Mrs. P's Diary

Hopeful1

You're sounding very organised, Mrs P. I am hoping to treat myself to a slow cooker sometime soon. My mom has one and i think they're fab.

Ok so now i sound really sad. How times have changed - getting excited over a slow cooker :eek:

I hope it tastes good!

MrsPorridge

Hopeful1 - a slow cooker is fab. It really does save a lot of time in the evening, however, you do have to be organised in the morning to prep. everything and get it ready. Its fantastic to walk in after a long day at work to a hot meal all ready and waiting to be served (especially in the winter).

Didn't post yesterday as felt a bit fluey. Feeling much better today though.:T

Busy day at work, and it wasn't an NSD as had to buy a present. Decided to join the NSD challenge and am aiming for 15 days this month, so far managed 1. Tomorrow its the dentist:eek: Only a check up. Luckily I do have a plan where they take around a tenner a month and that gives me two check ups a year plus 20% off any treatment so fingers crossed!

Just made dough in the breadmaker and am defrosting some mince mixture (basic cottage pie mix) which I am going to use to make a stromboli tomorrow - another recipe from the old style boards. Its basically mince mixture (or anything could be veggies I guess) you roll out your dough put the mixture in the middle then attempt to wrap it all up either like a swiss roll or giant pasty. Then cook in the oven for approx half an hour. Its delicious and especially served with baked beans. I will leave the dough overnight in the fridge for a cold rise. Its called stromboli after the volcano because the filling erupts out. My family all call mine Tracey Island because it always ends up looking like the island from Thunderbirds - minus the puppets.:rotfl:

Am off to have a look around the boards then have booked the TV from 7pm so I can do half an hour on the Wii Fit. I just couldn't face getting up early this morning.:D

MrsPorridge

Feeling a bit down today. I have our money screwed down so tightly and I just checked the account and OH had taken out £20 for oil and something for his motorbike (his form of transport to work every day). He apologised and said he meant to mention it last night but I feel very much like a school teacher at the moment and almost telling him off. Don't want to be like that. I am feeling very fluey and coldy and am very busy at work, as is OH. Just annoyed really that we have to watch every penny. I know there are people who are in a much worse position on these boards and that makes me feel even more guilty.

just wanted to let it al out. Am sure I'll feel better later. I'm really a positive person deep down but now and again I go "down" for about half an hour or so!!

MrsPorridge

Feeling much better now. After all it is only the second month of me MSEing. At least I have it all under control now and no more CCs.

Car goes in for a service tomorrow but its on a package where I only have to pay for parts so fingers crossed everything will be OK.

Did some shopping tonight, bought some Tesco own brand chocolate as it was at least a quarter of the price of Cadburys. Will try some later and see how it compares. I was quite pleased as I managed to get two large bars plus a bottle of cheap plonk for £3.49. Will have the wine later and probably wake up with a bad head tomorrow!!

I am aiming to do something totally unheard of tomorrow to not spend any money on Saturday and Sunday.

Horace

Sorry to hear that you have been a bit fluey Mrs P. I still have the dregs of it hanging on from last week:mad:

If you want really delicious chocolate that is cheap (cheaper even than Tesco) then get yourself down to Lidl. Their chocolate is divine:D

Hope your weekend improves - chocolate and wine will go along way to help.

MrsPorridge

Hi Horace - thanks for the tip about Lidl's chocolate.

Hopeful1

Hi Mrs P.

Glad to hear your feeling better. Let us know which choccie wins the taste comp - make sure you try it all before you finish the wine

MrsPorridge

I have to report that Tescos own brand milk choclate was not very nice! I much prefer Cadburys. Next try will be Lidls as suggested by Horace.

Am organising a Halloween party so have started to get ready for it now. Spent most of the afternoon baking. Have baked 3 loaves in the bm and some pizza dough which I then cut using my gingerbread man cutter. I will use them for pizza toppings and call them Zombie Pizzas (not my idea I got it off the internet). I have made loads of little fairy cakes and frozen them too, plus a large cake. It has been years since I baked, but since joining MSE and cooking from scratch it has re-awakened my interest and I love it. Its cheaper than shop bought and much, much tastier!!

Dad gave me some money towards the party and I bought some wigs, masks and halloween decorations for the table. My Dad, brother and his wife and 2 kids are coming plus my DH and DS plus a couple of his mates so I plan to do buffett style food. I will make some sausage rolls, vol au vants etc. I am still trawling the internet for more ideas though.

I plan to make little signs with the name of the food on them, for instance, "spooky sausage rolls" and "green slime" (green jelly). I have got the cocktail sticks and made the signs on my computer. The aim is to stick the signs to the cocktail sticks then stick them in the food!

Beany32

Hi Mrs P

I find Tesco chocolate is good to use in cooking, i.e. crispie cakes or cake toppings. I mix 50% tesco value plain and 50% tesco value milk, melted and mixed and everyone always comments on how nice the choc is. It's also pretty safe in the cupboard as I not tempted to eat it as I agree, as it is it's not that tasty.
Beany

MrsPorridge

Hi Beany - thanks for that tip. Yes, it would be safe in my cupboard! But, I agree with you, as a topping on a cake it would be great.