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

purpleivy

You would only need the teensyist bit of parmesan to make a difference. Check your freezer for grated cheese, or I could grate some parmesan off my block and post it to you LOL!

jenid

'Foods that I'm not keen on 'ey? Hmm? Fish, mushrooms, baked beans, kidney beans... well most beans (except green and runner) kidney, liver... I doubt this list is exhaustive, but I should be able to cope with anything else. It's alot shorter than it used to be.'

Er, not too fussy then!? Do your guests for the next couple of weeks know you're doing this challenge or are you keeping it to yourselves? You could always ask them to help out and bring a dish/some food? I know not everyone likes to do this though.

How about some of your lovely homemade bread toasted and pate as a little 'starter' for your inlaws. I find guests are always amazed and really grateful to have bread baked freshly just for them. And maybe a pasta dish as a main with a herb salad from the garden? Any of your tasty sounding homemade icecream left in the freezer. All the food you write about sounds lovely, I think they'll be spoilt rotten.

And for your friend, if the weathers nice how about BBQ'ing some of your sausages for one meal and serving it with the rice salad you mentioned a while back?

Writing about all of this is making me hungry!

BigMummaF

Would an exchange help you too Weezl? I'm thinking along the lines of an hour's gardening for half dozen eggs or summat:p even if only to help out with your guests? Then you could make sweet &/or savoury pancakes, nettle quiche, etc.

I can't see that it would be compromising your challenge if you could find some willing participants

ceridwen

Hmmm...well cant say I havent tried. I've just been looking for a LETS Scheme in Cardiff for you - the swopping eggs for gardening thing - and couldnt find one. Doesnt mean to say there isnt one - there could be - but I didnt find it. Certainly food is often available on the barter basis through LETS schemes.

Unfortunately - LETS Schemes do seem to be a bit in abeyance at the moment as far as I can see - probably due to a bit of the original founders in each area being a bit "tired" and needing new people to take over from them on the one hand and much of the potential "new blood" being tied-up with doing paid work for abnormally long hours at present (the current working longer extra hours culture we have at present I mention on my Simplifying thread).

Sorree....I tried. Maybe someone in your area does know of a local LETS Scheme for you though.

weezl74

thanks all! :T great ideas...

Checked freezer, no spare cheese alas...

Bartering might work for a 'thing' rather than time (lovely ISOM swapped me some eggs for a tub of almond body butter, but those have gone now!) just because with all these guests we've got no spare time to offer to do something to swap it for!!!

But for the future will most definately offer this.

JeniD, no pate left alas, but could do houmous toast and then the savory meat pie, and then a rice pudding, made with long grained rice, honey coconut and milk powder. Shouldn't have to spend anything to make it happen

I think asking people to bring something is fine and me and my family do it. But it's not the done thing in Mr Weezl's camp.

Weezl x

In_Search_Of_Me

Come on now you kow you have the perfect solution to the dilemma!!! Am happy to donate some produce in advance?!! I have some yummy (organic) sausages, cheese, chicken, mince, pate & chops & am happy to swap whatever whenever for some digging, as you know and you know dont think its cheating as its bartering so as bigm says still fits in with challenge!!!
Must get body butter out of the boot but my legs are in desperate eed of a shave before using it!!!
Re work can you refocus yourself rather than change jobs specifically? I did this recently & felt all re-energised just by a "shift" in my thinking...also came up with new ideas while I was at it and can relate to feeling stale and in need of challeges - despite the "never a dull day" motto of my job! Sure it will all come right & as others have said and that there will be bigger & better things at the right time...

ceridwen

..bigger and better things...indeed. I've mentally reserved my "ringside" seat for when weezl is on t.v. personally. I do like to make sure I get what I want me!:D Oh whoops....I probably wasnt supposed to start forecasting that far ahead:o Forget me...as you were...just start making tonight's dinner.;) I'll go away and shut up.

In_Search_Of_Me

no C dont you dare go away & shut up!! Ramblings all welcome me thinks!
Just off the phone...the experement continues and sucess we have japanise knotweed but we need to forrage it in the depths of a top secret allotment location (not mine but I have contacts, key & have buttered him up!!) and its there for the taking so next experement at the ready! Oo yes when W is on telly we'll have to have a party wont we!! How you doing C? How was w**k? I'm off now til Tues YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

ceridwen

PARTY!!!! oOOH yes please....I have been known to enjoy a good party! Give me the right music and watch me go...floorshow anyone! Now dancing is something I am pretty good at...!:D W**k...er well, I didnt go in today...:D Hence the scooting round the Net I have been doing.;)

weezl74

telly eh?:o

What shall my programme be?

Knotweed-tastic! Hurrah! Now are you really sure ISOM, no repeats of our cow parsley debacle....