Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

cheerfulness4 · 17 April 2015 at 4:29PM

What types of things are you growing, Viv?

I'm sat here drinking a non-alcoholic 'Pimms.' I saw the recipe on the web and I was highly sceptical but its is a lovely, refreshing drink and not so dissimilar in taste.
I'm not entirely sure of its origins but it was definitely recommended by Slimming World.

If anyone's interesting in the recipe its:

1 ltr lemonade (I used Sugar free)
2 tsp balsamic vinegar :eek: (just trust me)
slices of fruit as you would normally add to a jug of Pimms.
(I used 1/4 of a cucumber, 1 orange and 2 little lemons)
Mint leaves
Ice cubes.

Add all together and stir. Allow the flavours to blend in the fridge for 10 mins or so, then enjoy.

I've sliced up some of the oranges and lemons that I got YS-ed recently and then froze them on a chopping board. I've just stored them in a Zip Loc bag and they are free flowing enough for me to pick out what I need for future 'Pimms.' They will do that niffy trick of acting as ice cubes for me.

I think this little drink will feature heavily in the Cheerful House this summer. Even DS is sipping on a glass and he's super fussy. Might make nice little drink for the 'non-drinkers' at BBQs, too.

I'm also going to use some of the sliced Orange and Lemon for my chicken dishes. I love Orange and Honey chicken and Lemon and Thyme Chicken.
It saves letting your fruit go wrinkly in the fridge.

I always used to freeze lemons/orange slices for cooking or chop mushroom/peppers/leeks/bananas etc for meals to stop them wasting when I got good YS bargains but I just forgot for a time.

AND I've lost my little notebook with all my tips in.

I know someones put it somewhere but no ones owning up. :cool:
I'll find it again and then I won't have to rely on this decidedly dodgy memory that I seem to have developed with age.

lillibet_dripping · 17 April 2015 at 4:52PM

cheerfulness4 wrote: »

Piccalilli is a favourite of mine as well, Prinzess, and Gherkins will dill are pure nectar to me. I even save the vinegar to sprinkle on salads when the gherkins have gone. Love it as much as Balsamic. (end of quote)

This word always makes me smile! When my lovely Springer Spaniel Lily gave birth to her second litter we tried to name the pups with 'lily' in their name. Thus we ended up with 'Nounsley Lily of the Valley', 'Nounsley Lily of Laguna', Nounsley Lily Marlene', 'Nounsley Lily the Pink' - it started to get a bit silly then but the Kennel Club accepted 'Nounsley Picallili' and even 'Nounsley Lily Savage'. I keep meaning to write to Paul 'O Grady and tell him about his namesake!!!

cheerfulness4 · 17 April 2015 at 5:07PM

I love the name Lily. I think Piccalilli is such a cute name for a dog. Definitely original, Lillibet.

Lynplatinum · 17 April 2015 at 5:55PM

Hiya

Am back from hols in Belgium!! It has taken me since Monday to get up to date with this FAB thread!! Since I have come back I have seen some of my usual contacts here and realised why I wanted just to get on here and chat with you folks! Most folk are soooo negative! I have just spent 2 hours of final catch up and now feel so much more positive! :A
You have all overcome financial, personal, health related and other difficult events and so much support is given for each other - especially those still going through things! :T

Belgium was terrific (this time we were based in Antwerp) - the cathedral is free and the Rubens exhibition in his old house was only 10 euros. Pretty river to walk along and delightful squares to amble through. The food there can be pricey but what you get for your money is lovely, delicious and filling!

Back to reality and on £10 per week for me as I am determined to save money so that when I go on trips I can enjoy them with a clear conscience (I only do this and a Scrapbooking retreat each year!! - both are long weekends - so it is not as luxurious as it sounds!!) BTW I managed to stay spot on budget returning home with 2 euros 20 - which I put in the coach drivers collection. Plus a few pounds - our regular driver is a wonderful woman with a great sense of humour who is a brilliant driver - how she get the giant coach down these tiny roads without hitting the badly parked cars I shall never know!!

Weight gain happened too so another reason to be economical!
So good to catch up with you all. Jan - I was shocked to hear about your hospital notes - what if you had been rushed to hospital for some reason!!! It doesnt bear thinking about! Prinzess - I love European ginger cake so will be giving your recipe a try. Val - treacle tart - childhood memories so I will have to do that one .

Now folks - what was I saying about loosing wieght????;)

silvasava · 17 April 2015 at 6:31PM

Hi All - been really busy in the garden these last few days. I've sorted out the greenhouse & planted my tomatoes, cucumbers and a pepper. I've staked them and set up the drip feed watering system so all they need to do now is grow!!
Kboss - I've just taken my king size duvet into my local launderette - really big machines & cost £5.60. I don't use their dryers I bring it home & put it on the line - just got it in - lovely fresh smell.
I'm sailing my boat tomorrow (properly) for the first time so a bit apprehensive even though I've got DH & DS1 with me who are both experiences sailors. Its an overnight trip to a local marina, coming back on Sunday & I'll have a tidal lock gate to navigate:eek:
Vhalla - I'll be in your neighbourhood next weekend. Staying with DH's aunt in Thurlby & family BBQ in Sleaford on Saturday - fingers crossed for good weather

Hope everyone has a good weekend with good weather

Prinzessilein · 17 April 2015 at 6:51PM

Evening!

Thanks for the mustard-pickle recipe...that is definitely going on the 'must make' list!(Also nice to see so many other pickle lovers here!)

I can fully recommend Cheerfulness' "non-alcoholic 'Pimms'".... I cam across the recipe a few years ago - and absolutely love it!

Good to see you back Lynn!...and nice to hear you had a good time in Belgium! (If you really feel the need to lose a few pounds, I recommend 5:2!)

As predicted M&S were out of my size in vests...BUT I was able to order them at the offer-price, and they will be in-store from tomorrow afternoon.

My thick fleecy dressing gown has been washed and tucked away at the back of the wardrobe until autumn....lighter summer one will be in use from tonight...when I sorted out the summer things I kept the nighties - they are a little large, but that's not really a problem - I'd rather they were too large than too small!....they were new last summer so I'm loathe to pass them on just yet!

mrssnowy_2 · 17 April 2015 at 7:18PM

vhalla1478 wrote: »

Hello All, back fro the dentists after a load of root canal work which I wasn't expecting, and my tooth temporarily back in place.

As promised, here's the mustard pickle recipe - I think it was from the 'Good Food' magazine 2-3 years ago.

Mustard Pickle - makes approx. 2 large jars

Viv xx

Viv,never used red tomatoes in mustard pickle,sounds good.I add french or runner beans and carrots-cauli florets are my favourite tho'.My problem is that I never remember from one year to the next which cook book I have used-doh,I do like crunchy veg middling spicy sauce not too solid or too sloppy.
mrss

vhalla1478 · 17 April 2015 at 7:53PM

Hello again, Everyone and welcome back, Lynn, great to know you had a good time.

Cheerfulness, I'm afraid my garden is ornamental rather than useful. my seeds are mostly 'cottage garden'- loads of different poppies, alyssum, nasturtium, sweet pea, foxgloves, nemesia, nicotiana, aquilegia, delphiniums, daisies, poached egg plant and the one I broke my tooth on (very tough polythene!) a scented flower garden mix. And I've also arranged with daughter-in-law's dad to go and buy some climbing plants at the outlet shop I mentioned previously; in between trips to the dentist, that is.

Hope the weather is good for you here, Silva, the forecast looks promising, it's been beautifully sunny but the wind is still cutting.

Have a good evening, All.

Viv (not Val:D) xx

janb5 · 17 April 2015 at 9:42PM

cheerfulness4 wrote: »

My pleasure, Jan.

I'm not good at explaining so bear with.

Hi Cheerfulness! Thank you so much for doing all that! I have saved it into Word so I can work through it- sounds like homework!

I spent ages in the garden getting rid of errant weeds, cutting grass etc. Why is it some weeds grow behind the trellis making it well nigh impossible to get at them. I eventually had to remove the trellis to finish the job!

It`s like childbirth- you forget how tiring it all is getting the garden sorted out otherwise you would never sort it. There is no such thing as `popping into the garden for a little while........!

cheerfulness4 · 17 April 2015 at 10:11PM

How exciting, Silva, the big launch. You must tell us how it goes when you get home.

Sounds like you had a wonderful trip, Lyn.

We have the same idea regarding our holiday later this year, enjoy ourselves because we'll have planned and budgeted for it.
I don't mind watching the pennies so much when I know we'll be able to afford a few treats while we're away.
(was going to add an Afternoon Tea but JackieO's experience has put me off).

I must say mum went to a funeral where the catering was done on an afternoon tea sort of basis and she said it was ridiculous. She had a quarter of a sandwich, one cupcake, a tiny piece of madeira and a cup of tea as no coffee offered. Then the food and drink ran out. The widow was very upset at the quality of the hotel catering. It hadn't been cheap.

That drink is great, isn't it Prinzess?

I thought it sounds yuck when I read it but I was intrigued so decided to give it a bash. Glad I did now. Its weird how like Pimms it is, even the smell.

After a NSD yesterday I went out and bought a couple of bits today.

DAY 17

Money Spent Today - £6.57 Vouchers Spent - £0
Money Spent in Total - £48.45 Vouchers Spent in Total - £0
Money left in purse - £2.55 - Float left- £6.40/£15
Jan non-foods left- £0.74/£15

Wanted another NSD but it wasn't to be as we needed a trip to Aldi where we bought 2lts diet Lemonade @ 17p, 1kg chicken breasts @ £3.95, 1 x milk @ 89p, 2 x pasta & sauce @ 39p each, 1 pk of 4 baking potatoes @ 39p and a cucumber @ 39p.

I'm going to have to nip back tomorrow again as the instant coffee has run out tonight and DH really isn't into my ground coffee, which is a pity as we have plenty of that.
There were two packets of it in the wicker storage hampers that I bought a few weeks back that I haven't opened yet.

No matter, I have money in the extras budget and will probably use some of that to get us to the end of the month in Nescafe.

Jan - its not nearly as hard as I make it sound. I learnt how to do it by playing around with the icons and then pressing 'preview' to see if it had done anything. I have a very small life.

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Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

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