Live on £4000 for a year - part 4 (Oct - Dec 2008)

sophiesmum_2

whitewing wrote: »

Strawberries also very good. Grapes halved and a mix of colours is fab too.

Janey, memory probs common in bereavement. Hugs.

I love the mix of colours in fresh fruit salad too, strawberries, red, black and green grapes, kiwi, orange segments, pineapple and plums - lovely colours:D

Mmmmm Food my favourite subject

sophiesmum_2

Just about to watch " Housewife 49" on ITV3 - missed it last time it was on - based on book by Nella Last - if you ever read her book she was ultra frugal, but had to be.;)

cw18

sophiesmum wrote: »

Just about to watch " Housewife 49" on ITV3 - missed it last time it was on - based on book by Nella Last - if you ever read her book she was ultra frugal, but had to be.;)

I meant to watch it last time and missed it -- had just realised (before seeing your post) that it's on again. That's me sorted for tonight

looby-loo_2

1274 wrote: »

I have rashly promised my Mum that I will make dessert for Christmas lunch (not Xmas pud because our family hates it). I was thinking of a nice light dessert, like chocolate mousse but have run up against the problem that I have none of the needed kitchen equipment. I do have pots and pans, but no whisk, no scales, no measuring cups (I have measuring spoons though), and no pyrex bowls for melting choc (but I could use the microwave?) Oh, and nothing electrical like mixers etc

Is there any hope, or should I just buy something and remove the packaging

Hi, Iv'e not posted but I've been reading and watching. Too much to do. Too many to organise.

Anyway I just had to jump in and say this is the easiest dessert ever! I do it for bonfire night, dinner parties and any tie really. And you can make it before and freeze it and eat it hot or cold, also change the filling to included anything you have eg luxury or frugle to siut the occasion.

baking tray
Ready rolled puff pastry (or block is cheaper if you have a rolling pin (or bottle)

Filling
jar of mincemeat
or
sliced cooking apple - either raw or cooked
cinnamon sprinkled on apple
sprinkle of nuts/cheries/dried fruit/etc
or
jam
fruit sliced

milk

icing sugar to dust when cooked

Method
cut the pastry into two equal halves measuring about 12" x 16" (or whatever size it comes!) to fit in you baking sheet

Spread one half with the filling - what ever you have/fancy
Fold the other half of the pastry in half length ways.
Cut diagonaly from the fold to the within 1" of the outside edge.
Open out (you have cuts that look like this - >>>>>>
Wet the edge of the base pastry and put the top on.
Press round the edges to seal.
Paint with milk

Bake in a hot oven for 12 -15 mins until golden brown, 200 or gas 6

When it's done, dust with icing sugar. At Christmas I sprinkle with sliced almonds/glace cherries too.

Serve on its own or with cream or custard

Only takes 15 mins to make and if I use garden friut it's only the cost of the pasrty and icing sugar. I put it in with the Yorkshire puds in the hot oven.

Hope this helps

It has a posh name but as I can't spell it I can't Google it!:o

mama67

shaz_mum_of__2 wrote: »

We had eco 7 storage heaters taken out and Gas CH put in as it was freezing at nights when we were in and lovely and warm in the morning when we weren't.

The eco 7 electric we had was 11pm -7am and even with running washer and dishwasher running during the night our bill showed the majority of use was outside that time frame .

Check your prices as we were paying almost double for daytime rates on eco 7 i guess in order to make the cheap night rate look good
the single rate we pay now is less than the eco 7 night rate was!!



Shaz

Shaz, just curious what tarriff are you on?

We are on the online standard which is 14.35 daytime and 6.32 nighttime plus vat and standing charge.

Skint_Lynne

I wish I would've caught the film, I'll look out for it coming on again. Well, i've been busy with the slow cooker, thanks for the recipies folks. I made a bolognaise sauce in it, and now, I've got steak and kidney going in it at low, so it will be ready in the morning. I just stuck to the recipies in the book, I'll become more adventurous I guess, I would've liked to have chucked the lentils into the mince, but I'll wait until I get the hang of it.

It's full steam ahead for DH coming back now, I've 8 portions of bolognaise, 9 portions of chilli, 4 portions of normal mince, and I've got guinness stew and a turkey joint in the oven just now, and the steak and kidney in the slow. I'll make a curry during the week, and also make the filling for a normal steak pie for the new year as I have some steak still in the freezer. I've also got a fillet of beef in there as well, so that will need to be defrosted and cooked. It'll make life easier for me when he is back, and I'll not spend the whole time cooking. I'll need to get my a**e in gear and clean this house, it is a tip.

I'll need to make a very long list of things to do!!!!

Night all,

Cat_Addict

Bless you Lynne, goodnight sweetheart - there's only so much you can do - be kind to you xx

purplevamp

sophiesmum wrote: »

Just about to watch " Housewife 49" on ITV3 - missed it last time it was on - based on book by Nella Last - if you ever read her book she was ultra frugal, but had to be.;)

sophiesmum and Cheryl - me too!! I'm recording it as I'm sorting out things to do for tomorrow after work - need to make a list or I will forget something :rolleyes: . I'm just trying to print out labels from my ebay sales tonight but the poota with the printer is soooo slow...

I thought I was quite organised this year but have found myself lacking cards and the last few presents. Last year I made my cards as I'd just come out of hospital and couldn't get to the shops. Everyone loved them, apart from my Mum who said "mmm, it's growing on me now".

Actually I've just noticed the time so I think it's finished now

Skint_Lynne

Cat_Addict wrote: »

Bless you Lynne, goodnight sweetheart - there's only so much you can do - be kind to you xx

I will be Wendy, I always end up running around daft before the arrival of 'the great one'.:rotfl::rotfl:

I wonder if I will remember what he looks like, he has been away since July:eek: :eek:

Frugaldom

Final post of the night

Janey, don't worry about missing the trees, you can't see them from the drive because the track goes over the hill

Desserts - I'm always a trifle person, love them, make them quite often, will be making XL sized one for Christmas - YUM!

Mama67, I was looking at your tariff for electricity, I'm on something called Comfort Plus with Scottish Power and it has 3 rates plus a standing charge of £1.60 per week. Day rate is 12.88p per unit, night rate is 5.84p per unit and the storage heaters run at 5.18p per unit whenever they are on. I'm now trying to get a timer fitted to the water heater so it can be set for early hours rather than pay day rate.

To Do List - I printed my labels, wrapped up most of the Chrissie pressies and made up my gift baskets, but haven't written any cards yet. Hopefully, the postman will bring my cone shaped cellophane bags tomorrow so I can make up the snowman soup packs for everyone. I also did a little extra shopping, using the £81 from 'Phil the Pig', my sealed pot. I got DS a game for his PS3, filled a tin with silver (dad gets a bank filled with coins every year as a contribution for his annual trips to hobby-specific exhibitions), I treated myself to a new pair of boots and a DVD, then the rest has gone into DGD's papier mache piggy bank that we made, so she can get that as an extra at Christmas. Like cw, I'm quite happy with my night's haul. (Well done CW with the Half0rds deals!)