The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

alfsmum

princess had a quick look, this website seems to do what you want but may not be the one that's usually suggested

http://www.supercook.com

nuttyp

Morning all, princess your right it has become very quiet over here. Maybe all the chat about Christmas has scarred everyone away!!

Well yesterday was nice but today I am having a very quiet day. Must finish off the sewing and decide what to do for tea. I too am using up the freezer bits ready for getting some bargains in the freezer.

I watched martins show last night about Christmas money saving, im sure some of us on here could have added some more helpful hints. Interestingly the food test, the value brands came out top. If you like champagne then the lidl version was voted the best, also their suddenly perfume was compared to a very expensive one and lots couldn't smell the difference!

I watched later the obsessive compulsive cleaner, know my OH jokes I have this (I don't honest) but to sleep on the floor so you don't crease your bed linen omg. My house has bits of clutter, and I bet you can find a good selection of dust and the odd cobweb. I do ensure the bathroom and kitchen are cleaned everyday - even if its a quick wipe over.

Must venture over to the farm on the edge of the village, they are doing sacks of potatoes for £2.50 and someone at work wants one. They are the huge potatoes that supermarkets wont sell. We only use 1 per meal, they are that big.

Take care everyone x

SDG31000

Morning all

I'm doing nervous Mom mode at the moment as DS1 has his driving test at 1.30pm. I'm doing my best not to panic as he seems very calm about it. I'm really hoping he passes as it frees up £100 or more a month. We have told him that if he fails he will have to wait until after Christmas and January birthdays to try again.

I have a session with my therapist this morning and plan on treating myself to a bag of chips eaten out of the paper on the way home for lunch. Not good for the waistline, but very calming for the nerves.
Good luck with your session PRINCESSX87

We have told DS1 he can order a takeaway for dinner if he passes (DH figures it's cheaper than him retaking it) I'd better think of an alternative just in case. DS2 asked for chilli so probably that.

Time to get moving. Take care everyone xxxxxxxx

[Deleted User]

Morning everyone, beautiful and sunny here but very chilly, have just hung the washing out in the garden in the hope that it will dry but we have dead calm, not even a whisker of breeze so we'll see!

PX87 we do go quiet once in a while, busy lives mean less chat time but it picks up again, don't worry.

I loved Martin's show last night, I really liked his sandwich board chat with the people in the street about being sensible about christmas presents. Just spot on common sense I was a little surprised that the Archbish didn't commit himself and hedged about consumerism, Hmmmmmmmm! Also the eye opener over the tree decorations and the food, goes to show that hype about 'finest' and pretty packaging and advertising campaigns aren't always an indicator of the quality of the contents of the packet doesn't it? I think we all need a rethink about what we're expected to actually provide for the festive season, in terms of the excesses of food, drink and giving and maybe take on board the lesson of the £20 socks which were bought in the knowledge that the recipient would never use them, that's so true but so STUPID because the only one getting any satisfaction in that triangle is the company who sold them and where's the sense in that? I love to have family home, and friends pop in but we really don't go overboard and have one of everything just in case we need it. I have in the past but using up excess things at Easter felt really daft so now I just cater for christmas eve, christmas day and boxing day and the rest of the time we just have normal things. We have a nice supper on new years eve and that's it for celebrations and you know what? We are enjoying the whole christmas thing so much more these days because it's special again!!! Lyn xxx.

PRINCESSX87

Thanks Alfsmum x

I have to say i think its the best thing i have done. Before starting it i did have a lot of doubts - But - Alas, I have yet to have a bad session.

I also watched Martin's show last night. I agree with Nutty about people on here offering more MS idea's.

Sounds like a rright bargain on the "tatties" nutty, Shame we dont have the same offers locally, The cheapest we get spuds for is £6 a bag. Still, Much better than the supermarkets IYKWIM.

SDG31000: Good luck for boy!! Hope its good news.

MRSLW: Glad to hear that its usual for quite spells... xx

savingqueen

Hello Princess I'm here! Hello to everyone else :hello:

SDG - digits crossed!

Good luck to those with counselling and other appointments, get well soon to the poorlies (if any) and warm hugs and hot chocolate (have squirty cream left if anyone fancies some )

Also have a bright sunny and still day Mrs LW and just about to put out some washing, even if 10% dry... every little helps!

Been to Al-dis this morn and noticed quite a few price rises, to be expected I suppose but has worried me. The "supersix" are now 89p rather than 69p or even 39 or 49p as have been before. The lean beef mince I buy is also up 20p, cream cheese more expensive and couple of other bits I have forgotten about. Still cheaper than the big boys though but I will have to keep on my toes with the shopping, imagine there are hot coals underneath me :rotfl:

I have very mixed feelings about Xmas and have done for many years. I won't go on about the negatives for me but I now just focus on the parts I want to - making the magic and surprise for the children, thinking of others less fortunate and giving a little to charity and having a few special times and small treats with my little family and a couple of friends. I enjoy the decorations (though not keen on tinsel but of course my boys - littlies, DH and 2 boy cats love it!), trees, candles etc and love the warm colours especially red. We always overbuy food wise but this year are just buying for a few days not a few weeks and nothing extravagant either. Cutting down on alcohol, we have few seasonal visitors and I am currently not drinking for health reasons so a much more modest alcohol budget this year too. We are continually trimming our budgets to keep up with the price rises - at least petrol is a little cheaper at the mo.

Just had an early lunch as tummy was rumbling, another using up of leftovers, feels good to do that. Another one running down the freezer and making odd meals. Can't remember that site Princess - something to do with numbers???? If you post some of your freezer bits, we will help you with your concoctions. I may have to pick your brains later in the week in the same vein -

here's one for starters - a nearly full bag of frozen sprouts, not nice cooked as a side veg so what can I do with them? Ideas on a postcard, best one gets a poem...

take care
sq

savingqueen

alfsmum wrote: »

princess had a quick look, this website seems to do what you want but may not be the one that's usually suggested

http://www.supercook.com

will check that out, thank you

[Deleted User]

Cook them and make bubble and squeak with them with some cooked potato and onion, I like to cook mine in the oven with some bacon pieces snipped over the top so the bacon flavour goes right through the veg and them serve it with a poached egg on top, lovely!!!

cornishchick

I'm here....
sunny and dry here waiting for the sheets to be washed. So can go out on the line, them mil is coming over for dinner this evening so got to cook for her.
Hubby asleep on the sofa, only managing to stay up for a few hours at a time before needing to sleep again..

counselling. I had a few sessions in the last few weeks arranged by my local cancer outreach programme, it was brilliant, even though hubby and I try to be honest and completely open about every thing I felt able to open up about my deepest fears and the quilt I feel when ever I have a " when hubby has gone, I can do" moment..
Any way kettle is on, feel the need to bake,, any Requests?

Re sprouts, slice and stir fry with smoky bacon, lush...
Hugs to all. XCC


ops ment to add re using up things.
Love food hate waste is one I've used. Use the Webversion the app Iis a bit pants.
And also

http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes

alfsmum

SDG hope your Ds passes with flying colours

I couldn't even look at the clock last year when DD was taking hers, was waiting for a text but she wanted to tell me in person so the first I knew of it was when she arrived home with a big smile on her face.

Dd16 is 17 in January and will be starting lessons. Another chance for anxious Mother mode :rotfl: