Food banks

[Arch]

Most cuisine is based on frugalism ( is that a real word ? ).

It should be!

Indeed, 'peasant food' is stuff like soups, stews, casseroles etc, often stuff that makes the best of tougher cuts of meat, or imparts flavour to bland staples like potato.

I had http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congee
for lunch yesterday, which NT's folks explained was a traditional way of making a little rice go much further. Very nice!

 

[TheDoctor]

I have made congee, in the dim and distant. I didn't know how to cook rice, and left it for far too long in far too much water
It tasted OK, but went really badly with a curry. I wasn't much cop at making them then, either.

To pick up on Compo's point - it does seem to be all too easy to fall through the cracks in the welfare net, and it ain't gonna get any better...

 

[screenman]

Never been to a food bank, I was made homeless late one night with a wife and 2 month old child, not much fun that. The next day the only room social could give us had been wiped in excrement by the previous tenant, turned it down 4 times before being convinced it was that or another night sleeping rough in a old banger. This was November 1974 happily we are still married now and have recently sold a house the same size as we used to share with 14 other families. Anyone knowing of the London Apprentice in Isleworth may know about the old hostel opposite.

I must add that those times did me good and helped make us the people we are now. I could tell a lot of horror stories about the place but I will save those for my memoirs.

 

[ASC1951]

.. I didn't know how to cook rice, and left it for far too long in far too much water ....

FWIW here's my foolproof method for white rice. You need one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Premier-Housewares-Folding-Steamer-Stainless/dp/B005MJ44T2/ref=pd_sim_kh_4 which are available in most ethnic (i.e. proper) shops.

5 mins in gently boiling water, stir when you put it in. Pour through sieve and rinse in cold water. Tip into steaming basket and steam with lid on for 5 mins. Perfect fluffy rice every time. One advantage of steaming is that a few extra minutes doesn't turn it to mush.

 

[TheDoctor]

Cheers.
What I do now is melt a knob of butter, stir one cup of rice in till it's all coated, add two cups of boiling water from the kettle, stir, bring it back up to the boil, then turn the heat off and leave it.
20 mins later, it's cooked, seperate and fluffy, and stays that way for half an hour or more

 

[Maz]

I was living at the Salvation Army hostel and they evicted me because I couldn't pay my rent contribution. As a point of interested I was evicted on Christmans Eve with nowhere to go and no money. I didn't eat from Christmas Eve until the day after Boxing Day when the soup kitchen resumed operations. I slept rough for a while until my benefits were sorted, and I lived on a few sandwiches and tea each evening given out by these good people. I eventually got a place in a decent hostel, found work and began to rebuild my life. I only relate this to explain that I do know about poverty, and I know how easy it is to fall into the trap of destitution. This is why I prefer not to get on a pedestal and stand in judgement on people. You don't have to be an addict or mentally ill or idle to fall on bad times.

I feel for you, compo, but I'm glad you got yourself sorted out.

The past 2 xmas periods, I've volunteered at the Sally Army - ye gads it was bloody cold over xmas. Felt very sorry for those folk we were providing hot meals and shelter to. I still see some of the same faces in the voluntary work I do now, others have moved on - where to, I don't know but hopefully their situation has improved.