Getting out of my comfort zone

gilligansyle

Was REALLY tired yesterday, having got up at daft o'clock the stupid thing worked fine so it was unnecessary after all to have got in so early. But s**s law, if I hadn't gone in, all hell would have broke loose.

DS was on a course round the corner from Mum's so he landed himself there, and she lives near the Mersey Tunnel exit so it seemed daft not to go that way and call in. It's technically the short way, through the tunnel, but actually it takes longer because of traffic. And it costs £1.40 .

Had fish and chips for tea as too tired to cook and DS was starving and couldn't wait - not the best start to keeping an eye on what I eat Started to watch the football, fell asleep....not sure if that says more about my tiredness or Liverpool's performance really.

Today I forced myself to eat cereal for breakfast and took salad in, and also some seed mix thing which apparently is a slow release food (?) so see how I go with that sort of thing. Have got some recipe books out to look for ideas for leftover lamb.

sparkiedoll

Always have a bit of mashed spud in the freezer - or instant mash...chop up the lamb with a bit of this and that - onion; s&p; veg....Rissoles!!!

savingholmes

hi gill

I adore lamb - just gravy, veg and mash with it and I would be in culinary heaven! it is so expensive tho isn't it... You could make a curry, tagine or shepherd's pie with it but for me it would be lamb and mashed potatoes every time preferably with leek, carrots and onion and mushroom gravy! Yum!

Can you tell I've not eaten yet... my mouth is watering just at the thought!

gilligansyle

savingholmes wrote: »

hi gill

I adore lamb - just gravy, veg and mash with it and I would be in culinary heaven! it is so expensive tho isn't it... You could make a curry, tagine or shepherd's pie with it but for me it would be lamb and mashed potatoes every time preferably with leek, carrots and onion and mushroom gravy! Yum!

Can you tell I've not eaten yet... my mouth is watering just at the thought!

I made a sort of moussaka thing, fried it up with onions, garlic, courgettes, some puree and some red wine, then layered aubergines and topped with grated cheddar.

:whistle:and all the veg was out of my greenhouse too!

Have had no internet for a few days, sooo angry with Virgin who seemed unable to understand that, yes, we had already rung up and done all the diagnostics and no, it still wasn't working, and no, I didn't want to redo all the diagnostics, I just wanted it fixed. How difficult could that have been??

Anyhow, back to the real world. Have built up enough spare hours that I will get paid for being off on Monday. My contract has been extended for another month, and there is no sign of the new posts being advertised any time soon, so its just as well. Next few weeks look like being absolutely manic.

Off for fish and chips, back later.

savingholmes

well done on the greenhouse veggies - sounds like a gorgeous meal!

pleased your contract has been extended and that you have enough hours in to cover Monday.... I worked extra this week too so I have covered my flex-time deficit and have a couple of hours to spare now...

Off this next week - can't wait! Are you doing anything special for the bank holiday!

macgirl

Good news on the contract extension - sounds like a permanent position would suit you there.

Enjoy fish and chip friday - Yum!

gilligansyle

I wish it would stop raining!
Every time I go to do anything it starts again.
Have got the house to myself now for the rest of the day and probably tomorrow as son and mates have gone to Matthew Street Festival. With the weather as it is, he's glad he hasn't gone to Creamfields, camping in half a gale and torrential rain is not a good idea.

I've done lots of ironing, mainly in half hour stints, and loads of washing, but have only just managed to get any of it out on the line to dry. I made the super economical chilli, so had that for tea and had it again for lunch today.

Did quite well with shopping yesterday, so have spent £27 yesterday and a further few quid in the greengrocers today. Most of what I bought was fresh food because I had done a cupboard and freezer check or things like cereal and soft drinks for DS (that he gives me the money back for)

***LIST ALERT***
So in my freezer I have:-
3 portions of chilli - from yesterday
2 portions of rice - from yesterday
Already there:-
2 portions of chicken curry - remains of roast
1 portion of moussaka -remains of roast
2 portions of ragu
1 portion of lasagne
lots of chicken stock
Bought stuff
2 pizzas
chicken dippers etc.
fish fingers
frozen fish
burgers
sweet and sour chicken
char su pork
various potato products
lots of veg
bags with odd slices of bread that I can't bring myself to throw away!

So, bearing in mind that when I say 'portion' I mean one of those plastic boxes you get takeaway in, there is probably enough food in the freezer to feed a small army for a week, I should really be able to survive without getting much other than fresh food,just have to actually PLAN!!

Have also got plenty of tinned tomatoes, sweetcorn, kidney beans, baked beans, tinned ham, and soup. Oh yes, and still got 20 packets of savoury rice.

*******************************************8
I also now have clean cupboards as I wiped them all down as I put stuff back.

macgirl

Phew, you've been industrious today! I wish I was so organised. My freezer is down to virtually zilch (on purpose).
I've decided (whilst watching Come Dine with Me ) that when we move, I'm going to spend a Saturday batch cooking and fill up the freezer.

You must feel great after spring-cleaning the cupboards too. I've been doing mine recently and keep opening them and feeling so pleased with myself - what a saddo!

gilligansyle

It seems really sad to be so pleased about cupboards.

Its easier for me to batch cook as there are only 2 of us and most recipes cater for 4 so I just do more. A woman in work has a regular weekend where she batch cooks chilli, spag bol, curry of some sort and chicken casserole, and a load of jacket spuds. She puts them all in a chest freezer and lives off them until they've gone.

Have just had to stop typing as had a phone call from DS - very very drunk, someone had given him absinthe. So he is now curled up on sofa and I'm trying to stop him going to sleep.

Who'd be a parent

hypno06

Well done on the freezer stuff, but roll-eyes-smiley at DS.....!