Living on next to nought - is that the key?

dreaming

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

I use these lentils in mince *like* dishes, as they hold their shape so well. I have made Bolognese with red lentils, and the taste is fine, it's just not quite as attractive to look at IYSWIM . Mind you, I remain a fan of red lentils, I think I've currently only about 8kg in the house ........:whistle: :rotfl:
Greying

When my daughter was a teenager she decided she was going to be vegetarian and I said she had to find some recipes which the whole family could eat and she found a one which used green lentils in place of mince in a lasagne. It is so nice I still make it now (even though it is quite a few years ago and she is no longer vegetarian) and people have often been surprised when I tell them there is no meat in it as the texture is so good. I don't really like red lentils though - perhaps it is the texture as I don't really like mushy things.
Picked up The Gaurdian yesterday and found recipe for Tunisian Chickpea and Lemon Broth with Poached Egg in their food bit - looks yummy. Will add that to my growing list of "things to try".
Looked at budget yesterday and realised it is 4 months since I retired (after redundancy) and the money side has worked out reasonably well. Still haven't organised study but a really good thriller was calling me and needs to go back to library on Wednesday so it was no contest really.

fishcakes

EssexHebridean wrote: »

*coughs* You were saying?!

I've seen lentils somewhere or another at a very sensible price lately - can't for the life of me remember where though. If it returns I'll let you know.

If you have Home bargains near you, their red lentils are the cheapest I've found . Xx

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

Well, I'm writing my post early as goodness knows what time we will be eating dinner. DP has encountered a problem with the painting and so the job is taking forever. I'm not too sure if it is the crappy walls or the weather is too cold to be painting. It may even be a combination of the two. *sigh*

dreaming - is that recipe in the guardian by Yotam Ottolenghi? Sounds good, although, personally, I'd forgo the poached egg, but that is just me

fishcakes - hello :wave: Yes, HB stock 'whitworths' red lentils don't they - are they about 69p a 500g bag? It is also worth it (if you use a lot of red lentils) watching out for sporadic offers that the larger branches of tescimos (well, those that have a 'world food' section/aisle) on the 2kg bags of either natco or east end red lentils. I got mine for £2 a bag.

I can legitimately claim a NSD today :j

Dinner is going to be a Buddha bowl, but apart from soak the (fine) bulghar, there is not a lot I can do at the moment, whilst waiting on 'Pete the Painter' :rotfl:

I will however make yoghurt just now. I've not made any all over Christmas and I need to get back into the swing of it - plus my digestive system will thank me

I did go out this afternoon, I tried to talk myself out of it, as the weather was cold and miserable - plus we had a shower of heavy rain whilst I was out. But, as you've already guessed, having made the effort to actually get out of the house, I was awfully glad that I had done it and really enjoyed the fresh air and exercise. I've just been checking my e-mail and have a electronic letter from a pal in California, which shows them cavorting on a beach and paddling in the sea on the 26th December - just like Cleethorpes......:D

We had soup for lunch - I used onions, celery, garlic, carrots, swede and parsnip. Threw in some ginger and spice mix and finished off with a little chipotle chilli. Lovely and warming and just the job to thaw out DP.

So, I end the day a teeny, tiny bit more organised, a teeny tiny bit lighter of 'stuff' but my purse is exactly the same weight :rotfl:Still, in MSE terms - that's all good, right?

Today, I am grateful for these 3 things;

for a letter - albeit an electronic version, it contained pictures of some happy events that have been a delight to share in.

for the internet - I've some urid dhal chilka (split black gram lentil) that needs using up (only 1 year OOD :eek:) and found what looks like a smashing recipe on the net this afternoon - I'm looking forward to trying it out

for 'stickability - DP's turn to be soldiering on today, but it is what is making us progress each day, no doubt about it. I am his cheerleader, he is mine

Thank you so very much for popping in, reading and commenting. I greatly appreciate it. I'm sorry about the lack of photos tonight - blame DP - I'm gunna

See ya'll later.

Greying

Karmacat

That steady, daily progress of yours towards the move is wonderful, Greying, really fabulous. The decluttering too, actually - I've just sorted a bunch of posters stored right by the front door, that haven't moved in the 3 years I've been here :o:o but were only adding to the general mustiness and damp there. Several to go to the CS, and the rest are small enough that they can be stored flat in an A3 binder I have. I'd sort of abandoned decluttering, and you've encouraged me back into it. Love it :j

rtandon27

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

...I am his cheerleader, he is mine ...

GP this is soooooo sweet! (and definately counts as very romantic)
:smileyhea:happyhear:smileyhea

Greying_Pilgrim

Ay up!

Extra rations from me :rotfl::rotfl:

DP is ensconced in front of the wood burner, starting to thaw out and watching 'Sherlock' . As I didn't watch last weeks episode, there is no point in me pitching in half way through. I can either tiptoe into the cold kitchen and start filling snap boxes, or I can jump on here and witter a bit.........

So, I haven't - you will be surprised to learn - made yoghurt. I was about to start, but then DP announced he was fed up, and would be stopping for the day. So, of course it was a mad dash to get the dinner prepared then.......

The pic isn't brilliant, but is here;



It is fine bulghar, with grated carrot, onion, garlic, sweet & sour chopped peppers, sweetcorn and chopped green beans mixed together (all the vegetables were fried gently together then added into the bulghar), with mixed herbs, pepper, salt and paprika sprinkled through. Then there is a (hard to distinguish, but it is there) creamy lemony bean dressing with a single egg, thin omelette sliced in ribbons laid on top. And yes, that is a sprinkle of sumac on top. It was filling and tasty, and very much 'use up' food. The last 2 eggs made the omelettes, it was the last of the frozen sweetcorn kernels, almost the last of the green beans etc etc. The bulghar wheat was from AF. Buddha bowls are a great idea

Oh, I keep forgetting to mention. We have cut into the 'broonie'. It isn't at all as I had expected. It is quite a dry consistency, however, it had changed by today, to how it was yesterday - it is getting moister. I think it is ok, and surprisingly DP doesn't mind it. I didn't think it would be sweet enough for DP. But because of the oatmeal (or whizzed up porridge oats in my case ) it is a textural cake. Will I make it again? Yes, probably - for one thing I have a different recipe I want to try. Would it be my 'go to' cake to bake each week? Probably not. Still, I'm glad I have made it - it's wonderful to try out new things

Well, suppose I can't postpone going into the kitchen any longer Better put my thinking cap on as to what to make - there was only enough dinner for 2 dishes tonight

rtandon - bless you for being so kind But it is true, we do support each other along the way. I'm grateful that it is rare for us to be on a 'downer' at the same time. Usually one of us is positive enough to buoy the other along

See y'all later.

Greying

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

Well, were has mr Incentive disappeared to this Monday morning? The weather is bleurk, it is still dark and I've a zillion 'itty bits' to achieve this week, on top of the usual timetable

Ah well, one step at a time, one task ticked off the list at a time.

Snap bags are packed and waiting.

It should be a NSD today. I might even leave my purse at home to make sure that it is.

Dinner this evening will be 'orzotto' - the pearl barley version of risotto - as you know So I have everything in for that.

Right, well, best get up and at 'em I guess.

Have a great day all. I intend to

Thank you for dropping by, reading and commenting. I greatly appreciate it.

See y'all later.

Greying

Pippilongstocking

Forces Mr Incentive you of his lazy bed, he will be along shortly - have a good un.

Sorry the cake wasn't as hoped......

dreaming

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

dreaming - is that recipe in the guardian by Yotam Ottolenghi? Sounds good, although, personally, I'd forgo the poached egg, but that is just me
Greying

Hi GP - the recipe is attributed to Jenny Chandler (Pulse is the book title), but it also calls it Lablabi - "a traditional breakfast soup". I don't think I would bother with the poached egg either - too much like an eyeball in the soup - or is that too much Sherlock from last night? Although if you didn't watch it you won't know what I'm talking about.
De-cluttering can be a bit dispiriting at times, and I think this time of year is always a bit of a let down, although the weather here has been a bit brighter for the last couple of days. I hate wishing my life away but I can't help looking forward to spring and getting back in the garden.

Karmacat

Always difficult to find Mr Incentive in the dark ... I went to bed late, so I didn't even put the alarm on till 7.30, just when you were posting. And I've spent the morning on phone calls, and doing "normal" cleaning, after the struggle with the mould after the last few days, so that the house is ready for me to see clients again.

Hope your day turns out to be better, Greying.