Memorygirls - Make Do and Mend

ClootiesMum

That IS organised - and just think - once you've cleaned out the cupboards you'll have so much space.

I might try & pinch your ideas of this organised meal thing, if that's OK. Ours will need to be on a 3 week rota as DH works to this & late nights are murder to cater for but not having to think about meals as the menu is there would be wonderful (& I would know what to buy at the shops).

Filing hasn't started yet as the weather warmed up & I'm pottering between sawing up wood for kindling, gardening & housey things (which will be the filing) in 15 minute blocks (thanks again for this too).

So - what cupboard are you aiming for next ???

knitwit67

Hi, my first message, I'm new so forgive my cluelessness (is that a word?). I have really enjoyed reading your diary. I just wanted to say what a great inspiration you are, your parents must be very proud of you. Your attitude to life is priceless, your children are very lucky. Keep up the good work, I'm hooked , you have another fan cheering you on to great things ahead.

Memory_Girl

ClootiesMum wrote: »

So - what cupboard are you aiming for next ???

THe one I'm putting off is the one under the stair :eek:

Memory_Girl

knitwit67 wrote: »

Hi, my first message, I'm new so forgive my cluelessness (is that a word?). I have really enjoyed reading your diary. I just wanted to say what a great inspiration you are, your parents must be very proud of you. Your attitude to life is priceless, your children are very lucky. Keep up the good work, I'm hooked , you have another fan cheering you on to great things ahead.

Welcome aboard knitwit - feel free to chip in at any time because we are just making this up as we go along.

Project for today

To clean and furnish our littlest guest room (the one with carpet) so that I can accomodate a Spanish Student thats at our school next week (teacher training - not a kid).

After that - well my mate is coming up next week too. He's used to visiting me in unrenovated properties - so as long as I can pull another bed ina room together for him he will be ok.

I'm sure he is coming up for 10 days so that we can write another book together - we've already done 2:o. Wonder which of my ideas he will plump for?

The baby starts kindy in January - so I'm trying to ease myself back into "work" without upsetting the benefits people - so volunteering at a charity is OK - and workig in my home for no money (writing) also seems to be OK by them.

Told the baby that he needs to be weaned by then too!! Just now he actually says "Milky please" and "Milky fank oo":rotfl:

Off to get ready for the school run - feeling mega organised now that I know what we are eating for lunch and dinner.

Memorygirl

Memory_Girl

Right, I've made and costed out the hummous for next 2 lunches - with one portion for a snack with dippy veg tonight - although the baby loves it spread on rice cakes.

HUMMOUS

COST IS 30p for 3 portions or 10P per portion

150g chick peas - soaked overnight
2 garlic cloves crushed (cos I like it garlicky)
2 tbsp lemon juice (froma bottle is OK)
Pepper
1 dsp peanut butter or tahini
Vegetable or olive oil to emulsify

Cook the chickpeas in lots of boiling water (not salted because it makes the peas like little bullets) until very tender. To save gas I do mine for 20 mins on the highest pressure of my pressure cooker and leave to depressurise naturally.

When they are very tender salt the water (they will now take in the salt without going hard) then leave to go cool in the water.

Drain the chickpeas and place in a blender with the other ingredients - start to blitz, then dribble in the oil until you get a very smooth and "dippable" consistency.

Pour into pots and cover to store in the fridge - although I prefer it at room temperature.

This is my basic hummous which I then flavour with whatever is in season.

Roasted red onion and garlic
lemon and parsley
Roasted tomatoes
Coriander and chilli
Cumin and fried onions

Made this way you have to syn for the oil that you use - I use the peanut/tahini as oneof my healthy extras - so to cut down the syn value blend the peas with some of the cooking water instead of the oil. Then it becomes FREE!!! And served as a topping to a huge baked potato with a side salad makes a very filling lunch.

Off to wash some windows in the guest room.

Memorygirl

Lemon_Tree

indian food sounds fine by me, i look forward to your receipies.

Memory_Girl

Did some "work" for the school today. We are being made homeless and need to find a new property to move into over the summer - no pressure.

I decided to think bigger than a "bring n buy sale" fundraiser and contacted an ole mate at a pretty ritzy PR company. "Hiya!! I'm calling in a favour" kinds thing. Bless him he's going to help structure a Press Campaign- then asks if I'd consider doing "The Hour" again!!!!!!!!!:eek:

Think I'm going to need to budget for a haircut first:rotfl:

Think big ,think big - the perfect property is out there somewhere.

Off to feed the littlies and take DS to his Chanter lesson.

Memorygirl

Memory_Girl

PS Another NSD - so I make that £20.16 over 12 days.

Gotta keep this going to pay off the bank

Memorygirl

cha97michelle

Hi

Great thread. I really need to take a leaf out your book too. The money seems to be going nowhere in our house even though i think i am being frugal.

I've had the slow cooker on today to make a big beef, lentil and curried rce concoction, and i am soaking a batch of chickpeas to have a go at your hoummous recipe tomorrow.

I wish you luck and look forward to reading some more.

Michelle x

Memory_Girl

cha97michelle wrote: »

Hi

Great thread. I really need to take a leaf out your book too. The money seems to be going nowhere in our house even though i think i am being frugal.

I've had the slow cooker on today to make a big beef, lentil and curried rce concoction, and i am soaking a batch of chickpeas to have a go at your hoummous recipe tomorrow.

I wish you luck and look forward to reading some more.

Michelle x

Welcome aboard the Good Ship "Make Do and Mend" Michelle.

Gotta love those slow cookers - lifesavers they really are.
I'm going to nick an idea from you signature and set myself the goal of overpaying on my mortgage too this year - I will update on my scheme later.

My Small Guest bedroom got finished last night - its looking absolutely gorgeous - all blue and fresh and shabby chic girlie. I think she will love it.

Todays challenge - Yup!!! The office :eek: I need to get this clean for Sat afternoon when my book-writing buddy appears. Just now it is completely snowed under with boxes and paperwork - so give me a kick up the whatsit.

I also need to iron the bedding for Guest2 bedroom and set it up. Another swish around with a mop wouldn't go amiss.

I've asked over on the OS forum for a Krisproll recipe. If I get truly scunnered I may doa little baking mid afternoon to decompress.

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS IT'S PAPERWORK DAY

Memorygirl

PS If I don't appear back on here again by tea-time send out the sniffer dogs:rotfl: