Anyone got a nice spaghetti and meatballs recipe?

Mortgagefreeforme

forgot to say the chocolate slabs would just be melted chocolate poured onto a greased and lined baking tray, pop on the sweets before it sets and ice with icing or diffent colour chocolate.
We're giving MIL a fruit basket as she's diabetic, we tie it up in cellophane from the craft shop. The kids are giving her a book they made with lots of drawings of her and lovely things they've written about her.

Miss_Behaving

Well done to everyone who's managed to keep within budget this month. I've totally blown my budget and am far too embarrased to post what I've spent:o I'm trying to be positive though - I'm looking forward to March when I will do better!

tattycath

I bought some cellophane in readiness for the hampers I'm going to attempt this year. I bought mine from the local florist (and some ribbon) hth
I bought some baskets from the florists last year for a work project/experiment, so i still have about 16 left and I have been saving empty tins from chocolates etc as well.
Back to gc. I am hoping for a low spend weekend this weekend, I have only spent £3 today and hope to stay in for rest of day. OH wants to take me out tonight (he says, though whether we actually end up going is another matter) I shall give final totals next friday (end of month)

cheerfulness4

The thread on chocolate slabs and making hampers is really interesting. Gave me the idea to put a little basket together for my parents anniversary next weekend. I'm doing an oils burner and scented candles one.

Right back on topic.... getting dangerously near my budget limit. DS1 couldn't understand why I was so upset when he announced the squash was gone, I never looked because they are supposed to tell me at 1/4 full (will I never learn :rolleyes: ) and when DH said he needed more sugar for his baking. There was plenty only not enough apparently. How fattening is this cake going to be.

Anyways, after calmly (well, you know) explaining it was month end and I absolute mustn't go over budget, DS1 put his hand in his pocket and got out some cash. :eek: That's CHEATING I said. Not doing that... others are doing it right so so will I. (I would have loved that money, tho )

They got it in the end, and now they say they're happy to have HM bread in their pack ups all next week with no moaning about having to slice it.
They'll be crumbs everywhere in the mornings when I come down but I will stay in budget!

Tescos quickie shop for cat foods, baking stuff, rest of milk for week, coffee, peanut butter and cream. (carbonara promised )
Total came to £7.48. That now leaves me exactly £3.50 to get squash, t rolls, cooking marg and sugar. I've worked out that I can do it and maybe have some change. :rolleyes:

Thanks for the work you have done lil-me and gratitude to MrsMc for taking over the task.

Will update sig again.

tattycath

Speaking of carbonara... When My DD does carbonara, (I'll just put my fingers in my ears ready!!!) we use a jar of carbonara sauce, is there a cheaper way??? please???

cheerfulness4

I use a carton of single cream to mix into the garlic that's fried in a little olive oil. Not sure how much a jar of sauce costs so it may not be cheaper. I paid 52p for the 250ml pot of single in Tescos just now.

Sometimes, if we have no cream I put some milk on to boil with an onion, peppercorns and nutmeg in it. Then I leave it for a while to flavour. From that pop in a dob of marg and a dsp of p flour and make a white sauce. Season and pour over pasta and mix. The boys love it and its cheap.

oh i forgot, a bayleaf goes in too.

izoomzoom

Mortgagefreeforme wrote: »

BigMummaf here is the receipe you wanted, we call it tablet (it's very sugary) but others call it scottish toffee. To me toffee should be chewy, but this isn't. We grew up with this being a once in a blue moon sweetie treat as our parents were too broke to buy us sweets!
100g butter
2lbs granulated sugar
1 small tin carnation milk, plus tin filled with fresh milk
Bung it all in a large pan and slowly dissolve , bring to boil and slowly boil for about 15mins (stir constantly) till soft ball stage is reached. Take off heat and beat really well, pour into a greased tray (swiss roll sort of size or a bit smaller) allow to cool and cut into small squares. My kids fight over who gets to sook the wooden spoon!

I come from South Africa, and this sounds a lot like our fudge. Fudge in the UK seems to be a bit too soft almost toffee like but not chewy. If only I hadn't smashed my sugar thermometer ....

tattycath

Thank you so much cheerfulness. The last time I bought some carbonara sauce it was on offer at £1.50 for 2 jars. My eldest DD likes to make a carbonara meals at least once or twice a week!!!

cheerfulness4

My two boys love it too and DS1 makes it for them as its so easy.

I forgot to mention that the bacon or ham goes in with the garlic when we first cook it, or in the white sauce after its made. I buy the economy packs of bacon from morrison (making sure I get a one with some smoked bacon in). Its only 70p and would last you a month worth of carbonaras, quiches and soups.
Tescos does a similar priced pack but Morrisons always has nice rashers rather than huge chunks if you pick your pack.

mikeD

Hi y'all

Another NSD today. I think I'm getting withdrawal symptoms . Hope I remember where the shops are!

Thanks for all the good work Lil_Me and a great big hug to MrsMc for bravely volunteering to fill the gap. You're both :A

I found a quote from GK Chesterton which goes "With no money you start to discover your own inner resource". How very true!

Gotta go now so well done everybody and good luck in March.

Love the FM