50p a day til christmas, healthily?!-Weezl's next challenge (part 2)

Elfinwings

r.mac wrote: »

Also - did anyone catch the EG bread recipe or have a similar one they can point me in the direction of? I don't have a BM, but think that my kneeding technique is what has let me down in the past. the atraction of the EG recipe was that I have a kenwood chef with a dough hook attachment

Have found the economy gastronomy recipe on the bbc for you. Also, have you considered making soda bread? Very easy and doesn't need a lot of kneeding.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/freshlybakedbread_92265.shtml

shaz_mum_of__2

:rolleyes:

ceridwen wrote: »

A little bird tells me one of our "happy band" on here has just got one of those American pressure canners.....:D ...you know who you are:D.

Errr.....do tell....have you had any "Adventures in Canning Land" yet? All report-backs and fotees welcome purlease to those of us who are now sitting here feeling distinctly envious...:p

hmm would that be moi?:rotfl::rotfl:

Not much to report yet as been waiting for a jar delivery (special ones)


have had a practice though and done 14 jars of runner beans from the garden and half a dozen passata type big jars the runners were nice just like tinned french beans

I had underestimated the quantity of ingredients needed and will only be using when things are a really good deal or have a glut from garden will be having a go at a 10 bean soup once i decifer the recipe(american names for beans not same as ours and I know some but not all )

need some bigger pans too as 14 pints of soup is a lot!!

I also want to do some meals to like curries and casseroles so on nights i am pooped there will be no takeaways

All in all the canner will come into its own once we have a smallholding for now its just practice practice practice.

Shaz

Lula-Hula

Hello,

I've been reading the last few pages with interest & felt I had to say hello or it just feels like voyeurism .

Ceridwen - hello again, I am still simplifying, but havent posted for ages.

ISOM - was reading your diary over on DFW, really feel for you about your situation & as we are just about to rescue a cat ourselves ( DD + myself) your situation has really made me double check the figures to make sure I can afford to take proper care of the beastie, so not much consolation for you really, but you have made one person really think a decision through which is great.

BigMummaF - thanks to your dedication I've rejoined the NSD challenge & am doing well.

I was particulalry interested to read about the view on ethical food & hope you dont mind if I share my views. I was vegetarian in the past but often struggled to maintain my iron levels & as a regular blood donor this was crucial so I have returned to eating small amounts of meat. This may seem ridiculous but some of my current debt can be attributed to trying to eat organically & ethically. When DD was born - nearly 10 years ago - I insisted on having everything organic & as my shopping bill rose beyond my means I started using a CC to compensate.

After much soul searching & various money saving methods - including a very unpleasant & never to be repeated few months using various value products I think I have now found my happy medium. I share an allotment with a couple of friends & we grow most of our own veg & a fair amount of fruit too I have only ever bought free range eggs, but we use them only for cooking. When it comes to those products that have to be imported ie coffee, tea, bananas & sugar etc then I have decided that for me, it is more important that the producer receives a decent return for his labour than it being organic. It has to be fairtrade; after all, surely humans deserve the same respect as animals in terms of food production ?

I certainly havent come close to achieving 50p a day on food & dont create as much as I could from scratch but I am pleased to have now cut down to a budget of £5 a day.

I shall keep reading & trying to reduce spending so thanks to all of you for posting your efforts & achievements, you're inspirational

Lula

In_Search_Of_Me

Elfinwings wrote: »

If there was a medal for bravery regarding pets, I would award it to you. Well done on having your amazing strength of character :T I don't think I would be able to give Gwendoline (my rescue cat) up.

no bravery at all I can tell you but when its possibility of being in very deep doodoo vs rehoming cats to loving home there is no two ways about it unfortunately..trying not to think about how much I'll miss them although they dont like the boxes so wont miss clearing up spillages!

lol re canning envy...sad lot arent we!! Mum coming tomorrow to do car boot and collect things and I have a knitting group am tomorrow..early night tonight as feel absolutely crackered...just made pizza though and, If I dot say so myself its rather yummy!!

lovely post lula! Re bread recipe weezles no knead one is easy...I had a bm but sold it as prefer making it by hand...ie by hand and not with dough hooks etc - even though I have one...:)

ceridwen

Lula-Hula wrote: »

Hello,

I've been reading the last few pages with interest & felt I had to say hello or it just feels like voyeurism .

Ceridwen - hello again, I am still simplifying, but havent posted for ages.

ISOM - was reading your diary over on DFW, really feel for you about your situation & as we are just about to rescue a cat ourselves ( DD + myself) your situation has really made me double check the figures to make sure I can afford to take proper care of the beastie, so not much consolation for you really, but you have made one person really think a decision through which is great.

BigMummaF - thanks to your dedication I've rejoined the NSD challenge & am doing well.

I was particulalry interested to read about the view on ethical food & hope you dont mind if I share my views. I was vegetarian in the past but often struggled to maintain my iron levels & as a regular blood donor this was crucial so I have returned to eating small amounts of meat. This may seem ridiculous but some of my current debt can be attributed to trying to eat organically & ethically. When DD was born - nearly 10 years ago - I insisted on having everything organic & as my shopping bill rose beyond my means I started using a CC to compensate.

After much soul searching & various money saving methods - including a very unpleasant & never to be repeated few months using various value products I think I have now found my happy medium. I share an allotment with a couple of friends & we grow most of our own veg & a fair amount of fruit too I have only ever bought free range eggs, but we use them only for cooking. When it comes to those products that have to be imported ie coffee, tea, bananas & sugar etc then I have decided that for me, it is more important that the producer receives a decent return for his labour than it being organic. It has to be fairtrade; after all, surely humans deserve the same respect as animals in terms of food production ?

I certainly havent come close to achieving 50p a day on food & dont create as much as I could from scratch but I am pleased to have now cut down to a budget of £5 a day.

I shall keep reading & trying to reduce spending so thanks to all of you for posting your efforts & achievements, you're inspirational

Lula

Hi LUla

Well - kudos to you and it sounds like you have been/are trying much harder than a lot of people would - all power to you:A:T

ceridwen

In_Search_Of_Me wrote: »

no bravery at all I can tell you but when its possibility of being in very deep doodoo vs rehoming cats to loving home there is no two ways about it unfortunately..trying not to think about how much I'll miss them although they dont like the boxes so wont miss clearing up spillages!

lol re canning envy...sad lot arent we!! Mum coming tomorrow to do car boot and collect things and I have a knitting group am tomorrow..early night tonight as feel absolutely crackered...just made pizza though and, If I dot say so myself its rather yummy!!

lovely post lula! Re bread recipe weezles no knead one is easy...I had a bm but sold it as prefer making it by hand...ie by hand and not with dough hooks etc - even though I have one...:)

Hi ISOM

Well - I'm wishing you positive vibes myself re having to pass your cats on to a loving home. One thing that struck me today - from a post on a blog I follow (ie "No Impact Man") was his comment that many people HAVE decided what they should do - but that doesnt necessarily mean that they WILL do it. I knew exactly what he meant - so I admire you for having the strength to do what you have decided is right in this respect - AND ensure the welfare of your cats - as many people let their feelings overwhelm their commonsense and you have done what you decided was necessary for the best - so kudos for that.:A I know how you will miss them - so hugs to you to help you cope with that. Knitting group - you know...knitting (and dressmaking) are skills I wish I had - but have to accept I never will. A kind stranger showed me the basic of how to knit recently - and I turned out a reasonable few rows of knitting thanks to her instructions - but I cant see me doing this as a regular thing. I am wondering about maybe learning to weave at some point - having noticed that there is someone available who could teach me how to....i've always wanted to be able to do that....errr...not quite sure what I could do with that skill if I DID acquire it mind you.....

In_Search_Of_Me

thanks c...I find it relaxing and with the jewellry making also make money which helps! You could weave homemade rug and flog em at a farmers market...

In_Search_Of_Me

ok when this week of sorting (prob to finish next weds) is done a proper storecupboard challenge it is...anyone want to join me? I will need to be innovative because some things are truely odd combinations!! Why I have millet seed for instance is beyond me....I am also hoping that this may bring our weezl out of hiding with frugaliscious ideas!

nopot2pin

In_Search_Of_Me wrote: »

ok when this week of sorting (prob to finish next weds) is done a proper storecupboard challenge it is...anyone want to join me? I will need to be innovative because some things are truely odd combinations!! Why I have millet seed for instance is beyond me....I am also hoping that this may bring our weezl out of hiding with frugaliscious ideas!

Well, ISOM

I have just made a smashing storecupboard curry... out of mostly out of date stuff in the cupboard

And there is enough left over for the freezer :cool:

So, I think I will be joining you this week in running the freezer and cupboards down

I now need to have a look at what to make with the half can of coconut milk I have left over.

I also remember seeing a recipe for lemon curd ice cream, but I can't find it now

lightisfading

In_Search_Of_Me wrote: »

ok when this week of sorting (prob to finish next weds) is done a proper storecupboard challenge it is...anyone want to join me? I will need to be innovative because some things are truely odd combinations!! Why I have millet seed for instance is beyond me....I am also hoping that this may bring our weezl out of hiding with frugaliscious ideas!

I do I just spent ANOTHER £20 I couldn't afford 'just going out for milk and bread', argh :mad: