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
Wednesday, 25 March 2015
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
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