Milanns mutterings on this last milestone.

boredofbeingathome

Just finished your diary Milan- every admiration for you after everything you have been through you still come out fighting.

Hope your DD continues to recover well. Bob x

taxi73

Great that DD is recovering and you have a plan for yourself.

milann

Bob - boy you must have been at a loose end ploughing through this diary LOL

Yup - I'm a bit determined sometimes - some might say a bit like a dog with a bone. There have been a few tough times along the way but I figure I have to cope and laugh at the situation best I can - very nearly tried the alternative once but didn't think much of it :eek: - so dragged myself back by the fingernails and have been doing so ever since:D:D:D - dd is built with the same determination so I don't doubt that she'll get there in the end maybe with a few tears and lots of smiles too:p

Managed a NSD - but eating plan went a bit haywire :rolleyes: - dh decided to 'help' and had made me a sandwich for my dinner - got in before me and did roast potatoes instead of boiled - have only had a couple though hopefully not too bad :rolleyes: - Bless - didn't have the heart to complain after he tried so haard LOL

Milann

Claw_back_money

Hi Milann

It sounds like both you and DD are made of tough stuff. It was nice that you could get some treats and help OH with his 'recovery' too.

Your plans look great. I did the 'cash only' bit for a while and found it really helped, but I think I had some bad habits to break and looking in my purse and thinking 'well I could buy that but then I'll have no money for the rest of the month' helped me start to really think what I was spending. We had the cards for 'emergencies', but OH and I didn't always agree what was an emergency. He would think that running out of 2 things would mean go and do a week's shopping, whereas I was happier to eke it out until the bitter end (unless it was a real neccessity we'd run out of).

Cheers
Cbm


PS - how do you make a cheesy potato bake?

milann

Cheesy potato bake - thinly sliced potatoes, onions and cheese - basically layered and covered in milk and bunged in oven. Can take a while up to a couple of hours depending on how deep it is - buuut I usually start the potatoes in microwave before slicing to speed it up. Finish with cheese on top - easy peasy lemon squeezy!!

savingholmes

hi milann really hope your DD manages to put the weight back on quickly - I agree she is dangerously low at the mo!

hope you manage to get the eating and spends plan back on tract. At least your OH was trying to help which is good.

Hope you have a better week!

milann

Went for a swim after work and thoroughly enjoyed it - haven't been for ages. I did 20 lengths and had a good 10 minutes in the Jaccuzzi. I was quite pleased as I haven't done ANY exercise in ages as I had been feeling so tired - onwards and upwards!! But I think the iron tablets might have kicked in at last.

When I got home at 7pm was about to do tea and suddenly got the urge to go out with DH - it's been a while since we went out together. So we toddled off to Wetherspoons - it was steak night and we both had steak and a jacket with salad (I didn't have any butter either ) - It cost £12 for the two of us including a drink. I used cash as I am still determined not to use any plastic until payday - it worked out less than buying a sandwich every day at work for my lunch. We both enjoyed it and I think we needed a bit of a break...but now I will have to be very careful for the next 9 days if I'm to stick to my masterplan.

I have taken the salmon out of the freezer for tomorrow - so won't be tempted again;)

Milann

taxi73

It's good to have a treat now and again..breaks the monotony and boy do you deserve one.

Claw_back_money

Glad to hear you're feeling a bit perkier whether through the iron or not, and your meal out sounds just lovely. I wish our local pool had a jacuzzi.

milann wrote: »

Cheesy potato bake - thinly sliced potatoes, onions and cheese - basically layered and covered in milk and bunged in oven. Can take a while up to a couple of hours depending on how deep it is - buuut I usually start the potatoes in microwave before slicing to speed it up. Finish with cheese on top - easy peasy lemon squeezy!!

At risk of sounding a bit slow, do you need to cook the onions first? How hot is the oven? I'm not a 'natural' cook but have discovered the joys of OS food from the forums here and people prepared to explain how to do things! We haven't had 'processed' food for over a year, and used to more or less live on it!

milann

CBM - No need to cook the onions first - the secret to the dish is to slice everything as thinly as possible. Season in between layers. I often do these potatoes with roast meat and put it in at the same time as the meat from raw - it is fairly forgiving and can (I find anyway) be cooked at the same temperature as the meat. Sometimes I add stock instead of milk and don't add cheese to ring the changes.

But when I come in from work to speed things I allow a potato per person - microwave each potato to begin the cooking process - so they are hot but not cooked - can't give a proper time as I tend to just keep testing. Use a clean teatowel to hold as I slice potato as they are a bit on the hot side by this stage and potato can be sticky too. Then I layer everything up. In between times I heat a bit of milk in microwave and pour over the top - just to top of last layer. It is hard to give a precise time as it can vary on potato type and how deep the dish is - but about the same time as a chicken portion - half an hour to an hour. I use 180 degrees to begin with and for the last 10 minutes I put oven to max to crisp the top. I'd allow extra time and if cooked earlier than you'd expect - just move to coolest part of oven until everything else is ready. - SORRY if that all seems a bit vague - but I'm a very much chuck it in and see - rather than a precise recipe follower.

Had a NSD today - and am quite pleased with my food intake too. Now just need to have a few more days like this. It definately helps to record on here and in the paper diary I have - thanks to you all for your kind comments