Macgirl's "Stop Procrastinating and Get on with it" Diary

macgirl

Morning!

Lots planned for today, first I need to take back something that I bought with promised birthday money. But in all honesty it's too extravagant and I can find something cheaper. So will take it back and put the money back in the bank.

Then I going to come home and post back DD1's wheelie trainers as she nearly broke her neck in the hall, so more money saved there (not that much as we had to buy her a replacement present, but it worked out cheaper :money:

Then home and clear the cupboards to see what I can use to rustle up some MSE dinners for 2 weeks. Once I done that and devised a meal plan, I'll write it on the blackboard.

If I have any time/energy left, this evening will be spent allocating budgets and possibly some paper sorting. I'm on a mission

Have a good all x ps DD1 is dressed in Victorian costume today for a school trip and looks so cute in her cloth cap!

hypno06

Putting it on the blackboard is an excellent idea! Mine floats around the kitchen on an increasingly scrappy piece of paper!

macgirl

One cupboard inventory done:

2 x tinned mackerel (DH bought and DH can eat )
2 x tinned sardines in brine (ditto)
2 x tinned sardines in tomato sauce
2 x tinned boneless sardines in tom sauce (have we got enough tinned fish?!)
1 x jar organic bolognese sauce
1 x jar dolmio bolognese sauce
2 x tinned baked beans
1 x tin oxtail soup
1 x tin Beef ravioli
3 x tinned cannelini beans
2 x tinned borlotti beans
2 x tinned chickpeas
1 x jar sliced beetroot
1 x tinned chopped tomatoes
1 x tinned rice pudding
1 x packet Puy lentils
2 x tinned tuna
1 x Chicken Supernoodles

1 x 2kg Wholemeal Flour
2 x 1kg SR flour
1 x Plain Flour (half full)
1 x 1kg Icing Sugar

1 x 2kg long grain rice
1 x large swede
1 x bag parsnips (5)
3kg Rooster Potatoes
3 x red onions
3 x white onions
1 x Dorset Cereals Muesli
3 boxes of cheese straws (left over from Mum's pre-Christmas party)

That's all for now. The only immediate problem I can see is that I'm on this silly diet - though I have to say I feel much better on it and have lost 1 WHOLE lb after 4 days :rotfl: - so carbs are a no-no for the time being.

I'm ashamed to say that I often throw out unused food and that's disgraceful. When I was on Maternity leave I meal planned and it worked very well. Now I seem to meet myself coming back and when I get in at 6pm, I'm tired the children are tired, cranky and hungry, I make the quickest thing - hence the jars of sauce.....

Right, back to the audit.

se999

Hi,

When my two were at home, or when I have visitors I tend to use serving dishes rather than dishing up onto the plates. I found people tended to take smaller helpings, and had seconds if they wanted, but the main benefit was leftovers could be reused . Also for healthy eating it gives an individual the ability to control how much they eat, without worrying about wasting food.

On the jars of sauces, I've learned that sometimes you don't need the whole jar, it's so easy to just automatically pour the lot in, just checked a jar I've got in the cupboard, and it says it keeps for upto 3 days in the fridge after opening, or can be frozen.

Hope you manage to cut down on the food waste & the diet continues working.

macgirl

Thanks Se, hope all's well with you and the house hunting

Yes, I used half a jar of sauce from Monday for lunch for DD and I today. I'm probably beating myself up about the amount I throw out as it's not that much - but it should be nothing at all - so that's my aim.

I'm having a day off from the strictness of the diet, but have still eaten well - just with some wholewheat pasta, so not too bad. Though I may treat myself to one bottle of beer with my popcorn watching the football tonight. What a Devil
To say it's the week before my period I have no feelings of PMT, I'm sure that is due to cutting out sugar and other stuff, so I can definitely see the benefits.

Right, so cupboard 2:

Herbs and Spices

2 x Ground Mixed Spice
Chilli Powder
Hot Curry Powder
Mild Curry Powder
Garam Masala
"Bone Suckin'" Rib Rub (DH's)
Rich Roasted Chinese Spice
Ground Cinnamon (+1 refill)
Chinese 5 Spice
Hot & Spicy Barbeque Spice
Bouquet Garni
Ground Coriander x 2
Ground Spice mix for Chicken
Saffron x 2
Ground Cumin
Italian Seasoning
Cayenne Pepper
Classic Barbeque Spice
Dried Oregano
Dried Mixed herbs
Ground Turmeric
Ground Ginger
Crushed Chillies

1 x pkt Strawbery jelly cubes
Large bottle of Chilli sauce
1/2 pkt sage & onion stuffing mix
1 box Miso Soup sachets (bought one one of many health kicks )
1 pkt instant custard mix
1/2 tin custard powder
1 box of dried yeast sachets (BBE Feb 09 - will they be ok??)
1 bottle of Oyster sauce (BBE April 10??)
1 x jar of Hoi Sin Sauce
1 x jar Spare Rib Sauce
Chicken Stock cubes x 2
Vegetable stock cubes x 5
1 tin Vegetable Bouillion
1 x jar Mild Curry Paste
1/2 tub Food Doctor Seed Mix
!/2 Bottle Lea & Perrins
1 x Marmite squeezy (yak - DH's)
1 x Marmite Extra Old (see above)
1/2 pack Golden Linseed (Moi )
1 x Whole Earth Peanut Butter
2 x Raspberry Conserve
1 x Marmalade
1.5 kg sultanas
2 x bags dried apricots
2.5 x bags dried dates
1/2 pkt dried cranberries
1 x jar of Nutella
1 bottle fish sauce
1 Wagamama Spicy Chilli Sauce (BBE 28.1.09) I reckon this will still be ok??
1.5 tubs of black peppercorns
1/2 bag of black peppercorns (given by my Mum - random gift!)
1 tube of mini breadsticks
2.5 x pkts Rice Cakes
1 pkt Soy Mince
1 pkt Oatcakes
1 pkt Cous Cous (I love this but NEVER make it)
1.75kg Basmati rice
100g Arborio Rice
1 bottle Malt Vinegar
1 bottle distilled White Vinegar
1.5 pkts of Wild and Long Grain rice
1 x pkt red split lentils
1 x green lentils
1 large tin Golden Syrup
1/2 pkt dried tagliatelle
1/2 pkt lasagne sheets
1.25 tubes Tomato puree

1 large tin table salt
1/2 pkt fine sea salt
4.5 bags of popping corn

macgirl

Starting to bore myself now, but am making myself do this to see just how I am wasting money by ignoring what we already have and spending needlessly.
That is about to stop.

Onwards:

Baking and Cake Decorating Stuff
Pink "designer" icing tube with nozzles (+ 1 in red)
24 Flowery bun cases, 24 Pink, 24 Blue, 6 Silver, 12 Gold
Bought most of the above unaware that I had 75 white bun cases hidding in the back of the cupboard - shameful.
40 Blue gingham muffin cases
25 Pink Butterfly muffin cases
200g Dk Brown sugar
500g Lt Brown sugar
1.5 pots of Bicarbinate of Soda
1/2 pkt Glace cherries
1 pot Baking Powder
2 x 500g organic (why?) granulated sugar
1 x vanilla extract
1 x Red, Yellow, Pink and Violet food colouring
1 x Fairtrade Caster Sugar
2 x half full G&B cocoa powder (now decanted into one)
1 x small jar of vanilla sugar (another random Mum gift)
1 x tube edible silver stars (lost my mind)
1 x edible violet irridescent Rainbow dust ("it's only money" the cake shop lady chimed)
1 x pkt silver balls
1 x pkt multi coloured balls

DH's "Buy and keep in cupboard until a year after sell-by date, then throw in bin"
1 x Coleman's Shepherd's Pie Recipe Mix (don't ask)
1 x Hot Chiili Con Carne Recipe Mix
1 x Chilli Con Carne RM
2 x Sausage Casserole RM
4 x Teriyaki Stir Fry Sauce
1 x Chow Mein Stir Fry Sauce
1 x Oyster & Spring Onion Sauce
1 x Thai Red Curry Sauce

I haven't done the fridge and freezer yet, but had a whizz through and it's mainly veggie sausages and spicy bean burgers, a few fish fingers and some smoked haddock.

Hopefully, there will be some chicken breasts lurking and some mince, otherwise a trip to the butcher's in the morning will be needed.

There is a definite theme, Far East cuisine (DH) and Lentils and carpet burgers (me!). From that lot there is enough to keep us going for months. So instead of whizzing into the supermarket on my lunch or after work and re-buying what I already have, I WILL make a comprehensive menu plan and stick to it for the next month.

Off to find Gingham Ribbon's fabulous and inspiring Veggie Meal Plan on OS. Think I'm finally grasping this MSE lark.....

se999

I once tried using dried yeast past it's sell by, it didn't work at all.

Marmite is super for adding to beef type stews etc., it really does make the beefy taste stronger. It's also good for upping your vitamin B intake. I hate marmite used as a spread though.

I use sea salt plus a few drops of lavender and camomile essential oils as a relaxing mix for in the bath.

Still not found the dream house, but lots of near misses. There's still not a lot of property on the market which is part of the problem.

skint_spice

macgirl wrote: »

DH's "Buy and keep in cupboard until a year after sell-by date, then throw in bin"

Sorry, usually a silent lurker her but that made me :rotfl::rotfl:. Not really understanding what a recipe mix is:o, is it the sort of herbs/spices to add?

I am so jealous of your "irridescent rainbow dust" - sounds lovely:cool:! What beautiful fairy cakes/cupcakes you must make!

Mrs_Money_Penny

Hi Another silent lurker here. The yeast that is out of date won't be any good at all I'm afraid.

macgirl

Oooh lurkers! :j I always think I'm talking to a "Dear Diary" :rotfl:

Thanks regarding the yeast. I normally chuck everything after the sell-by date, but after reading about Hypno's disregard for them, I thought again.
I guess yeast makes sense, so many thanks for your input :A

SS - DH's packet mix things are awful (IMHO) full of additives. "They're nice!" he says. Whatever. When it comes to food - we still live like students sharing a house
I would post a pic of the party cakes but daren't for fear of outing myself

Thanks for reading all x Back to the footie