A Visit to the Charity Shop and Kitchen Things - Updated

It has been a wet, cold and horrible day here for the best part.  Sun came out just before it should have gone to bed and so have kept to the house apart from a quick trip out a little later.  Today did not start well as I overslept quite badly today so not much achieved.  However not a massive loss as I did manage to get a few things done a little later on.  I did manage to get out into the garden and it is a bit of a mess.  I thought I had lost my Rhubarb last year but I am glad to see that it is starting to poke its leaves through the soil.  Phew am so glad about that.

As I had to go out to the shop today I decided to nip to the Charity shop.  It is in the opposite direction to where I needed to go but not that far out of the way. Today they had a complete refresh of items in the shop and there were lots of pretty little bits and bobs.  I was hanging my nose over a couple of pieces but as I only had so much cash with me, opted to go back another day and if they are still there, then they may come home with me.  If it is meant to be they will be there. I came away with the following items:

Two proper ceramic pottery Pudding Bowls (ideal for Christmas puddings). They cost me £2 each. Yes I am thinking Christmas already and yes it is going to be playing a big part in my collections this year.  I like a proper pudding bowl for making steamed puddings and Christmas puddings in.   New ones cost the earth to buy and to tell you the truth the ones that I have bought from new are expensive and some of them have broken easily not long after buying.  So where I can I try and source old ones. They are also ideal for a suet crust pastry pudding as well - G is a fan and I make one every so often.

A beautiful cut crystal vintage flat cake platter on small legs which is engraved.  I paid £1.50 for this.

A beautiful tall Cake stand for £2.50 which I am very pleased with.  These can be used as cake stands, candle stands, decorated with wreaths and candles whether they be pillar candles or tiny tea lights.  I cannot resist pretty cake stands especially vintage ones.

Finally I came away with one of the first slow cookers that were available made by Tower.  My Nan had one of these. and hers was in constant use.  This one looks as though it has not hardly had any use and been in a cupboard.  It looks pristine.  It has been independently tested. In any event it has found its way home with me. I paid £7 for it.  I may well cook in it to see how it does to start with. Ideal for leaving on the worktop with a load of stock in it. Alternatively it may find itself in use for melting candle wax or soap making.  I have one older slow cooker fit for this purpose and I wanted another one to use so that the cookers are used for a set purpose.  Will see how I get on with it.  When I opened it up I was right, it had not seen hardly any use.  The registration card was in there and the slow cooker was originally bought in 1977 from Timothy Whites in Peterborough (which then joined with Boots).  Timothy Whites was a lovely classy home good/kitchen store.  I have several pieces from there as well.

The Registration card

The Slow Cooker

Therefore some very useful little finds found today which I am pleased with.  I like practical things but I also like beautiful things.

I also went to the local shop and came back with 6 thick pork chops on the bone reduced to £2.50 for a pack of two normally about £5.50 a pack (I came home with three packs).  I am going to mince these up and make some individual pork pies for snacking on.  Well that is the idea I have not done this before, but I thought it worth trying out and if it works I am sure it will become a regular item to be made here.  It is worth checking out reduced meat if you spot it as it can always be turned into something else with the aid of a mincer.  Never under-estimate a mincer.

My Mum always had a hand cranked Spong Mincer with three different sizes for fine, medium and large mince sizes.  I thought at one stage I had it - I still could have just not here at the house.  Mum used to turn the remnants of a Beef joint into mince and mix it with gravy and then serve it with veggies.  One of her ways of stretching the Sunday joint.  Mum also used to make a shortcrust pastry base and fill it with the minced meat and some gravy with a layer of carrot on the top.  A pastry lid was then added and the pie served hot yet again with veggies.  If it was Lamb or chicken leftovers it would often be served in slices with some good old Bubble n Squeak and a fried egg.  Not always the best looking meals but a lot of flavour locked in there.  It also stopped waste and used everything that was available sensibly.  I am not sure what today's generation would make of these.  The minced beef pie with the raw finely grated carrot in was a favourite of mine.

I also came away with two packs of reduced tea cakes from £1.60 a packet of four to 80p a pack and also two sliced Tiger Loaves for 38p a loaf.  The tea cakes I will have either toasted or with some good strong cheddar.  The Tiger Loaves will be turned into breadcrumbs one of my Pantry staples for making bread sauce, stuffing mixes and for use in puddings and of course coating for chicken and other meats.

Tea tonight is fish and chips with mushy peas.  I do not think we need a pudding tonight I think this will be more than enough.  Although saying that I might make some Banana Angel Delight up.  That will keep in the fridge if we do not fancy anything else and we could potentially have that tomorrow.  May possibly put one of my new pudding bowls into use for this.

I do intend to do a little crafting a bit later on. I need my crafting time. Hopefully will get a better start tomorrow.

Hope everyone has a lovely evening.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

xxx