Elegant Survival

Stylish Living on a Shoestring

Category: Elegant Household Tips

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Elegant, Economical Soup

Posted at 12:12 PM on February 08, 2010

This soup was cooked for less than ten minutes; it was made from water and dry ingredients from the pantry: Minute Rice, chicken bouillon powder, paprika and dried parsley. 

Elegant Recycling

Posted at 11:01 AM on January 30, 2010

M-J's Pommes Frites

Posted at 07:03 PM on January 27, 2010

The New Dish-Drying Pad

Posted at 12:29 PM on January 26, 2010

Something went wrong with the "brilliant new kitchen tool" post of yesterday. For one thing, I have lost vision in my right eye and didn't see the typographical error in the title. Then,the photo turned sideways. The Original Dish Drying Pad is a very cool tool for drying big items that you have hand-washed, like pots, on your counter. I'll try to get the photo straightened out...here it is, and remember to have a look at the venerable Schroeder & Tremayne company's other wonderfully useful products while at their modest website.

Elegant Dog: the Royal Vizsla

Posted at 08:11 AM on January 26, 2010

The Royal Vizsla

This self-cleaning, elegant, odor-free, easily-trained breed is historically the favourite family dog/gun-dog

of European nobility.

The Latest "Living Without..." List

Posted at 03:20 PM on January 23, 2010

Jacques sent me this article that he found on-line, knowing that I have been writing about this stuff since 2006.

Elegant Pantry Update

Posted at 02:49 PM on January 21, 2010

Conserving Candles

Posted at 02:25 PM on January 14, 2010


 

Sugo di Carne alla Romagna

Posted at 01:25 PM on December 07, 2009
Emilia-Romagna, Italia

Sugo di Carne alla Romagna

Three slices of bacon, prosciutto di Parma, or pancetta, diced
One onion, chopped or diced
Six stalks of celery, sliced and diced
Two carrots, diced
Two tablespoons of butter
Two pounds of ground beef
One tablespoon of flour
One-half cup of cream
One cup of white wine
One half-teaspoon of nutmeg
Salt
Pepper, preferably white

In a large, heavy pot, sauté the diced bacon in until brown. Add the butter, then your chopped and diced vegetables. When they are slightly browned and soft, add the ground beef, stirring until all beef is finely incorporated into the other ingredients. Stir in the tablespoon of flour and spices, mixing well. When the beef has turned grey and is of a fine consistency, add one half-cup of cream, mix well, and then pour in the cup of white wine. Simmer on low heat for at least one hour. This is a suitable sauce for any sort of pasta, and when cooked down to an adequately think consistency, a classic filling for lasagne.


~~Recipe Copyright M-J de Mesterton 2009

Pyrex, Made in the U.S.A.

Posted at 09:29 AM on December 02, 2009

A couple of years ago, I featured Pyrex bowls in a post. Today, I discovered a website devoted to the American company's products, called Pyrex Love. There you will find information about the tremendous variety of Pyrex styles, and links to live auctions with vintage pieces on offer.

Home-Made Tortilla Chips

Posted at 12:16 PM on November 27, 2009

 

You don't have to throw out your tortillas if they are past their prime. Make them into tortilla chips, which will be very popular with your family and guests, as they are pleasingly different from those bought in the store.Take a stack of tortillas and dust between the layers with salt, pressing it into them. Then, with a large knife, cut them into quarters. Lower a handful at a time into bubbling hot oil. For this light and crispy batch, I used a combination of soy oil, which is now sold as "vegetable oil", and lard. Peanut or corn oil are also good for deep-frying tortillas. When the chips themselves have developed bubbles and are slightly brown, it's time to remove them from the pot with a runcible or slotted spoon. Drain them on paper towels, and dust with more salt if desired. The cooking oil may be strained, refrigerated and re-used for French fries, yams or potato chips.

 

~~M-J



 

Wacky Uses

Posted at 12:59 PM on October 23, 2009

I heard Joey Green on the radio this morning, and looked up his interesting, useful site:

http://www.wackyuses.com

The Elegant Survival Pantry

Posted at 04:04 PM on October 18, 2009


Ingredients for a Well-Stocked Pantry Elegant Survival Kitchen Essentials

  • Frozen Apple Juice Concentrate or Bottled Apple Juice

  • Cornstarch

  • Unbleached White Flour

  • Rye Flour

  • Yeast

  • Gelatine

  • Almond Extract

  • Vanilla, Imitation or Pure Extract

  • Rum Extract or Flavoring

  • Aluminum-Free Baking Powder

  • Baking Soda

  • Hershey's Cocoa Powder

  • Chocolate Chips

  • Cinnamon

  • Salt

  • Peppercorns

  • Dried Red Chiles

  • Dehydrated Mixed Vegetables

  • Brown Rice

  • White or Basmati Rice

  • Corn Meal or Grits

  • Dried Pasta

  • Alfalfa Seeds

  • Wheat Berries

  • Dried Parsley

  • Dried Chives

  • Dehydrated Onion

  • Dehydrated Garlic or Garlic Powder

  • Soy Sauce

  • Powdered Ginger

  • Toasted Sesame Oil

  • Sesame Tahini Paste, Joyva brand of Brooklyn is best
  • Almond Butter

  • Popcorn, loose: Jolly Time Organic is better than Orville Redenbacher, at one-third the cost
  • Peanut or Corn Oil

  • Olive Oil

  • Mustard Powder, Colman's English

  • Spanish or Hungarian Paprika

  • Capers

  • Green Peppercorns in Brine

  • Rose's Lime Juice

  • Maggi or another brand of Chicken Bouillon Powder

  • Canned Tomato Paste: store brand

  • Canned Whole Tomatoes: store brand

  • Canned Beets: store brand or generic

  • Canned Small, Peeled Potatoes: store brand or generic

  • Canned Green Chiles, whole or chopped

  • Coconut Milk, Canned

  • Whole Water Chestnuts, Canned

  • Canned Ham

  • Canned Vienna Sausage

  • Canned Beef (usually from Argentina)

  • Canned Pineapple, No Sugar Added

  • Peanut Butter

  • Raw Walnuts

  • Almonds

  • Powdered Sugar

  • Brown Sugar

  • White Sugar

  • Molasses

  • Honey

  • Apple Cider Vinegar

  • White Vinegar

  • Boxed Red Wine, and a Cube of White Wine, both for Cooking

  • Frozen Peas

  • Dried Split Peas, Green or Yellow

  • Freeze-Dried Coffee

  • Coffee Creamer (not Coffee-Mate, which contains aluminum--check ingredients)

  • Coffee Beans

  • Tea Bags

  • Non-Fat Dry Milk

  • Powdered Buttermilk

  • Powdered Eggs for Emergencies

  • Bottled Lemon Juice
  • Herbes de Provence (a combination of marjoram, thyme, rosemary and savoury, available at Costco)

    • To Be Continued.... Compiled by M-J de Mesterton, 2008

    Copyright M-J de Mesterton


    Keeping your food in jars will prevent invasion by pests (no, it won't keep your kids out). Recycle some jars that look similar to create your own style. Soak them in hot water for a little while to soften labels,scrape and get the rest off with Goo-Gone. For inexpensive, larger jars with screw-tops, Wal-Mart is a source. Photo Copyright M-J de Mesterton

    Thanks, Canadian Free Stuff Forum!

    Posted at 12:18 PM on October 06, 2009

    A nice person, nicknamed "Lottery Winner",  over at a worthwhile money-saving site, recommended this one, with a very kind comment on the site's forum. Thanks, Lottery Winner, and Canadian Free Stuff.


    Canadian Free Stuff is a great source for coupons, freebies, and economical tips.

    Savoury Fougasse, by M-J de Mesterton

    Posted at 10:14 AM on October 04, 2009

    Elegant Survival Iron

    Posted at 11:56 PM on October 02, 2009

     

    Every couple of years I try a new iron. Years ago, I bought the most expensive iron on the market, made by a German company, believing that it would be the best. The evil machine ruined my silk clothing by dripping all over it. I returned it and tried different models fromt he same manufacturer, all without success. Then, I tried other brands of irons.  I liked the Panasonic, which I loved, but it eventually rusted inside. The last one, a Black & Decker, had a fancy auto-off feature, which inconveniently kicked-in when the iron was in use, turning it off and making the thing leak. My latest iron doesn't have that feature or the handy retractable cord. It is a lot more reliable, though, and costs ten dollars US at Wal-Mart. It's an elegant little iron with a great steam blast and sprayer.

     

    Proctor Silex Model 17135


     

    Waffle-Weave Towels Save Energy and Inhibit Mould

    Posted at 10:39 AM on September 26, 2009

     

    I bought a cotton waffle-weave bath towel at the Marimekko store in Porvoo (Borgå), Finland, five years ago. I used nothing but that rather expensive and beautiful Marimekko bath-towel at home, and thus decided to make my own. I bought several yards of waffle-weave cotton in unbleached white, and trimmed the edges with taupe-coloured extra-wide, doubler-fold bias tape by Wright's. I've just finished making one, and shall create another for my husband today.

    I can make two of these bath-towels for about twenty-five dollars. But, you can get some beautiful ones made in Pakistan for $19.99 each, at www.greenfeet.com.

     

    Waffle-weave towels are very absorbent, lightweight, and dry quickly, thereby reducing the wetness in your bathroom, which discourages the growth of mould. You won't need to dry these towels in a machine, since they dry quickly on their own. And after showers or baths, they are luxurious to wrap about your wet, clean hair. I've included a photo of the towel I made, drying on the clothes-line.



    ~~Copyright M-J de Mesterton 2009


     

    Cleaning Jugs and Pans

    Posted at 02:03 PM on September 19, 2009

    I use a combination of vinegar and baking soda for scrubbing pots, jugs and pans. It is non-toxic and makes things gleam.

    ~~~M-J

    M-J's Tarte Tatin, Made with Two Apples

    Posted at 05:33 PM on August 14, 2009

    ...I pre-baked the crust in a flan pan, turned it out, filled it with apples, brown sugar, concentrated apple juice, a small amount of corn flour, butter bits, then dusted the surface with cinnamon-sugar and baked the tart forty-five minutes in a very hot oven. I shall serve it for a dinner party, and offer vanilla-flavoured whipped cream as a topping.

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