Dear reader,
Been quiet for a while but I have been reading yours and trying to comment as I go.
It's funny this blog land sometimes, I sometimes feel as if I know the person especially as so many bloggers share wonderful photos of their homes, where they live and even family events such as weddings.
I believe some bloggers meet up as well sometimes. I have to admit I really want to meet John Gray of Going gently blog. He is hilarious and an animal lover, my two favourite things!
Sometimes bloggers go missing and i get worried about them. It's odd after reading about someones life every day and they suddenly disappear. I have commented a couple of them to enquire of their welfare but to no avail. If you are one of two ladies I have been missing, please let us know you are safe and well. I'm a worrier.
There's been a lot in the press recently about elderly people who are on their own and how seeing someone for even a short while makes such a difference. There's a disabled man in my road who I pop in on sometimes. He has a live in carer.
He's got family in the next road who haven't bothered with him for years.
It's a sad old world sometimes.
Thursday, 8 October 2015
Wednesday, 15 April 2015
Fish curry-nicer than it sounds
Dear reader,
I had seen Jamie Oliver creating some more economical meals on the TV the other week and one looked gorgeous. It was the fish curryhere it is
I had seen Jamie Oliver creating some more economical meals on the TV the other week and one looked gorgeous. It was the fish curryhere it is
It was fantastic and was still great the next day at work.
Monday, 13 April 2015
A jar of coffee.
Dear reader,
My lovely mum helps out at a food bank. She's retired and wanted to do some volunteering. She's never done anything like that before but she went off to the training and now she does it a couple of times a week.
It got me thinking about what food people give and what would be best for feeding a family.
Most of the donations are from supermarkets and shops. There are donations from the public and most are great but some are really weird. Nail varnish (half used), dipping oil and a screwdriver.
Apparently corned beef and baked beans are the usual donations.
I have to admit, I've never donated. My mum loves 150 miles away so I can't just pop round and give her some stuff. I've never seen a donation point at any shops either. There's a drop off box for the local dogs home in our Asda but not a food bank one.
It's usually women who come in, usually terribly embarrassed. They fill out a shopping list which asks them whether they want pasta or rice and any sanitary products preferences. They are given toothbrushes and toothpaste if they need them too. I guess some have fled from dangerous abusers and some have just fallen on hard times and need to feed their kids. Some women haven't eaten for a couple of days.
I suppose some are there because of their life choices or are drug users or alcoholics. At first I was bemused by that but then I thought, they're still hungry.
It seems so unbalanced sometime when I am looking for my nearest Slimming World class and my mum is bagging up food for someone who hasn't eaten for a while.
I will look up my nearest food bank today and drop some stuff off. Apparently they need canned meat (not corned beef) and coffee so that's what I will get.
Apparently the local paper asked people for those items on behalf of the food bank and some people who furious they were asking for coffee. Perhaps some people think that if you ask for a hand out you should just be eating rice and drinking water.
I know they can only go three times and are referred from other agencies and given a voucher, you can't just walk in a get a load of stuff.
I'm lucky and can go food shopping today. I can pick up what I fancy and not give it much thought, I use my card and know it will cover my purchases. I choose to be careful what I spend becuase I want my money to be used elsewhere for paying off debts.
I was going to write a post about wholesome dinners, what can be cooked with food from a food bank bulk cooking and freezing but then I thought, suppose I'm a mum of two, my nerves are frayed and I've fled the family home due to violence. Perhaps I'm in a hostel or bed sit with a crap shared kitchen,no utensils, no freezer. I'm not sure how I'm going to get throught the week, I've got no family to help. The kids are upset cos we've left the dog at a re homing place......
I don't begrudge a jar of coffee.
My lovely mum helps out at a food bank. She's retired and wanted to do some volunteering. She's never done anything like that before but she went off to the training and now she does it a couple of times a week.
It got me thinking about what food people give and what would be best for feeding a family.
Most of the donations are from supermarkets and shops. There are donations from the public and most are great but some are really weird. Nail varnish (half used), dipping oil and a screwdriver.
Apparently corned beef and baked beans are the usual donations.
I have to admit, I've never donated. My mum loves 150 miles away so I can't just pop round and give her some stuff. I've never seen a donation point at any shops either. There's a drop off box for the local dogs home in our Asda but not a food bank one.
It's usually women who come in, usually terribly embarrassed. They fill out a shopping list which asks them whether they want pasta or rice and any sanitary products preferences. They are given toothbrushes and toothpaste if they need them too. I guess some have fled from dangerous abusers and some have just fallen on hard times and need to feed their kids. Some women haven't eaten for a couple of days.
I suppose some are there because of their life choices or are drug users or alcoholics. At first I was bemused by that but then I thought, they're still hungry.
It seems so unbalanced sometime when I am looking for my nearest Slimming World class and my mum is bagging up food for someone who hasn't eaten for a while.
I will look up my nearest food bank today and drop some stuff off. Apparently they need canned meat (not corned beef) and coffee so that's what I will get.
Apparently the local paper asked people for those items on behalf of the food bank and some people who furious they were asking for coffee. Perhaps some people think that if you ask for a hand out you should just be eating rice and drinking water.
I know they can only go three times and are referred from other agencies and given a voucher, you can't just walk in a get a load of stuff.
I'm lucky and can go food shopping today. I can pick up what I fancy and not give it much thought, I use my card and know it will cover my purchases. I choose to be careful what I spend becuase I want my money to be used elsewhere for paying off debts.
I was going to write a post about wholesome dinners, what can be cooked with food from a food bank bulk cooking and freezing but then I thought, suppose I'm a mum of two, my nerves are frayed and I've fled the family home due to violence. Perhaps I'm in a hostel or bed sit with a crap shared kitchen,no utensils, no freezer. I'm not sure how I'm going to get throught the week, I've got no family to help. The kids are upset cos we've left the dog at a re homing place......
I don't begrudge a jar of coffee.
Sunday, 12 April 2015
What's cooking?
Dear reader,
A quiet day here. Glorious sunshine although a little windy. I bounced out of bed and went for a little jog. Not great but early days. Legs were agony.
Walked the fat dog for the fat woman who won't and now having a lazy afternoon. The lamb leg I purchased in Lidl is in the oven with carrots, onions and garlic and life is good.
I'm planning the meals for the week with what's already in store.
I have pork steaks, one fillet steak, fish (lots, bought when reduced, monkfish, river cobbler and haddock I think) liver, frozen veg, frozen chips, cheese, ham and a couple of slices of roast beef, two chicken breasts, half a cabbage and a packet of wraps. Also have milk, porridge oats and eggs, some apples and pears and that's about it with some cupboard basics too. Rice, pasta, curry powder etc.
I'm thinking faggots with onion gravy.
Leftover lamb in a curry or maybe just cold with chips and pickles.
Fish and chips
Steak, veg and chips
Grilled chicken and veg
Fish curry and rice
Breakfasts will be porridge and the wraps and cold meats will be lunches.
Have three nice dresses to go online tonight for sale so may make some money by next weekend!
What's on your mind today? Are you spending, saving or selling?
X
A quiet day here. Glorious sunshine although a little windy. I bounced out of bed and went for a little jog. Not great but early days. Legs were agony.
Walked the fat dog for the fat woman who won't and now having a lazy afternoon. The lamb leg I purchased in Lidl is in the oven with carrots, onions and garlic and life is good.
I'm planning the meals for the week with what's already in store.
I have pork steaks, one fillet steak, fish (lots, bought when reduced, monkfish, river cobbler and haddock I think) liver, frozen veg, frozen chips, cheese, ham and a couple of slices of roast beef, two chicken breasts, half a cabbage and a packet of wraps. Also have milk, porridge oats and eggs, some apples and pears and that's about it with some cupboard basics too. Rice, pasta, curry powder etc.
I'm thinking faggots with onion gravy.
Leftover lamb in a curry or maybe just cold with chips and pickles.
Fish and chips
Steak, veg and chips
Grilled chicken and veg
Fish curry and rice
Breakfasts will be porridge and the wraps and cold meats will be lunches.
Have three nice dresses to go online tonight for sale so may make some money by next weekend!
What's on your mind today? Are you spending, saving or selling?
X
Saturday, 11 April 2015
Who values our custom?
Dear reader,
A new follower! Hi Pam, nice to have you here and following me. Thank you. X
Thanks for all your comments, I have been publishing them in between going to and from work, housework and cooking but haven't managed to reply as yet.
It seems customer service or at least, good customer service is sadly declining as we feel more of just a number at many retail outlets. I know this is one of the reasons we don't really eat out anymore.
Now I know the public in general can be a pain, I worked in a retail sales environment for 17 years and am still in a public facing role. The silly questions and unrealistic demands along with rudeness can really get you down. That's why I always try to be a "good customer" when I go shopping but I have found there are very few stores that actually, really care about their customer.
I would love to do my shopping in a variety of little high street shops, you know, a butchers, a bakers, greengrocer but those days seem to be over as we flock to buy cheap products from big chains.
I went into our local, family run store yesterday. They have a very good butchery section, deli and bread section with eggs from the local farm along with local milk and cheese. The cold meats are cured on the premises, sliced for you and wrapped in wax paper. These shops are rare and they don't have everything I need and are closed on Sunday's which is often my first or only day off and I need to shop then.
When I go shopping, spending my hard earned money, I want to feel a tiny bit valued, just a little bit but sadly I often don't.
Do you feel the same?
A new follower! Hi Pam, nice to have you here and following me. Thank you. X
Thanks for all your comments, I have been publishing them in between going to and from work, housework and cooking but haven't managed to reply as yet.
It seems customer service or at least, good customer service is sadly declining as we feel more of just a number at many retail outlets. I know this is one of the reasons we don't really eat out anymore.
Now I know the public in general can be a pain, I worked in a retail sales environment for 17 years and am still in a public facing role. The silly questions and unrealistic demands along with rudeness can really get you down. That's why I always try to be a "good customer" when I go shopping but I have found there are very few stores that actually, really care about their customer.
I would love to do my shopping in a variety of little high street shops, you know, a butchers, a bakers, greengrocer but those days seem to be over as we flock to buy cheap products from big chains.
I went into our local, family run store yesterday. They have a very good butchery section, deli and bread section with eggs from the local farm along with local milk and cheese. The cold meats are cured on the premises, sliced for you and wrapped in wax paper. These shops are rare and they don't have everything I need and are closed on Sunday's which is often my first or only day off and I need to shop then.
When I go shopping, spending my hard earned money, I want to feel a tiny bit valued, just a little bit but sadly I often don't.
Do you feel the same?
Friday, 10 April 2015
Lidl-customer service
Dear reader,
Thank you for your comments when I was moaning on my last post about being overcharged in Lidl, some names I haven't seen before commented which was great.
That night I went onto the Lidl website and using their customer service comments, I sent them a two line moan about my £1.90. I know, I know it's only £1.90.
I entered my address, mobile and email address and waited for the usual reply.
You can imagine my surprise this morning when BM handed me a first class letter which was from Lidl customer service apologising for their error, offering me the £1.90 off any future shop and attached was a £5 voucher to restore my faith in them!
Now that is what I call first class customer service!
No quibble, no defences, no asking me to prove it.
Lidl, you have a very satisfied customer. Thank you.
Thank you for your comments when I was moaning on my last post about being overcharged in Lidl, some names I haven't seen before commented which was great.
That night I went onto the Lidl website and using their customer service comments, I sent them a two line moan about my £1.90. I know, I know it's only £1.90.
I entered my address, mobile and email address and waited for the usual reply.
You can imagine my surprise this morning when BM handed me a first class letter which was from Lidl customer service apologising for their error, offering me the £1.90 off any future shop and attached was a £5 voucher to restore my faith in them!
Now that is what I call first class customer service!
No quibble, no defences, no asking me to prove it.
Lidl, you have a very satisfied customer. Thank you.
Tuesday, 7 April 2015
Food shopping-overcharged!
Dear reader,
Hope you all had a good break over Easter. I went back to work today and we have managed not to do any food shopping for two weeks and one day! Today, however I needed to. I was near a Lidl in quite a nice place and it was great inside.
I spent £52.50 and that will last us the week, hopefully more. This is what I bought.
Mini chicken roast (2 breasts wrapped in bacon with stuffing a chipolatas with gravy) reduced £2.09
Large pack of chicken drumsticks reduced £1.74
Chicken breasts-pack of 2 reduced £1.74
White cabbage 67p
Half leg lamb joint £8.35
Fresh ginger 12p
Mushrooms 89p
Fresh chillies 49p
Baby tomatoes 89p
Braeburn apples £1.19
Carrots 45p
Avocado 79p
Pears £1.19
Living salad trio £1.00
Strawberries £1.49
4 large onions 79p
Little gem lettuce 69p
Two pack avacado£1.49
Milk 89p
Greek style cheese 93p
Cottage cheese 43p
Basmati rice £1.79
12 Fr eggs £1.85
Bottle of wine £4.99 (overcharged me by £1)
Lean mince £2.99 (overcharged me by 90p)
Overcharged me! Yes and I hadn't realised until I was listing it all. I'm really cross. It never, ever seems to go in the favour of the shopper does it and they're so fast at the check out that you can't check the prices. I know it's only £1.90 but if they do that to everyone its a nice earner.
The mince is in the freezer and the wine has been drunk. BM is allowed one bottle a week when he gets a day off but it usually stretches to 2-3.
I was today at a meeting right next door to the shop but if I go back to claim my £1.90 it will cost me more then that in fuel. I could post a letter, again costing me money.
Any thoughts as you are usually sensible and savvy on these matters?
Back to the food for the week. We had the chicken mini roast tonight with potatoes, carrots and peas. BM was still hungry so I gave him the mini fillets which I had cooked in a bag with BBQ seasoning.
Tomorrow will be egg salad wraps for lunch and lasagne and salad for dinner. I think that's the last of the lasagne which I made a couple of weeks ago and froze. We still have "soggy bottom" quiche and pork steaks in the freezer from the last shop. If I get some liver I can make faggots again. I'm hoping to make a few salads as summer is approaching and a few pounds of us both would be good. I shall make a coleslaw from the white cabbage, carrots and onion and the lamb leg will make at least 4 dimmers. We usually have one roast dinner each and one curry each with sandwich leftovers from s large leg. This one is a bit smaller but half the price that I pay in Asda and a lot less than the butcher.
I still have fish in the freezer and I want to try Jamie Oliver's fish curry one night. I always have flour so will make my own flatbreads. Nigella also does a lovely lamb salad so perhaps that will be on the menu too.
Goodnight. X
Hope you all had a good break over Easter. I went back to work today and we have managed not to do any food shopping for two weeks and one day! Today, however I needed to. I was near a Lidl in quite a nice place and it was great inside.
I spent £52.50 and that will last us the week, hopefully more. This is what I bought.
Mini chicken roast (2 breasts wrapped in bacon with stuffing a chipolatas with gravy) reduced £2.09
Large pack of chicken drumsticks reduced £1.74
Chicken breasts-pack of 2 reduced £1.74
White cabbage 67p
Half leg lamb joint £8.35
Fresh ginger 12p
Mushrooms 89p
Fresh chillies 49p
Baby tomatoes 89p
Braeburn apples £1.19
Carrots 45p
Avocado 79p
Pears £1.19
Living salad trio £1.00
Strawberries £1.49
4 large onions 79p
Little gem lettuce 69p
Two pack avacado£1.49
Milk 89p
Greek style cheese 93p
Cottage cheese 43p
Basmati rice £1.79
12 Fr eggs £1.85
Bottle of wine £4.99 (overcharged me by £1)
Lean mince £2.99 (overcharged me by 90p)
Overcharged me! Yes and I hadn't realised until I was listing it all. I'm really cross. It never, ever seems to go in the favour of the shopper does it and they're so fast at the check out that you can't check the prices. I know it's only £1.90 but if they do that to everyone its a nice earner.
The mince is in the freezer and the wine has been drunk. BM is allowed one bottle a week when he gets a day off but it usually stretches to 2-3.
I was today at a meeting right next door to the shop but if I go back to claim my £1.90 it will cost me more then that in fuel. I could post a letter, again costing me money.
Any thoughts as you are usually sensible and savvy on these matters?
Back to the food for the week. We had the chicken mini roast tonight with potatoes, carrots and peas. BM was still hungry so I gave him the mini fillets which I had cooked in a bag with BBQ seasoning.
Tomorrow will be egg salad wraps for lunch and lasagne and salad for dinner. I think that's the last of the lasagne which I made a couple of weeks ago and froze. We still have "soggy bottom" quiche and pork steaks in the freezer from the last shop. If I get some liver I can make faggots again. I'm hoping to make a few salads as summer is approaching and a few pounds of us both would be good. I shall make a coleslaw from the white cabbage, carrots and onion and the lamb leg will make at least 4 dimmers. We usually have one roast dinner each and one curry each with sandwich leftovers from s large leg. This one is a bit smaller but half the price that I pay in Asda and a lot less than the butcher.
I still have fish in the freezer and I want to try Jamie Oliver's fish curry one night. I always have flour so will make my own flatbreads. Nigella also does a lovely lamb salad so perhaps that will be on the menu too.
Goodnight. X
Tuesday, 31 March 2015
todays meals.
Dear reader and especially for you Sue. The rolls we made yesterday using the recipe I have linked to post of yesterday. No egg in recipe just becuase we have none.
Pictured last night while still warm with homemade burger and cheese and today's lunch with ham, cheese and salad. I only had wholemeal flour so that's what I used and we are chuffed with them.
After my long lost blog readers and commenters search I have received one comment from Jo so that's good. I do read via Blogger and Bloglovin but don't seem to have great success with the latter.
Today we are at home making the most of the wind to dry washing. The rain is absent, for now and we have watered our laurels as they went dry last year and have yellowed a bit. We are trying to give them a bit of tlc as we want them to form a boundary hedge in the back garden.
Tonight's dinner is a homemade curry from the freezer, with rice, naan, dhal and onion bhaji.
April tomorrow. Wow, going quickly this year. X
Monday, 30 March 2015
Waiting for a rise.
Dear reader,
Nice day just doing house stuff although we did have a walk earlier in gorgeous Marlow. I popped into a charity shop there and the quality was very good. Lots of Karen Millen, Monsoon and even Mahnola Blahnik shoes although the KM handbag was £18 and the shows £35. Didn't buy anything although am always on the look out for mixing bowls and enamel baking tins. No such luck though.
Tonight's dinner started off as homemade burgers, chips and beans but big man fancied burgers in buns. We didn't have any bread so I decided to make some rolls. We have no eggs either so I searched for eggless burger bun recipes and am using this one. http://chefinyou.com/2009/12/dinner-rolls-recipe/
We are still at the first rise stage and bread making is not my greatest skill. (The bread maker and I do not get on and it is still in the cupboard after several tiles of dry cement were made).
Feeling hungry now and needing a snack I had some scallops and prawn started in a white wine sauce from Lidl in the freezer so we have just had those with a warm baguette.
I have to say they were very good, you just cook from frozen for 20 mins and they come in their own little ramekins. Lidl seem to be doing a "posh nosh" range and last week we saw Kangeroo, Venison, three bird and three fish roasts in there. Not sure about the Kangeroo but will have these again.
We are low on fresh food but do have lots in the freezer that I had cooked and frozen. Lasagnes, curries and quiches. We also have a lot of frozen fish that I bought on offer so may try the Jamie Oliver fish curry tomorrow. There is also a frozen vegetarian chilli that I made with Quorn and some pork steaks. I have a few potatoes and a few tins of vegetables.
We have milk but no eggs or bread. No flour left but we have a couple of those baguettes you cook in the oven. I guess I shall have to go shopping tomorrow as packed lunches call and BM likes to have a sandwich and then a hot meal in the evening.
I'd love to be able to spend less on the food shopping and I honestly don't know how some of you do it on £20 a week. I salute you.
Nice day just doing house stuff although we did have a walk earlier in gorgeous Marlow. I popped into a charity shop there and the quality was very good. Lots of Karen Millen, Monsoon and even Mahnola Blahnik shoes although the KM handbag was £18 and the shows £35. Didn't buy anything although am always on the look out for mixing bowls and enamel baking tins. No such luck though.
Tonight's dinner started off as homemade burgers, chips and beans but big man fancied burgers in buns. We didn't have any bread so I decided to make some rolls. We have no eggs either so I searched for eggless burger bun recipes and am using this one. http://chefinyou.com/2009/12/dinner-rolls-recipe/
We are still at the first rise stage and bread making is not my greatest skill. (The bread maker and I do not get on and it is still in the cupboard after several tiles of dry cement were made).
Feeling hungry now and needing a snack I had some scallops and prawn started in a white wine sauce from Lidl in the freezer so we have just had those with a warm baguette.
I have to say they were very good, you just cook from frozen for 20 mins and they come in their own little ramekins. Lidl seem to be doing a "posh nosh" range and last week we saw Kangeroo, Venison, three bird and three fish roasts in there. Not sure about the Kangeroo but will have these again.
We are low on fresh food but do have lots in the freezer that I had cooked and frozen. Lasagnes, curries and quiches. We also have a lot of frozen fish that I bought on offer so may try the Jamie Oliver fish curry tomorrow. There is also a frozen vegetarian chilli that I made with Quorn and some pork steaks. I have a few potatoes and a few tins of vegetables.
We have milk but no eggs or bread. No flour left but we have a couple of those baguettes you cook in the oven. I guess I shall have to go shopping tomorrow as packed lunches call and BM likes to have a sandwich and then a hot meal in the evening.
I'd love to be able to spend less on the food shopping and I honestly don't know how some of you do it on £20 a week. I salute you.
Sunday, 29 March 2015
Nothing leftover and a message to you.
Dear reader,
I'm having a lazy Sunday. I got up at 5am and promptly went back to bed until 1030. I don't lie in often but do enjoy is occasionally.
I did a load of washing and becuase the weather is awful here I lit the log burner and there are two racks drying in front.
We both had the sweet and sour pork I made last week with some frozen special friend rice I saw in the reduced section at Asda some weeks ago and had stashed in the freezer. A quick microwave lunch for us both.
I sat and watched a bit of the Jamie Oliver programme on how to cook and save money. Not many tips and tricks for those of us who do this anyway but a few nice ideas.
He did a fish curry with some frozen fish, vegetables and frozen cauliflower with some tikka curry paste. Looked very good indeed but was £2.68 a portion with rice. Not exactly frugal food but not bad. I was surprised that frozen white fish is a third cheaper than fresh and cauliflower is three times cheaper frozen than fresh. He also did some crispy pork tacos using leftover pork meat from a roast and a chicken salad from a whole chicken dinner leftovers. I think we all make great meals out of leftovers. I'm not sure they should even be called leftovers! Seconds, we call them here!
I try really hard not to waste any food and limp veg, lettuce, spinach-anything, goes into a soup. Ends of bread are made into croutons or crunchy toppings, meat is either sliced and used in sandwiches, curried or added to a tomato sauce for lasagnes. I reuse sandwich bags for the odd half an onion and cheese is purchased in large blocks, grated, portioned and frozen. It freezes brilliantly. Old fruit is sliced and frozen and used in cold drinks. Old apples, Pears and stoned fruit are cooked and then frozen for crumbles or compote on porridge. Nuts and dried fruit are bought in bulk then portioned for snacks at work and for adding to homemade flapjacks. Extra is made at dinner times for lunches the next day and any excess of vegetables are chooped, blanched and frozen. Milk and cream, if not used in time are frozen and bread is purchased in reduced section and again, frozen.
I'm sure lots of you do the same or have other ideas and suggestions, I would love to hear from you.
I've had a short blogging break as most of us do and am trying to get writing again. It's usually about food or what I have done that day or money saving stuff. I had hoped for a good read with a cuppa today but I find that a lot of the blogs that I used to really enjoy are no longer written.
Obvioulsy there maybe all sorts of reasons why not. After all we don't really know about some of our blogging friends, there could be a tragedy or someone health maybe suffering or they may have been trolled and don't want to blog anymore and that's perfectly understandable but for all of you who, perhaps like me sometimes, just can't be arsed, please do me a favour, drop a really quick blog line down and post it, it would be lovely to hear from you, Mabel and Maisey, Miss Piggy Bank, Frugal up North, closet clearing, frugal Tasmania, a frugal wife, bonnie of Clyde and many others. Just let us know you are doing ok. Xxx
I'm having a lazy Sunday. I got up at 5am and promptly went back to bed until 1030. I don't lie in often but do enjoy is occasionally.
I did a load of washing and becuase the weather is awful here I lit the log burner and there are two racks drying in front.
We both had the sweet and sour pork I made last week with some frozen special friend rice I saw in the reduced section at Asda some weeks ago and had stashed in the freezer. A quick microwave lunch for us both.
I sat and watched a bit of the Jamie Oliver programme on how to cook and save money. Not many tips and tricks for those of us who do this anyway but a few nice ideas.
He did a fish curry with some frozen fish, vegetables and frozen cauliflower with some tikka curry paste. Looked very good indeed but was £2.68 a portion with rice. Not exactly frugal food but not bad. I was surprised that frozen white fish is a third cheaper than fresh and cauliflower is three times cheaper frozen than fresh. He also did some crispy pork tacos using leftover pork meat from a roast and a chicken salad from a whole chicken dinner leftovers. I think we all make great meals out of leftovers. I'm not sure they should even be called leftovers! Seconds, we call them here!
I try really hard not to waste any food and limp veg, lettuce, spinach-anything, goes into a soup. Ends of bread are made into croutons or crunchy toppings, meat is either sliced and used in sandwiches, curried or added to a tomato sauce for lasagnes. I reuse sandwich bags for the odd half an onion and cheese is purchased in large blocks, grated, portioned and frozen. It freezes brilliantly. Old fruit is sliced and frozen and used in cold drinks. Old apples, Pears and stoned fruit are cooked and then frozen for crumbles or compote on porridge. Nuts and dried fruit are bought in bulk then portioned for snacks at work and for adding to homemade flapjacks. Extra is made at dinner times for lunches the next day and any excess of vegetables are chooped, blanched and frozen. Milk and cream, if not used in time are frozen and bread is purchased in reduced section and again, frozen.
I'm sure lots of you do the same or have other ideas and suggestions, I would love to hear from you.
I've had a short blogging break as most of us do and am trying to get writing again. It's usually about food or what I have done that day or money saving stuff. I had hoped for a good read with a cuppa today but I find that a lot of the blogs that I used to really enjoy are no longer written.
Obvioulsy there maybe all sorts of reasons why not. After all we don't really know about some of our blogging friends, there could be a tragedy or someone health maybe suffering or they may have been trolled and don't want to blog anymore and that's perfectly understandable but for all of you who, perhaps like me sometimes, just can't be arsed, please do me a favour, drop a really quick blog line down and post it, it would be lovely to hear from you, Mabel and Maisey, Miss Piggy Bank, Frugal up North, closet clearing, frugal Tasmania, a frugal wife, bonnie of Clyde and many others. Just let us know you are doing ok. Xxx
Friday, 27 March 2015
A quick tea and how I cut costs.
Dear reader,
I've been up since 0430. I have to be at work at 0700 and I like to get up and have a potter. Read the news online, drink tea, shower, wash and dry hair and arrive at work early enough to get a parking space. It's a 45 minute drive so I'm out of the door by 0600.
Tonight I knew I had some cooked chicken drumsticks to use up and two approved food pizza bases in the larder. Hmmm Calzones!
Pulled the chicken off the bone, mixed with BBQ sauce and sliced some mozzarella cheese, folded in half and into the oven. I made an "everything" salad to go with.
Lettuce, tomato, olives, anchovies, croutons made of the old end of a loaf fried in garlic oil and crispy fried onions. Just everything I could use up.
I always save the ends of a loaf and put them in the freezer. Great for emergency toast, breadcrumbs, croutons or a summer or bread and butter pudding, into faggots or the topping for a vet able name. Don't throw away the ends.
My other momey savings are using any shower gel, fairy liquid or bubble bath for the hand wash I keep by the sink. I'm always washing my hands during cooking and I keep a pump dispenser by the sink. I just half fill it with whatever I have and add some water.
Porridge oats are our big saving. We used to buy the ready packs, you know the little cute packets you microwave. What a waste of money. We get a huge bag in Asda for 75p and eat this for breakfast with a teaspoon of cheap jam or a handful of blueberries if we want some fruit. I also use them to make flap jacks and always add them to a crumble topping or a handful in a stew, chilli or curry for that extra thick, creamy sauce.
I don't spend out on nails I just keep my own shortish and paint them myself very rarely. My hair is highlighted but thinking of going natural to save the £60 a month.
Make up! Wow that is expensive. I have a limited supply of foundation, powder, blusher, eyeliner, eyeshadow, mascara and lipstick. It seems a lot but it lasts for ages, well over a year. I don't wear any on days off. I like to let my skin breathe.
I'm not a fan of expensive creams. I usually buy a mid price face cream. I do have friends that buy the really, really expensive £200 plus brands. They promise to keep you younger looking for longer. The trouble is, when you get to 60,70 and beyond, how do you know if they worked or would you look like that anyway? And would you care?
I've been up since 0430. I have to be at work at 0700 and I like to get up and have a potter. Read the news online, drink tea, shower, wash and dry hair and arrive at work early enough to get a parking space. It's a 45 minute drive so I'm out of the door by 0600.
Tonight I knew I had some cooked chicken drumsticks to use up and two approved food pizza bases in the larder. Hmmm Calzones!
Pulled the chicken off the bone, mixed with BBQ sauce and sliced some mozzarella cheese, folded in half and into the oven. I made an "everything" salad to go with.
Lettuce, tomato, olives, anchovies, croutons made of the old end of a loaf fried in garlic oil and crispy fried onions. Just everything I could use up.
I always save the ends of a loaf and put them in the freezer. Great for emergency toast, breadcrumbs, croutons or a summer or bread and butter pudding, into faggots or the topping for a vet able name. Don't throw away the ends.
My other momey savings are using any shower gel, fairy liquid or bubble bath for the hand wash I keep by the sink. I'm always washing my hands during cooking and I keep a pump dispenser by the sink. I just half fill it with whatever I have and add some water.
Porridge oats are our big saving. We used to buy the ready packs, you know the little cute packets you microwave. What a waste of money. We get a huge bag in Asda for 75p and eat this for breakfast with a teaspoon of cheap jam or a handful of blueberries if we want some fruit. I also use them to make flap jacks and always add them to a crumble topping or a handful in a stew, chilli or curry for that extra thick, creamy sauce.
I don't spend out on nails I just keep my own shortish and paint them myself very rarely. My hair is highlighted but thinking of going natural to save the £60 a month.
Make up! Wow that is expensive. I have a limited supply of foundation, powder, blusher, eyeliner, eyeshadow, mascara and lipstick. It seems a lot but it lasts for ages, well over a year. I don't wear any on days off. I like to let my skin breathe.
I'm not a fan of expensive creams. I usually buy a mid price face cream. I do have friends that buy the really, really expensive £200 plus brands. They promise to keep you younger looking for longer. The trouble is, when you get to 60,70 and beyond, how do you know if they worked or would you look like that anyway? And would you care?
Thursday, 26 March 2015
Hungry girls minestrone.
Dear reader,
Had another nice day at home. Had hoped to hang out some washing but the sky went from sun to dark cloud most of the day with some lashing rain.
I was cold today, we still have the heating on and the log burner for the evenings. We also use it to dry clothes overnight and they are totally dry in the morning.
Today I fancied something hearty and filling to eat and wasn't in the mood for meat. I didn't know what I wanted. I had onion, celery, cabbage, garlic, tinned tomatoes so a hungry girls minestrone it was.
My mum used to cook this when I lived at home it basically a vegetable stew with additions the next day if you fancy.
Chooped onion, garlic and celery, fried in the tiniest bit of olive oil until soft but not brown. Chopped cabbage, any variety will do, add the tinned tomatoes. (I use whole becuase they are cheaper and leave them whole as they keep the sweetness and mush them in when cooked, Jamie said so!)
Salt, pepper, dash of Worcestershire, dash of brown sauce, dash of red sauce, a bit of tomato purée and I always add a sweetener or teaspoon of sugar. I added 3 cups of water and a handful of pasta shapes and just left it.
Two bowfuls with grated, melting cheese on top later and I was replete.
You could add some chopped meat, tin of sweet corn, peas, pulses or even rice, as long as you keep adding liquid.
It calls out for thick crusty bread and butter or a warm ciabatta roll.
What's your comfort food?
X
Had another nice day at home. Had hoped to hang out some washing but the sky went from sun to dark cloud most of the day with some lashing rain.
I was cold today, we still have the heating on and the log burner for the evenings. We also use it to dry clothes overnight and they are totally dry in the morning.
Today I fancied something hearty and filling to eat and wasn't in the mood for meat. I didn't know what I wanted. I had onion, celery, cabbage, garlic, tinned tomatoes so a hungry girls minestrone it was.
My mum used to cook this when I lived at home it basically a vegetable stew with additions the next day if you fancy.
Chooped onion, garlic and celery, fried in the tiniest bit of olive oil until soft but not brown. Chopped cabbage, any variety will do, add the tinned tomatoes. (I use whole becuase they are cheaper and leave them whole as they keep the sweetness and mush them in when cooked, Jamie said so!)
Salt, pepper, dash of Worcestershire, dash of brown sauce, dash of red sauce, a bit of tomato purée and I always add a sweetener or teaspoon of sugar. I added 3 cups of water and a handful of pasta shapes and just left it.
Two bowfuls with grated, melting cheese on top later and I was replete.
You could add some chopped meat, tin of sweet corn, peas, pulses or even rice, as long as you keep adding liquid.
It calls out for thick crusty bread and butter or a warm ciabatta roll.
What's your comfort food?
X
Wednesday, 25 March 2015
Retro cooking and message to Flowerpot.
Dear reader,
After reding Frugal Queen who mentioned the TV series, Back in time for Dinner, I caught up with it today on catch up TV. Brilliant! It's all about a modern day family, mum, dad, three teenagers who have taken part in a series to go back to eating in the 50's, 60's, 70's and so on.
Not only do they eat the food but they have the bottom part of their house transformed to match the era. It's fascinating to see and the 50's kitchen is so sparse and basic, not to mention the physcadellic carpet from the 70's. They also wear the clothes, drive the car and there's no fridge or TV so far......
How would our youth cope?
The food was in such short supply and tasteless but it really makes you think how tough those years were and how determined and resourceful our relatives had to be. Very thought provoking.
I don't think I could have coped with the National bread which was made with the whole husk and was very gritty not to mention the tiny piece of cold liver they had one night.
The staple of the day seemed to be dripping on bread. How times have changed when you realise all the food choices we have now. In the 50's they spent something like 28% of the weekly wage on food! What food? They had hardly anything but they managed. Today the weekly percentage of money we spend on food is 11% of the weekly wage. How lucky we are.
I read with interest a post from a fellow blogger today,
http://frugalinsuffolk.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/missing-outor-not.html
Are we missing out on things by being frugal or not?
Judging by some of the comments, mine included, it's a resounding NOT.
One of the things we don't do anymore is eating out. We used to eat out a lot. Sunday lunch, evening meals, meals with friends but I cannot and will not pay, what I think are over inflated prices for normal food that I can cook at home, (usually better) along with shoddy service. Some places are charging extortionate price for a bit of steak and chips/potatoes and I just don't enjoy it.
I really enjoy cooking, the creative part of me loves to buy the ingredients and make something of them. Much like gardening or painting and crafts. I usually leave restaurants thinking how much food for the week I could have bought with the price of a meal for two, so we just don't do it anymore.
I'm sorry for local buisnesses and all that but I'm afraid that's how it is.
Back to my cooking today. I had a large pack of minced beef in the fridge and no more room in the freezer. Now I know mince can be a bit tasteless so I always try to cook in in the slow cooker/crock pot to give a nice, long, slow cook. To avoid it swimming in its own fat, I brown it first in a frying pan and drain it. The residual fat is used to cook the onions, garlic, celery and carrots that I chop. As I made a load of bologna use sauce for my lasagnes at the weekend I thought of cottage pies or beef and onion pies with a pastry case. I might do both. I have left it in there since this morning with a good dash of Worcestershire sauce, pepper, a cup of instant gravy and a stock pot. It tastes nice and rich.
Now I'm not a great pie maker so does anyone know if I have to bake the pie case blind first? Please let me know, before 1400 would be really helpful.
I'm really getting into this bulk cooking lark. Big man has been going off to work with curries, rice and naan bread and lasagnes and salads much to the envy of his colleagues who have to buy a soggy sandwich.
Thanks for all your comments yesterday. Sadly my finger slipped and I deleted one by mistake from Flowerpot, so if you read this FP, I'm saying hi and thanks.
Anyway, back to domestic bliss in the kitchen.
Fib. X
After reding Frugal Queen who mentioned the TV series, Back in time for Dinner, I caught up with it today on catch up TV. Brilliant! It's all about a modern day family, mum, dad, three teenagers who have taken part in a series to go back to eating in the 50's, 60's, 70's and so on.
Not only do they eat the food but they have the bottom part of their house transformed to match the era. It's fascinating to see and the 50's kitchen is so sparse and basic, not to mention the physcadellic carpet from the 70's. They also wear the clothes, drive the car and there's no fridge or TV so far......
How would our youth cope?
The food was in such short supply and tasteless but it really makes you think how tough those years were and how determined and resourceful our relatives had to be. Very thought provoking.
I don't think I could have coped with the National bread which was made with the whole husk and was very gritty not to mention the tiny piece of cold liver they had one night.
The staple of the day seemed to be dripping on bread. How times have changed when you realise all the food choices we have now. In the 50's they spent something like 28% of the weekly wage on food! What food? They had hardly anything but they managed. Today the weekly percentage of money we spend on food is 11% of the weekly wage. How lucky we are.
I read with interest a post from a fellow blogger today,
http://frugalinsuffolk.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/missing-outor-not.html
Are we missing out on things by being frugal or not?
Judging by some of the comments, mine included, it's a resounding NOT.
One of the things we don't do anymore is eating out. We used to eat out a lot. Sunday lunch, evening meals, meals with friends but I cannot and will not pay, what I think are over inflated prices for normal food that I can cook at home, (usually better) along with shoddy service. Some places are charging extortionate price for a bit of steak and chips/potatoes and I just don't enjoy it.
I really enjoy cooking, the creative part of me loves to buy the ingredients and make something of them. Much like gardening or painting and crafts. I usually leave restaurants thinking how much food for the week I could have bought with the price of a meal for two, so we just don't do it anymore.
I'm sorry for local buisnesses and all that but I'm afraid that's how it is.
Back to my cooking today. I had a large pack of minced beef in the fridge and no more room in the freezer. Now I know mince can be a bit tasteless so I always try to cook in in the slow cooker/crock pot to give a nice, long, slow cook. To avoid it swimming in its own fat, I brown it first in a frying pan and drain it. The residual fat is used to cook the onions, garlic, celery and carrots that I chop. As I made a load of bologna use sauce for my lasagnes at the weekend I thought of cottage pies or beef and onion pies with a pastry case. I might do both. I have left it in there since this morning with a good dash of Worcestershire sauce, pepper, a cup of instant gravy and a stock pot. It tastes nice and rich.
Now I'm not a great pie maker so does anyone know if I have to bake the pie case blind first? Please let me know, before 1400 would be really helpful.
I'm really getting into this bulk cooking lark. Big man has been going off to work with curries, rice and naan bread and lasagnes and salads much to the envy of his colleagues who have to buy a soggy sandwich.
Thanks for all your comments yesterday. Sadly my finger slipped and I deleted one by mistake from Flowerpot, so if you read this FP, I'm saying hi and thanks.
Anyway, back to domestic bliss in the kitchen.
Fib. X
Sunday, 22 March 2015
A cooking weekend
Dear reader,
Hope you are well. A few new followers which is lovely, a big hello to you. X
Have had a housey weekend as we were both off. The sun shone and several loads of washing were dried outside. I love the smell of line dried washing. We did all the clothes and our bedding which always makes us sleep really well. I am a bit obsessed witha certain comfortable fabric softener! The strawberry one. I just love it.
I decided to do some batch cooking as we had both been so busy at work there was nothing prepared for packe lunches during the latter part of the week and it annoys me to spend out on food when we had it at home.
This is what we bought: chicken breasts x4, minced beef x4, chicken thighs and drumsticks mixed, beef meatballs(12 in the pack) 2packs of pork steaks 5in each, special offer at Lidl £8 for the two.
They don't sell liver or I would have made some of Frugal Queens excellent faggots.
This is what I made, so far: one huge pan of chicken tikka massala, one chicken and potato balti curry, a huge pan of spicy rice, 3 lasagnes (one given away), large pan of sweet and sour pork and a pork casserole which we had today with roasties, mash, carrots and cabbage.
I got a huge cabbage from the local farm for £1 and decided I would try to use it all instead of throwing half away when it goes off. So I chooped it all up, washed it and blanched in boiling water. Then I cooled in cold water, let dry and bagged into 2 portion sizes in sandwich bags for the freezer.
The lasagnes are all portioned and frozen and the curries are portioned with the rice for dinners at work and also frozen.
I see Frugal Queen has been doing the same and she has made some fabulous looking quiches! I will make a couple of these this week too I think.
We have a freezer full now and ready to grab and go meals for taking to work.
I feel happy to be organised and prepared.
Much love. X
Hope you are well. A few new followers which is lovely, a big hello to you. X
Have had a housey weekend as we were both off. The sun shone and several loads of washing were dried outside. I love the smell of line dried washing. We did all the clothes and our bedding which always makes us sleep really well. I am a bit obsessed witha certain comfortable fabric softener! The strawberry one. I just love it.
I decided to do some batch cooking as we had both been so busy at work there was nothing prepared for packe lunches during the latter part of the week and it annoys me to spend out on food when we had it at home.
This is what we bought: chicken breasts x4, minced beef x4, chicken thighs and drumsticks mixed, beef meatballs(12 in the pack) 2packs of pork steaks 5in each, special offer at Lidl £8 for the two.
They don't sell liver or I would have made some of Frugal Queens excellent faggots.
This is what I made, so far: one huge pan of chicken tikka massala, one chicken and potato balti curry, a huge pan of spicy rice, 3 lasagnes (one given away), large pan of sweet and sour pork and a pork casserole which we had today with roasties, mash, carrots and cabbage.
I got a huge cabbage from the local farm for £1 and decided I would try to use it all instead of throwing half away when it goes off. So I chooped it all up, washed it and blanched in boiling water. Then I cooled in cold water, let dry and bagged into 2 portion sizes in sandwich bags for the freezer.
The lasagnes are all portioned and frozen and the curries are portioned with the rice for dinners at work and also frozen.
I see Frugal Queen has been doing the same and she has made some fabulous looking quiches! I will make a couple of these this week too I think.
We have a freezer full now and ready to grab and go meals for taking to work.
I feel happy to be organised and prepared.
Much love. X
Sunday, 1 February 2015
What are you doing with yours
Dear reader,
Two months of not paying our council tax direct debit. Result!
Was pondering what to do with ours and I thought I would ask my blogging pals as they always have good, practical ideas.
So, dear friends, what to do with the money?
Two months of not paying our council tax direct debit. Result!
Was pondering what to do with ours and I thought I would ask my blogging pals as they always have good, practical ideas.
So, dear friends, what to do with the money?
Friday, 16 January 2015
Best BBQ chicken
Dear reader,
A huge welcome to Sue from our new life in the country. Lovely lady. X
In reply to one dear reader about salmon and scrambled eggs. We have smoked salmon (when on special and I freeze half of it for another day) I suppose poached salmon, flaked into the eggs would be just as good. I usually just tear ours up a little and put on the side with a squirt of lemon.
Uses for spinach? I like it throught veggie curry or steamed with chicken and flavoured with a drizzle of sesame oil or just fresh in a hot winter salad with bacon and chicken livers.
Tonight's dinner.
3 chicken breast, butterflied and fried in a little oil with a sliced onion
AF BBQ sauce over them-left to sizzle a bit
Breadcrumbed the top and topped with extra hot Mexicana cheese
Browned under the grill
Served with Italian veg and savoury rice-both microwave packets, lazy I know.
Have been out of the house for 11 hours and wanted fast and tasty winter grub.
It was delicious.
What's your signature dish?
A huge welcome to Sue from our new life in the country. Lovely lady. X
In reply to one dear reader about salmon and scrambled eggs. We have smoked salmon (when on special and I freeze half of it for another day) I suppose poached salmon, flaked into the eggs would be just as good. I usually just tear ours up a little and put on the side with a squirt of lemon.
Uses for spinach? I like it throught veggie curry or steamed with chicken and flavoured with a drizzle of sesame oil or just fresh in a hot winter salad with bacon and chicken livers.
Tonight's dinner.
3 chicken breast, butterflied and fried in a little oil with a sliced onion
AF BBQ sauce over them-left to sizzle a bit
Breadcrumbed the top and topped with extra hot Mexicana cheese
Browned under the grill
Served with Italian veg and savoury rice-both microwave packets, lazy I know.
Have been out of the house for 11 hours and wanted fast and tasty winter grub.
It was delicious.
What's your signature dish?
Thursday, 15 January 2015
Spicy chicken, butternut and sweet potato lasagne
Dear reader,
As we are both full time workers we like to make the most of our evenings at home, reading, blogging, watching television and eating.
I was intrigued by claims to make several meals in one go, freeze them raw, defrost the night before and into the slow cooker or crock pot the following morning.
Here's the link slow cooker recipes
One day of shopping, chopping and labelling seems a good idea if I can have several evenings of little food prep.
Tonight after having our shopping delivered last night I had chicken breasts and a bag of sweet potato and butternut squash. Hmmm....what to make?
We both love lasagne so I boiled the veg in water with a teaspoon of chicken Bovril for flavour. I diced the chicken and browned it with an onion and a garlic clove. Once the veg was cooked I drained it, reserving the water and mashed it. I added the chicken and onions and loosened with a little water. It tasted a bit bland so in went, a squirt of tomato ketchup, a squirt of HP sauce, a couple dashes Worcestershire sauce and a teaspoon of hot chilli sauce along with a good grind of pepper and a pinch of salt.
I made the White sauce by melting a knob of butter and adding flour. I like to let that cook a bit first. Then I added a dash of milk but used the rest of the water to make my sauce.
Big man had been given some hot, chilli cheeses for Christmas so I grated half of one into the sauce. Chef had to taste of course and it was gorgeous, creamy and tangy.
Then I layered up with lasagne sheets and it is now bubbling in the oven.
The remainder of the chilli cheese will go on top towards the end.
X
As we are both full time workers we like to make the most of our evenings at home, reading, blogging, watching television and eating.
I was intrigued by claims to make several meals in one go, freeze them raw, defrost the night before and into the slow cooker or crock pot the following morning.
Here's the link slow cooker recipes
One day of shopping, chopping and labelling seems a good idea if I can have several evenings of little food prep.
Tonight after having our shopping delivered last night I had chicken breasts and a bag of sweet potato and butternut squash. Hmmm....what to make?
We both love lasagne so I boiled the veg in water with a teaspoon of chicken Bovril for flavour. I diced the chicken and browned it with an onion and a garlic clove. Once the veg was cooked I drained it, reserving the water and mashed it. I added the chicken and onions and loosened with a little water. It tasted a bit bland so in went, a squirt of tomato ketchup, a squirt of HP sauce, a couple dashes Worcestershire sauce and a teaspoon of hot chilli sauce along with a good grind of pepper and a pinch of salt.
I made the White sauce by melting a knob of butter and adding flour. I like to let that cook a bit first. Then I added a dash of milk but used the rest of the water to make my sauce.
Big man had been given some hot, chilli cheeses for Christmas so I grated half of one into the sauce. Chef had to taste of course and it was gorgeous, creamy and tangy.
Then I layered up with lasagne sheets and it is now bubbling in the oven.
The remainder of the chilli cheese will go on top towards the end.
X
Wednesday, 14 January 2015
finding food
Dear reader,
We have ripped out the larder this morning so we can put our fridge freezer in there and perhaps add a small table and chairs to the kitchen. I found a whole lot of lost and forgotten goodies.
BBQ sauces- about 20 of them from an old approved food order.
Pasta-spaghettie, lasagne sheets and some penne.
Tins of soup-x4
Tins of tuna
X4 tins of anchovy fillets-we like them in a salad or stuffed into a leg of lamb with garlic.
Some old salad seeds-went out for the birds
White rice-we are trying to eat brown so I will mix it.
Sultans, cherries and flour-a fruit cake of some description.
The freezer is pretty bare. A shepherds pie, a frozen chicken curry and one of vegetable. Smoked salmon and some mixed veg.
Today we will have the smoked salmon with eggs. We will have the veggie curry with the rice and h/m flatbreads and I will make a tuna pasta bake for tomorrow. Big man can have this with a jacket potato for his lunch.
I also found my old pasty making kit so will get some made tomorrow. We like cheese, onion and mashed potato in ours with a good grind of pepper.
A lasagne is also overdue and may jazz up a soup with some rice to make more of a meal.
The BBQ sauce will have to wait for some chicken breasts and we like melted cheese and olives on them.
What's on your dinner table this week?
X
We have ripped out the larder this morning so we can put our fridge freezer in there and perhaps add a small table and chairs to the kitchen. I found a whole lot of lost and forgotten goodies.
BBQ sauces- about 20 of them from an old approved food order.
Pasta-spaghettie, lasagne sheets and some penne.
Tins of soup-x4
Tins of tuna
X4 tins of anchovy fillets-we like them in a salad or stuffed into a leg of lamb with garlic.
Some old salad seeds-went out for the birds
White rice-we are trying to eat brown so I will mix it.
Sultans, cherries and flour-a fruit cake of some description.
The freezer is pretty bare. A shepherds pie, a frozen chicken curry and one of vegetable. Smoked salmon and some mixed veg.
Today we will have the smoked salmon with eggs. We will have the veggie curry with the rice and h/m flatbreads and I will make a tuna pasta bake for tomorrow. Big man can have this with a jacket potato for his lunch.
I also found my old pasty making kit so will get some made tomorrow. We like cheese, onion and mashed potato in ours with a good grind of pepper.
A lasagne is also overdue and may jazz up a soup with some rice to make more of a meal.
The BBQ sauce will have to wait for some chicken breasts and we like melted cheese and olives on them.
What's on your dinner table this week?
X
Tuesday, 13 January 2015
stress free slow cooking
Dear reader,
I have been trying to get organised and get a meal in the slow cooker most mornings so it's ready when we get home. With this wet and windy weather it's nice to have a hot meal waiting for us.
Yesterday was a simple chilli but made with quorn mince which I just put in frozen. A diced onion, clove or garlic, splash of chilli sauce and a tin of chopped tomatoes. ( I buy them whole and chop myself-cheaper) a squirt of tomatoe ketchup and left on low for 8 hours. Perfect on a jacket potato with grated cheese.
This morning I chopped two onions and a garlic clove. Most of my meals start like that! I fried some chopped bacon that was lurking with a few mushrooms also chopped and diced two small potatoes. I had some pulses for stews, the ones with split peas, lentils and pearl barley that I had soaked and boiled. It all went in with an instant gravy. Thickened with a little cornflour and water when we got home. Just the sort of thick stew to have with bread.
We had no bread! Aaaggghhh.
I mixed warm water with flour and a drizzle of sesame oil as that was the only oil I had ( I use fry light) and made hot flatbreads. Perfect for wrapping round a large chunk of chicken and potato.
It was so quick and as I seem to be waking up really early most mornings I find it easier to prepare our meal then.
Has anyone seen the recipes from the woman who makes loads of meals for her slow cooker in one go and freezes them. Think I'm going to give it a go for working days anyway.
Happy stress free cooking. X
I have been trying to get organised and get a meal in the slow cooker most mornings so it's ready when we get home. With this wet and windy weather it's nice to have a hot meal waiting for us.
Yesterday was a simple chilli but made with quorn mince which I just put in frozen. A diced onion, clove or garlic, splash of chilli sauce and a tin of chopped tomatoes. ( I buy them whole and chop myself-cheaper) a squirt of tomatoe ketchup and left on low for 8 hours. Perfect on a jacket potato with grated cheese.
This morning I chopped two onions and a garlic clove. Most of my meals start like that! I fried some chopped bacon that was lurking with a few mushrooms also chopped and diced two small potatoes. I had some pulses for stews, the ones with split peas, lentils and pearl barley that I had soaked and boiled. It all went in with an instant gravy. Thickened with a little cornflour and water when we got home. Just the sort of thick stew to have with bread.
We had no bread! Aaaggghhh.
I mixed warm water with flour and a drizzle of sesame oil as that was the only oil I had ( I use fry light) and made hot flatbreads. Perfect for wrapping round a large chunk of chicken and potato.
It was so quick and as I seem to be waking up really early most mornings I find it easier to prepare our meal then.
Has anyone seen the recipes from the woman who makes loads of meals for her slow cooker in one go and freezes them. Think I'm going to give it a go for working days anyway.
Happy stress free cooking. X
Saturday, 10 January 2015
Don't forget the oldies
Dear reader,
How lovely, I've had over 200 "views" of my blog today which is fantastic for me as I've been quiet for a while now. One dear, wonderful reader has donated to adopt an oldie which is an animal rescue.
Here is the link in case you can spare £1http://www.oldies.org.uk/?cat=1
I will be matching any donations you lovely bloggers make. (Upto £100 just in case of any millionaires)
It's windy here, it's raining and miserable, please spare a thought for discarded animals or those who have been tied up outside and just left.
Thank you. X
How lovely, I've had over 200 "views" of my blog today which is fantastic for me as I've been quiet for a while now. One dear, wonderful reader has donated to adopt an oldie which is an animal rescue.
Here is the link in case you can spare £1http://www.oldies.org.uk/?cat=1
I will be matching any donations you lovely bloggers make. (Upto £100 just in case of any millionaires)
It's windy here, it's raining and miserable, please spare a thought for discarded animals or those who have been tied up outside and just left.
Thank you. X
Friday, 9 January 2015
Get £93 for just £1
Dear reader,
Just to say if there's anyone out there who is looking to adopt a dog please google "adopt an oldie" there are some heart breaking stories on there but my goodness I salute these people who rescue discarded animals.
Maybe you could send one pound? In fact, if all my 93 followers on blogger send £1 each, I will send another £93. Go on, spare a quid.
Thank you
Just to say if there's anyone out there who is looking to adopt a dog please google "adopt an oldie" there are some heart breaking stories on there but my goodness I salute these people who rescue discarded animals.
Maybe you could send one pound? In fact, if all my 93 followers on blogger send £1 each, I will send another £93. Go on, spare a quid.
Thank you
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