Sneaky ways to save the pennies

windowshopper100

nannaC wrote: »

Ohhhhhhhh I remember the Dairy Diaries well I used to cut out all the great recipies. By the way does anyone remember an excellent 1970's programme called Indoors Outdoors, full of amazing tips used to be on a Sat morning.

I got a Dairy Diary for Christmas! Very good it is too.

Indoors Outdoors - wasn't that the one with Zena Skinner. I used to catch it cos it was on before Swap Shop. Or am I getting mixed up.

malteaser1988

My grandad buys the largest anchor butter block there is (he will only eat anchor as he is set in his ways) and chops it into quarters and keeps it in the fridge. then puts in quarter by quarter into his butter dish. this was the other bits stay cold and fresh and hard. whilst the stuff in the butter dish is spreadable without having one big lump of melted butter...

not exactly money saving, but definately creates less mess!!

EssexHebridean

Well if we're talking butter......if yoiu find yourself facing a supermarket shelf full of well reduced double cream, then grab a couple of pints. Once you get it home, tip it into a jar at least twice the size of the quantity of cream you put into it - screw the lid on, TIGHTLY! Then start to shake. Takes a good while, you'll probably need several other family members to assist, but eventually you'll hear a "thunk" from within the jar as the cream turns itself into butter! Keep shaking and the buttermilk will separate - you need to keep draining this off, and when you get to the point that practically no more is coming out then you're about done. Pop your butter into a dish and keep in the fridge - absolutely delicious and as long as the cream is reduced far enough, definately a money-saver. We've bought our cream for 10p a carton in the past - bargain!

At one point the cream goes really thick and you honestly feel that shaking it is doing absolutely nothing - keep going through, it will work eventually I promise!

malteaser1988

wow, how long does this usually take?

EssexHebridean

malteaser1988 wrote: »

wow, how long does this usually take?

depends how good at shaking it you are! Myself & OH usually share the task and it goes over within 15 -20 minutes as a rule. It depends on how cold the cream is to start, and how much space there is for movement in the jar.

anguk

malteaser1988 wrote: »

wow, how long does this usually take?

It doesn't take too long, about 10-15 minutes of shaking, quicker if you've got a Kenwood Chef.

There's a huuuge thread about homemade butter, we all got a bit carried away buying reduced cream after Christmas a couple of years ago!
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=1306844

Pink.

malteaser1988 wrote: »

wow, how long does this usually take?

Hi malteaser,

If you have a food processor it can be done in about 5 minutes....though it's best to have the cream at room temperature first.

This thread might help: Making my own butter!

Pink

carriebradshaw

sandy2 wrote: »

Is oatmeal the same as porridge oats

I buy value porridge oats as I like porridge for my brekkie but if I'm making something that requires oatmeal instead, I just give the oats a zap in the blender for a few secs and hey presto I've got oatmeal. The same with sugar I buy granulated but if I need to use caster sugar for baking I just zap it in the blender for a few secs to make it finer,also saves me a few pennies too :j

exlibris

Another tip for extending cream is to whip double cream (must be double, whipping doesn't work) with egg white. The result is lighter than usual, so might make Victoria Sponge filling a bit squidgier but no-one noticed when I did it for all the Christmas uses of cream!

tim_n

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Well if we're talking butter......if yoiu find yourself facing a supermarket shelf full of well reduced double cream, then grab a couple of pints. Once you get it home, tip it into a jar at least twice the size of the quantity of cream you put into it - screw the lid on, TIGHTLY!

I bought a reduced normal tub of organic double cream. I didn't open it or do anything except shake it. As soon as it started to thump about I opened and hey presto - butter. Doesn't need a massive jar or anything!