Weezl's phase 1- recipe testing and frugalisation- come one, come all!

nicki_2

ceridwen wrote: »

Part of my thinking about this is the "thinking time" required to get a healthy diet together.

During my busy spells I believe it is the actual "thinking time" that is one of the main problems. Just simply not having the mindspace/time available to sit down and think:
- what recipes am I going to do?
- what ingredients am I short of (so stick on the shopping list)?

It would be very useful to me certainly during said busy spells to just have, say, a months meal planner (obviously to suit my own tastes..) with:
- troublefree/easy meals to do
- a list of ingredients to shop for - broken down into categories: 1. fruit/veg. 2. health food shop (ie nuts/pulses/grains) 3. supermarket stuff

and all I'd have to do is check I had the missing ingredients or (for fresh ones) write in my diary at the beginning of each week what I needed to buy that week. Then - from there - just look up, for instance, "Week 2, Day 2" when I was thinking "Whats for dinner tonight?" and get on with it - safe in the knowledge that it wouldnt take more than 30 minutes in total if it was a weekday night or 1 hour maximum for weekends.

This is one of the reasons I'm here - the last academic year I was rushed off my feet trying to do an NVQ (3 days placement plus a couple of hours to get to/from college so I could get paid) and an OU course which involved what felt like days of studying. I found I spent my two free days a week studying or trying to do the shopping. Saturdays were spent running errands further away or running around trying to do all the housework after sleeping in usually until midday and Sundays were spent trying to get ironing done and beds changed, end of the housework done, DD ready for school and there just wasn't enough hours in the day and I used to fall into bed at midnight exhausted and be up at 6am to start all over again!

This year I'm down to doing 2 days a week voluntary work at the place where I did my placement (trying to keep up with the changes in educational practices and it keeps my sanity!) and I'm sitting 2 OU courses so spend Tue/Wed/Thur studying & things like Dr appointments so I don't have to drag DD with me, Saturdays I try to spend with DD doing things although this often involves taking her shopping with me and then Sundays (while she's out with her dad) I run round like an idiot trying to get the housework sorted. I need a meal planner which comes with a shopping list otherwise we'll end up living on pizza & takeaways again and my health can't take that!

Weezl - glad to hear the good news :j

Canidothis - I don't have an OH but I do have a tween daughter (not old enough to be a teenager but acts like one!). I've motivated her into being co-operative by explaining its going to knock years off my debt-free date and when I'm debt free I'll take her to London in December for a long weekend (train there and back since it only takes 2 hours) and I'll take her to Hamleys etc. I've also promised that we'll start taking holidays - including going to America so she's more than happy to try these things out. When I did have an OH I just didn't tell him, he gave me the housekeeping once a month and I got on with things :rotfl::rotfl: But I'd like to point out my attitude has changed now - I no longer see myself as solely a stay-at-home-mum who takes care of everything so OH doesn't have to lift a finger since he's out earning the money. I love going out to work, and I get DD to help more than I used to ask Ex to help! The next significant other will be expected to pull their weight or get out as I plan to be working :rotfl::rotfl:

boredofbeingathome

weezl74 wrote: »

no I think it was a good tip, thank you!

I also know that BOB (t'other Bob) has been doing sterling work in getting her children on board and sometimes, but sometimes not, the 'buy in ' of her OH. So BOB if you'd be up for putting some of your tips forward for a potential other thread to collect ideas, that would be great

Very happy to do so Weezl...mine sort of do it automatically now, if that makes sense.

DS for example will often say, "I fancy a nice loaf!" and set about making it:D He even taught his grandfather to make them- his dad can't seem to figure it out.
He is testing a recipe for soft buns we found on one of your old threads..plus he is a big fan of slow cookers- He was a bit upset when i gave a spare to his older sister..said he wanted it for when he moved out:eek:

He will now cost stuff out for me as well and helps me fill in a spreadsheet- as in the one on Nyk's thread!

DD- being diabetic and having a bowel problem- also likes to experiment with what suits and doesn't. Interestingly white bread is a problem for her- but if we HB it, then it is not. So i conclude the additives in shop bought bread can be problematic.

Will have a think re the tips and PM you to see if ok- i don't want to side track this thread too much.

T'other Bob x

purpleivy

weezl74 wrote: »

Yep! Seeing midwife to check it out




'How do I get my family on board?- your 10 top tips for winning them over to frugality!'



Well, I read something here somewhere, where family was reluctant to embrace frugal eating plan being done by 'Mrs Shirley'. When she put it as "well, there's only £XXXXX in the pot, so if we spend less on food, then there will be more for designer clothes/trips to pictures/a holiday/running a car/ballet lessons etc etc etc insert child's chosen desire", well they were more reasonable about their attitudes.


Let's face it, not everyone will be in this position. If I turn up with excellent quality home produced food (as I do 'most' of the time) then the family doesn't really stop to think if it's frugal or not. OK, they might realise they haven't had roast/fish/whatever for a while, but no more than this. I'm quite fortunate in that dd was veggie for a while, so we did start to eat more veggie food, it's not a 'norm' now, but they don't bat an eyelid. Esp if what was a veggie dish has a minor amount of cooking bacon in it!


We're not in the Bob and Shirley category because we have to be, but because it's my preference to have this type of food. We are reasonably well off, 'only' debt is the mortgage. People are aghast when I say that I spend approx £200 on food per month, but I know I could reasonably drop it further, as this includes the odd half lamb from a local producer.


My paid work hours in a place of employment dropped to 6 last year and haven't gone up again. Now at the beginning of April we have a new payscale that is down 46%! I have started to do some sewing (for ££) at home, which is making up last year's short fall, but with the pay cut I'm anxious not to reduce my earnings any further. If I can moderate my outgoings, then this is a good way of managing my situation and save money rather than earn it. All without the need to find more employment, although I have put my name down for exam invigilation in the summer.


This is more effective in reality, as if I save £1 then I get to keep all of it. I'm borderline tax threshold, so if I earn a £1, the IR gets some of it! It's rubbish about a "penny saved being a penny earned". If I earn a penny over the tax threshold, then IR gets to keep 20% or something, so I only get 0.8p instead of the full 1p!

Breakfast time!

purpleivy

queen_of_string wrote: »

Purpleivy, I'm sure you'll have fun, it's a lovely place and sunny and warm in summer. If you happen by Mission, maybe we could do an mse meet :-). Mayeb you could learn the artisan bread in five minutes method then stun your auntie with your artisan bread ;-).

I'm a silly girl, I've just checked where Mission is. I thought it was 'oop North' in the sticks. I've a friend who lives at Maple Ridge, who took me to Westminster Abbey the time before last when I was there. I thought the stained glass in Westminster Abbey was so beautiful.

aplaceinthesun

Well after spending a few days reading I am now officially up to date with this thread! Yay !! I will be trying out some of the recipes this week/next week and will get the surveys filled out promptly after doing so.

Weezl I am sooooo pleased that you dont have a clot , do take care though and hope the hospital visit goes OK tomorrow. x

ifonlyitwaseasier

QoS - thanks for the recipe i'll be trying that out!!!

Weezl - Glad to hear everything is A-Ok with you and bub's

oldMcDonald

I'm a little late to the carrot cake party, so I hope it is ok to join in and add my thoughts?

The kids loved the carrot cake, DH and I liked it a lot, but found the texture far too oily. I didn't have any oranges so substituted some Smart Price OJ, and this worked fine. I also used mixed spice as we didn't have any of the spices on the list (need to go shopping!) and again, this tasted fine.

Did anyone try to make this cake with some apple sauce instead of some of the fat? I can remember apple sauce being mentioned but can't remember what recipe this was in relation to. (Would this family have apple sauce on hand, though?). I do have some apple sauce in the freezer and would be happy to experiment with this in the carrot cake, should it be of any help.

Lesley_Gaye

Weezl, very glad to hear about your non-clot, must be a relief

I am just pricing up some soups (it's amazing how much things add up to when working to such a budget isn't it). The cheapest is Split Pea Soup at a budget friendly 5p a serving, most are struggling to stay in the 14p allowed for lunch

Do you have a standard amount you allow for a slice of b+b?

phizzimum

Hi Lesley - will you be posting a recipe for the split pea soup?

went to Heathfield market today - nearly bought a bag of horse carrots but chickened out. I asked the man on the stall how they differed from the other carrots and he just looked at me like I was mad. Should have pretended to have a horse (maybe wear jodphurs next time) I'll stick to the greengrocers in future- much better prices.

Lesley_Gaye

phizzimum wrote: »

Hi Lesley - will you be posting a recipe for the split pea soup?

went to Heathfield market today - nearly bought a bag of horse carrots but chickened out. I asked the man on the stall how they differed from the other carrots and he just looked at me like I was mad. Should have pretended to have a horse (maybe wear jodphurs next time) I'll stick to the greengrocers in future- much better prices.

ha ha - the things we do!

The Split Pea soup is 150g split peas, a chopped onion and a stock cube simmered for about half an hour or until soft in 2.5 pints water. Blitz until smooth and adjust seasoning. Tastes surprisingly good considering how little is actually in it.

HM chicken stock if you have it improves it of course, but it doesn't really need it. Can't remember if it does 4 or 6 servings, the 2.5 pints suggest maybe its 6