weezl and friends Phase 4 - recipe testing christmas treats!

shanks77

Well away too make the rose petal jam today did it last year and it was lovely but gave it all away so hoping this year to save some and use as pressies. Will let you know how i get on. Been getting better on the frugal front had the risi last night forgotten how quick, easy and tasty it was. Needing some "lunch" ideas as i am trying not to eat too much bread but finding making salads is getting very expensive. Will prob make up a big batch of pasta (i know it is still carbs) and add stuff to that as it will carry well.
Hope everyone is doing ok xx

shanks77

Right made the rose petal jam and also made a peach ...... well if it sets it will be jam and if it doesn't which is looking likely it will be a compote:rotfl:
I will update you later xx

shanks77

Me again well it looks like I have 2 kinds of compote have reboiled the rose petal one so see how it turns out

shanks77

Mmm so quiet on here I miss our chats. Well I am still using up what i can in the cupboards but have to admit still spending more in the supermarket than i care to admit to. My jam turned out ok and i have since made another batch which was fine as well so setting them aside to use as presents.
My pasta mountain does not seem to be getting any smaller despite my best efforts but everything else does look a bit emptier so will keep ploughing away at it.
Hope everyone is fine and that we get some chat going soon xx

poohbear59

It is quiet shanks. How are you doing? I could help use up your pasta mountain we always seem to be buying it as the men eat tonnes of it.

DD and I are doing a freezer and cupboard inventory today so we can both start back on the 'plan' tomorrow. By doing it we can then afford a short break. DD didn't continue with the plan last year as she was pregnant. And as she worked odd shifts and weekends before she was pregnant struggled to get her head round it. We both have plenty of time to work together on saving money on out weekly shop again.

I will be cheating a bit as I already have local beef and lamb in the freezer to feed the men of the house when they fancy a bit more variety.

shanks77

I am fine thanks Poohbear nice to hear from you. Come round anytime for the mountain i have more than enough to feed your family.
Its not cheating if you are using up what you have already got that is just being sensible and if it helps to add a little more meat to a meal to keep the menfolk happy then so be it you know you are cutting down but so long as they dont feel that they are it makes life simpler.
Look forward to hearing how you get on xx

Lesley_Gaye

just had a very nice lunch using up bits and pieces

sizzled the last inch of a piece of chorizo, added chick peas left over from a recipe, the last of a tin of black olives and had it with the last bit of a lettuce and a wrinkly carrot sliced into ribbons. It was yummy

had a look at the basil plant growing in our falling down conservatory and it is pretty big now, even tho I use the leaves fairly often, so going to get some other ingredients and chop it down a bit to make some pesto, before it goes all woody

shanks77

Well more on the jam making front for me. Made a batch of chilli jam and a batch of plum and cinnamon (nom nom) to go with another batch of rose petal jam. Now just need to make some tomato chutney and then when mums apples are bigger will make some chutney from that also. Will be very satisfying seeing all those jars. Using up storecupboard tins etc but still been hitting the supermarket for bits and pieces which all add up:o, Must try harder.

SusanC_2

Hello, I am no longer ill so back to being able to cook (and have a lovely new baby) although I'm still using up the freezer stash I made for being ill as it wasn't all used while I was ill. I've got back to making bread and have been getting lots of good deals in the reduced section of the cook so have a good bit of stilton and camembert in the fridge which was cheaper than buying the cheapest regular cheese. There seem to be rather slim pickings on the foraging front this year as the plum and apple trees in our village have next to nothing on them which is rather disappointing but there are plenty of rosehips. Alice keeps telling me that we must pick the rosehips before everyone else picks them all but I suspect she overestimates their popularity. She is so excited about Autumn and foraging and tells me we must forage lots of food and make lots of stores ready for Winter.

shanks77

Hi Susan lovely to see you back glad you are feeling better and congrats on the new baby. Yeah agree the foraging hasnt been great this year even the rosehips seem a bit thin on the ground round here. The brambles are quite prolific but they are sooo small it seems a shame to pick them. Was in Ikea the other day and bought a big metal stacking shelf so going to sort out cupboards and change things around which should give me a better idea of what i have and hopefully tidy up the kitchen a bit (not holding my breath on that one though).
Mmm to the cheese would go lovely with my chilli jam swap? lol xx