frugal Month - Part 2 - Ingredients

  So here we are and ready to go !!
First Pic is of the bread I made yesterday and put in the freezer the minute it was cold. I'm hoping this is enough for the month for one person ( but not totally convinced) This batch was made with  bread flour, yeast and oil from Lidl and the cost was £1.17., including salt too.

 The second Pic is of the grocery shopping, mostly from Lidl, with the exception of the salad cream, gravy browning and bacon pieces, which were from Sainsburys and the potatoes  onions and cabbage which were from the greengrocers.

 I couldn't bring myself to buy eggs when I have such beautiful fresh ones from my girls, so I am using my own and have put the money I would have paid into the hen's food fund!

So here goes, starting tomorrow, will see how I go with what is starting to look like a b****y silly idea !!(cold feet)

Gill

Linking to another blog and feeling poorly

Kath from Hillside House has sent me a little tutorial on how to link to another blog. Thanks for that Kath. Here is my first go at it using kath's blog, which is definitely worth a visit.
http://railwaycottage.blogspot.co.uk/

While I'm here I have to say I'm not feeling too well tonight - and I am never unwell. Hope I feel better tomorrow as Adam one of our Shared Lives Guys is here for the weekend and we are also supporting a  group of volunteers who are working on "our"  stretch  of canal. I promised Adam he could come shopping with me to Sainsburys tomorrow morning ( yes I know I spoil these guys!! - but he loves coming shopping with me) All I have managed today is to make and freeze the bread for my challenge, sow some carrots before a deluge drove us in and rustle up Adam's favourite tea (chicken pie) Fortunately Adam was happy with D. today, visiting the canal volunteers, stacking wood for our fire and --Joy of Joy for Adam --feeding the field kitchen fire in the workshop with the gash wood.
Enough for now off for a shower to see if that makes me feel better.
Gill
PS I forgot to put milk and margarine on my earlier shopping list
PPS Thanks again Kath

Frugal Month - Part 1 - Getting Ready and Planning

This weekend I am planning and purchasing for A FRUGAL MONTH when I hope to demonstrate to myself and frugal blogland that it is possible to eat on one pound a day for 4 weeks. This idea is not original and was STOLEN from "The Frugal Graduate" (still don't know how to make a link and give her the credit!)

 What I am interested in, is how this can be done while eating a varied and interesting diet. It would be extremely easy to eat noodles one day and beans on toast the next 14 times. I also believe that it is important not to feel hungry, as there is nothing worse for giving you an excuse not to stick to a diet, whether it be for weight loss or fugality. ( I don't need to lose weight)
 Sometimes it will work out as under a pound and sometimes over, but the aim will be to spend £28 on 4 weeks meals for one person. This includes a breakfast, lunch (packed or otherwise) and a main meal.            I haven't included drinks as I reckon I spend a pound a day on cups of tea! and there are limits to what I will put up with.
 What I have included is some meat product ( not a lot) and this could be replaced by tofu, soya or halloumi.

 I will not use any of my stores ( I could live on them for a month without shopping!) Though I think it is reasonable to assume that salt, pepper, vinegar and basic spices - say garlic granules, chilli powder and Garam Masala that are in store can be used.

 I have to admit at the onset that I am unlikely to eat nothing but these meals ALL the time, as we entertain quite a lot and we also have a weekend away fishing at the beginning of week 4. However I will still make the meals each day to show it can be done within the budget and freeze the meal for another time.Fair enough?
My Shopping List is - Rice; Pasta; Oil; Stock Cubes; Potatoes; Cabbage; Carrots; Onions; Tins Tomatoes; Tins Beans; Bread Flour; Yeast; Plain Flour; Eggs; Salad Cream; Gravy Granules; Cheese; Sausage; Lentils;  Bacon Pieces.

So wish me luck as I hit Lidl and Sainsburys.
Back soon
Gill

Just dropping by

 Here is a picture from Youngest Grandaughter. Isn't she happy ?! This lucky girl is sat atop her own pony. She had a very bad fall from a pony last year and has worked hard to overcome her nervousness since. I'm pleased to say that she is now doing very well, achieving small jumps and cantering like a good one. I'm so proud of her.

The Frugal Graduate is looking at living on a pound a day. ( I wish I knew how to do you a link to her page - perhaps my daughter will show me) This young woman is a credit to her generation and I really enjoy her blog. I think it is possible to live on a pound a day with careful planning. The difficult thing is to have a varied and interesting diet on a pound a day! I also believe that there should be an assumption of a small stock cupboard to support this. I have been giving this some thought  -  a lot of thought actually - hardly slept last night thinking about it ! (I'm like that, not a good sleeper) So I'm going to have a go at doing a month's menu of  meals at a pound a day...watch this space!

My resolution to make a present a month is coming along nicely. I was going to take pictures, but realised that the recipients might read my blog and the surprise would be spoilt. So I shall take pictures as I go along and show the stuff I make for those I know won't read the blog!

I rather fancy making one of those large loose knit "snood"-type things that young women wear.  Has anybody got a pattern or instructions for one?

The chickens and I thought that the weather was improving, but the temperature has fallen, as has the snow!. As I said in an earlier blog the girls hate the bad weather and today took industrial action ! here they are crowding into the kitchen in protest at the temperature outside.  Bye for now...Gill

Leftovers - Part 2 - can you tell what it is yet ?!

Here are the left over veg all prepped and sorted. I thought I had lots of potatoes but I was wrong - I had one kilo, which was just  enough. I also added two onions and one bulb of garlic
 from 11 o'clock and clockwise - garlic butter, half the fresh tomato, all the odds and sods of ends of veg after prepping  finished, with added tinned tomato, mushroom and garlic.. A jug of veg stock made from cooking said veg and blanching others, a dish of sliced blanched potato and onion, a saucepan of mashed potato, sliced and blanched potato/swede/carrot/parsnip, shredded, carrot, cabbage and onion and a plate of sliced leek, tomato and mushroom. In the centre is a dish of cooked mixed vegetables and a plate of cooked shredded cabbage and onion. ( the pot is a jar of "Glutney Chutney". so.......
CAN YOU TELL WHAT IT IS YET ?! ( with homage to Rolf Harris)

ITEM 1

I made some shortcrust pastry ( pound flour/ half fat to flour) and halved it.
I rolled out half and put it onto a baking tray -  as it will be lifted off the tray when cooked I lined the tray with baking foil to help lift it without breaking.
 I spread half the garlic butter in the middle of the pastry and proceeded to place the different veg on in layers. I tried to arrange the layers so that colours contrasted. In this slice I used (and in this order) garlic Butter, parsnip, leeks, carrots, potato, swede, tomato, leeks and then dollops of chutney. Next time I could use something entirely different obviously. it's whatever you have to hand. I then cut the pastry a couple of inches towards the base and with egg mixed with milk to seal and make it shiny I pulled the pastry over the top. ( I kept the remaining egg/ milk mix)
The slice went into the oven at 180 for 45mins.

ITEM 2

I lined a pie dish with the remaining pastry and layered potato slices, onion slices, dobs of garlic butter and a sprinkling of grated cheese ( sorry, didn't tell you that I also had some grated cheese left over from lunch) I then sprinkled some dry parsley over the top and poured over the remaining milk and egg mix.

This pie went into the oven at the same time and  temperature as the slice .

ITEM 3

I mixed three large spoonfuls of mashed potato with the plate of cooked slice cabbage and onion, adding pepper and formed this mix into two patties

ITEM 4

I covered the cooked mixed vegetables with  the cheese sauce (warmed in the microwave) and then covered this with mashed potato. I then placed sliced tomato and a sparse sprinkling of cheese on top of this.

ITEM 4

I blitzed the odds and sods, garlic, mushrooms and tinned tomato in the blender ( not too smooth) and mixed this with the homemade tomato soup. To this I added some dried basil, salt and pepper. I cooked this to boiling in the microwave.

ITEM 5

I added mayonnaise , a little salad cream and white pepper to the shredded cabbage, carrot and onion.

Miscellaneous  Bye products of the process !!

A jug of Veg stock, cabbage, carrot etc peelings for the rabbits and,  also for the rabbits  -  I cooked the potato peelings in an old bread bag in the microwave. They LOVE them!! (never raw)                          

 SO - yet again, clockwise from 11 o'clock - Bolognaise Sauce; Cheese and vegetable Pie; Vegetable Stock; Homity Pie; Vegetable slice; Coleslaw and in the middle a couple of Bubble and Squeak patties 

 I reckon that's enough for today -  it took longer to write about it than do it ! Off to do a tad of housework, before I can treat myself to some sewing.

Hope you managed to bear with me through this. I probably forgot some vital step... just let me know. 

Bye for now

 Gill

PS  Welcome Caroline !

Leftovers - Part 1

Here is a picture of the left overs from this week. I have been extremely busy this week ( hence no posts!) and usually use stuff up as I go along. That hasn't happened this week and so I need to see what I can do with these bits and pieces. In bowls there is a tinned tomato, some left over home made tomato soup, a few spoons of cheese sauce and some cooked vegetables ( carrots, swede, brussels and cauliflower)  The cabbage was given to me by a friend for my rabbits ( there will be some left for them I'm sure!)
The mushrooms were a real bargain. I gave someone a lift to Asda, which is not a shop I use as it is too far away. While he was in the opticians next door,I went into the store for dog food for Prickly Pete. The mushrooms were marked down from £2.64 per kilo to 25p per kilo. There were two bags, one cost 12p and the other 9p ! I bought both of course and gave one to my eldest granddaughter who is extremely fond of the little creatures ( I don't like them too much, but D does)
I have plenty of onions, garlic, squash and potatoes in store so I reckon I should be able to make a couple of meals from this lot.

I'll post later with the results. Please join me later.

Bye for now    ...Gill

Oh No!..It's Mother's Day soon!!

Am I the only one that disagrees with  "MOTHER'S DAY"?!
 Since my children became adults I have asked them not to bother with Mother's Day. It was difficult to ask this of them when they were at school as there was such a build up with crafts, card making etc. and I didn't want them to feel too different from others ( well no more different than being my daughter makes you!) and I always supported them to remember their Grandmas. But personally I see no need for this, increasingly expensive and often complicated "celebration".
  When I was a little girl, every spring at Sunday School, we celebrated Mothering Sunday, when we were given a little card to give to our our mothers which they would use as a bookmark in their bible or prayer book. If we could find some, we would also pick a little bunch of primroses. In truth I thought even that was a little mawkish and unnecessary as my mum KNEW I loved her..every day!
 Just realised that after my post re. Wedding Anniversaries I sound a right old Grinch!! I'm not honestly ! I love a good party....just because....for no reason than to have a good time and see friends and family...must there be a reason? must there be a gift? As this year goes on I am bound to blog about a mega-party we have in the summer  (July this year)....just because !
  D. and I have been pruning the apples and willows in the orchard today and yesterday. The chicken house is in the orchard and soon, when the planting starts, the chickkens will stay in the orchard all the time as they dig up seeds and seedlings and shred plants in the veg patches. They could  have over an acre of field to forage in, but they won't and would far rather jump over the walls and grub around the garden demolishing the vegetable crop. So they are kept in the orchard from which there is no escape (its also fox-proof)
Here is a pic of some of the hens enjoying the sun today. They are in the field because D. threw some corn down  there ! If only they would stay there!

We like to think that we waste nothing and many tasks that we do have more than one result. For instance today when we were pruning and reshaping trees in the orchard we had several piles for different uses. The willows yielded some whips for weaving and garden structures and supports, some wood for burning on the fire, some sawdust for the rabbit hutches and hen houses and the remainder will go through the "muncher" tomorrow for garden mulch. We will save the munchings from the apple twigs as  they are so fragrant when burnt and D. promises me that he will make me a smoker by summer. 

Collecting and carrying the twigs sawdust etc is made easier by my BIG BAGS!.

 Below is a picture of three of these bags, outside the rabbit house. They contain sawdust from D's sawbench, straw from a large bale and logs from the tree work. At other times they contain kindling for the fire, or hay for the rabbits or prunings from the garden... they are extremely useful.

If they look familiar to you , it's because they started out life like this.......

 Yes it's an old tonne bag, which are non-returnable (and often refused at the refuse tip)  I have placed sticks across the bag where I cut with a sharp stanley knife. Note that the corner handles are placed together. I then sew along the two cut edges with a sharp large-eyed needle and thread. I save the thread from the top of feed or potato sacks as it is fine and yet extremely strong. I then turn the bags ( You get two from each tonne bag) inside out so that the edges, which can fray a bit, are on the inside. There you go ! two Big gardening bags at no cost whatsoever and so many uses.
 Lastly I want to show off my attempt at "upholstery". D has been using the old chair below at his computer for YEARS. The seat and cushion have both worn through. He loves this chair as it is just the right height for the job. So when I found that the seating cushions from an old sofa (that had been given to D for him to lie on to work under the car!) were in extremely good condition I thought it would be ideal for the job. My friend Becky had given me some very smart waterproofed material which I liked the look of, so with stapler in hand I re-seated and covered the chair.

I'm quite pleased with it and there was enough material left to cover two breakfast bar stools too !

I reckon that you have probably heard enough from me for now so I'll sign off hoping you keep well and have a great weekend.

Gillx