OS Daily Thread - Monday 14th September

Looby_Lou

Hi, we've had a couple of busy days here. Friday was our 10th Wedding anniversary, and DH bought me a Nintendo DSi :j. I had suggested we got one to go on holiday with, but for the kids to keep them occupied on the plane. We're going to NZ for a month, partly visiting my SIL and her kids and partly travelling around. I'm not looking forward to the journey - 24 hours on a plane with a 6yr old and a 4yr old who never sits still:eek:.

Saturday we went to a picnic in Clumber Park which was nice, and the weather was good. The boys had a lovely time making a shelter out of fallen sticks. I took an Ultimate Chocolate cake which everybody seemed to enjoy. Yesterday we took the kids to see the Tour of Britain cycle race. We were at the KOM1 end point, and were given flags to wave. DS2 preferred seeing all the police motorbikes :rolleyes:. In the afternoon we went to a small museum which had an archeological dig that the children could do, they loved it - but came home slightly muddy!

Today the weather is lousy, so I'm trying to book car hire for NZ and get some tidying up done. Dinner is left over chicken. DS1 has cookery and Gardenning club at school this afternoon, so I'll take DS1 into town to buy birthday presents after school.

Maitane - I grew up in Bangor. My parents still live there, my PIL are just outside Menai Bridge and my brother is just about to move from Rachub! Mum worked in the hospital before she retired as a ward clerk and Dad was at the Uni. We tend to get home a couple of times a year.

mummysaver

Morning all!

Had a lovely time at the barbie yesterday, only dd3 came with us in the end, dd2 arrived home a bit earlier than expected and her and ds went on a bike ride - okay they actually pedalled to the local services and bought Burger King meals, but still, it was nice that they wanted to go off together and do stuff! Picked up dd1 on way home, well alright I forgot and sailed straight past her friend's house, then suddenly dd3 woke up and reminded me, so we turned around and collected the missing child! Whilst with her friend they'd dug out lots of craft stuff that had been accumulated as pressies and made friendship boards on canvasses, they're really lovely, they put pics, scrapbook bits, glittery stuff, paint, messages, feathers, all sorts really, so going to put it up on her wall for her when she decides where she wants it. Her friend has made a sort of scrapbook by the sounds of it, all about her childhood, and dd is keen to do one too, so will be having a look over on the crafting thread, as really don't want to end up being dragged to Hobbycraft to spend my money!

Dinner last night was nice, though there was some confusion about whether vegetarians eat salmon! They don't, well I don't! So oh quickly grabbed something out of the freezer at work for me when I picked him up en route! Met a lovely couple there, who have built a firepit into their decking, so we are popping round to see it soon, being cheeky I suggested that we come when it was being used so that we could judge how it worked lol! OH is now threatening to ban me from visiting anyone else's house incase I come up with any more bright ideas! Still need to do the kitchen floor here - and quickly as he's invited his mother over in a couple of weeks, and she is a clean and tidy freak! Clean I can do, but tidy really is a struggle, and whilst the kitchen floor is both clean and tidy it is also old and knackered and looking rather ratty!

Anyhoo, OS stuff today has been making bread, throwing spicy Moroccan stylee veg stew in SC (tagine paste is delish, never used it before, but picked it up by mistake instead of harissa and rather pleased that I did!), and making crab apple jelly, and variations thereof with mint and chilli!

Have made a list in my nice new dodo pad/diary (always get the school year ones, as that's when I first started using them, so they just run on now!) of all the things to do this week and have been happily ticking them off! Have entered all important school dates for ds and dd1 who are at the same school, need to check on websites for dd2 and dd3's schools' dates and pop those in too. Need to do some more washing when machine finishes, some ironing, change dd3's bedding - no idea why she wants it changed today, but she does, prob doesn't like the duvet cover she has at the mo! Will get kids to do some tidying this evening, as it is all their school homework stuff spread around, and if I move it I'll only get blamed when it goes astray! Also need to crack on and make some tray bakes for lunches and bung them in freezer! Have done meal plan, not terribly exciting, but going to try meatball recipe from economy gastronomy this week, so should be fun!

Lunches today were hm garlic cheese and salad in hm bread sarnies, apples from my little tree, hm choc brownies and hm yoghurt (which reminds me I need some more UHT milk!)

Dinner for the kids will be chicken new yorker made with thighs, with couscous and spicy moroccan stew. Mine will be stew and couscous. Will freeze a couple of portions and then the rest is due to become sausage casserole for tomorrow's dinner!

Time for a coffee and read through of today's thread I think, hope everyone has a great day xx

pipkin - thanks for the linky to the Roald Dahl recipe site, will be having a good browse in a bit!

earthmother - I love the idea of your dreampot, think I might even start one up myself! Currently bunging any leftover (ha ha ha!) money into my old childhood looby loo money box, hoping that it'll make Christmas a lot less painful, and then it'll be used for holiday savings, but a little pot of dreams for me sounds lovely, just got to work out where I can save some money to go into it!!!!

penpin - sorry to hear about your relly, no words can help much, but I am thinking of you. And what a shame about your birthday too, perhaps a celebration later in the year would be something to look forward to, you could be like the queen with two birthdays?!

helyg - I hope that things move on quickly for your son now and that he gets the help and support he needs at school - I agree that the title of the mental health unit sounds scary, but fingers crossed that they come up with some good solutions for you all x

GemmaBuckle

bargainbird wrote: »

Gemma - HM Dog Biscuits :D

Hi - yes, HM dog biscuits. Last week we made Carrot & garlic, although they came out more like Rock Cakes. Think I put too much liquidised carrot in. Not to worry - Puppy-Dog loved them and would do anything for one. Mind you, he also likes to eat feathers and dirt, so it doesn't say a huge amount for my cooking!
Would you all mock me if I revealed that I also have recipes for home made rabbit biscuits (that's biscuits FOR the rabbits, not biscuits made with rabbit...)

donny-gal

Morning Everyone

Not a lot of OSing going on here, having a new front/back door (it's one and the same) together with a new bathroom window, so no chance of getting into the kitchen, and no point cleaning when a mess is being made;).

Will get the 'van emptied and cleaned shortly as I think we have had our last trip until December.

:hello: to all the Newbies

Pen-Pin Think you said your birthday was some time this week, so come on share with us when. Hope you feel a little brighter today.

:grouphug: to everyone else who'd like one
:wave: to everyone
DG

Bargainloverbec

Morning all,

Not posted on here recently, have been too busy cleaning and decluttering the house and filling the freezer in preparation for baby no 1! Am now 5 days overdue and no sign of an imminent arrival so I'm now twiddling my thumbs a bit. Have now moved on to making Christmas cards and knitting Christmas presents.

This morning got the washing out on the line and stewed up a bag of plums that FIL brought round yesterday from his garden. These will probably go in the freezer for a future crumble. DH spent Saturday afternoon chopping up logs that a neighbour gave us so we have lots of fuel prepared for the winter and both feeling rather virtuous.

Now just need baby to arrive - any tips, OS or otherwise will be gratefully received!

R x

thriftlady_2

lou1981 wrote: »

Do you think i could put blackberries in a muffin.
xxx

I know you can put blackberries in a muffin:D Any berry is good in a muffin Lou;)


So, I've done my Waitrose shop, spent a couple of £s more than my estimate, but then I bought a couple more things than planned. Still came in at just under £90 which was my budget. Very pleased with myself so went back in the store and bought this book:D Ooh, it's lovely- lots of yummy recipes for Indian, Carribean and Middle Eastern flatbreads, European yeast bread and loads of unusual international cakes. I don't know the author but she writes well and the recipes seem clear. I wish Waitrose didn't stock cookbooks though-I just can't help my self. Am pleased to see that it is only £1.75 cheaper at Amazon.

Anyone else feeling the cold? It's turned chilly here, must get on with something to warm me up.

purpleivy

GemmaBuckle wrote: »

Hi - yes, HM dog biscuits. Last week we made Carrot & garlic, although they came out more like Rock Cakes. Think I put too much liquidised carrot in. Not to worry - Puppy-Dog loved them and would do anything for one. Mind you, he also likes to eat feathers and dirt, so it doesn't say a huge amount for my cooking!
Would you all mock me if I revealed that I also have recipes for home made rabbit biscuits (that's biscuits FOR the rabbits, not biscuits made with rabbit...)

not biscuits made with rabbit..PMSL!!!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

You are all such busy bees I can't keep up. Maybe I need an OS list like an OP? We have no gas today as they are replacing stuff in the street. Can't get on or off the drive. This will happen another day soon as well.

Bread is made though.
Fridge is full of stuff. My fridge management at the moment is terrible and I've wasted several things recently. Going to have a look in a minute and get ideas on paper. Make a list! Obv can't make anything needing gas at the moment.

Catering should be easy for a few days as dh is away till Thursday. Leek and Potato soup last night that the kids loved, so will finish that tonight. Won't give them new loaf, will do some cheese thinly sprinkled on iffy bread and toasted instead. Bought salad yesterday so that's my lunch.

Think there's some trex needs using up, need to check the date. Providing it's not rancid I'll probably make some quiches.

Got chana soaking and a spice mix from the Indian and Continental shop near my mum's. Will make that up when we get the gas back. Or might see if I can simmer the chana in the m/w. I do mushy peas in the m/w so might work. Mmmm

lou1981

thanks Thriftlady, there was only a small amount left so muffins it will be.
x

bargainbird

Gemma - Can you share the receipe for dog biscuits :D please please pretty please.

nic1lou2

Afternoon all

Sent home early from Jury Service as no case to call for today. So called at Asda and Mr T on the way home and picked up some great YS bits an bobs, got some lovely casserole beef (got 3 packs) reduced to 99p, some YS mushrooms and some YS cumberland sausages and so one pack of beef and the mushrooms are now in the slow cooker with some 4p curry sauces, chopped onions and peppers, I can now use the jars to make something with this huge stack of blackberries and tomatoes that I have.

MSD - I have put four big tupperware containers of blackberries into the freezer - still have lots in the fridge. Saw a recipe on internet somewhere yest for blackberry chutney so will try and find that again. Am going to try your green tomato chutney too.

Bread made, smells lovely, am struggling not to cut a [STRIKE]chunk[/STRIKE] slice as I am trying to start the diet today. Am going to join WW tonight (again) with DD1, I am so cross with myself really - I lost 50 lbs about 3 years ago and have gradually put it all back on so will have to start from scratch once again. There is 11 months till the wedding so now is a good time to start!!!

Right off to do some cooking, will check back on the thread later

x