Old Style vs the USDA head-to-head challenge...

ceridwen

Well....having spotted what looked an awful lot like washing-up bowls in your piccies...I have a bulk order in for some:D (oh...whoops...plastic...I'm still working on being perfect:o ).

MRSMCAWBER

hi ceridwen

Yep there are a couple of washing up bowls in there they are great for shallow rooting stuff like salad leaves etc... i got the buckets because they were i think 69c each and they are much better quality -the thick rubbery stuff rather than brittle plastic as i got them from the construction section and the big round tubs and the black bath shaped oned were only bout €4 as i found them in the plumbing section :rotfl:
I know its not great having so much plastic but they will last ages and the black ones are made from recycled materials so it better than it could be
Im also storing loo roll tubes for al the beans and peas next year and hubby is being driven mad by the plastic tubs i get nectarines etc in as im holding onto them to start seedlings off again ....its like blue peter here with everything im holding onto
We are thinking about branching into home brew in more depth..hubby makes some beer from kits but i would like to look into wine making and making stuff from scratch... thinking about doing it now as the materials are much cheaper out here..i have my eyes on a fruit press in the local garden centre. Think i just need to look into how much the initial outlay would be baring in mind that alcohol isn't really a "must have" -don't tell hubby i said that :rotfl:
I was having one of the ice cream makers that you don't have to freeze up first for xmas/birthday -but now i think i may look into smokers, dehydraters etc... and decide which would get most use so if anyone has any of these kind of things i would love any opinions on them
I have a mincer/sausage maker which has more than earnt its keep so would love to know what other gismos folks have that are worth having

Softstuff

For pots for the garden in Turkey they use those giant catering cans. Seems to work well for them, and most likely you could get them free from takeaways.

Amalang

It is official - I am Chairwoman of the "Old Style V USDA Head-to-Head" Fan Club. I have been having a bit of a rough time lately (long story, but am slowly beginning to laugh again, not cry) and have been reading this thread over the last few weeks.....you are all amazing. Thank you for inspiring me.....and making me smile with all the wonderful sounding recipes :A

P.S. - I have a number of cans of butter beans, haricot beans and flageolet beans in my cupboard - all vegetarian ideas gratefully received, though sadly I don't have a blender....otherwise I would have made the amazing sounding Kidney Bean Pate or delicious Houmous!

MRSMCAWBER

Hi Amalang.... glad you are starting to find yourself smiling more:T

You could always make a more coarse/chunky version of the pate or houmus by bashing the beans up with a potato masher or fork ..then pass it off as a "rustic" version

Amalang

Good thinking Mrs Mcawber - will try the 'rustic' version tomorrow!

A_fiend_for_life

Hi Weezl thanks for a great thread.

I have seen a couple of posts on the first three pages of the thread referring to protein content of various pulses. Sorry if this is already mentioned there are just so many responses though...'pologies for my lazzziness.

Having studied biology and been a veggie for 3 or 4 years I learnt that it is necassary to complement your protein sources though not necessarily in the same meal as the liver stores some of the essential amino acids.

In a nutshell...

Pulses, grain and maize tend to be limited in different essential amino acids. Good news is these food sources can be combined to complement these limiting amino acids. So by combining wholegrain / maize and pulses you should receive the full complement of essential amino acids. This is more relevant to vegetarians and vegans though that said there is little evidence of protein deficiency in the West. (Though loss of muscle tissue 'might' be considered one.)

see the heading 'Use of essential amino acids' here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_amino_acid

Wee tip:

When I was vegetarian I would add maize to lentil soup and mop it up with a slice of wholemeal bread getting a better balance of amino acids. Maize goes well with kidney beans too so I also add some maize to my 'chili con compost' too (sorry but I am slowly heading back to a vegetarian diet though). Also vegetable stock cube rather than meat keeps a bit longer too.

Once again apologies if this has already been said though just felt it important enough to mention.
PS mind if jump on board..:j

A_fiend_for_life

Eeeekk!! that was more waffly than I thought!!

ceridwen

Aah...maize? Googled for it - ah...corn...I see.

I dont recall noticing any corn other than popcorn in my grain shops I visit - will have to keep a looksee.

Am about to start "educating" myself a bit more I see on food values - recently found "Diet for a small planet" in a charity shop. Bargain!!! Lots of reading coming up on complementary proteins there...so might have a few thoughts on that myself soon:beer:

Hmmm.....I think we're "on the countdown" now methinks for Weezl's blog being launched on the world......oooh....:j

Softstuff

ceridwen wrote: »

Aah...maize? Googled for it - ah...corn...I see.

I dont recall noticing any corn other than popcorn in my grain shops I visit - will have to keep a looksee.

Ceridwen, Polenta is actually cornmeal... so that'd do.