Finally I have a mortgage I can start to pay off!

QueenJess

Karmacat said:

You too, madvix.  As for the colcannon looking dodgy but tasting good - thats a definition of the first round of Masterchev, all too often 

That's all my food.  I can't see the point in spending loads of time making things look nice.  As long as they taste nice, that's what matters.  If I really want pretty food, I'll go to a restaurant!

Suffolk_lass

Mmn garlic bread - we used to make masses in the restaurant - The previous day's baguettes all made into four slice lumps ready for the evening rush. I saw a cookery programme last week (probably American on food network) where the garlic was gently fried in oil then painted on with a paintbrush and popped in the oven before being used as bruschetta. I must admit we used to whizz garlic first and then add butter in the food processor before buttering between all slices. I still do it like this then baked in foil. A rare treat with a barbecue here as we don't have olio (I do keep checking!)

themadvix

QueenJess said:

That's all my food.  I can't see the point in spending loads of time making things look nice.  As long as they taste nice, that's what matters.  If I really want pretty food, I'll go to a restaurant!

I'm totally with you on this Jess - I got fancy for the first time in forever this weekend and iced the shamrock biscuits - with some (really good) piping tubes that my MIL bought me a looong time ago (maybe before we were married?) and I'd never used before! Especially as biscuits and cakes are (nearly) always cooked from scratch here to avoid plastic wrapping, things that are quick take priority! I can have a banana bread in the oven in 10 mins - melt the butter rather than beating it to soften it (too long and too much hard work). I'm sure Delia wouldn't approve, but it tastes fine to me! (And don't get me started on sieving stuff!)

SL, I tried wrapping in foil but it seemed to make the bread soggy, so I unwrapped it and it was fine. Can see why you'd need it on the BBQ though - that sounds like an excellent plan! 

Busy_Mee

Hey Vix you are back ( I've been a bit absent myself) . So glad to see you back posting, you were missed ! 

themadvix

Morning all,

Hey Busy Mee! 

Had a nice weekend - pottering around the house/garden/garage. Made hot cross buns on Saturday and we've been eating well - prawn laksa on Saturday night and hm pizza last night. Picked up some baguette and a loaf from Olio on Friday, so we've got bread for lunches and garlic bread in the freezer. (Ooh, mac and cheese tonight - would gb be too unhealthy with this?? Not that I have a garlic bread obsession or anything - we had garlic flatbread with our pizza as normal last night!)

MS things:
* Used vouchers from S&S and PC to reduce price of new cordless lawnmower by half (sadly bought from Amazon, but struggled to find anywhere else and I did want to use vouchers) - £95 'saved' (we've never bought a lawnmower as we inherited one with the house and it's done for the last 9 years, but it was an absolute pain, so we'd decided last year to buy a new one - but that didn't happen, so really excited about a new, cordless one!)
* Clicks etc.
* Looking at plans to make our own tool store - the smallest one you can buy is too big anyway and it's over £100 (and oos everywhere too)
* Freebies from Olio
* Planted basil and coriander seeds

Gratitudes:
* Sunshine - washing is drying on the line and I've eaten breakfast and elevenses outside this morning
* Hot cross buns
* Second jab booked - which is a relief!

DH's PS5 is arriving today, so we've got that to look forward to and we're going to cycle to Sainsbury's later to collect an Argos order (stick blender - it will make life much easier for some dishes!). We haven't booked flights after the headlines at the weekend, so still no idea about holiday.

Have a good day all!

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, lots of exciting food there Vix! And a new lawn mower, woo hoo!

Suffolk_lass

Pallet wood is good for sheds. Loads free round here on FB Marketplace or outside housing development sites. The best ones are the crates that paving comes in because they are hardwood

themadvix

Morning all,

Yes, much excitement about the lawn mower - and we walked to pick up stick blender (decided it was a safer option than ending up with a box which might not fit in the rucksack, leaving us with two bikes and a box to negotiate home!). 

SL, we have some (very nice) pallet wood in our stash already, but it's not enough and nor is it long enough. It's a possibility though - would rather use 'junk' wood than buy stuff if possible (any followers of Beau Miles here? Crazy Aussie guy who is incredibly talented with junk wood!)

Finishing up some work this morning, then my regular Olio collection (looking forward to meeting the lady once we're actually allowed to!) and then meeting a friend for a walk and picnic lunch. If there's time I'll take Mum's shopping down to her later - but that might wait until tomorrow (can't squeeze too much into one day - how will we ever get back to pre-Covid activity levels?!).

MS things:
* No car day yesterday
* Used Z00plus points to get some treaty bits for the boys while ordering more kibble (points were about to expire too, which was a bonus)
* Clicks done
* Saved the garlic baguette for another day
* £10 OP made to start our new mortgage deal off

Gratitudes:
* Lovely walk with DH in the evening sunshine
* PS5 fun
* Well earned dinner - all that fresh air and I was falling asleep by 9pm!

Have a good day all!

Karmacat

Sounding great, madvix!  I don't follow Beau Miles - I watch Barnwood Builders on Dmax Channel, and any number of things I happen to pick up - I love, love repurposing.  More power to his elbow.  And yours  

themadvix

Evening all,

Busy day today - took the Mini for its MOT this morning (it passed), cut the front lawn with new mower (worked well and drill batteries lasted, yay!), scarified a small patch of front moss (which is mostly what it is, this is going to be a 15 mins a day job), cleaned hall floor (which is a hands-and-knees job and well overdue) and then picked up a large job on the work platform this afternoon, so have been ploughing through that. 

Dinner tonight will be shakshuka (and garlic bread!) and then we'll have dessert of some description (undecided as yet).

MS things:
* Car passed first time
* Clicks done
* Unexpected large job and I've made good progress (pay is enhanced because it's an express job too)
* TSB have written to tell me they've closed one of the accounts I asked them to close - and having looked on the app, the other has been closed too.
* PA surveys
* YG survey

Gratitudes:
* Car passed
* Large work job - the other project I've been working on is coming to its expected end, so it's good to keep up the momentum
* Lovely catch up with friend yesterday (but no pastries from Olioer - only loaves and I didn't need any of them! )

Have a lovely evening all!