Desert Island Dinners

Wacky idea time. I thought it might be fun to play a variety of “Desert Island Discs” – but about frugal/simple living instead. I’ve jokingly called it “Desert Island Dinners” ;)

For those who don’t know, Desert Island Discs is a BBC radio show that has been going since 1942. Each week, a celebrity is asked what eight records or pieces of music they’d take if they were going to be marooned on a desert island (they’re also allowed to take a book and a luxury). Basically, it’s a framework to interview these famous people about their lives (“I first heard this song when I was working in a shoe factory in Bangor”) and what gets their toes tapping.

Instead of talking about music though, I’d like to find out more about my favourite bloggers & commenters frugal/simple living tips, skills and obsessions. This is what I’ve come up with:

As with the radio show, I thought it might form a fun way to find out more about everyone – let us share our cooking/growing tips, hints, secrets and obsessions!

As it’s only fair (and to give people an idea about what I mean, if they’re not familiar with the premise or whatever), here are my answers:

A herb or spice: it would be a toss up between dried chilli flakes and cumin seeds. Probably the chilli since it’s more flexible but mmm, cumin.

A kitchen gadget/utensil/tool/piece of equipment: my cast iron casserole dish because it’s good for cooking all sorts of dishes – casseroles, preserve and baking, as well as a heavy bottomed pan for general cooking.

A cookbook: I don’t really use cookbooks – I use the internet and memory more – so would probably say my own cooking notebook with my “recipes” web bookmark folder printed out into it. If I’m being strict with myself and insisting on a printed book, it would probably be Wild Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz as it’s a fascinating topic.

A packet of seeds: Perhaps I should pick chillis so I could have cumin above…! No, I think it would be butternut squash seeds – yummy and versatile.

Most valuable skill: Hmm, tough one. My boyfriend John says my “chicken husbandry” but I’d say gardening skills, even though I’ve still got a lot to learn.

Next up being sent to the island: Kate from Living the Frugal Life – her answers to follow shortly.

Anyone else want to join in the fun? :)

Other posts you might like:

Bargain dinners – lamb curry and lamb, chorizo & chickpea casserole First courgettes from the garden Why are you frugal? Poll update I’m not self-sufficient so what am I?