Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

Prinzessilein · 25 February 2015 at 10:50AM

Morning all!

Another female here!!!....despite the somewhat confusing username I chose!...it's Prinzess -ilein (not Prinz -essilein) ... German for little princess...Mum's nickname for me when I was younger (she still uses it today bless her!)

Mum and I still speak German to one another most days, and on Sundays we often get out our knitting/crochet and have a good Kaffeeklatsch (coffee-gossip) and I'll sometimes read aloud from a German children's classic whilst Mum knits....very pleasant way to spend a few hours and very MSE!

vhalla...that ginger/coffee pudding recipe of yours...do you think it would work if I baked it as four individual puddings and froze 2 or 3 of them?....I just love coffee puddings, and ginger runs a close second, but I live alone and if I cook a large pudding I will eat it all!

Sometimes with my knitting or sewing I find I can only do a little work...my hand just don't let me do as much as I want some days!....I keep telling myself 'okay I managed 2 rows of knitting today, that is 2 rows towards the final project...it's all about the little victories!...and that's how I approach money-saving too...if I only save 5p today that is 5p off my 'usual' weekly bill!...it's those little victories that are easy to win and that lead to you winning the battle in the end!

Off to the supermarket in a little while...should be a fairly cheap shop today....and our driver has suggested we might like to go the 'big' charity shop today (it is a sort of depot where the 'good' stuff goes before being sent to the little local shops....you can get some really good stuff sometimes)....we'll see how the time goes.

vhalla1478 · 25 February 2015 at 12:22PM

Hi again,

I should really be sewing but just came back for a peek. I live alone Prinzessilein and, yes, I would do exactly the same and eat the lot! One of the advantages of having six grandchildren nearby. Portion it out and freeze it - obviously a smaller quantity needs a little less cooking time.

I've friends for dinner on Saturday night - well, family really, my daughter-in-law's father and her step mum - families have really complicated relationships these days!! But the main thing is we all get on together. Here's what I'm doing for a cheap main course - a Gordon Ramsay recipe.

Chicken Casserole with Coriander Dumplings - serves 4-6

8-12 chicken portions (legs, thighs etc), a litre chicken stock, 4 celery sticks, halved, 2 leeks finely chopped, 2 red onions cut into wedges, 4 carrots, chopped, 2 parsnips, chopped, a celeriac finely diced, bay leaf, few thyme sprigs, lemon grass stalk, knob of fresh root ginger, bruised, sea salt and pepper. (Vary the vegetables depending on what you have in, but don't miss out the ginger, it makes a world of difference to the taste).

Coriander Dumplings
250 grams plain flour, 100 grams shredded suet, 3 tbsp. chopped coriander.

Put the chicken in a casserole, add the stock and bring to the boil. Add the vegetables and bring back to a simmer. Add the herbs, ginger and plenty of seasoning. Cover and simmer very gently for about 40 minutes until the chicken is tender. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. (This can be done a day in advance).

Skim off any fat from the surface of the casserole (use it for braising vegetables when making soup). Lift out the chicken pieces, remove the meat from the bone, discard the skin and return to the pan. Check the seasoning.

To make the coriander dumplings, mix the flour suet and coriander together in a bowl, adding enough cold water to form a soft pliable dough. Shape into small dumplings.

Reheat the casserole. When the liquid comes to the boil, drop in the dumplings. Lower heat, re-cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until dumplings are doubled in size and fluffy. Discard ginger and herbs.

Serve in warm pasta bowls, with crusty bread to mop up the juices.

Lovely on a cold evening.

Right, washing needs to go on the line and I need to tackle that top.

Another recipe later, Everyone.

Viv xx

littleowl · 25 February 2015 at 1:25PM

queengoth wrote: »

It's on a 1 month rolling contract. The original tie in was a year I think but they have upgraded my dongle twice now at no cost and still let me roll.

Thanks for that. Looking at the 3 website it seems that now the 15g monthly dongle is now only on a 24 month contract. Will watch to see if the deal changes.

littleowl · 25 February 2015 at 1:29PM

vhalla1478 wrote: »

Hi again,

I should really be sewing but just came back for a peek. I live alone Prinzessilein and, yes, I would do exactly the same and eat the lot! One of the advantages of having six grandchildren nearby. Portion it out and freeze it - obviously a smaller quantity needs a little less cooking time.

I've friends for dinner on Saturday night - well, family really, my daughter-in-law's father and her step mum - families have really complicated relationships these days!! But the main thing is we all get on together. Here's what I'm doing for a cheap main course - a Gordon Ramsay recipe.

Chicken Casserole with Coriander Dumplings - serves 4-6

8-12 chicken portions (legs, thighs etc), a litre chicken stock, 4 celery sticks, halved, 2 leeks finely chopped, 2 red onions cut into wedges, 4 carrots, chopped, 2 parsnips, chopped, a celeriac finely diced, bay leaf, few thyme sprigs, lemon grass stalk, knob of fresh root ginger, bruised, sea salt and pepper. (Vary the vegetables depending on what you have in, but don't miss out the ginger, it makes a world of difference to the taste).

Coriander Dumplings
250 grams plain flour, 100 grams shredded suet, 3 tbsp. chopped coriander.

Put the chicken in a casserole, add the stock and bring to the boil. Add the vegetables and bring back to a simmer. Add the herbs, ginger and plenty of seasoning. Cover and simmer very gently for about 40 minutes until the chicken is tender. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. (This can be done a day in advance).

Skim off any fat from the surface of the casserole (use it for braising vegetables when making soup). Lift out the chicken pieces, remove the meat from the bone, discard the skin and return to the pan. Check the seasoning.

To make the coriander dumplings, mix the flour suet and coriander together in a bowl, adding enough cold water to form a soft pliable dough. Shape into small dumplings.

Reheat the casserole. When the liquid comes to the boil, drop in the dumplings. Lower heat, re-cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until dumplings are doubled in size and fluffy. Discard ginger and herbs.

Serve in warm pasta bowls, with crusty bread to mop up the juices.

Lovely on a cold evening.

Right, washing needs to go on the line and I need to tackle that top.

Another recipe later, Everyone.

Viv xx

That looks really good Viv - think I will try it this weekend. Thanks!
Joan

vhalla1478 · 25 February 2015 at 2:27PM

My pleasure, Joan! x

misstara · 25 February 2015 at 3:08PM

Afternoon all. Got my haircut yesterday for the grand sum of £7 :j. Then I went round to visit my friend and her wee girl. Not only did I get a catchup with my friend and lots of baby cuddles, she gave me a beautiful dress which will be perfect to wear to a wedding and a tub full of HM biscuits

I had the last of the HM chicken soup and a YS baguette for lunch. Will need to make more soup at some point soon, however I'm working a lot over the next 4 days so might see if OH will make some.

cheerfulness4 · 25 February 2015 at 4:45PM

Hi everyone,

Must get some cooking done this afternoon now DH has gone off to bed. I want to make a quiche to start with and then some cake for the tins.
I've struggled to know what meals to provide for DH now he's working nights. He prefers his largest meal midday but I have to watch its not too heavy. He has breakfast when he gets in and supper before he goes to work. Gradually I'm getting organised. He said the bread and butter pud was just right last night. Success!

I used one of the tins of tuna for dinner today.

I'm going to run up a quiche in a moment and that will be fine for dinner tomorrow with salad again. I've still got enough salad from my YS bargains to last me until I go onto my new budget on Sunday.
The only drawback to DH doing nights is that its really difficult to get my YS's as he's in bed until late so no chance for evening trips to the supers. Still, he doesn't work every day so I will have to get more organised.

I have such a fancy for Seed Cake, had it all month and still not made it. I shall see if I can make it quietly while I'm cooking the quiche. My mixer is not exactly whisper soft!

Caroline- is it a particular type of seed you're sowing all just all your seeds that are doing this. My thyme is certainly much slower than my parsley, its seems to be having a rest while the parsley is forming lovely little plants.

I'm covering myself by planning another sowing of thyme as mum gave me a massive peace lily and these horrible little black flies have come out the compost and got onto my little herb seedlings. Not sure if they are harming or not but will 'deal' with them just in case.

Posting my spends already today as I know I'm not going out again.

DAY 25

Money Spent Today - £5.05 Vouchers Spent - £0
Money Spent in Total - £72.95 Vouchers Spent in Total - £0
Money left in purse - £2.05 - Float left- £0/£15
Jan non-foods left- £0/£15

Quite a hefty spend at Morrisons today for Tub Hot Chocolate @ £2.48 (100 M&M points added), milk @ 88p and 350g Mature Cheddar @ £1.69.

I'm desperate to get some chicken breasts as I have some meals lined up for them but will probably have to wait until my March budget begins.
In the mean time I need to bite the bullet and use some of this wet fish up. I might have to do some disguising to get the lads to eat it.
Gordon Ramsey makes some lovely HM Fishfingers in this video. I could see them eating these very easily.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy0HncHOQe0

Shall just finish watching Tipping Point

and then off to do some baking before settling down for an evening with my knitting.

silvasava · 25 February 2015 at 5:41PM

Afternoon All - just caught up with the thread. Well done Lynplatinum on the CC. Don't know if anyone else does this - it may be a help to balance the budget & spread the load. I total up what we've spent on car tax, insurances (car & house etc) & car services - add a bit in for 'bu*gerance factor' divide by 12 and take out a CC with 0pct on purchases and use that & pay off 1/12th each month by SO. That way there's no nasty months when everything comes at once. This is the third year I've done it. I do keep a spreadsheet of how much each has cost & I get a real buzz if I can better the previous years amount! (sad person!!) I'm sure it was a tip posted on MSE so apologies if you're already aware

Off to tackle cushion 2........................;)

cheerfulness4 · 25 February 2015 at 7:06PM

I'd not read that about using the CC in that way, Silva, You live and learn each day on this website.

Glad the cushions are working well, too. Won't you be posh on the river this summer.

Misstara, have you got your voice back yet?

vhalla1478 · 25 February 2015 at 8:55PM

Evening Everyone,

I hope you've all had a good productive day. I've managed to make my youngest granddaughter a top from one of mine and had a surge of energy after tea and cut out a double oven glove; I'll have to roam the house tomorrow and find something for its innards. If not, plan B is to raid my daughter-in-law's sewing room; I'm sure we went halves on some wadding last year.

Please look away now if you're on a diet because I'm about to post a scrumptious but fattening recipe. From a book called 'Comfort Food' which my son found in a charity shop and I've stolen!

Caramel Chocolate Shortbread - makes 12 pieces.

115 grams butter, 175 grams plain flour, 200 grams golden caster sugar, 200 grams plain chocolate broken into pieces.

Caramel

175 grams butter, 115 grams golden caster sugar, 3 tbsp. golden syrup, 400 gram can condensed milk.

Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees/gas mark 4. grease and line the base of a 20cm/9 inch shallow square cake tin. Place the butter, flour and sugar in a food processor and process until it begins to bind together. Press into the tin and smooth the top. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden.

Meanwhile, make the caramel. Place the butter, sugar, syrup and condensed milk into a heavy-based saucepan. Heat gently until the sugar has melted. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 6-8 minutes, stirring, until very thick. Pour over the shortbread and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours, or until firm.

Melt the chocolate and leave to cool, then spread over the caramel. Leave to chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours, or until set. Cut the shortbread into 12 pieces, using a sharp knife. Then give it away if you don't want to be tempted!!!

Right, a night in front of the tv - Comic Relief Bake Off, followed by 'Wolf Hall.

Have a good evening, Everyone.

Viv xx

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Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

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