Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

That was nice - I can't think when I last had a bath (I'm clean - I just normally shower every day). Whilst I remember GreyQueen, putting aside the fact that you're a lot younger than her, how about Vanessa Redgrave to play you - just a thought.

A few months ago, I picked up a little recipe book on Indian dishes from Lidl - they're all brilliant (I've tried a good few - I like to get my money's worth and this one is particularly tasty).

Lamb Pasanda - serves 4-6

600grams boneless shoulder of lamb, 2tbs mashed up ginger and garlic, 4 tbsp. ghee or vegetable oil, 3 large onions, chopped, fresh green chilli seeded and chopped, 2 green cardamom pods, bruised, a cinnamon stick broken in half, 2 tsp coriander, tsp ground cumin, tsp ground turmeric, 250ml water, 150ml double cream, 4 tbsp. ground almonds, one and a half tsp salt, tsp garam masala, paprika and toasted flaked almonds to garnish.

Cut the meat into thin slices then place the slices between clingfilm and pound with a meat mallet/granny's rolling pin etc - (I don't have a meat mallet, just my grandmother's rolling pin). Put the lamb slices in a bowl, add the garlic and ginger and rub well into the lamb. Cover and leave to marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Melt the ghee/place oil in a large frying pan over a medium high heat. Add the onions and chilli and cook, stirring frequently, for 5-8 minutes, until golden brown. Stir in the cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, ground coriander, cumin and turmeric and continue stirring for 2 minutes or until the spiced are aromatic. Add the meat to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes until it is brown on all sides and the fat begins to separate. Stir in the water and bring to the boil, still stirring. Reduce the heat to its lowest setting, cover the pan tightly and simmer for 40 minutes or until the meat is tender.

Mix the cream and ground almonds together in a bowl. Beat in 6 tbsp of the hot cooking liquid from the pan, then gradually beat this mixture back into the pan. Stir in the salt and garam masala. Simmer for a further 5 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally. Garnish with a sprinkling of paprika and flaked almonds and serve.

I'm salivating thinking of it, but tomorrow night it will be prawns, avocadoes and champagne - DB's favourites for our first night together.

Have a great evening, Folks.

Viv xx

I'm leaning more towards Meryl Street for Vhalla - or maybe Susan Sarandan or our own Celia Imrie - she has such a sense of mischief about her. We certainly need strong feisty ladies to represent us

Evening All

Judy Dench is amazing - I know Glenn Close is American but she is tall so could she also be a candidate for Viv? cheerfulness - how about Jennifer Saunders - she's always cheerful on chat shows and the like!

Well, last week I was left with £3.20 in my grocery budget of £10! Looking back - it makes me cross to think how much I have wasted over the years! But hey ho - onward and upward!

I put the £2 towards my 'entertainment' budget because it is gonna be an expensive weekend in that regard. I had to go out 4 lunch today and have a birthday party to attend tomorrow (in a pub - so I am guessing that some of the drinks I will have to pay for).

However, grocery wise its been NSD yesterday and today!

Can anyone suggest a present for a gentleman who will be 70 - one that I can buy tomorrow - plans for the original present have fallen through. He is ex forces and a beer fan but has health issues and so cannot have any of the usual birthday treats - such as beer or chocs! (dont think he's appreciate flowers :-)

On gardening finds - we have gound a single bedframe, a bicycle, tiles, tyres and rims, various unidentifiable bits of metal as well as corrugated steel, watering cans- all broken and bits of plastic including bottles and carpet. It has involved various trips to the tip to get rid of it all.
Yesterday I did redug a fruit bush bed and planted some raspberry canes (found some broken tiles) and put up a fruit cage to stop rabbits and birds.
I also looked at all my seeds that I have planted - some are starting to appear.
I raked up most of the leaves under the 30 cobnut trees we have - makes it look tidier.