I bought an M+S beauty bag out of sympathy for them...well sort of.

[soupyspoon]

I do like a bargain and I also like shopping, so not saying there was nothing in the act for me.

I get the vibe. Good thread, OP.

I told the woman on the till that I like the bags themselves because I had been in the habit of using the green one, from a couple of years back, as my 'see through' bag to get me through security at Gatwick, they had allowed me to use it because it was sort of see through. I always asked permission first

She said 'oh you dont need to do that now because they have the new scanners'

I said 'I know, its great isnt it'

And then I went downstairs for my lemons

Just to say I dont want to set unrealistic expectation with the pomegranate seeds

I bought one of those tubs for a recipe, didnt use very many as most recipes dont, then we were going on holiday so I knew I wouldnt get through them.

I thought 'Im not wasting them' they're expensive arent they?

So I thought what harm to put them in the freezer. I read that I should have put them on a sheet to freeze in a layer and then put them in a bag but I didnt bother and just put them in a pot. So now they're probably in one unhelpful lump

We'll see when I get them out.

Well, how timely is this! I’ve just been catching up on the local news online and blow me if they don’t have an article about the M&S Beauty Bag! Beats reading about someone missing the bus to work due to roadworks with accompanying sad face photo of said person clutching a piece of paper.

This is a sign. I am taking the car first thing and driving to the big M&S store about 4 miles away. I won’t go to the smaller one close by because it never has anything I want.

I made some preserved lemons once.

Never used them.

This thread has kept me sane this evening. Thank you

@soupyspoon every Saturday I search Asda in vain for preserved lemons. It's been months and I don't think they're coming back. Nowhere else stocked them, locally.

Moroccan chopped salad with skinned and deseeded tomatoes, capers, celery, onion, green pepper, preserved lemon, olive oil, salt pepper and lemon juice. The Food of Morocco has loads of recipes with preserved lemon. I think only the peel is used normally.

Regarding preserved lemons. So, pre DS (age 3) I did quite a bit of cooking. I still do, but it’s not quite to the same level (a lot of canned pasta is now in my repertoire, for example). I actually have 2 jars of preserved lemons in my cupboard which are out of date and begging to be used. Anyway, the idea is that you only use the rind - so when you cut into one, you get rid of the insides and just use the rind, generally sliced up (in a nice chicken and olive tagine, with preserved lemon, for example).

I have a handy handbag sized bottle (tube?) of floral street perfume which I bought in Oliver Bonas on a whim. Wish I’d checked the price though - £28!

I am also thinking of buying the M&S beauty bag, but have also fallen foul of buying it in the past and either forgetting to use things, or not even being sure how to use certain items (eg - This Works Perfect Legs Skin Miracle - took me about 2 years to understand it’s basically an instant fake tan 😂).

Enjoying this thread very much btw.

I think they got rid of the laughing face as I'm guessing some posters were offended by it. It's a shame though as agree or love doesn't quite cut it when something is funny.
As for my day, I almost got dressed, but didn't because I keep falling asleep. I wanted to pop to the shops, but couldn't be bothered to go out as I made the effort to go out yesterday, so I'm even more tired than usual today.

I've used ocado shopping 5 times lately and been really impressed. I usually shop at Aldi, but I had a series of discount vouchers, ranging from 30% to 15% so my shopping was costing pretty much the same as it would've cost in Aldi. Free delivery, too, and no substitutes or missing items and at least 5 days shelf life on every item. Very impressed, and that's not easy, lol.

Hope your goody bag eventually makes its way upstairs... you never know, if you don't live alone someone else may take it up for you! Doubtful, though, if they're anything like my lot 😂😂

I have an appointment tomorrow which rather conveniently takes me past M&S. Reading this thread has given me much FOMO....so of course I googled what's in the bag. Never mind lemons ....I see the Floral perfumey thing is Rhubarb! I'm more excited by this than I should be. I love, love, love a rhubarb scent. In fact I love all things rhubarb.

Oh, I also made preserved lemons last year, but still haven't got around to using them as I'm not that keen on a lemon taste in savoury dishes... it just seemed like a good idea at the time, and I'd bought the lemons cheap and then ran out of time to use them all.

I can't be bothered to trail through all the comments to see if someone has posted this already (sorry) but had to say that Jamie Oliver does a lovely chicken recipe with preserved lemons. It's worth looking up. Maybe I'll see if I can find it.

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/mar/02/four-moroccan-salad-recipes-nargisse-benkabbou-artichoke-red-pepper-harissa-chickpeas-carrot-cucumber

Lots of options for preserved lemons here.

Your salad sounds lovely

So annoying that M&S haven’t sorted their website out. They are nearly as bad as Mumsnet.

This is the most relatable thing I have seen all week 😂

Have you seen this. I found it too sharp personally although I normally like sharp

https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/fever-tree-rhubarb-raspberry-tonic-water-150ml?istCompanyId=1e096408-041f-4238-994e-a7cf46bf9413&istFeedId=689af7a8-5842-4d88-be59-1ee5688a81b5&istItemId=pmltixwqm&istBid=t&utm_custom6=Loyalty&&cmpid=cpc&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20333793068&utm_content=shopping&utm_term=%257Bsku%257D&utm_custom1=&utm_custom2=759-449-0952&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19663891335&gbraid=0AAAAAD17J_BMThcF6CNwsEnFBPvk2jIOJ&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgIXCBhDBARIsAELC9ZhFFECdf19DQPEstxDB30-U_c6C0akntMhU3fVELxMXt79SHWKTssQaAqrDEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Pomegranate seeds could maybe go in the Moroccan chopped salad. I haven't been to Morroco but have been to Tunisia and had lots of pomegranate there.

You have given me a true conundrum here OP on which way to vote.
Part of me thinks you are highly unreasonable as I am now sorely tempted to buy this bag myself, on the other hand you were doing it as a good deed for M&S so I’m wondering if I can use the same reasoning.

I already get the OK beauty box and I’m trying to cut down on spending so really that should be my treat this month. HOWEVER… I got the ok box at a much reduced price by buying a 3 month subscription from “buy a gift” and then gifting it to myself.
The box is very good and I do like receiving gifts so I believe this was excellent logic.

As for your lemons, I saw on another thread that people buy sliced dried lemons and limes for drinks. I thought this also was an excellent idea (I’m obviously easily influenced and keep giving into mumsnet peer pressure) and so I bought some off Amazon. I also bought a glass jar and displayed them in my kitchen, they look very nice and decorative which is good because they did not taste good in my G&T as expected.

Another excellent purchase I’ve made recently is a vacuum sealer with food bags. I have found it extremely pleasing to put all my perishable items into little plastic jails. DP was against spending money on this to start with but now said he thinks he makes his workmates jealous with his “professional looking” sandwiches. I have had to make extra sandwiches for him to share as he said his workmates were behaving like food perverts and eyeing up his lunch like they were ready to swoop in like seagulls.

I am now going to have a bath with a glass of wine (red) and watch this weeks coronation street whilst in the bath, I will more then likely purchase the bag after the wine then I can blame the wine but also use my social conscience towards M&S as an excuse when the wine has finished.
It is a win - win situation so thank you for starting this superb thread.

Somebody popped up with a sarcastic comment as soon as they could, because their parents never told them ‘if you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all.’

I have preserved lemons and pomegranate molasses in my cupboard because of that Ottolenghi fella.

Well again, this is information I like

But just to be clear, how are you watching the telly in the bath?

And when you say you're going to have and bath and some wine and then buy the bag, you know you cant order online dont you?

So are you ok with waiting until tomorrow when you can get out and get into a store?

We also ran out of milk today. Dh asked ds3 (18) to get some on his way home and he forgot. To be fair, he’s found his first girlfriend and his mind is not on his parent’s requirements. Dh had to go to the shop (well, the local garage) himself. It’s the first time he’s been in a shop since Covid. £1.92 for 2 litres. It’s getting ridiculous! Anyway, said milk is now in the tea I am currently drinking.

i hope your beauty bag was worth the money.

I make preserved lemons every Christmas. Ideally you keep them a year before using them.

They don’t taste fresh and sharp like lemon generally does, but a dark, sticky, savoury umami version of lemon that’s very moorish. Yum.

Here. Have some sarcastic eye rolls to cheer yourself up

🙄🙄🙄🙄

Can you buy frozen pomegranate seeds?
I like to add a few to rice and couscous, but often don;t use the full packet.

(I suppose I could freeze the ones I don't use)