make do and mend for tougher times

mardatha

I really really need to sort out a proper menu, am spending £45-£50 a week although some of it's for preps. A menu is a simple thing but it seems to be beyond me lol. Either I forget to take stuff out of the freezer or else I'm not well and can't be bothered to cook. Money is trickling away here and it needs to stop!

kidcat

mardatha wrote: »

I really really need to sort out a proper menu, am spending £45-£50 a week although some of it's for preps. A menu is a simple thing but it seems to be beyond me lol. Either I forget to take stuff out of the freezer or else I'm not well and can't be bothered to cook. Money is trickling away here and it needs to stop!

Same here, thats exactly what I happens, I am so busy in the morning that I forget to get the stuff out. Then when I get in its too late.

missrlr

I take out the night before the stuff for the next day. Pop it in fridge to defrost if its still a bit chilly when I get home pop it on the side for an hour. Saves remembering in the am!

shegar

mardatha wrote: »

I really really need to sort out a proper menu, am spending £45-£50 a week although some of it's for preps. A menu is a simple thing but it seems to be beyond me lol. Either I forget to take stuff out of the freezer or else I'm not well and can't be bothered to cook. Money is trickling away here and it needs to stop!

How did you get on with trying to whiten your nets.?.....When I was in tescos today they had loads of stuff from Dr Beckmanns for different washing jobs and net curtaining whitener ........

Also do you remember Reckitts Blue? , Ive got a retro calendar with all the old cleaning products on Omo etc, and it as a pic of a lady near a tin bath with looks like blue water and she is washing her whites.........:D

mardatha

I've seen ads for Reckitts blue on old cookery books etc. Haven't touched the nets yet as hubby not well and I cant get them down myself, the curtain pole tends to fall off and brain you and I leave it to him

Popperwell

mardatha wrote: »

I really really need to sort out a proper menu, am spending £45-£50 a week although some of it's for preps. A menu is a simple thing but it seems to be beyond me lol. Either I forget to take stuff out of the freezer or else I'm not well and can't be bothered to cook. Money is trickling away here and it needs to stop!

My prep isn't to bad but as I eat less now I have got into the habit of quick and simple which is a pity so I seem to do sandwiches(not much change in the filling)but I guess as they end up mainly salad and ham I get all the vitamins and minerals that I should. The other uncooked meal is usually cereal, milk and fruit. My cooked meal always seems to be in the slow cooker and ends up as a casserole of some kind.

I have treated myself to some cakes! I can eat them as they are or force myself to perhaps have them with custard. A box of 12 cupcakes reduced to £1 and a date well into December with Halloween theme that they call a slime green but is really just lime flavour. Don't think they are very big though.

And there was a Tate and Lyle Golden Syrup cake also £1 so a reduction of approx 50p but it was a bit different as it said "Sticky Toffee and Apple" flavour. I haven't seen that variety before.

I suppose the only good thing is that I am at least eating and intend to make more of an effort...and I do like food and though simple easy food can be nutriciousI want to make more of an effort as most meals can be done reasonably quickly.

My Dr wasn't in the surgery today and when I decided I'd see another all appointments had gone so I think I'll try again on Monday rather than wait. The receptionist said try NHS Direct over the weekend but I cannot see any advantage doing that...

I'll let the weekend get over...

SpikyHedgehog

Sunshine4 wrote: »

Well its still raining here, its been very heavy at times.
As its been very windy there is lots of leaves on the ground, in some places its covered in them. Used to love walking in the park when the kids where small and collecting leaves and putting them in a scrap book.
I suggested that to my niece few days ago that she should do that with her kids and she laughed and said the kids would think she was mad. My how this world has changed.

Fuddle enjoy your cuddles with the baby.
Mrs L I was laughing at your post they do cheer me up, if you dont mind may I call you Lyn.

I am Denise.

Denise, what a lovely idea to put the leaves in a scrapbook! We love to collect them for collage & leaf printing - DS1 would tell his friends he's only helping his little brother, but he does enjoy it too It's been too soggy here at the moment though to collect leaves. DS2 had great fun walking through the piles of wet leaves & comparing it the the noises of dry leaves!

Possession wrote: »

For those of you with older children, just wanted to let you know, if you didn't already, about the Jamie home cooking skills website. It has step by step illustrated instruction for a wide variety of dishes and is great for teaching how to cook. I'll be using it with mine.
http://www.jamieshomecookingskills.com/index.php

Thank you, Possession, will have a look at that! DS1 had 1 term of cooking in his time at high school, & the teacher wasn't very good. DS2 is still at primary school, & they do have a cooking club after school, where they do some good skill learning, but he's doing different after school clubs this term.

born_blonde wrote: »

Just a quick post to say while I will keep up with reading, I won't be posting for a while.
You might have noticed my comment that it was all quiet on the campsite.
So I popped into the next village on a yellow sticker hunt at the Co-op.
I tripped, fell and broke my right arm in 3 places.......
So as I'm right handed and as it hurts quite a lot I may be quiet for a while!

Take care, BB! At least the campsite is quiet now, & it's not the height of the season.

maryb

Born Blonde, poor poor you! I've just had my left hand operated on and that's bad enough, don't know how I would cope if I couldn't use my right hand. Though this time they did the plaster cast a bit better and I can actually get my finger and thumb together so can use that hand a little bit.

I managed to fill the freezer beforehand but you don't get any warning with an accident!! How are you coping for meals?

One thing I forgot to get in was antibac hand gel and wipes because I can't wash my hands if I have to keep the cast dry. It's surprisingly difficult to wash one hand, one handed!! How did people manage to keep their hands clean with one hand in plaster before antibac wipes? Mardatha would know - any tips, Mar?

katieowl_2

mardatha wrote: »

I really really need to sort out a proper menu, am spending £45-£50 a week although some of it's for preps. A menu is a simple thing but it seems to be beyond me lol. Either I forget to take stuff out of the freezer or else I'm not well and can't be bothered to cook. Money is trickling away here and it needs to stop!

Will the RV eat leftovers??? Cos' if he does you could cook a double portion of something for two or three days, and it would save your energy when you feel knackered, and you only need to put three or four things on your weekly menu then!

We do for two days when we can, and ring the changes with rice, spuds or pasta.

Kate

lisakay_2

http://s1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg631/lisakayh/?action=view&current=2012-10-19082556.jpg&jwidget_action=album

link to a pic of my girls in their homemade princess Leia outfits ready for school today. really pleased with howthey turned out.

So glad this weeks over and it's weekend :j:beer:

Had a horrible week at work. the bosses seem to think it's my turn to be nagged this week. they go through stages of being nice and then finding niggly little to things to pick us dogsbodies up on.
at least it means they've left our new lady alone for a few days, it does make me wonder whether she'll stick at it. we have the highest staff turnover in the borough and noone has thought to question why!

FUDDLE, i'm on the other side of the counter it should be a lovely job, i get on so well with all the kids (we have the big ones), it really shouldn't be stressful, but it is.
if i was in your shoes I would probably steam inside over it and then blow my top if it carries on...absolutely not what i would suggest you do!!!


Off to qualitysave in the morning to get food flask for the girls who've both requested soup for their butty boxes now it's getting colder. I'll probaly put it on in tne SC over night so it's ready just to pack up in the morning for them. I've never said this about a flask before, but I hope they don't hold the heat too much that it's still red hot by lunchtime, will experiment over the weekend

also need to get on the lotty and finish the raised beds and clearing for winter. i want to sow the broad beans too.

Parents evening last night and I'm a very proud mummy (please can I have a little boast???:o) They're both doing very well and DD2 is learning to manage her behaviour very well

other than that, i would like to wish speedy healing vibes for broken bones, bad backs/legs (hehehe, still chuckling over bad back legs) and general poorliness xxx