Old Style Diary Archive - JUL 05

chickadee

Morning everyone,

Today I woke up to the wonderful smell of fresh bread. I put my breadmaker on last night, I was inspired by you guys talking about the wonderful smell of it in the mornings. Success! I have finally figured out why my previous loaves were like breezeblocks. I was using the wrong type of yeast. I have a Morphy Richards and was considering asking for Argos vouchers for my next birthday so I could get the Panasonic but i don't think I'll bother now! BTW I was using fast action by mistake. My breadmaker book says use dried yeast but not fast action. I didn't know there was a difference.
Anyway this morning's bread is light and delicious.

Will hang out washing in a mo, then I need to do some tidying up and I have a huge pile of ironing that needs doing. :eek:

We booked our summer holiday this week. Although me and OH have been camping many times we haven't taken our two respective DS's. Anyway, this summer we are all going camping in the New Forest. (Red Shoot Camping Park near Ringwood in Hampshire if anyone knows it.) It looks good on their website with lots of nearby attractions if the weather is poor. This should be a HUGE saving on our trip to Majorca last year. We must have spent close to £2,000 on one week last time. I know this isn't a lot when you compare it to some people's holidays but I just can't justify (or afford) this much one one week. What do the rest of you think about holidays?

Later today I also need to do a Lidl shop to stock up on groceries.

S-I-L is going into hospital today to be induced with her second baby. I will see if I can get something for the baby in Boots using my points later.

Have a good day everyone.

Sarahmelita, The chick-pea goo sounds like Hummus. Can you put the recipe on here or PM me with it? I have some dried chick-peas in the cupbiard that I don't know what to use for.

Thanks.

sarahmelita

Chickpea Goo

Serves: 4 Servings

Ingredients:

* 3 Cloves garlic; chunked
* 2 Sliced green onions
* handful fresh parsley leaves
* 3 Grinds fresh black pepper or however much you fancy!
* 1 tsp Cayenne pepper
* 1 tsp Ground cumin
* 1 tsp Turmeric
* 1 Lemon; juice of
* 1 tsp Tamari or soy sauce
* 1 can chickpeas; rinsed and drained

Combine the garlic, onions, and parsley in the food processor and process
til smooth. Add the rest of the ingredients and process til desired
consistency is reached - just a little for a chunky puree, quite awhile for
a creamy puree. A little water may be necessary to correct consistency.
Serve as a dip or spread for veggies or baked tortilla/pitta chips.

Lillibet_2

Nothing remotely OS about my day so far, have just finished Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince ( I bought it at midnight) ....I am not giving anything away by saying that if you shed a tear in the last book you'll need stacks of tissues for the final chapter of this one!
Guess I should get on with some house work but I think I have Harry withdrawal symptoms after such an intensive dose!

Bargainloverbec

I have just been out and bought myself a slow cooker! I'm very excited about my purchase so once I've put the washing on my plan for the rest of the day is to play with my new toy and look at the recipes thread.

By the way if anyone else is thinking of getting one Argos has a basic 3.5l one for only £8.99 in the sale until 29th July. Bargain!

apple_mint

Yet another busy week at work, so I haven't had much chance to contribute to the daily thread.

Hello everyone :wave: ... I love the weekends when I can get on with my OS life

Up early this morning and busy making yoghurt. Second batch is now in. Went with OH to the local farmers market and got some wonderful vegetables and a big shoulder of lamb. Need to peruse my recipe books for a good way to cook the joint. It should do for several days meals.

On lot of washing out and next lot in the washing machine.

I have some celery to use up so I think I'll be making apprentice tycoon's celery soup shortly.

Harry Potter book arrived but I haven't seen it yet! Youngest daughter is on a marathon to read it first

silverfoxdude

good afternoon one and all. I feel vibrant this morning, the sun is shining and the washing is on the line, another load in. The easy peasy cheese biscuits I made yesterday are yummy, put a little chillie powder on for a kick, and OH loves them, thanks for the recipie supplier on MSE for them. I have a bread and butter pudding in the oven with some stale-ish bread I'm using, saves chucking it to the birds.

Kids are out so I might make the curry base ready for the curry for OH's mum coming on Monday for tea, I'm into making homemade curries at the mo, delicious.

On with a jigsaw I bought from the charity shop yesterday, its rock hard, and I've taking over the coffee table!!

Have a great day everyone, bye4now x

SnowyOwl_2

Hi all

Today I got up rather late due to yesterday evening's exertions. I went for a walk at about 7.45 pm, thought it was a shortish circular walk, but must have been about five miles. My car was in the park's car park which gets locked at 10.00 pm. I'd been walking for about an hour and 45 mins, by which time I realised that I wasn't getting any closer to the end so I turned tail and started to run. It was A LOT of effort as I am very unfit.

I bumped into someone on the walk who told me that last weekend some horrible vile person hung a young labrador dog from a tree in the park and left it there to die. How sick making is that? No living creature deserves such a gruesome and callous end. Interestingly no-one has come forward to say that their dog is missing, so was it the dog's owner who did this? Who knows, but whoever it was I hope that they get their just rewards one way or another.

Anyway, my poor limbs aren't that keen on strenuous activity today so I just pottered around the library this afternoon. I got a nice book about Feng Shui, my interest being fuelled by the feng shui thread on here, and one by Dawna Walter regards clearing your clutter. The two go hand in hand so I'm going to get stuck in for a while today as the bedroom is a tip. Oh and I bought a nice little Money Tree from B&Q while I was passing on the way home. Again this was prompted by the feng shui thread. It is a nice little thing, the sort of thing I'd buy anyway. Not that I am expecting miracles or anything - the worst that can happen is that I have an extra plant to put water on. If I keep on MSEing then that will certainly improve my cash flow.

I'm considering doing a bit of baking later. But then again I may not bother...

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!

elona

I have just been reading chickadee's comment about using the wrong yeast - as I have a Morphy Richards breadmaker as well _ i have just read the instructions again and in my booklet it states to use fast action dried yeast.

Does anyone else find that the hot weather affects the breadmaker?

I can only get a decent loaf if I use the timer to cook bread overnight - ready for breakfast.

Ember999

elona wrote:

I have just been reading chickadee's comment about using the wrong yeast - as I have a Morphy Richards breadmaker as well _ i have just read the instructions again and in my booklet it states to use fast action dried yeast.

Does anyone else find that the hot weather affects the breadmaker?

I can only get a decent loaf if I use the timer to cook bread overnight - ready for breakfast.

Erm....this is making me wonder. I have noticed with dismay my loaves aren't rising as high as they used to a few weeks ago. Same yeast (fast-acting as have always used) same ingredients, yet rising lower than usual. I have been wondering why. Is it the heat? or am I suddenly doing something wrong? even though I make it still the same

elona

I think that somewhere in the instructions it mentions the heat in your kitchen and the fact that it affects the breadmaking process.

I now go through the normal breadmaking process - but use timer so it starts the process in the early morning and that seems to do the trick.:j