August Chat

[mellow2]

New thread for August.

Ros - I also use same recipe as sfx. Baked a white loaf and a multigrain loaf yesterday. Best bread recipe ever!

I made bread once. It was as hard as cement.

SJ,
I just bought this water filter at this price.

The second store has an Australian phone number. I'm guessing it's a drop shipping arrangement so I asked the first store to match their price. I'll let you know how I get on.

seriously lovely bread can't wait to try the cinnamon loaf too, I am yet to bake a plain white one but am partial to the multi seed and honey as well as the parsnip and carrot yum yum

interesting about traditions, dh these days is keen on celebrating Burns night, not so keen on St Patrick's atm says it is too commercial

our celebrations are mostly around the religious calender and involve food of some sort. might start a tradition along the lines of Burns and celebrate national day which involves poetry too, not a bad thing to teach her the sonnets and the epic poem
still remember most of it

slng,
I'm afraid I'm really not keen on festivities, not even CNY or Christmas.

Thanks for the invite though.

mellow, mine was too doughy, oven not hot enough I think!

Sfx, thanks for that, will give that a go Fri am when ds is in nursery! Be great if I could make my own bread, save a fortune from buying it every week (£1.30 . Also like the look of the variations but will master the basic one first!

sfx & ros - the white loaf is lovely. The "magic" is more obvious when you do the white loaf - how it morphs from hideous lump to bread. My multigrain one just remains hideous lump until out of the oven and then it's lovely.

As for poetry - I know more now than I did before, having learned them to teach DSs!

mellow - I don't like christmas but last year have started tentative "tradition" of doing nice Chinese festive food for Christmas eve. Didn't like CNY when I was at home but quite like it now.

I like Christmas despite not being religious, for us it is about family and getting people together, these days after dd, we go to inlaws, mostly because they live far.
but I also get my family together around the holidays.(no turkey )

new year I mostly ignore. I am fond of Easter my favourite which I always took as a special time for reflection and renewal

I look on all festivals as excuses to cook extravagant food ... This shall be our family tradition.

some of my new course material have arrived, at some point I will have to do something more demanding but for now am ok doing these short ones just to get in to the swing of things

am quite bored too but thankfully not miserable/crazy like yesterday

Hello all

Sfx - what is your course this time? Good luck with it. Hope you have a better night tonight

Mellow - yes please do let me know how you get on with the filter. I had heard Britas not that great also so have avoided

Ros - enjoy the break & the breadmaking, v. theraputic

I forgot that I'd invited a friend round this morning and DS loved them coming over, they left and BIL & SIL turned up. BBQ went well but then about an hour ago DS had meltdown, too tired. It has been a pretty full on day for him so far. They have taken him out for a walk, so I could have a rest. I hope Ds manages to get some sleep otherwise he'll be a nightmare later on...

Afternoon all.

Mellow - I'm crap at breadmaking. But since DH bought me a breadmaker, I've been baking (well, throwing all the stuff in it) bread at least twice weekly. It tastes sooo good! It's great for time(&skill)-poor people like me.

hi sushi

we went for a walk to the shops but clearly dd is not up to much, still she talked to cashiers and random shoppers 'and me and daddy found a dead rat when we were out looking for Miffy the cat, it was fun'

SJ glad you are having help. the course is about health and how it works incl government big business society etc. short and interesting

I think we could try Hampton pools tomorrow becaus eit is on the local bus route but it depends on the weather if raining then Richmond is best since it is indoors

Sushi,
I've been inspired by sfx to bake bread again. But if that doesn't work, a breadmaker might be the answer. . .

SJ,
Hope ds is less of a handful later on. Good that you have some help.

Well guests have just left, DS seems calmer but no sleep so definitely early bed for him tonight

Sushi - glad breadmaker is proving to be useful

Never been to Hampton pools, let me know what you think of it. Would like to go but weather doesn't seem so encouraging. I guess it's ok when you're in the water but when you get out it will feel cold

I always wondered about a breadmaker. I know quite a few people who got one, used it about once or twice and that was it. Along with juicers & ice cream makers!

But I might be persuaded to get one if I can't do it by hand!

SJ am planning to meet up with Susie and it's half way the R68 stops outside but not if it is raining

mellow I decided against breadmakers after trying that recipe, it suits me because it can be done by absent minded people like me

but I am toying with the idea of a making my yoghurt but not with an electric machine.
juicers never get used here and the mixer we have is the same, the cheap wand type is very hardworking and practical I find

sfx,
I love my Bamix hand blender and use it for everything.

Have fun tomorow. Outdoor pools in this country are too cold for me. brrr

Ice cream, bread and yogurt are all quite easy to make and I find it so relaxing to do - a machine would take away all my fun I don't make these things daily therefore it doesn't get to be a chore. Do love my food processor though

Sfx - not sure I will do much tom, I think after wkend away and a full on day today DS could do with a 'go-slow' day tom. I predict he will be quiet tired. He has constant stimulation from DH anyway! Have fun if you do make it, not seen forecast yet

sfx - I do this for yogurt. Not sure why a machine is needed. I put it in a lock-it tumbler and leave it in the airing cupboard overnight. Texture not great, but taste is good (though I don't eat yogurt myself).

That is how I make yogurt minus the milk powder. Sometimes I leave in a prewarmed oven but switch off when I put yogurt in

I dunno, I go on holiday and you lot are fixated on food!
We're all here and having fun in alternate sheet rain, gales and sun!
Kids are loving it and many fruit shoots are being consumed!
There are other things I could reveal but what goes on tour, stays on tour!!!!

so has KC got off with mrsR brother?
or any other eligible men? dish it!

glad you are having a nice time paddle

SJ&slng will give it a go soon my I ask what containers you use?
was going for the easyyo thingy but if it works like this all the better

i know, talking in tongues again

paaaaaaaaaaaaaadle don't be a tease, you minx.
is sfx right??
please give me some light relief...
dish
dish
dish

hi steppie how are the drains?

just told dh something which makes me see why one needs women friends he looked at me in full bafflement

child has been fished out of the bath will be called to do my duty soon

Yeah - well, Paddle - loads going on here but if we told you we'd have to kill you . Bet you guys are having a blast. Not at all jealous - ok? Ros, whaddya fancy doing tomorrow? Weather forecast = grim You're welcome round here! But equally I'm fine to meet you / come over your way, no problem at all. SJ, know what you mean re: busy days. We've had a completely bonkers week and dd is completely wrecked! Go slow days are not a bad thing. Re: breadmakers - mine is in the shed!! But WE WILL resurrect it. They're actually quite fun! Gosh quite a lot of competitive baking/cooking on this thread. Did someone say that the Madhur Jaffrey book was good as am thinking of getting it. Love veggie food, in fact was veggie for YEARS until pregnant with dd and ended up eating a chicken curry at 7 months! Also love lentils and chickpeas in case anyone is remotely interested to hear that