Its tough, it will get better and guess what its freezing brrrrr!

AnnieG

Hello everyone!
It's a surprisingly lovely day here again, I thoguht it would be grey after yeesterday's glorious sunshine, but it's beautiful. So, the washing's on the line rather than the radiators. I've just made a delicious apple cake - it was a proper faff to make, it's like a scone dough that you line a tin with, then put a layer of apples topped with brown sugar and cinnamon and then top with more of the dough. It looked like a mess when I put it in the oven but my goodness it was lovely when it came out. Now all i have to do is stop myself from eating the whole thing this evening!
Also, I've got a job interview tomorrow, just for an interim post but if I get it I'll be able to start topping my savings up a bit as they've taken a battering over the last few months while I've been out of work.
I've just re-done my budget and can just about cover everything I need to at the moment, as long as there aren't any major surprises... which there always are. My laptop packed up last week and as I'm jobhunting and ds has to do his homework on a computer, I didn't have much option but to go and get a new one. I had the money in my savings account so it's not the end of the world, but there seem to be an awful lot of 'rainy days' at the moment, and I could do with a spell without any.
At least ds has decided not to go to winter cricket nets, which has saved me £30, and his football team has folded, saving another £80. I feel terrible saying that becasue he loves his activities, but it's expense I can really do without at the moment.

Athome1

Hope you don't mind me popping in but I just wanted to say to the people who like to cook with wine that cider makes a very good alternative. I use the very cheapest, basic stuff from Mr T (about 75p for a big bottle). I got this from a very early Delia Smith book (sorry can't remember the title, something like Frugal living) and have used it ever since.

For those of you who hate sprouts, a slug of cider, a tiny pinch of garlic and chilli and a sprinkling of sugar makes them taste wonderful - my family of sprout haters will testify to that!

NualaBuala

AnnieG, that cake sounds divine! Good luck at your interview *crosses fingers*

Kezlou - mind yourself pet, cramps are so miserable. Have you got a hot water bottle or wheat bag? I find the heat can be soothing.

Hellsbells ... I didn't know whether to :rotfl:or :eek: at the guinea pig episode! So I did both.

Am a wreck after hoovering the sitting room but I feel good that I have accomplished something today. Going to flop on the couch and dream of AnnieG's apple cake now.

lambanana

Sammy - I'm glad you were able to talk to your OH and clear the air a bit, I really hope things do improve for you

I've got another job interview next Wednesday, I'm not hopeful and it feels strange going for jobs when I'm waiting to start my hospital treatment but it's good experience even if I don't get the job. If I did get it then it's more money than I'm on now which is always welcome!

I'm not enjoying these dark mornings, they're really making me want to hibernate! I'm struggling to get up and out of bed and just want to sleep. I think I need to start switching my bedside lamp on as soon as the alarm goes off because as long as the room is dark I'll keep snuggling down in bed! We still haven't put the heating on yet but it was FREEZING this morning.

We signed for another 12 months at our property, I'm a bit annoyed as I'd rather be on a rolling month to month contract but at the same time signing up for 12 months means our rent stays the same for the next 12 months, it has been the same the last 2 years and I suppose that a rise had to come at some point so I'm relieved we've got another year without one! I also asked the letting agent to get someone out to look at the radiators that don't work so hopefully we'll also have a warmer house this winter!

mardatha

Athome, I dare say with a big enough slug of cider anything would taste fine..

AnnieG

http://theenglishkitchen.blogspot.com/2010/02/apple-cake.html

Nualabuala, here's the recipe if you want to have a go. I used quite a lot more flour as the dough was really sticky, and ate it with a big dollop of creme fraiche. Enjoy!!

jackieglasgow

Thanks for that AnnieG, I am having a go tonight.

bluebag

juliethemuse wrote: »

hi everybody, i have a job interview today, please wish me luck, i do so hope i get it, we are so skint at the moment i only have £40 to buy food for a week for 5 people, i guess it is possible, but i'm worrying myself to death over money,
my oh cant work at the moment as he has loads of health problems,
my lazy son is still upstairs in bed, i feel like taking a bucket of water and tipping it on him- arent i cruel

good luck!!

NualaBuala

Ooh thank you Annie!:T I was so tempted that I ended up going into the kitchen and making an apple crumble. Came back in to find your recipe! I blame you if I get fatter because now I will make the cake as well once I buy more apples!

Nargleblast

Good news, Sammy, hope things continue to improve.

We have a crab apple tree in the garden. In the past couple of weeks I have made 10 good sized jars of crab apple jelly (using old jam, peanut butter and mayonnaise jars, just to give you an idea of the size). Today I made about 4 pints of crab apple cordial using a fruit syrup recipe from one of my recipe books. I am now trying to think of what to do with the remaining crab apples sitting in a bowl on the kitchen floor. About 8 pounds of the things. And there are still loads left on the tree which are difficult to get to, so I think I will be leaving those to the birds. Does anyone know any interesting crab apple recipes? We're not big chutney eaters, and crab apple chutney has not been a success in the past.