50p a day til Christmas - healthily?! Weezl's next challenge...

Brighton_belle

boredofbeingathome wrote: »

Hello all..well i made the yoghurt, very runny and tastes quite good..did i read that you can thicken it up by the addition of milk powder? I have used UHT skimmed by the way.
quote]
Hello, i make HM yog (in an easiyo) and use skimmed milk ( for watching weight reasons)and 2 tbsp of skimmed dried milk (+ 1 tbsp yog for starter) to thicken and it is a nice consistancy, no diff to low fat yogs in shop. Just bought some muslin to dry straining to make greek yogurt. Will let you know how I get on.

redsquirrel80

Hi all - off on holiday tomorrow night for a fortnight so am declaring my total for July as £30.28! Not bad, obviously helps not being here for a week, but am fairly confident I could get through to the end of the month from the contents of the cupboards/ freezer, just buying milk. Obviously the vouchers I had helped a lot - but I shouldn't have to buy coffee or parmesan for a couple of months!

Hope everyone has a good couple of weeks, wonder how many pages I'll have to catch up on when I get back! :eek: :rotfl:

cw18

redsquirrel80 wrote: »

Hi all - off on holiday tomorrow night for a fortnight

have fun

redsquirrel80 wrote: »

wonder how many pages I'll have to catch up on when I get back! :eek: :rotfl:

doesn't bear thinking about :eek:





well, the bacon joint cooked in the slow cooker was a TOTAL success went to lift it out, and it very nearly didn't make it in one piece!! I've never ever had a bacon joint that I've not had a job carving before (this one just fell apart, and there was no way I could have sliced it) -- and even though it was smaller than I'd normally buy for the three of us, I actually have a good quarter of it left !!! I put that down to not having had to carve it, which normally ends up with doorstep slices

Think I shouldn't have put the carrots in as early as I did though, as they were too soft for my liking -- and son said the ham was lovely but the carrots were like his Gran's (which he doesn't like 'cos she boils them to the point they're about to turn to mush)...... but hubby (who normally bins some of his veg, and we had more than normal) ate everything!! Told son the veg is going to be trial and error while I get used to the machine, but carrots were the one thing that never cooked in my last SC

the SC is now back on with the stock and a load of dried peas, so will have to see how the pea and ham soup turns out now


Still an 'over budget meal', but I normally do one a week that is -- and balance it out with one that's super cheap (yesterdays tea was Mr A's frozen SP bangers with beef savoury rice -- our cheapy meal for the week at £1.34 for 3 portions, but one of the family favourites).

Bunny200

BigMummaF wrote: »

Been on the Greenfinger board this morning & found these:-

www.squarefootgardening.com & the associated discussion on http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=409853

OMG, I've just spent ages looking at these and I'm totally converted! I have a really small garden and don't want to give up too much as I have 2 small kids and they need space to run around, they don't want to live on an allotment! But this sounds like a good solution to me, just need to find cheap wood to build the frames!:D

In_Search_Of_Me

evening weezlites! Still weezless I see!! Not much to report other than a Mr T shop that became somewhat stressful & naughty Alfie cat bit me, and properly bit me so he may be next on the menu!!

mama67

shala_moo wrote: »

ISOM - Re breadmakers - I agree. I bought mine last year and used it quite a bit, and loved it at the time,because i thought breadmaking by hand was just too long winded and difficult.

I've since tried a lot of recipes on here and much prefer doing it by hand, i think the loaves are a better shape and you get more slices out of them (without the big hole in the bottom)

I'm a convert to the "by hand" method now and the breadmaker is currently taking up space in my cupboard waiting to be taken to my sisters...

I understnad that some people prefer the breadmaker though...

Moo x

Must admit I am on my 4th bread machine but only have a cheapy now as I realy only use the dough facility on timer then bake in the oven.

I make normal white, wholemeal, spelt & white, garlic, french, doughnuts.

I also use it to make the dough for iced fingers.

Pooky

cw18 wrote: »

have fun


doesn't bear thinking about :eek:





well, the bacon joint cooked in the slow cooker was a TOTAL success went to lift it out, and it very nearly didn't make it in one piece!! I've never ever had a bacon joint that I've not had a job carving before (this one just fell apart, and there was no way I could have sliced it) -- and even though it was smaller than I'd normally buy for the three of us, I actually have a good quarter of it left !!! I put that down to not having had to carve it, which normally ends up with doorstep slices

Think I shouldn't have put the carrots in as early as I did though, as they were too soft for my liking -- and son said the ham was lovely but the carrots were like his Gran's (which he doesn't like 'cos she boils them to the point they're about to turn to mush)...... but hubby (who normally bins some of his veg, and we had more than normal) ate everything!! Told son the veg is going to be trial and error while I get used to the machine, but carrots were the one thing that never cooked in my last SC

the SC is now back on with the stock and a load of dried peas, so will have to see how the pea and ham soup turns out now


Still an 'over budget meal', but I normally do one a week that is -- and balance it out with one that's super cheap (yesterdays tea was Mr A's frozen SP bangers with beef savoury rice -- our cheapy meal for the week at £1.34 for 3 portions, but one of the family favourites).

I do my bacon joints this way too - I buy one of the value joints in Mr T's for about £4 and the four of us get 2 main meals worth each - normally with salad and mash, and a cheesy pasta dish, the rest goes in sarnies (can normally stretch this to days worth of lunches for all 4 of us). A great tip for the sarnies - once it's cooled, I mince it and mix with mustard and mayo and use as a spread - a little goes a very long way.

I tried something different with the peas this week too - used the whole pack boiled up in the stock from the bacon and then added fried onions, peppers, celery (all on it's last legs) bit of sweetcorn too with a good pinch of chilli powder - blitzed it all together and made into fritters - quick fry on both sides for colour and finished in the oven - they were delish! It made loads too - got 3 batches in the freezer.

Money_saving_Diva_2

I just wanted to say that I am totally inspired by all you ladies and of course the one and only Weezl - what an amazing woman you are!

I cannot even hope to lower my budget by that much but I have been talking to the OH for weeks now about us being more frugal and then I found this site and eventually this thread and am now a total convert. There are some things we have always done, things I inherited from my gran and mum I guess, like making soup from the peapods and bread and butter pudding from the stale bread. My mum used to freeze the last couple of pieces of every loaf and then every couple of weeks make a huge b & b pudding for us all! She also used to make huge pans of soup or curry and we would have it two or three nights in a row. Then of course there was cheese and potato pie which to this day is one of my faves. It isn't a pie, it's just mash with cheese and cracked pepper in it topped with cheese and baked in the oven so the top goes crispy! Wonderful with value baked beans!!

Anyway, what I really wanted to say was that I sat today and read from page 40 to page 76 to catch up with everyone. The whole pig thing made me laugh like a drain and despite not feeling too well today, I was fascinated to hear all about it. (I avoided the pictures tho for a better day!!) Being under par and unable to go out, it was a lovely way to spend a few hours this afternoon! You are all amazing! We have started to eat from the stock cupboard and freezer - so having lots of odd meals we would normally not have, but are quite enjoying!!

Just one thing to add - did you all know you can freeze eggs? Crack them into large ice cube containers or two or three into a ramekin. They don't taste as good as fresh if you are using them as scrambled etc, but if you are cooking with them you can't tell the difference. You can let them defrost and then just put them in. Might be worth doing if you find any reduced to clear.

munchki

*peeking in*

Has been a very hectic few days!!

BBQ for DH bday went wonderfully, although drank far to much for a Sunday night! I made him a huge carrot cake with mounds of cream cheese icing and decorated it in silver and gold and edible glitter, all of which I had in the house already. The cake simply vanished!

Been trying to catch up with work, sometimes I think working from home is far worse than working in an office as I find it terribly hard sometimes to switch off.

Hubby is away all week again *sigh* so I only tend to pick and use up what is left in the fridge or take out small portions from the freezer. I really must have a proper clean out of the freezer as I have no idea what is lurking in it all I know is that it is crammed full of stuff!

Friend just told me she saw a raspberry bush hiding and that the berries were just turning the lovely red colour, so will have to find that at the weekend as really want to make some raspberry jam unless of course someone beats me to it. We have wild bilberry's not to far from us and just wondering if they may possibly be ready, seems earlier every year!

Finally have tons of little baby toms on the vine and courgettes have made there appearance. I only have one of them but currently have 12 flowers on it! Even have tiny little green beens coming on so can hardly wait for it all to come into the kitchen.

Just wondering, could one of you very nice people try and send me a pm please? It seems all of a sudden i can send things least I think i can but it does not always show up in my box and I am not sure if I am even getting replies properly. Was on a craft board and asked lovely Shaz for a pdf and not even sure if she got it *huge sigh*

I also wanted to say a very big thank you for everyone's amazing thoughts, ideas and for all the giggles you give to each other. This is one of the most amazing groups I have ever had the greatest pleasure of being part of. You are all wonderful and my life is so much more complete and you really get me through the weeks. Thank you and apologies for the very long waffle!

Anyway, I think it is time for me to head off to bed. Am exhausted tonight.

Sweet and magikal dreams to you all!!

Kath xx

mama67

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

Avocet - yeah maw broons book is really good - theres loads fo good things in there - i keep forgetting to check what cuts fo meat id need when i go into town though so havent experiemented as of yet

I quite fancy a yorkshire pudding with a filling - sounds yummy, and havent had them in ages. We use to serve our roast beef dinners in them. Giant yorkshire pud, sliced beef on the pbottom then all the vg piled on top and all the gravy (although granted this wouldnt work for a vegetarian unless you dont add the meat)


Well Im having a day today - ive decided to give up caffeine so no tea, coffee or coke for me today - although i haent had tea in abotu 5 days i have had a small bottle of coke yesterday adn the day before (although diet) so today is my first caffeine free day.

Growing a family - thats the weight my little boy Ben was and he was my first so i dread to think how much any further children would weigh as im sure I was told they get heavier the more you have :eek: Also think my nurse/midfwife was a bit sadistic becuase as soon as my actual labour started she took the gas and air pipe off me!! 9lb 7oz baby with no pain relief when your 19 is not fun! but i shouldnt complain as he was only 5 3/4 hours from start to finish.

My DS1 was 9lb 6oz and DS2 was 11lb 2oz; both were by C section.

DS1 was also breech.

I was also told Sammy that if I had a third to expect at least 13lb