Sneaky ways to save the pennies

Mrs_Thrify

Money saving - I have just filled up a now empty Flash spray bottle with white vinegar and water to clean around the bathroom with next time.:D

northwest1965

julie_d wrote: »

Money saving - I have just filled up a now empty Flash spray bottle with white vinegar and water to clean around the bathroom with next time.:D

Just about to do mine, how many parts vinegar to water did you use?

Mrs_Thrify

northwest1965 wrote: »

Just about to do mine, how many parts vinegar to water did you use?

I did 50/50 and guessed. I was impressed with the bathroom window curtains I soaked in 50/50 vinegar/water and then washed yesterday. I now am trying the white vinegar around the house. The vinegar smells a bit but with windows open it soon goes away.

angela110660

Lesley_Gaye wrote: »

I gave some of my Gardeners Delight toms (cherry tom size) to a friend who usually buys Waitrose organic, and she phoned to say how very tomatey they were, even more than her usual organic ones.

I think it is probably that home gardeners tend to use good soil and feed them with tomato fertiliser, both of which give good flavour. I believe that shop bought toms are often grown hydroponically (without soil, in a sterile growing medium) that grows lots of uniform, very round and red toms, but doesn't pay much attention to flavour

We have had TONZ of tomatoes this year (Gardeners Delight and Ailsa Craig) and they are still cropping in the greenhouse. How much tomato sauce can I make?? but we love it - lasagne for tea tonight with some of it. Home grown toms prob taste so much better as well because they have not been sat in cold rooms at supermarkets but are at room temperature (or greenhouse temperature) don't you think?

cyclingyorkie

my mate's home grown broad beans were fantastic this year! She enjoys growing them but doesn't eat them!

I was only too willing to help her out in that department......

Sian_the_Green

cyclingyorkie wrote: »

my mate's home grown broad beans were fantastic this year! She enjoys growing them but doesn't eat them!

I was only too willing to help her out in that department......

You are a good friend!

carolinosourus

angela110660 wrote: »

We have had TONZ of tomatoes this year (Gardeners Delight and Ailsa Craig) and they are still cropping in the greenhouse. How much tomato sauce can I make?? but we love it - lasagne for tea tonight with some of it. Home grown toms prob taste so much better as well because they have not been sat in cold rooms at supermarkets but are at room temperature (or greenhouse temperature) don't you think?

Tomato and basil soup? Or you could roast some in the oven with some olive oil for cheats sun-dried tomatoes then put them in a jar with oil or freeze them?

I don't think there's any better taste than a homegrown tomato, sun-warmed straight off the vine... And the smell, it's heavenly!

I can't wait for my own garden so I can grow things, a 4th floor flat with no window ledges is not quite the place to be... :rolleyes:

Sian_the_Green wrote: »

You are a good friend!

Gigervamp

cyclingyorkie wrote: »

my mate's home grown broad beans were fantastic this year! She enjoys growing them but doesn't eat them!

I was only too willing to help her out in that department......

As you should, being a good friend. :rotfl:

Lesley_Gaye

angela110660 wrote: »

We have had TONZ of tomatoes this year (Gardeners Delight and Ailsa Craig) and they are still cropping in the greenhouse. How much tomato sauce can I make?? but we love it - lasagne for tea tonight with some of it. Home grown toms prob taste so much better as well because they have not been sat in cold rooms at supermarkets but are at room temperature (or greenhouse temperature) don't you think?

oh yes, prob, hadn't thought of that part. And then of course, if you grow them, you tend to pick them and eat them within hours, if not minutes.

have you tried the Cranks oven dried toms recipe? That is fab, I'll see if I can find the post with the recipe

Lesley_Gaye

Couldn't find the post, so here is the recipe
I just love these stirred through pasta with some garlicky soft cheese and a few peas - yum!

The recipe is from the Cranks Bible

850g toms, halved, or quartered if very big, seeds scraped out and set aside for something else, like soup
6 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp sea salt flakes
1 tsp dried basil (lots of fresh if you have it in the garden)
2 finely chopped garlic cloves
pinch soft brown sugar

Put everything except toms in a bowl and mix well. Put toms in bowl and coat with the mixture.

place on a baking tray and spoon mixture left in bowl into tom cavities. bake in oven at 150C/300F/gas mark 2 for up to 1.5 hours or until very soft. Switch off oven and leave in oven to cool

They keep in a jar in the fridge for at least a month. My DD scoffs them straight from the jar when she visits. You can whizz them and stir through pasta, add something creamy, like mascarpone for a totally yummy pasta sauce.

I use them too in bread rolls with a few lumps of feta, and olive oil drizzelled (sp?) over