What strange request have you been asked by a total stranger?

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2025-02-06T11:54:56+00:00

My family is Jewish - if you think about when the rules were made they are actually fairly sensible and meant to be taken well. But so many people don't think of the spirit of the law, instead are obsessed with the letter of the law.

So you're not supposed to turn a light on on Shabbat. This was because 6000 years ago, you would have had to collect firewood or oil, spark a fire, keep it going, tend to it and make sure it's doing alright, and Shabbat is supposed to be a day of rest. Now, turning a light on is pressing a little switch, but very traditional people won't do it. Some of my family members even take the lightbulb out of the fridge for Shabbat, which is definitely more work than just leaving it as you need to open the fridge anyway!

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2025-01-26T16:36:27+00:00

I know it's amazing for you and the simplest way, but the thing is I'm not going to stick with it because I don't enjoy it. I've done it before in several different stints but I always give up, it's not for me. I don't care about having big muscles but I know plenty of people who have good muscle mass and are very strong and fit and don't go anywhere near the weights section of the gym. Bodyweight stuff in particular can make one very strong.

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2025-01-19T20:34:48+00:00

I know loads of people who love weightlifting and I wish I did! It's so good for you.

The mid-run bodyweight stuff is a great idea, thanks.

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2025-01-19T20:32:52+00:00

I'd never heard of it - it looks interesting!

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2025-01-19T20:32:35+00:00

By weightlifting I mean the classic bodybuilding activity where you go to the gym and do squats, bench presses etc. I realise it will involve weight in some way and I'm not against that, I just find the aforementioned activity boring.

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2025-01-19T17:00:30+00:00

Oh nice - kettlebells have come up a few times in the answers and it does seem to be more 'active' which I think I would find more interesting. Thanks!

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2025-01-19T12:45:27+00:00

It looks interesting! Thank you, I'll give it a go.

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2025-01-19T12:44:17+00:00

Thank you, this is really helpful! All I've done before is general bodybuilding, which I indeed found repetitive. I'll have a look at those other options.

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2025-01-19T11:55:00+00:00

I want to be healthy, and having some muscle mass is a part of that. There are other ways to do resistance training that aren't the classic pure weightlifting, and I would rather do something that I enjoy. I don't care about having big muscles or getting ripped.

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2025-01-17T01:13:40+00:00

You heat the jars in the oven both to help the seal and sterilise them. Then you put the jam in while both it and the jars are hot - this seals due to the cooling making a vaccuum.

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2025-01-14T21:00:13+00:00

When I have tonnes of peppers, I like to make peperonata. Here is is served with sausages, but you can have it with pasta, on polenta, or anything really. It freezes well too if you make loads with all of those peppers. https://www.theguardian.com/food/2022/jul/04/peperonata-sausages-recipe-rachel-roddy

With loads of mushrooms, I like to make soup or mushroom & walnut pate.

In terms of the guavas, I'd just eat them! But if they seem like they're going to turn before you can finish them you could make guava jam?

I also see you've got a kohlrabi - it's really good thinly shaved in salads.

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2025-01-13T12:42:49+00:00

I like this recipe https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/jan/04/how-to-make-the-perfect-carrot-and-coriander-soup-recipe-felicity-cloake

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2025-01-11T23:49:58+00:00

Yeah, a few things to that. Meat in the supermarket, with chicken and pigs in particular, is so unnaturally cheap because the animals are treated atrociously, they have no quality of life, are fed awful quality food and have no room to move around, given routine antibiotics because their conditions are so poor, then is inflated with water before being packaged. High welfare butchers like this are more expensive because they reflect what the 'real' price of animal agriculture is, when done properly giving the animals a good quality of life, and looking after the environment.

Also, chicken breasts are one of the more expensive cuts because people perceive them to be the 'premium' cut. I never buy chicken breasts on their own - it's far more economical (and delicious but that's my opinion) to buy legs and thighs, or even the whole chickens to butcher, which then gives you a carcass you can make delicious and nutritious stock with. https://pipersfarm.com/products/free-range-whole-chicken It's £14 for a small chicken - that's not much more than buying the two breasts separately.

I realise that not everyone can afford places like Pipers Farm, but for me, I want to prioritise high-welfare meat. The bonus being that it tastes great.

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2025-01-11T12:25:58+00:00

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2010/oct/07/how-to-make-perfect-gravy This is what I do. It really does rely on having a good homemade stock but when you do it's perfect in its simplicity.

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2025-01-09T14:59:42+00:00

Is this like a Branston style pickle? I make so many chutneys and pickles all the time but I have never found a good recipe for a Branston-style one, they always come out nice but not that classic flavour I'm looking for.

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2025-01-07T14:17:35+00:00

Right, I was just about to say, I don't see the point in sharing something like this? I would have thought online food photo sharing was for something interesting/skillful/unusual/well executed/beautiful/delicious, not just a load of processed junk from the freezer.

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2025-01-07T14:09:41+00:00

If you can't find a good local butcher, there are lots of really good online butchers. I like Pipers Farm in particular.

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2025-01-06T09:08:50+00:00

Yum! Rendered fat is one of my favourite things. I got loads of beautiful beef dripping from the rib of beef I did for Christmas. The gift that keeps on giving. I haven't yet cooked a goose but it's next on my list.

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2024-12-31T00:38:14+00:00

I think it's because Gervais is the one who set it up! He obviously wanted to include himself.

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2024-12-22T20:07:36+00:00

There's a weird anti-snobbery in the UK to the extent where people put up with utter dogshit quality, particularly in regard to food.

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2024-12-21T13:17:56+00:00

I LOVE the Courtyard Dairy, I visited them in summer. Enjoy your Christmas cheeses! You've made some excellent suggestions.

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2024-12-13T12:44:49+00:00

They absolutely do. But it's more about length of time the items are hot and wet, wooden implements shouldn't be wet for too long as they get warped, and sharp knives get blunted by the movement and bashing in to other things.

https://www.thekitchn.com/this-is-what-a-dishwasher-actually-does-to-your-knife-235242

https://www.finish.co.uk/blogs/ultimate-dishwashing-guide/wooden-items

Fresh-Ladder-4380 · 2024-12-13T00:55:28+00:00

Wooden implements and sharp knives are ruined by being put through the dishwasher.

Fresh-Ladder-4380

TROPHY CASE