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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Babystepping our way through February, with brews and pointy sticks!

769 replies

BlackCatTryingToFly · 14/02/2012 07:52

Hi all, Welcome to the new thread.

Oiii!,*Carrots, bessie, Zoo, Scout, Dlamis, and anyone I've missed - Over here!!!

[Brew] anyone?

OP posts:
Original poster
BlackCatTryingToFly · 19/02/2012 15:59

I did at lunch time. We are going to have our dinner soon but might think about having a banana after that.

I have bookmarked that thread and also added it to my watch list.

OP posts:
carrotsandcelery · 19/02/2012 16:04

slow cooker tofu recipe with butternut squash and coconut milk Hopefully that link has worked bessie.

I have all sorts of threads on my watch list that I couldn't contribute to but learned a lot from. An alarming number are from good housekeeping!

bessie26 · 19/02/2012 19:02

That recipe sounds lovely carrots, but I always think it's a bit cheeky to call something a slow cooker recipe when you're basically cooking it all first & just keeping it warm finishing it off for a couple of hours in the slow cooker at the end! Let me know what it's like though!

carrotsandcelery · 19/02/2012 19:45

I haven't cooked anything from scratch in my slow cooker yet bessie. I generally make it and then chuck it in the slow cooker for the day so that it is nicely tender or whatever.

I need to buy a butternut squash but I will let you know how it turns out.

liveinazoo · 19/02/2012 19:57

evening all.i didnt manage to get back earlier as dp wasnt in good spirits today so i got the shopping done while he took ds riding
after that i needed to get some washable felt tips as we colour a lot and they were fighting due to lack working choices!tried the works at our local garden centre(nope.but kids enjoyed looking at fish/bird food/plants and the books)
at this point dp was cracking so went hobbycraft to guarentee success-after which he dropped us off and cleared off home and iwas left to pick i t(as usual)
remembering id forgotten lightbulbs and the girls bulb had blown we took stroll to local cheapo shop(its a gift,dont know thats around elsewhere)and picked up a couple.from thereits 2mins to pet shop so i caved in to their requests and we gawped at tarantulas,snakes,fish,birds and small furry creatures for a bit(good job owner doesnt mind.little zoo goes in there with 29 others kids when nursery descends during out and about and hes cool with it-potential customers of tomorrow i suppose)

i then felt as it was last afternoon together and it was still sunny we should pop to one of the local parks for a bit,then home for baths/hairwashes etc

uniforms and p.e kits are ironed.coats washed and drying as i type.shoes shined.bookbags and lunchboxs where i can find them(unheard of)

i feel a bit sad they are back at school tomorrow but i wont miss the endless fighting and winding each other up

im now heading off for a snack and to settle down and watch call the midwife at 8.30

be back tomorrow.nite

carrotsandcelery · 19/02/2012 20:13

Hi zoo. I was really sad when mine went back, even though it was really busy with them home.

I will be watching CTMW at 8.30 too. Dh is watching Top Gear just now so he cannot comment.

The dcs had 2 friends round today for a play and we had a great time so they have gone to bed happy.

The chilli was lovely having been in the slow cooker for hours and despite complaints from the dcs they scoffed it and made appreciative noises when they ate it. SUCCESS!

The washing is drying on the airer and I haven't put more on as I have run out of drying places.

Time to relax I think!

Scout19075 · 19/02/2012 20:21

Evening all!

I rarely pre-cook any of my slow cooker meals, even the meat. Just chuck it all in. Still yummy and we haven't been ill yet.

We had a bit of a laid back day but did spend an hour at a park/playground running around and having fun. I have some pictures I need to put up for the American Grandparents.

I'm trying to do some Guiding emails before I go wash up from dinner.

My living room looks like a bomb exploded and I've decided I don't care about the wrath of MrScout, I need to do something about it tomorrow.

carrotsandcelery · 19/02/2012 20:29

Go Scout! There must be some compromise in there somewhere.

On the slow cooker front, do you soften onions and garlic etc in the slow cooker and build up the meal in there or do you just chuck in raw onions and hope for the best? I am struggling to cope with the idea.

bessie26 · 19/02/2012 20:36

carrots I rarely pre-cook anything, I tend to lob it all in the night before & set the timer switch to come on at an appropriate time.

scout you sound determined! Grin I am almost afraid to ask, but wasn't mrscout supposed to be going through some boxes last weekend? (when the boiler broke?) Did you remind him of this at all? (now is probably not the best time to bring it up with him!)

I have prepped tomorrows lunch in the slow cooker, tidied the kitchen, put wet laundry in TD, poured glass of wine & am running a bath. Must remember to take Vit pill later!

Scout19075 · 19/02/2012 20:39

carrots, I do just chuck it all in. Meat, veg, onions, potatoes, the lot. Even things that only need 3-4 hours on low come out soft and tender and lovely. I stopped pre-cooking things when I realized how much extra washing up I was causing myself when the point of the slow cooker is to have a one pot meal.

I'm sure the compromise is: my way or the highway. Grin Okay, not really, but this is ridiculous. I know I have a box or two in here at the moment but one of them is a case of box paper size from The Book People. I can't open it with MrScout around him since there's something in there for him.

Original poster
BlackCatTryingToFly · 19/02/2012 20:48

Thanks bessie you just reminded me I need to take my iron tablet. I was thinking about going to bed soon but better do that first.

OP posts:
bessie26 · 19/02/2012 21:22

no crawling under the bed for next week's missions!

carrotsandcelery · 19/02/2012 21:37

They look good missions. Thanks for the links bessie. I am going to try to do them but my focus is going to be on helping the dcs make their bedrooms more tolerable. I could take the missions upstairs as well as into my room.

The news about the slow cooker is a revelation. I could save myself hours of work and extra dishes too. Are the onions really truely ok after no softening? Does this mean I can ditch the oil I used for softening? Sorry but I am still a bit Shock that it could be so much easier.

Scout19075 · 19/02/2012 21:47

Have managed to do most of my Guiding emails. Am not about to upload pictures for the American family. I'm soooo tired and I even had an expected hour's nap this evening.

bessie26 · 19/02/2012 22:12

hell yes carrots - just chuck it all in & see what happens! My MIL says that you get a much better flavour if you cook the onions etc first, but I have had no complaints yet (e.g. ginger soup, or spag bol)

If I were making that recipe I would lob it all in the slow cooker uncooked apart from the tofu (which curiously is the bit they don't say to cook?) which I would fry first (like in my Thai red curry or Sweet & sour)

carrotsandcelery · 19/02/2012 22:14

I am scared to Shock

carrotsandcelery · 19/02/2012 22:15

I will have to try it out with a really cheap meal first Grin

Scout19075 · 19/02/2012 22:23

Honestly, just chuck it all in carrots.

Pictures uploaded. I really should go and do more work but I'm feeling a bit lazy.

bessie26 · 19/02/2012 22:26

it's late scout - one last wine bed time.

carrotsandcelery · 19/02/2012 22:43

Definitely bedtime - but there is an Aerosmith song on the tv so I will have to listen to that first AND THEN go to bed >

bessie26 · 19/02/2012 22:47

aerosmith?? what are you? 15? WinkGrin[hic]

bessie26 · 19/02/2012 22:48

DH is making me watch MOTD while I try to persude him that Veronica would be a lovely girls name

carrotsandcelery · 19/02/2012 22:53

Ha ha bessie. I was reliving being 15 Wink I can't even blame the Wine as I haven't had any for weeks. Infact, that is probably what has drawn me back to teenage nostalgia except I drank bucket loads then Grin

And bessie, why are you choosing names with dh? Fess up please!!!

bessie26 · 19/02/2012 23:15

he asked what was happening on MN - I told him about the 'active' baby name thread.

I have had more than just one more Wine - oh dear.

bessie26 · 19/02/2012 23:16

PS nothing to 'fess - not sure if I am Sad or Smile about that! (We are still undecided!)

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