, which we like and they don't upset DH's stomach (we had some when we were on holiday, and shopped in H3r0n there).  

£7.37 spent on groceries.  £15 on my haircut.  

I did return LG's library books.  And I did have a quick look in a couple of chazzers, but nothing doing.  

Can't think of anything else on an MSE vibe.

Greying X

Cheery_Daff

I thought of you recently Greying. A local charity shop had a whole free rack of school uniform items, free for anyone to take. And another shop, a pretty random 'cheap shop, had a box of black PE pumps outside, again free for anyone to take. Both still seemed full - I hope they got to people who needed them.

Greying_Pilgrim

Cheery - you're a good 'un, thinking of us 😁  I have to say, the black 'pumps' don't get a look in past reception class.  And yet, the daft thing is, very few 'trainers' (irrespective of the cost), have good grippy soles, so kids are slipping about indoors or on the playground.  Right daft.  We wore those pretty much all through primary, but different times, not cool 🙄

I admit - it's probably the dreich weather, and getting a soaking, but I caved in and made stew and dumplings for tea........  It's a made up recipe, but I used; onions, celery, garlic, the last of the mushrooms, carrots, potatoes, a tin of cannellini beans, a tin of tomatoes and some herbs and spices.  Put the dumpling mix in about 1/2 hour from the end.  Clean plates all round 😁 Lets hope the weather improves and I don't have to wheel out the stew pan this side of November again.......

I forgot to ask - do any of you have any ideas for what to do with small pots of jam or marmalade.  LG 'won' a pack of 2 pots of Jam and 2 pots of marmalade in a tombola.  The brand isn't one I've heard of - so I've no idea if it's quality or pants - I think they're 'white label' producers and make for 'whoever'.  It was clearly done as a Christmas gift idea, and all the preserves have some sort of alcohol in them.  Not sure you'll be able to taste it, but I suspect you're supposed to use it for a xmas morning brekkie, or something of that ilk.  As I say, I've no idea if the quality is good, bad or indifferent, but I wanted to try to make something with them, that was a little more than 'sandwiches', but that wouldn't matter if they turned out to be rank.  The jars are only 42g - so tiny, but anyone got any ideas of something that could use both jam and marmalade.  I mean probably 8 jam tarts would use up the lot.  Anyone got any suggestions?  I think LG would like to know that the 'prize' was made use of - I'm sure the stall was raising money for Breast Cancer research, and LG did use their own pocket money to have some goes.  The little jars are still in date - I think until the start of 2026, at least, so it would be nice to come up with something.  

I'm grateful I could go to a nearby market town today, even though I didn't get everything I wanted.  I'm pleased that tea was a 'use up' for the mushrooms, and a last couple of tins of tomatoes and cannellini beans.  I'm also grateful that LG did a good effort with their homework - it wasn't all plain sailing, but it got done......

Greying X

rtandon27

How about Jam Hand Pies - look like jammie dodgers but made with pastry!

Greying_Pilgrim

That's an idea rt - and something LG could make too.  

The flavours are;

Apricot & Brandy Jam and Strawberry and Marc de Champagne Jam

Orange and Whisky marmalade and  Lemon and Gin marmalade

They're just those little pots you get in a posh hotel, or folk collect 5p's in for the RNLI 😁  

Actually, I've just noticed they are BB May 2027 - I don't know if this is a good thing or not 🤣

Greying X

Blackcats

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/thumbprint-cookies

If you make these can you save me a strawberry & champers one please.

perhaps LG could make them to take on your half term holiday?

rtandon27

...or you could do them as a xmas break activity? - something to plan ahead with LG and look forward to?

Greying_Pilgrim

Thanks Blackcats - that could be an option too, as there will be some time available before we head out.  LG was hankering after making biscuits in the summer hols, but I could never marry up use of the cooker (for more than one thing) and a day when it wasn't too scorchio to have the cooker on, even.  I'll bookmark that as a possibility.  If I move fast, I might be able to save you a photo of the strawberry ones....... 😂

I've just copied down a recipe from one of the recipe shorts that they have on the BBC news site.  Just as well you can track them down on the BBC good food site too - the lass talks too fast!  But it was for a spice mix for beans (Store Cupboard Spiced Bean Stew) and there was the option to use it to coat a fish filet too.  I'm not sure I can afford a spice mix that uses 3 tablespoons of chipotle chili flakes 😱 But I could see using it as a starting point. I would dial back the chipotle, and use smoked paprika instead of Cayenne, but would probably add in a teaspoon of the korean pepper paste into the stew.  Something to try anyway - and I liked that it was a bean stew using  butter beans and mixed beans.  

Which reminds me, I have another question (see, this is what happens when I've time to go rambling around the shops on my own, I have time to look......)  MrT yesterday, in the ingredient aisle, there were little jars of - for example; miso paste, chipotle paste, korean pepper paste - all in the T*sco brand.  There was also a pot of smoky tomato paste.  The smoked tomatoes only constituted about 4% of the ingredients, according to the label, but my question is; has anyone tried this, and would recommend, or, am I better off getting creative with a tube of tomato puree and my jar of smoked paprika?  I can't quite remember the price, but I'm thinking it was £1.50 - £2, they were all of a similar price.  

Greying X

rtandon27

I wouldn't bother getting smoked tomato puree at that price!  Definately the smoked paprika route would make better use of the ingredients you already have.  If you are fond of smoke flavour, I'd rather invest in a bottle of liquid smoke which would go a lot further!