No T Words mentioned at all - a fresh start

[Deleted User]

Hello FTM sorry you didn't get your take away, but the note is open ended so your absolution will carry over until you need it!! So sorry that things are still difficult for MrFTM workwise, it makes life difficult for all of you when things are up in the air doesn't it? Bless your DS for helping out and making things, you've some lovely children, looking out for mum because they love you.The project and the WOW books are inspired, the tots will so enjoy being able to show them off to visitors, that is a lovely idea. The stay warm and well thing applies to you and yours as well, the weather forecast is predicting snow in your neck of the woods, so make sure you look after yourselves and stay safe, Love and hugs to everyone, Cheers Lyn xxx.

Cheapskate

I intended to start reading this thread last year, then sort of lost the plot, so to speak! May I join in, please? How is this thread different from some of the others on the OS board, just so I can keep up and not send the thread off-topic? Do I need to introduce myself or anything?

TIA

A xo

[Deleted User]

Hello CHEAPY no formality here, just pals keeping up to date and chatting, glad you are coming over to play here too, they are a lovely bunch of folks so nice to have you as well, Love Lyn xxx.

flowertotmum

Good morning all..funny how you feel better after a night's sleep..we had a chat and decided that work is not going to bother us anymore. Mr FTM is going to go do his job and thats it..the wages situation has been sorted..the area manager rang last night and apologized for the mistake..the money will be paid in by Monday...nice of him to ring when he didn't have too. Still think its a bob place to work though.

O i forgot to tell you all i have made a new snack/breakfast/just because treat for us all. The cheese danish..OMG they are so delicious..the tots are almost begging for them to come out the oven..they smell lovely and so easy..i will pop the recipe up later today so you can try..you do need some cream cheese..the basic or smartprice one is good for it..put it on shopping list along with puff pastry and your halfway there.

I have a loaf in the breadmaker and washing machine is on...girls just up and full of life..the day weather wise is not so good but we don't have to go out so we can stay warm and toasty..got HM pizza's and bacon subs for later.
I got a huge box of mushrooms for free of my greenrocer..bit past it but was nice of him to give me them..i cleaned them up and sliced for britain..then open froze them and popped them in boxes for meals where you just need a few...i got 5 boxes out of it..not bad for nothing and a bit of effort. Going to do the same with some lemons and limes i have for drinks ..bet its lovely to have the ice cold slice in some lemonade...
O another one is HM granola bars..wow gorgeousness (that a word?)..so easy and you get quite a few too..these are great for lunch boxes and snack time plus you know whats in them.

Hi cheapskate..welcome to thread its lovely here..nice ladies full of love and advice..
right got to go and get jobs done.
love
ftm

katep23

Hi all, hope you are well. Shame the weather has taken a decidedly wet turn but wasn't it gorgeous earlier this week? Got 5 loads of washing dried on the line - heavenly!

FTM, would love the granola bar recipe if you could at some time. Great bargain on the mushrooms by the way!

OH and I had a "date night" last night at home - I made lamb daube with some neck of lamb from the butchers which was fab and we had saute potatoes with fried courgettes and a bottle of wine then sat in the lounge playing music and chatting. Was really nice and so much better than sitting in a restaurant or pub where you can't really talk.

As I am "between jobs" at the moment, we are really trying to rein our spending in; it was my own making - my job was making me so miserable I spent all my time at home thinking about how I didn't want to be there and it was really impacting on our relationship plus the job wasn't what they told me it would be and my boss took every opportunity to put us all down.

We have savings so we are not in any financial trouble but I think this will be really good for us in the long term as we got a bit too used to spending - we never spent more than we earnt but we could have saved a lot more than we did. Now I am really thinking about things before I buy them and we are using up food from our very over-stocked larder and freezer

Got the in-laws over for dinner on Sunday so we're having a rib of beef out the freezer (ys from Waitrose) and a pork joint which I got from the butchers a while ago as he does a side of pork for £69, really great value. Think I got about 15 packs of chops (2 in each) and 7 or so joints.

Cheapskate

Morning all, thanks for having me, nice to meet some new friends as well as some I've "met" before!

It's been wet here the last few days and I have to work later on, but, on the bright side, there's little washing up or clothes washing to do later.

I am now "economically inactive", more or less, and will be more so when I give up this last job; we'll have less money but the pay-off will be good. We can manage on a surprisingly small amount of money, and as I didn't work when our older kids were little, it will be so good to really get back to not having to rush out to work and leave the littlies! I'm really looking forward to a slightly slower pace of life, if there is such a thing with a manic pair of children! :rotfl:

A xo

flowertotmum

Hi me again..i am having my elevenses?...yes i know its half nineish but have been up since 5...anyway here are the recipes for you all.

Granola bars
half cup of honey
2/3 cup of brown sugar
1/4 cup of peanut butter
1/4 cup of butter(marg works just as well)
4 cups of oats(smartprice porridge oats work very well)
2 cups of rice crispies(again i buy smartprice for the soul purpose of baking not breakfast..they are like bullets)
3 tsp vanilla essence

Into a large mixing bowl add,cereal and oats.
In a pan put the butter,honey,peanut butter and sugar.
bring to the boil and then over a medium heat simmer it until sugar has dissolved..stirring helps this.
Remove from heat and pour in the vanilla and stir it in.
Pour over the oats and cereal.
Stir it well until all mixed.
Press into a baking tray..i use a cookie tray or swiss roll tray.
Press it down until firm..let it cool then pop in fridge for an hour or 2.
Remove from tray and cut into squares.
Now i pack mine in ziplock bags with greaseproof paper between them to stop them sticking together..i leave them in the fridge too they store better in there.


Cheese danish.
1 piece of puff pastry.(thawed)
80z cream cheese softened(take out the fridge for 30 mins )
1 teaspoon of lemon zest
1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
4 tablespoons of sugar(granulated works well)
beaten egg for edges of pastry

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees or gas mark 6
On a lightly floured surace roll out the pastry into a rectangle of 12"x9"..or whatever you want
Cut it half so you have 2 strips
Then cut them crosswise to make 4 squares.
With a knife score the edges about 1/2 " from edge..like a border.
Use a fork to poke holes in the centre.This stops it from rising.
In a bowl mix the cheese,sugar,vanilla and lemon zest together.Spoon about 2-3 tablespoons of the mix into the middle of pastry..make sure you stay in the middle.
Egg wash around the edges.
Pop in the oven in the centre..bake for 20 minutes..turn the tray around after 10 minutes..ensures even cooking on all sides.
Remove from oven and place on a plate and dust with icing sugar.
Serve warm of let cool for 10 minutes.
These are very sweet..a bit too sweet for me but the little people love them.


Cheapskate...i think you will love the slower pace with little people around..my life is non-stop but very rewarding and yes i have to agree with you it is very surprising how little you actually need to live on...its the wanties that get you.

Katie...o i love date nights..we normally have a non alcoholic drink(we dont drink) in posh glasses and then cuddle up and watch a movie or i will make us a lovely supper and set the table with my best china and candles..so lovely to just relax...and i totally understand about the work situation...bob isnt it.
Well done on the butchers..i love pork..great bargain.

Well today i am doing just about everything i can to make tomorrow run smooth..i have just made egg mayonnaise and another loaf of bread..got a fruit flan in the fridge and a quiche in the oven..am hoping if i get it all prepped today then hubby and tots can have a realxing day too.
Right i will toddle off to annoy someone else lol...
love
ftm

[Deleted User]

Morning everyone, it's lovely to hear everyone being so up beat and cheery,makes the world feel lots lighter, thank you.

FTM I am so pleased for you that you have come to a decision re Mr FTMs job, that must make both of you feel a lot more positive. I am also very glad they sorted out the wages blip and that the manager had the decency to phone and appologise, good stuff, put it behind you and onwards into the sunshine, yes? Those recipes sound fantastic and it just so happens I've some Puff Pasrty in the freezer and this morning got some l/f soft cheese, Mmmmmmmmmmmm!!!

CHAEAPY and KATE you will both manage just fine on a lower income, being at home gives you so very much more scope to make and stretch meals and cook lovely things that take a little time in the oven, like Hot Pot for instance. I love being retired it gives me time to get organised, take my time over jobs and actually enjoy them, even the ironing (I know I'm sad!) and the biggest luxury I can think of is sitting in the garden in the nice weather and making a cuppa with the kelly kettle and having time to enjoy it, doesn't cost much but to us it's beyond price. The gift of time is vastly under rated I find, you'll see!!!

Have a lovely day all, Cheers Lyn xxx.

KAZ if you're still reading along with us I hope you and the family are all well and doing OK, miss you posting, you're part of the family on here, Lyn xxx.

scottishminnie

Evening all. My, everyone has been so busy it makes me feel guilty about the hour I spent having a facial this afternoon! Actually I spent the entire hour thinking about what else I could be doing with the time - I really do need to learn to chill out I think.:o

FTM - glad the wages situation has been sorted. It's a nightmare situation and can have such a knock on effect it was good that someone at least took the time to apologise as reading some of the posts on MSE these sort of situations seem to happen quite frequently now.

I'm having my parents for dinner tomorrow night as it is mothers day so I have just cooked a brisket joint and have cooked a gammon joint in coca cola. The gammon recipe calls for a glaze to be put on and then into the oven which I will do tomorrow however I am absolutely no use at carving anything hot as it just seems to crumble so I will do it early and leave the ham to cool. I will make a gravy for the brisket and may reheat it.
I'm making a Barefoot Contessa dessert - baked croissant pudding, looks delicious so fingers crossed it will taste as good.

It was wet and windy here today, in fact I watched the hills getting a dusting of snow and it doesn't feel like the risk has gone quite yet so I don't think I should put away my winter woollens just yet.

The farmers next to my parents have sheep and today I noticed there was one tiny little lamb, it's a bit early but I always feel that's a sign of us moving on from winter. I just hope the weather is kind to the little thing. My parents had sheep years ago and the poor little mites always seemed to be born on the most horrid cold, sleety, wet days. I've lost count of the number of sick lambs which were brought into the kitchen and placed in a box with towels and a hot water bottle, next to the radiator to try and keep them alive. It wasn't always a good outcome but many did survive and even the family dog, who was a collie and should have been rounding up sheep, used to lie beside them and alert my mum when there was any sign of stirrings from the box.

I hope all you mums out there have a nice day tomorrow and perhaps even a well deserved rest.

flowertotmum

Evening all...
O SM..we have snow as well..hubby has sorted the sunday roast for tomorrow..so i am hoping i am going to be waited upon hand and foot..am joking.
I love the sound of the gammon in coke..sounds delish must try it.
Some years back we went walking on a lovely march afternoon to belton house..and what a treat we had..a ewe gave birth right in front of us..honestly we were all mesmerized by it...o the little lamb was so sweet..unfortunately it thought i was its mum and started coming towards me, the mum was not happy and was stamping her hoof at me...i had to literally walk away very fast...i often wonder what happened to the little thing..me a mum to a lamb lol.
Well i was banished from the living room earlier..hubby and tots had some secret things to do...hmmm i wonder what they were doing?

I am so glad the wages have been sorted..we are ok financially so not in desperate need..just tops up the bank account for us..and its the principle of it all.
Its so nice to have my hubby back to kinda himself..a bit more happy but still looking for another job as soon as possible.
O yes i meant to say i have found some home cleaning mixes that you can all make yourself and save more pennies..i will try them first then post them so you can make up your own mind.
got to go my friends..hubby has made me a cuppa..
love ftm

ps to all the mums have a great day tomorrow..chill out and relax..
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx