Classic BBC Radio Theme ~ Housewives' Choice

   If you remember this tune then you will probably remember WW2 ,Suez and The Three day week You know about emergencies.Check my Brexit Planning List

Hard Brexit Shopping List

 

Hard  Brexit  Shopping List

As someone who remembers what emergencies are really like , WW2 ,Suez and the 3 Day week , I  am beginning to make a few adjustments to my shopping list as a Hard Brexit looms.I am just examining where my usual household products come from and buying a few more of things I do not want to be without. A lot are made in Europe.

The supermarkets will already have built up large stocks of non- perishables like pasta and canned food.It is perishable goods like salad ingredients and fruit from the Mediterranean that is likely to run short, this stuff cannot survive hours waiting around in the ports or delivery trucks waiting for inspections and forms to be filled in.In case this happens this I have ordered a mini greenhouse so I can grow salad leaves and a few strawberries

Paper based products coming from Scandinavia  could be a problem .

I shall make sure I get my repeat prescription to the pharmacy in good time.

So here goes with a basic list for people like me who do not have a huge amount of storage space  or unlimited funds to go on a spending spree.

• Toilet Paper and Kitchen Roll

• Tissues
• Laundry pods
• Dishwasher tablets
• Bottled Water
• Water purifying tablets
• Wind up radio and torch in case of power cuts
• Tea, Coffee
• Olive oil
• Frozen and canned fruit
• Mini greenhouse
• Seeds for mixed salads 

Click on the products below to see how to get them delivered to your door from Amazon

  

                                                                

Knee Replacement Surgery,What You Will Need at Home

 One Year After  Knee Replacement Surgery


It is exactly a year since I had total knee replacement surgery.I  am still using some of the home aids that I bought from Amazon, I had to buy online , I did not realise how much support I would need until I was in a hospital bed.I wish I had known before I had the operation that I would be in a lot of pain and would need home aids to facilitate using the shower and toilet,sitting comfortably,getting in and out of bed and getting up and down stairs.



Before You have The Surgery 

• Get several pairs of wide leg jogger bottoms.You will have a hefty bandage to start with and your knee will be swollen.Tight jeans or pants will not do.If it is winter have warm fabric.Sturdy shoes are imperative
• Consider an extra rail if you have stairs, Something to hang onto will give you more confidence.
• Grab handles in the shower are a must.If you do not want the expense of disturbing tiles aand plumbing get instant suction grabs. 
• A seat to go in the shower cubicle adds to your comfort
• Standing up after using the toilet  is suprisingly difficult and will be helped by purpose made aids

• A couple of frames are handy.Upstairs for help with dressing,downstairs if you want to do a few things standing in the kitchen.

Get all this set up before you have the surgery .Organize a food delivery system.You will not be able to drive, it was 4 months before I could drive safely so ask someone to drive you around or open an account with a taxi company to take you physiotherapy for example.

I bought and used all three of these products and found them all sturdy aand useful.It may soon be time to have my other knee replaced so I am glad that I have kept all of my aids.
I took major action over my bathroom.I realised that I could not climb into the big old fashioned bath or climb out of it unaided. I have now got a large walk in shower with a built in seat.
Sometimes we just have to accept that we are growing older and some adaptations to are homes are necessary.




                                                              

If you are about to have this surgery good luck and get organized.

STALE BREAD RECIPES

                                                                                            

We throw away more bread than any other left over food
Here are a couple of recipes from my mother's waste not want not style cookery books for you to try before you throw the remains of that loaf away.

Cheese Pudding 

4-6 slices stale white bread (100g,4oz)
25g (1oz) melted butter
2 eggs,beaten
300ml (half pint) milk 
salt and pepper
100g mature hard cheese (grated)

Method

Cut the bread into cubes and place in a 900ml (One and onehalf pint)ovenproof greased dish with the butter.Mix the eggs and milk, season well,and pour over the bread mixture.Sprinkle with the cheese.
Bake in the oven at 190C ,375F.Gas mark5 for about 30 minutes until golden and well risen.
Serve at once.

Good for a light lunch or supper.

 

Osborne Pudding 

4 slices of thin bread and butter (brown is good)
1 level tablespoon of caster sugar
400ml milk (3/4 pint)
2 large eggs
orange marmalade 

 Spread the bread and butter slices with marmalade and then cut into strips.Arrange marmalade side up in a greased ovenproof dish.
Heat the milk but do not boil it.Whisk the eggs lightly with the sugar in a basin and pour the warm milk onto them stirring all the time.
Strain the egg mixture over the bread and leave to stand for 15 minutes.
Bake in the oven 180C,350F.Gas mark4 for 30-40 minutes until set and lightly browned.

Lovely with some pouring cream or vanilla icecream.

I prefer the crusts left on the bread for a crispy finish.














                              

Hard Brexit Recipes

Salad Vegetables

 The foods most likely to be affected by a No Deal Brexit are the out of season salad ingredients like lettuce and tomatoes and cucumber during the winter months until home grown produce comes into season.Soft fruits like raspberries may be very expensive but at least it is possible to stock up with frozen fruit whereas  salad ingredients cannot be frozen and perish quickly.

 

I have some winter salad recipes using ingredients that are produced in the UK, the kind my mother used in the 1950s, which are not as easy to throw together as the bags of pre-prepared salad leaves that we are used to but are a good standby , they are also economical.

 

Winter Salad      

 

Half a small white cabbage

2 medium sized carrots

I small cooked beetroot

2-3 sticks celery

50g sultanas or raisins 

mayonnaise (or Heinz salad cream for a retro flavour)

 

1.Prepare and wash the salad ingredients and the sultanas

2.Using a sharp knife or food processor shred the cabbage.

3.Grate the carrot finely ,cut the beetroot and celery up into 1 cm pieces.keep the beetrot seperate from the other ingredients or it will stain them.

4.Put the shredded cabbage on a flat dish and arrange the other ingredients very neatly in rows on top.

5. Serve the mayonnaise separately

Celery and Apple Salad

1 heart of celery

2 thin slices of onion

3 crisp eating apples

juice of 1 lemon or french dressing made with lemon juice

salt and pepper

 

1.Wash the celery, cut into 1 cm cubes and put into a bowl

2.Chop the onion finely and add to the salad

3.Peel ,quarter and core the apples,cut into 1 cm cubes and add to the other ingredients.

4.Add the lemon juice and seasoning and gently mix thoroughly.

Serve in a glass bowl to accompany cold meats