Small things matter

[Joeboy]

Had a wander up to castle, a but nippy at 1 deg

Lights in the Christmas markets are excellent
LED too I think.

[Joeboy]

Had time this morning to run.up a batch cook of our arabiata pasta sauce. About 30 minutes on the induction hob to bring it to readiness for stove. We then had a 5 hr closed lid cook, followed by a 7 hour cook with lid half on. This loses about a 1/2" volume in the pot, the sauce darkens considerably. Then on for a 8 hour closed lid low & slow overnight on embers, 2 logs and 40% air.

That will be a 20 hour prep on sauce, the difference is there already. Four chilli types in it, I had one teaspoonful before going up to bed. It's getting there.

[resybaby]

All round your for a nibble then Joeboy, that looks absolutley delicious

[Joeboy]

All round your for a nibble then Joeboy, that looks absolutley delicious

Thank you, It turned out well. The WBS is a decent cook! Boxed up 6 double portions and enough left over for 3 tonight over tortellini with garlic bread.

I see these batch cooks as not only a timesaver for when we are pressed but also an alt energy store. A strange type of organic battery maybe?

As I said earlier the power cost was 30 mins max on the induction hob, lowest power ring at 1/2 speed. Just to fry off the onions, bacon & garlic. Probably half a kWh at the most. Not bad for 15 portions.

Edit- checked online. It's a 1.6kW ring so that would be 0.4kWh battery power to do the sauce for 15.

[AGT]

I’m a fan of the batch cooking too, not got the ability to use the WBS like you do, but it’s handy, need to do more winter warning soups this year

[Joeboy]

My personal fave Winter RE type purchase is the sock hanger. SWMBO cannot be bothered splitting up all the socks etc so defaulted to the tumbledryer.

I could see her point but it really did get on my tits. Knowing I faced certain doom if I tried the head on approach I took an idea out of of Turkish drying regime playbook.

I am now 'he who hangs up socks', I don't mind it and the tumbledryer is off all the time.

Replaced by a combo of WBS, stovefan and a 200W load dehumidifier. Ceiling light remains intact.

There is also a second sockhanger in the Scottish Turkish drawer going out there as an upgrade Spring 24. Outstanding small form performance

[resybaby]

Mrs Resybabys tumble drier is the bain of my life too, when its switched on im not sure if its spinning round in the room as much as i actually do myself crying !

Cant batch cook on my wbs unfortunately, being an inset type, good for a few jacket potatoes is about all i can do - although they do sell a hugely expensive hinge down BBQ attachment for the thing, if i run it with the glass door slid up into the hidden wall housing.

All that greasy fat though dripping in the ashbed doesnt seem like a good plan to me.

[Joeboy]

Ran up WBS 2 to keep the cabin dry. Added a forest cut handle sleeve as I don't like donning gloves midburn (gets in the way of beer). A nice late afternoon tiny project.

share images

[Moxi]

There aren’t many days of the year that our pulley maid goes naked. If it’s not drying washing from the machine then it’s towels getting an airing, coats drying etc etc

The living room door is always open so the warm humid air goes out and up stairs to the landing where the new humidifier lays waiting to remove the moisture which it seems to be doing really well.

Moxi

[Joeboy]

There aren’t many days of the year that our pulley maid goes naked. If it’s not drying washing from the machine then it’s towels getting an airing, coats drying etc etc

The living room door is always open so the warm humid air goes out and up stairs to the landing where the new humidifier lays waiting to remove the moisture which it seems to be doing really well.

Moxi

Nice one Moxi. Such simple old skool projects, yet makes a meaningful difference through these Winter months. Merry Christmas .