Two Pennies Left

Fortune_Smiles

lulabelle1 wrote: »

Lentil chilli sounds yum, is it from the usual place or do I need to look elsewhere for this one?

Relief re garage...... Holidays here you come!

Thanks Lulabelle. No - 'tis not from the great source of all wisdom on recipe know how this time. I'll dig it out and send it on to you. It's one of my favourites as it's quick to prepare, cheap, versatile and will stretch to feed 6.

Fortune x

lulabelle1

Fortune_Smiles wrote: »

Thanks Lulabelle. No - 'tis not from the great source of all wisdom on recipe know how this time. I'll dig it out and send it on to you. It's one of my favourites as it's quick to prepare, cheap, versatile and will stretch to feed 6.

Fortune x

Fab, thanks Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Was supposed to be going to Bluewater with a neighbour today but the trip was cancelled at the last minute. Disappointed as I was looking forward to a day out but at least I wasn't tempted to spend anything. Having said that, I spent the extra time I'd gained researching holidays so a booking may be imminent!

MS:

• Mr F serviced both Landies at the weekend. £65 each for parts and fluids
• curtains rings arrived
• letter came from the mortage company confirming they'd treated my OPs as a capital repayment and calculated the interest accordingly. The monthly mortgage payment has reduced by a princely £1.69 per month which I've added to the regular OP to balance things up again
• did some washing and found some change in Mr F's trouser pocket - 35p for Mr Marmite and £1.50 for my purse :rotfl:
• a cupboard lunch
• Veg & Cheesey Rice Bake from the meal plan for supper tonight. A new recipe. Turned out ok but I'll put some herbs in next time
• 10p Tillytidy OP'd

I'm anticipating a very early night tonight. Mr F is much much better but is very tired from his first day back at work today.

Good night all

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon hot smoked paprika
1 teaspoon hot chilli powder
175g green lentils
2 generous tablespoons tomato puree
1 x 400g tin tomatoes
600 ml vegetable stock
1 red pepper, cored, deseeded and chopped
1 x 400g tin kidney beans
2 tablespoons fresh coriander

Heat the oil in a large pan and fry the onions until softened. Add the garlic, paprika and chilli powder and fry for a further 1 minute. Add the lentils, tomato puree, tomatoes, stock and red pepper with seasoning to taste. Cover and cook gently for 45 minutes. Add the kidney beans and coriander and cook for a further 10 mintues until the lentils are tender. Serve with brown rice or tortillas and any extras you fancy (we have grated cheese/creme fraiche/natural yogurt, extra chopped coriander, guacomole). Wash down with a glass or two of red wine.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Well it wasn't any accident really. Yes, I've done it. A week in Madeira in June. However, there were some MS concessions. Mr F and I don't go on holiday every year but when we do go we usually pull out all the stops; 10 to 14 days, long haul, top hotel and best rooms, etc. This time we are going for 7 days. Mr F will still book two weeks off work but we'll have a few days either side of the holiday at home. So that was a saving of about £800. Went for a very good hotel but not the best and even with a super duper room that saved £550. So I'm happy that we'll have a luxurious relaxing break but it won't break the bank. I've had to raid the savings to pay for it but I'm hoping we can get that back above pre-christmas levels by end April. It will be soooo good to get some sun. Could have been worse - I could have accidentally bought a house, eh Gally :rotfl:

Not much MS to report:

• tried on all the dresses in my wardrobe this afternoon. We have a ball to go to in March and I'd rather not have to buy anything new. There are two options but I'll need a new strapless bra if I'm to wear them
• am keeping my eye out for a fascinator on Fleabay too. I've been invited to go to the Chelsea Pensioners' Founders Day again in June. I can wear the dress and shoes I wore last year with a different jacket so just the fascinator and maybe a handbag to finish the outfit off
• the rest of the Veg & Cheesey Rice for supper.

It's lovely to have some things to look forward to. I really am a fortunate girl.

Fortune x

beanielou

Oh you are so very lucky.
I love love love the Chelsea Pensioners.
Cliff Bay in Maderia?

Fortune_Smiles

beanielou wrote: »

Oh you are so very lucky.
I love love love the Chelsea Pensioners.
Cliff Bay in Maderia?

My friend's dad has just become a Chelsea Pensioner and he has friends there too which is how I got to go last year.

Not the Cliff Bay - that was the most expensive (and tempting) one :rotfl:Went for the Porto Mare in the end. Almost as good a rating and much cheaper. Going on holiday at all isn't great on the MS front but at least I made a nod to it this time :rotfl:

Fortune x

lulabelle1

Thanks so much for the recipe, I've printed it and will add it to my recipe folder... Will of course also add it to the meal plan. I might double up and portion and freeze some too.

Porto mare is a lovely property. I did some promotional work for them a few years ago whilst working for the big evil American corporate company. I'm sure you will have a fab time. 7 days sounds like a good compromise.

We're on holiday end of May/beginning June too - lovely time of year to get away.

Fortune_Smiles

lulabelle1 wrote: »

Thanks so much for the recipe, I've printed it and will add it to my recipe folder... Will of course also add it to the meal plan. I might double up and portion and freeze some too.

Porto mare is a lovely property. I did some promotional work for them a few years ago whilst working for the big evil American corporate company. I'm sure you will have a fab time. 7 days sounds like a good compromise.

We're on holiday end of May/beginning June too - lovely time of year to get away.

You're welcome. You might have to adjust the ingredients to get it how you like it.

Thanks for the info on Porto Mare. It sounds lovely from the reviews - getting v excited now it's booked. We tend to take annual holiday at the end of June and over Christmas so that we get a decent break every six months. June's so much cheaper because the schools haven't broken up which makes the resorts a little quieter too.

Fortune x

pink_poppy

Hi Fortune :hello:

Have read your diary over the last couple of days & would like to subscribe if you'll have me I tend to just lurk but will pop up now & again.

Your holiday sounds fab ~ great to have something to look forward to.

pink poppy xx