Living on next to nought - is that the key?

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

If anyone can make a meal out of nothing, it's you. Can't wait to see what's conjured up for dinner.

Ayeshalush wrote: »

No doubt you'll be posting a pic of a delicious looking plate of food later on.

:eek: No pressure then....... :rotfl:

Well, what a marvellous day Went the day well for you Dear Reader?

INOD - you are very kind - thank you I think I'm going to disappoint though

Ayeshalush - you've just reminded me, I talk about scrapple, meaning the veggie version. Of course, the majority of folk would think of scrapple as a meat dish, and yes, I suppose it perhaps doesn't sound wholly appetising, as I think it is meant as a dish that uses up leftover meats, perhaps as hash might? I remember seeing it on D1ners, Dr1ve-1ns and D1ves (the meat version), but the customers loved it. I think it's the frying that probably does it....... wonder whether mrsinvisible's DGS has smothered it in *katsup* yet...... :rotfl: And please, never apologise for joining in - not on this thread By the way, who is the puss cat in your avatar?

Well, I managed my NSD - but that was rather easy....... :rotfl:

I picked our first tomato today



Proud

It wasn't very big. But it was definitely ripe for picking. The others are still resolutely green But some are much bigger

Dinner......... Well, um, it was tasty, and I'm glad that I managed to conjure it up *out of nowt* but, well, it certainly won't win any prizes for looks...... I made Bean and Sausage Jambalaya - from the blog that moneyistooshorttomention introduced us to. I have made it before, but I made it as per recipe with tinned tomatoes and it was less *claggy* (technical term), than tonight's version, in which I used up some passata as I had no chopped tomatoes. I put some broccoli with it, that I picked up yesterday YS'd down to 39p for 2 decent heads. And although the broccoli looks raw - it was actually steamed in the microwave - but kept its colour beautifully :j See if you can spot what happened to our 'prized' tomato :rotfl:



Recipe is HERE meat or veggie sausages are interchangeable, as you wish

What we should of had was Sausage and broccoli pasta, but I'm going to have to hand my MSE badge back as we've no pasta at Greying Towers :eek: I'll never get a visit from Pippi's DD at this rate

I forgot to mention yesterday I found 5p *roadkill* - a whole shiny 5p! Things are definitely on the up - it's been nowt or coppers for aaaggeess :j

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

for the lovely sunshine

for my recipe collection

that we don't have to do DIY tonight :j

Thank you so much for popping by, reading and commenting. I greatly appreciate it.

See y'all later.

Greying

satchmo1

Has it rained today - St Swithen's Day? I don't think it has, so don't forget to chuck the washing-up liquid on the veggies in the evenings (the aphids hate soapy water) as there won't be much rain for the next 40 days?

Pippilongstocking

Happy new tomato.



I went outside and told mine to get a wriggle on and there are a few 'threatening'

All good.

I can lob you some of DD's leftover pasta if I get permission please let me know

PS you call it jumbala

We call it pizza rice (all the joy of a pizza, in a rice)

Have a good un dear chums on this thread.

PS headed off in grand faith to collect quotes from two trades folks in the flat. - they appear to be written on invisible paper with invisible ink.

Not cool.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

satchmo - definitely no rain with us yesterday, but I've just been listening to the weather forecast on R3 (never very detailed) and it is going to rain today? How does that work then? :rotfl:

Pippi - I feel your pain re the quotes. Although to be fair, this time we have the quotes, just can't get hold of the chaps to carry out the work................ Although we are actually awaiting a different trade at the moment, but he is holding up the plumber who recommended him....... go figure....... :rotfl: Pizza rice is officially YUM Nah, I couldn't borrow DD's pasta stash - she'll need it (and more) for Uni just now

I have just noticed that one of the rock hard peaches I got from Aldi in their S6 has started to go mouldy...... and it is still rock hard....... *sigh* I don't mind ripening at home, but I think I'm in for a long wait. Oh and I must confess, I have recently had to chuck half a bag of rocket and 2 avocados in the compost bin The rocket deteriorated quickly and the avocados (I'd used 2 out of the pack of 4) both went bad from the inside out So I didn't notice that they weren't going to be useable I hate food waste plus it boogered up my meal plans

I have no idea what will be for dinner tonight - seriously

I have the TV guide to get, but it'll be a toss up between a NSD or looking out for something YS'd. It's just dawned on me that I am 'owed' £3 for the grocery money, as I 'bought' next month's FB donation with this month's money, as it was on special offer in mrL.

Have a great day whatever you are up to.

Thank you for popping in, reading and commenting. As ever, I always appreciate it

See y'all later.

Greying

wishus

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

wishus - How did the paneer turn out? I don't think it was MWC's fella that wouldn't eat his oats - he's a true rugger supporting Scot - I rather think it is in his DNA to eat oats It was satchmo that was reporting probs

Sorry Satchmo and MWC!!
Actually might nab the oats idea from you. My fella won't mind, he likes superfoods.

My paneer was lush! So easy to make too. Blessed are the cheesemakers...
All I did was bring some milk to the near boil, like with yoghurt, then added a capful of vinegar and removed from the heat. I stirred it to help separate the curds and whey every now and then while it cooled down a bit. I had a clean brewer's sack/cheesecloth type thing, a bit like a baggy sock, over a small colander, over a bowl, tipped in the curds and whey. I nearly decided to keep the whey for bread-making, but I had to go out so I didn't. I rinsed the curds with cold water, then squeezed out the liquid, as much as I could. I then kept the ball of cheese still in its sock in the fridge, inside a container. I squidged out more water the next day, and the day after that.

It was quite firm, but also a bit crumbly. It needs to be pressed for days if you have any hope of cutting it neatly, but I'm told by my Indian colleagues that the crumbly effect is normal and what homemade paneer tends to be like.

I fried it up into a lovely saag paneer, served with a homemade mint raita and brown rice. I'm dead chuffed with meself!:cool:

mrsinvisible

Greying, your ingenuity knows no bounds. DGS loved the 'scrabble' as he named it, said it should get a triple word score, at least. I am amazed, because he has so narrow a range of foods he will eat. There is easily enough for us both tonight and maybe a portion to freeze?
I'm off to look for other polenta recipes, and will be careful to clean as l go, so no rock hard mountains to clear.
It is teeming down here, l am sitting in the vestibule, usually a little suntrap, feeling as if l am in a time warp, suddenly it is November.
Your tomato looks ace, well ahead of mine, but my peppers and chillis are fine and in use, also the courgettes, so not complaining too much eh?
Having my lovely great nephew for a couple of hours this afternoon 4 years old, and humungusly huggable. xx

Ayeshalush

My avatar is of Cleo my cat, however I lost her to cancer 3 years ago. She was such a lap cat, gorgeous nature...I still really miss her. I now have a lap dog, Cara, a 7 yo black lab...or she thinks she should be a lap dog but she's just a little too big and has to put up with lying beside me on the couch with her head on my lap. She does take me unawares at times and just launches herself onto my knee!


I do like the idea of the scrapple, it was just the first description I read that made it sound very unappetising. Vegi scrapple would be good too, especially with a little cheese added. Everything tastes good with cheese added imo lol.


Your tomato looks so tasty! Why are they never that red when you buy them in the supermarket these days?!!


Just heading home to make beetroot and feta risotto. I love risotto but haven't tried beetroot risotto, I'm not convinced that it won't be a little on the sweet side for me but as I love beetroot, feta and rice I'm giving it a go


Ali
xx

beanielou

My peaches are a pain too.
One day were to hard to eat.
Then next day started to go wrinkly.
A lot of peach eating going on :eek:

NewbieJosh

Amazing diary greying! :beer:
Slowly working my way through all the pages when I have some time on my hands. So far at page 21.

Keep up the good work!

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

wishus - bravo! on the paneer making :T Sounds excellent. I know that mouche implored me to make my own, rather than use shop-bought, but it's not something that I've yet found the time to do. But you've proved that it is worthwhile Thank you

mrsinvisible - Go You with your 'Scrabble' making :T :rotfl: You'll entice :money: round to your house for tea quick smart making dishes like that out of 'next to nought' :rotfl::T Hey, if you do freeze any leftover portions, make them into 'slices' - that way you can remove them from the freezer, and fry them up from frozen for a quick tea/snack - it's been a useful standby for me on more than one occasion

I do think the tomato is a fluke, none of the others, even on the same plant are anywhere remotely near even thinking about beginning to change colour. Well weird.

A 'humungously huggable 4-year old'.........*sigh* :D:D

Ayeshalush - aw, to your puddy tat - animals do 'get' us don't they? Love the sound of your dawgy though mmm, I was thinking I had done a beetroot risotto, but on thinking, it was actually a pilau. Interesting colour - I think it sounds lush. Let us know how you get on, I wouldn't mind giving the recipe a go myself

beanie - I ate the peach (minus the mouldy bit) but it scored 0 on the pleasurable scale I hope the others don't do this. Peaches should be plentiful, ripe and cheap at the moment - 'tis the season for peaches!

NewbieJosh - my dear thing - you are too young to be using the :beer: smilie! :rotfl: Welcome aboard Reading the whole thread is not obligatory you know, just jump in and join us So what are you going to do in September then? Are you going to college? or are you starting work or an apprenticeship? I hope that you go far in life, as it seems that you have a good attitude towards money. In fact, at the risk of seeming like I want to get rid of you, just as you've de-lurked (absolutely not the case, I hasten to add! ) I wonder whether the writing of THIS fella may hold something for you...... it's an American site, but the principles are universal, and it's never to early to start........

Right, so I bagged a NSD today I didn't get much time to look, but the YS'd items held no thrall today, although had I been in the market for some somerset organic brie........ Therefore, I also held off buying the TV mag

I am wondering why at only half way through the month I have no money left in the grocery budget On going through the receipts just now, I think I have pinpointed the problem, as I bought a couple of items - most likely with grocery money, but they are not food items. Therefore, the news is bad but not grim, in that I have about £10 left until the end of the month...............:eek: rather than the £0 that I thought I had :eek::eek:

I can't tell you about 'me tea' and I can't tell you why I can't tell you either. So that's that then.

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

that today, to the saying, 'when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.....', I can say *slurp* -

that budgeting/keeping account does help you to keep track and locate your missing [STRIKE]millions [/STRIKE] pennies....

for access to the internet -

Thank you so very much for reading, commenting and joining in. Just in case you were in any doubt - I really do appreciate it. Greatly

See y'all later.

Greying