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

Athome1

mardatha wrote: »

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

I totally agree!:beer:

parsonswife8

Well done you, annie56:j:j:j

"nobbly carrots" :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Better than any bunch of flowers:)

adelight

Annie56 wrote: »

Can anyone tell me what to do with a chicken carcass ie make stock etc..Ive just touched the surface on batch cooking now need to get riight back to basics and learn them....

Ive come out the other end of this horrible saga, skint but employed with a roof over my head, my integrity intact, now I need to practice OStyle with avengence...anyone any ideas on a cheapo menu for a dinner a deux, plucked up courage to ask handsome hunk from the allotment for a meal:rotfl::rotfl: he said yes....and I blushed as he handed me a bunch of nobbly carrotts ooh errr can you tell Im all a flutter lol....made a carrott cake with em.....and hes bringing some of his homemade wine....wont ever be attracted to a flash geezer with a big car ever again, one with a spade and heap of organic manure will do ....:p

Simmer for 30 mins, pull out bones, add veg, simmer for 30 mins. Even my OH can handle this soup so it should be a doddle!

Your dinner sounds so exciting! I'm sure he'll appreciate some OS cooking! What about a chunky veg lasagna or moussaka? Or a posh macaroni cheese (garlic & lots of veg, baby spinach is on offer at lidl atm.) Means you can use whatever veg you've grown, is on offer or lying around and everyone loves a pasta bake! And a posh apple & berry crumble/pie/cake.
You're so positive and it's paying off :j


It is very, very, veryyyy cold! I'm snuggled up in bed contemplating presents...
Almost every penny I have now will go on bulk rent mid-nov and I don't get paid until late-nov so I can only plan until then!
Silver necklace for mum, petites bracelet + few beads for sis, costume jewellery for friends? Not many people know where I work and the stocks gorgeous, so I might as well make use of my discount

maryb

I found adding some thyme and 2-3 garlic cloves cut in half to the stockpot makes a huge difference to the flavour - my chicken stock was always a bit bland before. I use fresh thyme because it seems to be the one herb plant I can't kill (would you believe I had a mint plant die on me?? Everyone else has the problem of stopping it taking over the garden!) but dried thyme will do as well

Kitcaboodle

Woo-hoo for you Annie56! Sounds like things are looking up.

-

I'd been starting to feel a bit overwhelmed by just how much there is to tidy up, sort out, etc. around the flat. Neither DH nor myself are minamilists, we're both hoarders and with DS here as well now we're bursting at the seams!

I have seen that poem (thank you for linking it again, it always brings a lump to my throat!) and I agree with it! I certainly only leave DS to his own devices (awake) when I feel it's important, such as DH being stuck at the office late, so that I want to cook something he can have straight away for dinner when he finally gets home.

I'm not one to let myself get down without taking some action, so I decided while lying in bed last night trying to sleep that I would do something & I decided to call it 'Perfect 10'. I haven't fully implemented it yet. When I do, I will set up some sort of self-bribery tally, where I get some money from my savings to spend on something just for me for every day I manage to do all three of my targets. The plan is that each day I will:

- Spend 10 minutes sorting something out or tidying up, etc.
- Spend 10 minutes doing exercise.
- Spend 10 minutes on self-development/New agey stuff

I figure it's very hard to find time to do stuff with a small baby but half an hour in three 10 minute slots should be do-able.

I'm trained in half a dozen different new age therapies but really let it slide after I got together with DH - because I no longer needed to feel that they might help draw Mr Right to me, he's already here! However, I feel a bit lost without a spiritual outlet so I am going to start at least working on creative visualisation and self-hypnosis again.

As mentioned, I haven't properly started yet but I managed to get the sorting/tidying 10 done today already, I assembled DS's high-chair and dug out the spare part I needed to sterilize for my breast pump.

I may give myself an optional bonus target of meeting my 5 a day vegetable target and/or keeping my junk food tally for the day below 3 items.

Have been very tempted by the idea of an organic fruit & vegetable box. Trouble is, I'm a really fussy cow so the only one in our area that would probably work for me is Able & Cole, who are national. They let you select what you don't want & will take a shed key. The down side is that according to a review of organic boxes I read, they charge around £3 more than you'd pay in a supermarket + there is a 99p delivery charge. There would be no point in me going with a cheaper box elsewhere if I wouldn't be able to eat half the contents.

Besides, I tend to prefer to pick my own fruit & veg from what is available. What I might do if I ever have more time is a 'virtual' veggie box. Where I look online at what is in season and buy a set number of different types of fruit & veg from the supermarkets/market each week based on that. I could even do a once a month 'crazy item' buy from the more exotic fruit & veg on supply.

AnnieG

Hi! It's really cold today, lovely and sunny but freezing! I've been for my job interview this morning and think it went well, it's a long way though, I could probably cope with it on a short term basis but I don't know that I could manage 40+ miles each way permanently. I've had phonecalls about another 2 jobs today, both are 6 month contracts but that's better than nothing, and would give me a chance to try and save a little, or at least pay for Christmas from earnings rather than savings.
I think I'll pop to asda tomorrow so I can get a couple of their fleeces, I do like to get snuggled up and cosy! I need fruit and veg anyway so would be going somewhere so it might as well be Asda. I'm also going to start making things ready for christmas - I saw a recipe for lemon and carrot marmelade that looks interesting, and very cheap to make, so I think that'll be my job for tomorrow.
I also have a big pile of books to get through, so am planning on spending some time wrapped in a duvet with a huge mug of tea and a book.. bliss!!
Hope you're all keeping warm :0)

mardatha

Oh for shame annie !! A forkful of horsesh*t and you're anybodys !

sammy_kaye18

mardatha wrote: »

Oh for shame annie !! A forkful of horsesh*t and you're anybodys !

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

sorry annie - love you lots but that tickled me. Well done you on the hunky allotment man - let us know how your date goes! chicken stock is easy -- chicken carcass hacked up, plaenty of water and any old veg trimmings you have flitting about and let the lot simmer, and season. :T

OH OH OH have to tell you all!!!! I had the mother of all bargains earlier!!!

15 small cartons of premade baby milk --- was 68p each --- reduced to 17p each. :T saving of £7.65

10 small jars of stage one baby food (chicken and bolognese) --- was meant to be 60p each ---- reduced to 15p each :T saving of £4.50

8 small jars of stage 1 baby food (various) --- meant to be 76p each ---- reduced to 19p each :T saving of £4.56

4 mums own stage 1 baby food --- meant to be 68p each --- reduced to 17p each :T saving of £2.04

1 box of baby porridge with fruit ---- meant to be £2.29 a box :eek: --- reduced to 57p :T saving £1.72

2 bottles pre mixed baby apple juice --- meant to be £1.91 each --- reduced to 48p :T saving £2.86

2 packs of 52 P@MPERS nappies (so effectively 104 nappies) in Size 4+ (should explain Holly was 13lbs 12.5ozs three weeks ago and the weight range for these is 20 - 44lbs so a little big yet) but ---- meant to be £9.59 each ---- reduced to £2.40 each :T saving £14.38 :T:T:T:T:T

In total the whole lot should of cost me £50.29

It should of cost me £12.58
with my 10% discount should of been £11.32

but some of the jars wouldn't scan and boss got so bugged by it he told me to just have them. Think it was a sneaky thank you because I worked all the crappy hours no one likes as overtime! so in fact it only cost me £9.95 in total. so I had a saving of £40.34

:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j

so the nappies are now underneath Holly's cot ready to be used when she needs them.
Have put all the jars/juice etc in a kitchen cupboard I've just cleared for all her stuff.
Am paid tomorrow too and need to go and do a food shop for us but think I will go and have another look in there afterwards to see if anything else has been added. Its end of range sale stuff (all the dates were good until mid 2011 or up to 2013! :eek: )

Plus whilst clearing Hollys cupboard out I found an unopened hot chocolate gift set, a pamper pack (loofah eye mask etc) and an unopened cup/placemat/tray set which I will now re gift for Xmas presents!

OH!!! and to top it off I had a chip / pin card form the post code lottery through the door earlier too with a free gift - filled the bits in online and my card has £12 on it!

so having a fairly good day --- since I've been so lucky I've even had a quick go at the lottery too! .

lauren_1

Where did you get those bargains from?

gailey_2

re fleces not had chance to go ikea but big ikea off m32 bristol.

But did go huge primark in bristol centre other day they had lovley fleece blankets for 3pounds and slightly larger thicker ones for 5quid lots of colours and patterns.

Also lots of cheap xmas stuff too like cheap cards, wrapping paper. gift bags.

lots of nice cheap candles in home
nice handbags and cheap jewellry.
some toys even.
kids department had lots of hello kitty stuff.

promise I dont work for primark but was impressed so may do lot of shopping there next time im in town.

chicken carcass-I boil for an hour covering with water salt and pepper with lid on.

I then add diced potato peices
carrots
chopped leeks or onions.
some more water and chicekn oxo
mixed dried herbs
more salt and pepper.

boil 1-2hours letting it simmer down.

then put through sieve carfully picking off chicken and taking out any bones and skin.

Im amazed how thrifty I could be with small chicken.

cheated tonight. had leftover pasta from yesterday.
did baby broccoli/cauli dish she refused to touch.
eldest and hubby had frozen pizza and chips as feel so shattered and chicken still not defrosted.

Sammy check out bopots board as sometimes with advantage card you get weird deals where you get very cheap toilitries.
superdrug do lots of mini toilitries.
original source stuff nice always buy on bog off.

Im doing operation christmas child again thsi year thinking 4shoes boxes and 4 kids one for each family member as feel its such a lovley cause and my kids dont really want for nothing.

Getting early night whilst watching apprentice, got hectic day tommorow.

still very cold might snuggle up in bed with hot water bottle watching tv.