Dear reader,
I hope you are well. I cannot believe the change in weather. Rain and cold here in Bucks. So much so that the clothes won't dry and I'm feeling the need for warm food rather than the salads and cold meats we have been used to.
I actually used the slow cooker today for a beef stew. I found some diced stewing steak and put it in with a large carrot and a diced onion. There was an offer on the packets you so a cheap meal served with new potatoes, kale and runner beans. Enough for lunch tomorrow for one of us to take to work too.
We are aiming to cut down on bread and are a little bored of taking sandwiches to work. Is there more than sarnies?
I always seems to struggle taking healthy food to work and I am often out of the door by 0600 am so don't want to be faffing around making stuff.
I spent yesterday evening batch cooking and using lots of veg to stretch the meat. I made a chicken chasseur using two chicken breasts and bulked it out with onions, mushrooms and diced new potatoes. That made two big meals. I then used one chicken breast to make a green Thai curry, again onions and mushroom and boiled some dried noodles to serve with. Three lunches to take to work. I also made a ragu from a packet of reduced mince, using onions, mushrooms and tinned tomatoes. I added a splash of chill sauce and served mixed into pasta shells-three lunches.
I am definately going to try to keep topping up these lunch meals by bulk cooking and freezing in Tupperware.
Who else takes lunches to work? Do you take more than sarnies?
Much love. X
Tuesday, 19 August 2014
Tuesday, 22 July 2014
Lazy Sunday cooking
Dear reader,
Hot weather is tiring me out. Am sleeping about 10 hours a night and still feeling weary during the day.
Today was a bit cooler here in Buckinghamshire so after my treadmill slog I had a cold shower and went to pick up the little dog that I walk and his owner.
We had a short mooch as it was humid and popped into a garden centre. Don't worry, I got the little dog out and we stood in the shade while his owner shopped.
It still totally amazes me that people leave their dogs in cars in this weather. Oh yes, they really do!
I don't like to see dogs in cars unless its winter. THEY HAVE FUR COATS. They boil from the inside out, they don't sweat like we do, they really suffer.
Aggghh, I know it's not you, my lovely blog friends but they are some real thickos out there.
Anyway, after a very short stroll in the shade we popped into a pub and sat under a canopy with a potable dog water container and had a lovely lunch with a white wine spritzer for owner and soda water and lime for me. A very pleasurable afternoon.
Dinner for big man and I was pork belly strips with a jacket potato and veg. I roasted the pork belly in a roasting bag with BBQ sauce mix (Approved Food) then after 20 mins I crisped them off under the grill. We had mange tout and sugar snap peas with a jacket spud. I had seen a box of 4 in Asda for £2 in the frozen section. You just microwave for 5 mins from frozen . Fresh are about 50p each anyway and these are easy. Will be buying them again.
I know it's Tuesday but I had half written it on Sunday.
Stay cool. X
Hot weather is tiring me out. Am sleeping about 10 hours a night and still feeling weary during the day.
Today was a bit cooler here in Buckinghamshire so after my treadmill slog I had a cold shower and went to pick up the little dog that I walk and his owner.
We had a short mooch as it was humid and popped into a garden centre. Don't worry, I got the little dog out and we stood in the shade while his owner shopped.
It still totally amazes me that people leave their dogs in cars in this weather. Oh yes, they really do!
I don't like to see dogs in cars unless its winter. THEY HAVE FUR COATS. They boil from the inside out, they don't sweat like we do, they really suffer.
Aggghh, I know it's not you, my lovely blog friends but they are some real thickos out there.
Anyway, after a very short stroll in the shade we popped into a pub and sat under a canopy with a potable dog water container and had a lovely lunch with a white wine spritzer for owner and soda water and lime for me. A very pleasurable afternoon.
Dinner for big man and I was pork belly strips with a jacket potato and veg. I roasted the pork belly in a roasting bag with BBQ sauce mix (Approved Food) then after 20 mins I crisped them off under the grill. We had mange tout and sugar snap peas with a jacket spud. I had seen a box of 4 in Asda for £2 in the frozen section. You just microwave for 5 mins from frozen . Fresh are about 50p each anyway and these are easy. Will be buying them again.
I know it's Tuesday but I had half written it on Sunday.
Stay cool. X
Tuesday, 15 July 2014
Friday, 11 July 2014
Burglars and swingers!
Dear reader,
I heard today of an elderly person who had been fleeced of several thousands of pounds. Do you know there are some hideous people out there who will even force people to sell their homes and sign wills over to them?
We have a rule in our house as do my parents. We never open the door to anyone, ever.
Does that sound weird?
I wouldn't open my car door if a stranger asked me to open it so why my home?
Lets face it, who comes to the house uninvited? They are never coming to give me money but the other way round. I know of a man who opened his front door and got smashed in the face with a garden spade, house burgled, thanks very much.
We are all so careful about what we spend, can we make our own bread cheaper? cut down on flushing the loo yet we open the door and allow people into our homes and make ourselves very vulnerable.
I know I have written the last couple of posts about crime prevention but it makes me so cross when I hear of people getting burgled and robbed.
Now I live in quite a nice place and we don't have any trouble but they are out there, watching and following old people from Bingo halls and cash points. Please don't let it be you or your relatives.
Elderly people have a habit of keeping large amounts of cash at home and these people know that. The lure of a Hydrangea bush and a hand rail lets them know older people live there.
I'm not sure why I picked out a Hydrangea, I think it's because my grandparents had them.
By the way, is it true swingers have Pampas Grass outside? Bet that'll keep the burglars out, maybe I will suggest that to the old dears down my road.
Ps. If you do have Pampas Grass and are not a swinger, then definitely don't open the door to strangers.
I heard today of an elderly person who had been fleeced of several thousands of pounds. Do you know there are some hideous people out there who will even force people to sell their homes and sign wills over to them?
We have a rule in our house as do my parents. We never open the door to anyone, ever.
Does that sound weird?
I wouldn't open my car door if a stranger asked me to open it so why my home?
Lets face it, who comes to the house uninvited? They are never coming to give me money but the other way round. I know of a man who opened his front door and got smashed in the face with a garden spade, house burgled, thanks very much.
We are all so careful about what we spend, can we make our own bread cheaper? cut down on flushing the loo yet we open the door and allow people into our homes and make ourselves very vulnerable.
I know I have written the last couple of posts about crime prevention but it makes me so cross when I hear of people getting burgled and robbed.
Now I live in quite a nice place and we don't have any trouble but they are out there, watching and following old people from Bingo halls and cash points. Please don't let it be you or your relatives.
Elderly people have a habit of keeping large amounts of cash at home and these people know that. The lure of a Hydrangea bush and a hand rail lets them know older people live there.
I'm not sure why I picked out a Hydrangea, I think it's because my grandparents had them.
By the way, is it true swingers have Pampas Grass outside? Bet that'll keep the burglars out, maybe I will suggest that to the old dears down my road.
Ps. If you do have Pampas Grass and are not a swinger, then definitely don't open the door to strangers.
Wednesday, 9 July 2014
People after your money
Dear reader,
I had some well received comments on my post about front doors and burglars so I wanted to share another piece of crime prevention. This is a really clever scam. Do pass on.
Victim receives a phone call and the caller knows their name. Easy to get that from phone book or post or the electoral roll at the library.
The caller says I'm from your bank and your cards have been cloned and used fraudulently.
Just to build the confidence of the victim they ask them to put the phone down and ring their bank.
So far, so good.
The victim replaces the handset and calls their bank.
The scammer has never put the phone down and answers saying " fraud line" or similar. They then have a conversation and ask the victim to confirm their pin.
Part one is achieved.
The fake bank then says they will have to collect the victims cards and will send a courier round to collect them. Cheekily adding that the caller should seal them in an envelope.
They then send round a local mini cab and the rest is history.
Nice little spend up on some poor old dears card.
Please make people aware, they are very convincing.
Stay safe and aware. X
I had some well received comments on my post about front doors and burglars so I wanted to share another piece of crime prevention. This is a really clever scam. Do pass on.
Victim receives a phone call and the caller knows their name. Easy to get that from phone book or post or the electoral roll at the library.
The caller says I'm from your bank and your cards have been cloned and used fraudulently.
Just to build the confidence of the victim they ask them to put the phone down and ring their bank.
So far, so good.
The victim replaces the handset and calls their bank.
The scammer has never put the phone down and answers saying " fraud line" or similar. They then have a conversation and ask the victim to confirm their pin.
Part one is achieved.
The fake bank then says they will have to collect the victims cards and will send a courier round to collect them. Cheekily adding that the caller should seal them in an envelope.
They then send round a local mini cab and the rest is history.
Nice little spend up on some poor old dears card.
Please make people aware, they are very convincing.
Stay safe and aware. X
Keep them out.
Dear reader,
This is a little off the mark for a frugal blog but I would love this to be passed on and it could ultimately save someone a lot of money and heartache.
Many people have UPVC front doors to their homes and you can lock these by lifting the handle which moves the bolts across and locks the door.
Thousands of burglaries are because burglars can easily insert a homemade tool through the letterbox and lift the handle thus releasing the bolts and allowing them to enter. We know this because burglars have said so.
So many homeowners think their home is secure because they have lifted the handle.
This is not the case, the front door should always be locked with a key.
Please pass this on and tell elderly relatives they must not open the door to anyone regardless of having lost their dog, car broken down, they have a water leak, their roof is damaged or many other excuses.
Be safe, be savvy and be alert.
Much love. X
This is a little off the mark for a frugal blog but I would love this to be passed on and it could ultimately save someone a lot of money and heartache.
Many people have UPVC front doors to their homes and you can lock these by lifting the handle which moves the bolts across and locks the door.
Thousands of burglaries are because burglars can easily insert a homemade tool through the letterbox and lift the handle thus releasing the bolts and allowing them to enter. We know this because burglars have said so.
So many homeowners think their home is secure because they have lifted the handle.
This is not the case, the front door should always be locked with a key.
Please pass this on and tell elderly relatives they must not open the door to anyone regardless of having lost their dog, car broken down, they have a water leak, their roof is damaged or many other excuses.
Be safe, be savvy and be alert.
Much love. X
Tuesday, 8 July 2014
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