The NSD way to a supreme September

cw18

kerri_gt wrote: »

Evening all! Firstly...apple crumble seems to be a success, although I think I will use a little more apple next time (and perhaps a little less sugar)..however I have made enough for a small army..or perhaps even a large army :rotfl:) gonna freeze some, have some tomorrow and take some into work so hopefully it will get used. I do however still have a mahusive pile of apples in my fridge to use up...

I never add any sugar to my apples when I'm stewing them. My thiking is that there's plenty of sweetness from the crumble and the custard - plus I use some with roast pork (when I really don't like it sweet) or with yogurt (again I prefer the tartiness to come through)

Secondly, Cheryl - I sympathise with the TK spend, sooo easy to pick up lovely stuff in there but like you say it should last you. Well done on the Mr M savings

Thanks

but ouch! for the running shoes. However, I think it is worth investing in a quality item for something you do on a regular basis - if you bought cheap running shoes you'd prob have spent as much if not more replacing them as you have on this one pair.

My thinking exactly (the pair I'm replacing were only bought on 17th July, cost £50 and should - by rights - have lasted me 12 months based on the mileage I've been using them for).

However they may not be totally wasted, as the chap in the store did say that - once I'm totally over my latest injury - I should be able to use them safely for short runs (so if I take the dog for a 1-2 mile trot to try and get him used to the idea of running with me I should be able to use them for that). And if not, then they should be 100% safe to use for walking - apparently even fast walking (which I'm regularly accused of when I'm going my normal pace) isn't nearly as dangerous/doesn't require anywhere near as much cushioning as a very slow run that's only fractionally faster.

solventsoon

jintyb wrote: »

Realised I hadnt been doing any knitting for a while, the reason being that I'm totally bored knitting the scarf, so decided to have another visit to the wool shop. Got a pattern & wool for a sleeveless top (in a previous life they were called tank tops, but that name reminds me of the seventies, wearing flares and being a lot thinner than I am now!;)) Anyhoo, the wool & pattern was £14, a wee bit dearer than €bay, but I try to support the wee wool shops as they are as scarce as hens teeth now!:(

We're a similar vintage, jinty, I remember tank tops and flares very well. Horizontal stripes, clashing colours and with a contrasting (ie, clashing) colour blouse with a collar reaching down to the shoulder seams. Ahh.. those were the days:D:D.. Oh and I'm forgetting the 5 inch platform soles as well:D:D

jintyb wrote: »

Other than that, I'm going to make chutney with my foraged apples (apple, date & ginger) and put it away for C-day presents. Oh, and do my knitting:)

Have a lovely day everyone:)

Oooh, could I have the recipe for your chutney, if you don't mind, it sounds delicious:D.

Happy knitting today:):)

solventsoon

Nargleblast wrote: »

Don't forget, Spoon, I have sorted the diving frog, and am now after the skipping sheep.

Sounds like secret agent's code! (the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain....here is ze microfilm, stitched inside my undervear!)

Lissen vairy carefully, I shall zay zis only vunce - ze diving frog is savely hidden in ze cupboard along wiz ze skipping sheep, ze bat is waiting safely outside in ze harbour.:D:D

All updated now, Nargle, hadn't forgotten you, honest guv:D:D

solventsoon

kerri_gt wrote: »

BTW - did I mention earlier that I finished paying off one of my credit cards and cancelled it today :j:j:j sadly that doesn't mean I'm debt free but it does mean that I only have one left to focus on :T:T hopefully I can clear it in about a year - or perhaps even less (but I'm trying to save too as although I agree with tackling the debt, I also think you need a rainy day fund for unforseen expenses)

Yay:j:j:j:j.... well done Kerri, that's fantastic:j:j:j:jand a real milestone for you.

Sorry, I missed this yesterday on my whistle stop roundup, just spotted it now

solventsoon

cw18 wrote: »

But they all say 'do not freeze' so not sure they'd be totally safe for that


EDIT : Just checked the manufacturers website, and it says

Q: What can I do with my ramekins?

Can I re-use my ramekins? Yes! We recommend that ü reuse ür ramekins for the following:
- As a plant pot for ür garden herbs
- To keep ür stray buttons in
- As a tea light holder for a romantic night in
- To serve ür nibbles in with a cheeky glass of wine

However, once ü have enjoyed ür puds, we do not recommend that ü reheat or freeze ür ramekin, as this can cause them to crack.

Can I recycle my ramekins?
Yes, be güd and recycle our ramekins which are made from standard glass and therefore can be recycled with your bottles and jars.

kerri_gt wrote: »

Och! that's rubbish about being advised not to reuse them - wonder if that is a ploy to make you buy more? I read the tip about nibbles for a glass of wine as 'use for a cheeky glass of wine' :rotfl::rotfl: oh dear, and I haven't even been on the plonk tonight!

You're right Kerri, that is rubbish, I reuse mine all the time and freeze individual portions of puds and other things in them.

The trick with them is not to stick them straight in the freezer. Cool them down gradually by leaving them in the fridge for a couple of days before putting whatever you're freezing in them, then back in the fridge until it's all really cold, then it's OK to put them in the freezer. I put them in the warmest part of the freezer first to cool them down a bit more, then move them into the really cold part. They're fine and I use them over and over again without any problem.

Same applies when defrosting, gradually is the way to do it, so back in the fridge again until they warm up a bit.

Hope that helps, Cheryl

cw18

solventsoon wrote: »

Hope that helps, Cheryl

Useful to know it's possible - just in case I'm every seriously tempted by the puds - but I know full well I'd never remember all the 'pre-chill' and 'baby steps both ways' if I tried re-using them (I rarely follow the instructions on anything )

solventsoon

hoobydoobydoo wrote: »

Hello - will there be a NSD October challenge somewhere that I can join? I have not officially been counting them this month but I have been much more aware of what I am spending and when. I have also been thinking about how the NSD rules would apply to me so that I ready for next month.

You seem a very supportive bunch and I'm looking forward to joining in.
Hooby

Hi :hello:Hooby and welcome to the lunatic asylum that is the NSD challenge.:D There will indeed be an October challenge, MSE isn't the same without us :D. We're a very friendly (if slightly deranged) bunch and everyone is welcome to join in.

Well done for thinking about your spends, that's the way to get NSDs - being organised is definitely the key.

Look forward to you joining us next month, in the meantime feel free to join in with the chat here and ask any questions you need to -there's normally someone around to answer.

spoon x

Nargleblast wrote: »

Hello Hooby and welcome! Stick around here, kid, and learn something! Aunty Spoonicles (aka solventsoon) will be along at some point to say welcome. When you are ready, decide on how many NSDs you are going to aim for in October and she will put you on the list. In the meantime, just join in with the inane banter on here.

What on earth do you mean, Nargle? There's me trying to give our newbie, Hooby, a good impression of us and you're taking about "inane banter". We have intelligent, highbrow conversations on here.... :D:D

solventsoon

cw18 wrote: »

Useful to know it's possible - just in case I'm every seriously tempted by the puds - but I know full well I'd never remember all the 'pre-chill' and 'baby steps both ways' if I tried re-using them (I rarely follow the instructions on anything )

Me too, Cheryl, but they're a really useful size, that's why I use them. And I only ever buy the puds when they're on special offer, no way would I pay full price for them:D

solventsoon

Hi lovely NSD gang :A
Oooh.. more targets tumbling today and NSDs galore rolling in. Well done everyone:j

Congratulations - target made:
teenyweenyspender: :j yay to 18 NSDs and your target, that’s brilliant. :j Little frog is on his way over to you now, but it might take him a bit of time to reach you, Australia is a long way for a little froglet - look after him when he makes it
Increasing your target to 22 now, good luck with getting there:)
kerri gt: fingers crossed you make your target today
Yay and you did :j- 12 NSDs, that’s brilliant, well done. :j You now have a little frog on his lilypad making his way to you, hope you like him.;)
Glad the apple crumble turned out well and good luck with the car boot tomorrow:)

Well done to:
:jGeebee: yay to getting to no 11, you’ve had a great month, well done:)
:jLooloo: yay to no 7, one more left now, keep going:)
:jdonna dynamo: yay to no 12, one more left to reach target no 2, keep going:)
:jifwishes: yay to no 13, one more left to get now, keep going:)
:jboultdj: yay to no 14, woohoo indeed, keep going:)
:jpure dead dopey: yay to no 11, target smashed now, mexican wave on the way to you now to add to your collection - this one might confuse the aliens;)
:j3Dogs: yay to no 17, one more left to get now, fingers crossed for tomorrow:)
:jbeanielou: fingers crossed for today
Yay and you made it, well done for no 12, keep going, your skipping sheep is waiting;)
:jBlimusOreilly: yay to no 12, you’re doing great, on the way to target no 2 now, keep going:)
:jcandyapple: yay to no 7, you’re doing brilliantly, keep going:)
:jBabyJayne: yay to getting to no 8, you’re doing brilliantly, only two more left now. Keep going:)
:jGeorgieFTB: yay to getting to no 5, over halfway now, that’s brilliant.
New house sounds exciting, it must be a really busy time for you. Hope everything goes well for you.:)
:jbrokemedic: yay to no 9, one more to get now, keep going:)

And hello to:
jintyb: glad you had a good day yesterday - very busy as usual. Hope you managed to get to your target today, had my fingers crossed all day;);)
slowlyfading: hope you’ve had a lovely day with your friend and have made lots of wonderful goodies:):)
Nargle: fingers crossed for tomorrow:):)
cw18: wow.. a mega spendy day today:eek: - tissues at the ready tomorrow in case you need them.:)
Some good bargains from N3xt - they will be very useful, as will the soups recipe book.
And more whoopsies as well.
As for the running shoes, you will definitely get your money’s worth from them and it’s well worth investing in some good shoes as bad ones have such an effect on your knees, ankles and hips.

Drum roll.... spoony managed no 20 today:j, target met and a very happy spoon. Going to be brave and increase my target to 23 (gulp....) as I really want the skipping sheep, she’s cute:)

Off to do the usual update now, see you all tomorrow.

‘night everyone
spoon
x

kerri_gt

solventsoon wrote: »

Me too, Cheryl, but they're a really useful size, that's why I use them. And I only ever buy the puds when they're on special offer, no way would I pay full price for them:D

We got some mini Gu puds (sadly no glass ramakin) last time I flew to NY with OH with Mr Branson. I was so full from the constant feeding (comared to some other airlines I've had the misfortune to fly with I really do like their flights) I stashed my pud for later in my hols - and yummy it was too...

....actually, thats not the only plane food I have been known to stash - I often end up with a stockpile of pretzels, biscuits and mini bottles of water when I fly somewhere :o (i have drawn the line at stashing the side salad though - terribly difficult to explain that to customs :rotfl::rotfl:)