Prepping for a Pandemic - Thread 16

[Sprayitall]

I don’t know why another thread hasn’t been created yet , so here you go. Now as we prep ourselves to the peak of this pandemic, let’s all face it together and appreciate how fragile our lives are and how we need each other to survive and flourish.

I heard from a Scot friend that I have to soak a good quality of red lentil, barley, green peas, blue peas mix overnight in some exact proportions to get it proper - supermarket ones have more barley and less lentils she said and asked me to slow cook them for a better taste. Also add Savoy cabbage instead of kale. I’m yet to try that though - with all the time on earth now I think I might try it for a change (except I don’t have Savoy cabbage now lol)

Found this thread again! It's been a busy week or so since I last caught up on here. We were meant to be exchanging contracts soon but that now looks like it's on hold. It's annoying but the chain only comprises of us and the vendors so we're happy to sit tight and ride this out a bit. I've barely been out recently, just to pick up essential meds and a quick pop into the supermarket. I'm finding how eerily quiet the town is very unnerving. @sprayitall I would love some recipes. I have been to southern India and loved all the food x

Scotland was kinda slow to catch on to vegetarianism I'm veggie 30 years now and when I was first veggie it was a nightmare.

You really should be able to find a good vegetarian soup in most places in Scotland now, not least because soup is our unofficial national dish

My mum as an army wife found it a great ice breaker to make a huge pot of soup when we first moved somewhere and take some round to the neighbours to introduce us.

In the 70's though some people were quite snobbish and looked down on home made soup (era of convenience foods here in Uk)

Haggis normally is a dish made of sheep offal, suet, carrots, onions, oats, spices. It's a sort of large sausage/savoury steamed pudding all that is mixed up with stock, sealed in casing and steamed for hours.

Veggie haggis the meat is replaced by lentils and veggie suet but as I say it's really the spices make it, my mum was sceptical then tried some of mine once and was impressed.

I am proud to be Scots, glad you enjoy visits here, like everywhere there's good and bad parts especially my home town of glasgow but there are seriously impressive good parts and I must admit despite it's tougher areas I do love glasgow of all the cities I've been in. So much to see and do there (normally).

@Weedsnseeds1 As an army brat I've lived all over Uk, it's amazing how within such a small island there's huge regional differences in food and drink and taste palate. I well remember mum used to basically bring a spare suitcase when we came up to visit family as she'd fill it with food and drink from "home" - irn bru, pan loaf, Lorne sausage, white pudding, tattie scones, crusty rolls, tablet, macaroon, creamola foam, and gran would do a flask of soup for us all and cheese sandwiches with strong scottish cheddar and whatever cakes she'd been baking like fly cemetery

Don't worry op not real flies it's a tray bake base of shortcrust pastry, filling of mixed dried fruit (raisins, currants, sultanas - the "flies") topping of flaky pastry and drizzle of lemon icing.

Or gingerbread squares icing topped and so sweet your teeth were on fire.

The pearl barley really does make a difference but be careful not to use too much, other than that it's the seasoning and again with home made (which many restaurants and cafes do their own to a family recipe) it varies so much.

And i would agree on the bought mixes they tend to be heavy on the cheaper items you're better buying the ingredients separately and finding the proportions you like best.

I'm not Scottish and I love pearl Barley! I usually chuck in breast of lamb for my Scotch Broth, so not going to suit OP.
BUT Indian food - I just thought - DHOSA I have rice, dhal, potatoes and I have ingredients for idli and a steamer too!

Graphista I'm from Somerset, about 5 miles from Cheddar - I will never accept a Scottish imposter for ggsg product ( but send me your haggis)

That product..

Idli 😍😍😍

Evening all hope everyone's as well as can be expected. Can anyone recommend where I could get a temporary filling kit from? DS has been complaining of toothache when eating for last couple of days just had a look and he needs a couple of fillings mostly out of stock on amazon or have poor reviews. The one thing I didn't prep for.

Haha! Scottish cheddar is good stuff as are many of our other cheeses. Mild cheeses I'm not really a fan of but love a mature cheddar, a good strong Brie or a really stinky Stilton (which goes as well with whisky as it does port by the way, preferably an oak aged one)

I've never even heard of Idli clearly they're worth a try.

Good morning lovelies,
Hope everyone clapped for the frontline workers yesterday? It was all very moving and I got quite tearful. So stuck in the house for another day and the stats are scary to even look at. What a sudden jump!

@Graphista I love all the sweets you say. Dh’s home town is very famous for this called “Macaroons” which is very similar to macarons but is made up of cashew flour. Idli is nothing but steamed rice and lentil cakes and is a breakfast staple in most households. Dosa is savoury lentil crepes and is also a staple breakfast item. They are delicious though. I am so going to try the scotch broth one day. And all your other foods - they sound so lovely. Reminds me of Enid blyton’s famous five picnics. I love mature cheddar in cheese and nothing else here. May be because cheese is not used much in Indian cuisine except for cottage cheese.

@Weedsnseeds1 @WrapTrap Glad to know you have loved the food there. Idli and dosa - I make the batter at home except I have to put it in a warm place for it to ferment. But they are a healthy breakfast. Hot steamed idlis with coconut chutney and sambar is my British friend’s favourite too. It’s lovely to see how different the cuisines are but inside all of us are same. We love good food and some peace.
I have some plans for today - finish my laundry and to pressure wash patio. Dd is coughing a little which is concerning but with all the precautions I think it will be very unlucky if we catch it. We are taking social distancing very seriously and haven’t even left the house for the past three weeks. No temperature yet. Let’s see.
@ofwarren thinking of you. Did your test arrive?
@VenetoResident how is everything there?

doublemix the best one is called Toofypegs and Home Bargains sell it.
Don't bother with the other brands, the filling supplied just crumbles and falls out.
I used that one and the dentist had to drill it out!

@Weedsnseeds1 great thanks we have a home bargains in the village I'll go down when DH comes home

doublemix when you use it, cut the tiny amount you need off the stick before soaking it ( will make sense when you see the pack), don't use a big lump and try to get the excess off in the mouth - this stuff sets fast!

DS1 was in bed but not yet asleep at the clapping yesterday, so I dragged him roche door to clap. He was most confused! But important to recognise what an amazing job everyone is doing to keep is safe and he is probably old enough to remember.

Boris has Coronavirus.

The clapping last night was so emotional. I’m at my parents’ house in the country and they’re all spread out with no passers by (dead end) and you could hear it all around. I clapped from the window as still in self-isolation and my parents stood on the drive. ☺️

Boris has it!!!!

I am really struggling with not being able to get out food shop. I have no idea why it is making me so anxious when we don't really need stuff. But it's things like not being able to buy vegetables, although I've some arriving in a week. I can see others on social media going round supermarkets and I'm thinking 'lucky bastards'

It's very tempting to break cover and just pop into one. But
i know I shouldn't!

My prep stash is not looking good and has lost more weight within a week. do we get to have a prescription for that to up our stock a little?
I have now seen an article with fantastic preppers and a sneak peek of their cupboard.. oh it all looks so beautifully organised and seeing mine makes my eyes water. I really wish I had a bigger kitchen or a lovely pantry at home now.

Who is up for a Preppers grocery challenge? You are allowed to buy only 5 items and all should start with the first letter of your name or nickname - and together the food should last you for a week..

Let’s start to hear your ideas

@OhYouBadBadKitten I’m thinking the same but I don’t want to risk now - it’s very tempting though when people say they got everything today including loo rolls etc . But Dd had a light cough this morning and that was enough for me to not leave home. I have to arrange fresh fruits and veggies delivery though.

How are you ofwarren?

sprayitall don't go ott r.e. washing the hands. I've been washing loads because I live in a block of flats and my washing machine is in a communal room. I've managed to lock myself out of my online banking because I've washed hands so often I have cracks over my fingerprint 🙄 Also, if you wash too often and have minuscule cracks in the skin it's an opening for infection. If you're at home, and it sounds like you've taken loads of precautions, then you shouldn't need to wash hands more than the usual after the loo or before cooking etc.

DH is as my credit card bill arrived and there's nothing out of the ordinary on it! I think he now realises I meant it when I said we could manage two weeks. Youngest requested a specific meal today and he explained to her we couldn't have it as it was a reserve in case we have to quarantine. For now I am shopping for fresh goods twice a week as I can't store enough for a whole week now that it's getting warmer.

DH has finally agreed with me that we won't book a summer holiday yet and see what it's like in a couple of months.

I have given up homeschooling for the day and opened a bottle of wine.

I won the supermarket delivery slots lottery I accidentally clicked into Tesco thought I would check to see if they have any slots in 3 weeks time and there was a free slot for early next week! So we can now have some fresh fruit and veg plus allergy foods.
I've got a start on some veggie seedlings and mixed up my compost etc.
We were on a Home schooling break (we are home schoolers ) but DC requested we start again.

@preponderings True that. But because dd coughed a little today I’m skeptical. I have been washing hands and applying lotions and diy hand creams with left over aloe gel and some essential oils. I’m not sure if it works but it smells wonderful.
The school homework is too much. In one day I have received 6 emails along with worksheets on the school websites. I am 100% sure the school doesn’t do all this in a single day but expect us to do it. Also all the activities they have said involves so much of cooking ingredients. Atleast one is flour or food activity - I don’t think I can waste 1/2 kg of flour , 4 cups of salt and some food colours with few tsp of sugar to make home made dough for this daily to make figurines of family members. With this situation it’s more important for families not to waste food. No one earns ,all sit at home and waste food? With that level of ingredients I am sure we can cook a meal for a family. I’m even thinking of writing an email about this to the school. I don’t have play doh at home either and they want home made dough anyway. Next is buying printer inks. With this level I think I have to buy shares in staples to keep up with the printer supply. My dd is just in reception and it’s scary to think about kids in year 7 and above etc

Stupid isn't it! We're also low on printer ink and debating if we'll have to buy a new computer if this carries on. DH is working from hone so needs it. DC 1 (SN) has about 4 hours work to do a day and that's without all the optional tasks. He needs constant supervision. DC2 is suffering because I have to deal with DC1. I've had calls from other parents over it, at least I'm a sahm but for those who work and have more than one child it's a nightmare.
I have refused to do some activities and emailed the teacher why. She answered and said she understood.

Wonder if anyone can offer advice.

I ordered clothes for my son before Next shut as he's about to grow out of everything.

They've all come prepackaged in plastic. So chances are were packed up months ago and have just been pulled off the shelves to put in my parcel. But would you still wash the clothes before they're worn?

I didn’t clap (housebound) but also as it doesn’t really help them. What I have already done is emailed my Mp (again) to say nhs needs better funding and its staff need better pay, equipment, support and working conditions and the nursing bursary MUST be reintroduced. I fear while people are grateful now they will quickly forget when this is all over.

And it’s not just nhs workers, it’s social care workers, police officers (brother is one he’s ok so far but I am worried), fire fighters, truck drivers & logistics managers, supermarket/essential retail (eg retail banking, takeaway food places) frontline workers, couriers & post workers (who are being treated awfully by all accounts), homelessness workers, teachers & TA’s & other school staff, manufacture workers inc in pharmaceuticals, utility industry workers, refuse collectors, street cleaners, vets, public transport workers... millions of people who are keeping the country going with essential work right now and who are very often the lowest paid and least respected.