How self sufficient can you get when you don't have a smallholding?

jap200

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/1864/flour-tortilla-wraps.aspx

Fantastic - can't wait to try this tortilla wraps recipe - but watch out, it says that it 'serves 60' which is quite possible with 800g flour!

I'm going to have a go with half the quantity to start with and perhaps freeze some in batches to see how it goes!

ginnyknit

Thanks jap200, I didnt notice the '60' wraps bit - was going to do half the amount but even 30 might be too many for 2 of us:rotfl:.

Primrose

I grow our own vegetables in the back garden. Our front garden has also been converted to our soft fruit growing area with black & red currants, gooseberries and strawberries.
Surplus produce is frozen. We make our own jam & marmalade and soups. We even make soup from our home grown pea pods.

I use the library instead of buying books. I dry laundry outside wherever possible instead of using a tumble drier. We collect water from the roof in a series of water butts.

We also make our own bread & yoghurt. We could probably do more but it's a case of doing what you can.

dom300186

great info people, loving the champayne idea didnt know you could make it using that.

THIRZAH

We grow as many veg as we can-mainly in the summer as we are quite high up here. We also grow apples,rhubarb and some soft fruit so I make jam and chutney. I freeze any surplus fruit and we store cooking apples wrapped in newspaper over the winter.

I cook nearly everything from scratch-I do buy some bread for DHs sandwiches for work.

We only run one car which DH does need to get to work. I walk if the journey is less than 3 or 4 miles.We do a supermarket shop for heavy or bulky things about every two months, the rest of the time I just walk to the shops.

DH is pretty good at DIY which helps. I knit and do some sewing-mainly things like curtains on an ancient sewing machine.I've just hemmed some tea-towels from a local factory shop-pure cotton 5 for £2-but must be careful which ones I get out if MIL visits as it wasn't until I was sewing them up that I realise that a couple of them have the Cerne Abbas Giant printed on them!

dom300186

Well done everyone, at these hard times you have to look at what you do in life to save those pennies to go a long way, and the more i read the more i love everyone elses ideas.

ms_london

I wish I had learnt some of this at school - like sewing, etc!

Another one who is going to try the tortilla recipe, they sound so simple, I'm amazed!

Some good tips, thank you!xx

Ladyhawk

Great ideas everyone. Thanks so much for the tortilla recipe. I only bought some yesterday and the thought did cross my mind as to whether I could make them.

I too noticed that they make 60... as I live solo I don't think that I will get throug even half quantities. Has anyone had any luck freezing them? Cooked or uncooked? how did you stop them from sticking together?

TVM

L

ginnyknit

Quite impressed with the wraps, but I think in other countries they use a flat pan or griddle, I had to use a frying pan so it was a bit hit and miss, but certainly nice and did the job for pennies instead of at least a pound. I guess Ladyhawk they would freeze with greaseproof in between like pancakes and you could re-use the greaseproof as they arent greasy so to speak! When I was working a once a month treat was chicken kebab in a wrap - goodness knows how much it would cost now and I made enough for 3 portions for about 1.50 - winner!

dom300186

we have burritos yesterdayand i made the wraps in the recipe and they were great, i did half the measures as 60 would have been too many but i got about 15 out of mine yesterday, will be making my own from now on and freezing them or the dough.

I think i will invent a baking day in the house were i measure and make up all my dough and freeze it, then i can just get it out and roll it when needed.

great recipe!!!