Jamiedodger's Happy Times 2009 Diary

jenchin66

Morning

Day off today :j, so, housework is on the agenda. Have stipped down the deep fat fryer and it is soaking at the moment:eek:. Washing is on 30 degrees. Have ironing to do as well:eek:.

Then on to make 2 more paper mache pigs for my niece and nephew. They are 23 and 27 believe it or not. They have seen mine and want one each:D.

Gas meter is alos supposed to being changed today, will see is they actually turn up. Have already taken 1 reading from the old meter this morning, will take another when they disconnect it just to be sure.

Have a good day.

Jen

JAMIEDODGER

morning:wave:

its been a busy weekend here and i havent had much of a chance to post! Got very tipsy on wine saturday night which rendered me pretty much incapable for most of sunday morning:eek: however I did make a loaf, some cakes and do all the ironing yesterday afternoon:) urghh i hate hangovers!!!

Spent £5 on a takeaway saturday evening as had a friend round and bought a few bits and bobs that I had run out of, so have now updated spreadsheets and signature:)

Total spends to date £116.39:D

That will increase today as I will be doing my weekly food shop! Trying out some new recipes this week from my Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food Cookbook!!

After reading Sophiesmums stockpiling adventures on the 4k challenge thread, I will spending some of this week planning mine:D I dont stockpile enough and I know it does mean you end up spending less so will be attempting to do more of it!!!:T

I will be buying my new dining room curtains and pole this week, since I moved into my house over 4 years ago, I have never had curtains up in my dining room, I am sure this is why I am using so much heating at the moment:eek: So I have decided to take the plunge, they are very thick fully lined curtains, which I will also have to have altered slightly as my house has funny shaped windows! I have worked out all the costings for pole, curtains and alterations, and how much they will cost me per year over the next 5 years and it is less than I think I will save in heating costs, so will be buying these on wednesday:D

Right off to wake up tiddlers, will update later when I get back from tescos!!!

Cat_Addict

Hi Jamie, sounds like a good weekend in spite of hangover

I'm intrigued by the stockpiling ideas around. It's almost siege mentality and I used to laugh at my OH for his buying in bulk LOL.

We don't have room to stockpile in our house but I do like to be fully stocked up so there is always something there for tea. We've got plenty in at the moment, loads of meat in the freezer so I've got OH on strict instructions to not buy anything that I haven't asked for this week. We only need milk and veg this week. Should be having some nice meals - what Jamie recipes are you going to do? I fancy the fish pie one.

My problem is I say we are only going to eat whats in, then I decide we'll do something (like lamb biriani out of the lamb I cooked yesterday) and then discover that I am missing a couple of ingredients. Will prob pop into Mr T for those tomorrow....

jenchin66

Morning.

I am going to have a go at as stockpiling. I always have things like loo rolls and washing powder when on offer, normally have 6 moinths worth at a time.

Jamie have you tried anything from the "Approved foods" place.

I did lots of baking yesterday as well, there must have been something in the air:rotfl:.

Must go and get ready for work.

Have a good day:D

Jen

jtb2412

Morning Jamie et all

The baking is definitely catching - made cakes, an apple crumble and did a loaf of bread in the BM last night (my loaves always turn out better than OHs ).

Stockpiling here too (just started) so maybe we can keep each other company and share bargains !

Keep us posted on how the recipes turn out Jamie ....... watched Mr Oliver last night, was his cumberland sausage and bubble and squeak thingy .... looked yummy !

Your budget is looking very healthy JD :T I've got to do a shop this week as well (was debating on whether to go tonight but I shouldn't really go until Weds/Thurs as I have enough in to last until then). I have enough for dinner tonight (Mr Olivers turkey and leek pie) and tomorrow (roast turkey crown dinner with one of those Xmas joints that I got half price) - Weds will be scrambled egg on toast, will make a nice change from turkey :rotfl: :rotfl: .

Right, got to sort kids for school ....... have a great day everyone xx

JAMIEDODGER

hi all:)

Cat - OOh lamb biriani sounds delish, yes I keep eyeing up the fish pie recipe, maybe one for next week!!:)

Jen - I have had a look at AF website but havent found anything I would really need, maybe go have another look today:)

Jtb - Sharing bargains sounds like a plan!! I am really pleased with how the budget is coming along:T I love scrambled egg!!!:D

I will be cooking JO's Chicken Korma this week, would you believe I have never tried to make a curry before!!:eek:

Also on my list is his 'Cracking Burger' and 'Spaghetti and Meatballs'. We tend to eat a lot of mince in this house!!!

Armed with my list I will be hoping it doesnt cost me the earth in tesco today!!

For dinner tonight we are having JO's Spaghetti Bolognaise:D (see...more mince) I would like to cut down on the amount of red meat we eat though so will be checking out some of my other cookbooks to find other non red meat recipes!!!

jenchin66

JTB I bought 4 of the reduced crowns:T, for £6.50 they do us 5 2 meals and sarnies.

Jamie we use a lot of mince too, spag bol, lasagne, chilli and shephards pie, bulked out with veg of course.

Think I might see about getting Jamies book. Support the locals etc:rotfl:, his dadas pub is only about 20 mins from us.

Off to work, will see what bargains I can find at lunchtime.

Jen

JAMIEDODGER

Back from tesco's!

Spent £55.12

51.02 Food
4.10 Cleaning


Bought quite a lot of herbs and the like, lots of fresh veg, some oil and quite a bit of meat. A lot of the stuff I bought will last over 2 weeks, flour, teabags and baking supplies:)

Not too bad a shop, now we are starting to eat a bit more healthier and I am cooking everything from scratch again, I have found my grocery bill has increased, as I have been re-stocking my cupboard with basic staples and supplies. I do think I will start to see it coming down after a few months and hopefully by the end of the year, together with stockpiling will see it dramatically reduced compared to 2008:)

Hope everyone is doing well with their aims this morning??

jenchin66

Jamie, I did notice yesterday Tesco white bread flour is back down to 48p a bag from 79p.

Jen

jtb2412

Hi Jamie/everyone

How was the spag bol JD? We eat loads of mince here too (lasagne, spag bol, chilli, cottage pie etc etc) - there's so many meals you can make from it !

Nice little grocery spend there too - you did well ! :T Talking of shopping, have you ever been to Trading Post in Barnham?

Jenchin66 - they were good value huh? ! I bought 2 pork, stuffing and crackling ones and one turkey crown (we got them when staying at my mum's and I couldn't fit any more in the car - lots of pressies and other goodies in there for Xmas ). Wish I'd bought more now as the pork ones did us for dinner (5 of us) and sandwiches the next day. Turkey crown is going to have to stay in the freezer for one more day though. Got the other half of the JO turkey & leek pie tomorrow so will have the crown on Weds. Good job we like turkey ! :rotfl:

I keep looking at the AF website but there's not enough that I want/need that could justify the postage costs .

Am going shopping on Weds night and have made a list and menu plan so will see how much I spend ! Also going to pop to butchers tomorrow on my bike (just hope I don't fall off, i'm not very good with bikes ). Hopefully i'll be able to carry back what I want :rolleyes: .

Rambled on enough as usual so i'll leave you all in peace - have a great evening everyone xx

Edit: Jenchin, I noticed bread flour was 48p on website too but it's still 79p in our store