Living on next to nought - is that the key?

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

LAWKS! :eek: You leave your thread unattended for 5 minutes and all of a sudden, your well-meaning neighbours are leaving bags of plums, damsons and sloes all over the joint....... :eek::rotfl: It's like that chapter in Barbara Kingsolver's book, 'Animal, Vegetable, Miracle' about folk in the Appalacians locking their car and home doors in July, lest a neighbour leaves them a sack o' courgettes....... :rotfl:

Busymumofthreeplusdog - I don't think it is 'different' enough, but I adapted the peach coffee cake recipe out of Good and Cheap to use plums that I had - post HERE

Hopefuljoy - those are actually some very startling statistics - to make 25 1/2 years difference to your potential retirement time - all other things being equal :eek:

Today was a spend day

Oh, this will make you all smile and nod in comprehension. Those of you that have been on the thread a wee while will know that about this time last year, our washing machine gave up the ghost - on top of all else that happened. And you may remember that 7 week wonder sparked a 'lateral thinking' notion in my head to get some money for the defunct machine from the scrappie. You may recall that DP was so sceptical, but when we got £4.40, for just dropping the machine off - it was on the way to the [STRIKE]tip[/STRIKE] recycling centre anyway, DP started to come around to my way of thinking. And as such, any recyclable metal has gone to the same place. And whilst it's not made us rich, I think that we have about £50 (and a heap of space) that we would not otherwise have had Anyway, I'm sure I forgot to mention that the car battery died the other week. It was original with the car (which was 2nd hand to us) when we got it, so it has given us good service. Anyway, as DP is now in charge of the 'car expenses' budget, there was money in there for repairs, so a replacement was duly bought When we went on our day trip out to the NT property, the other week, we passed a HUGE scrapyard, and there were signs saying 'we buy car batteries for cash'. Well, I immediately said, oooo could we get something for our old one? You should take it to the scrappie'. Anyway, fast forward to today, and DP was taking a load of recycling to the recycling centre, and the battery went into the boot, I assumed to be left there. Anyhoo, who, on their return home, triumphantly declared that they had got a £5 for the 'dead' battery??? :j WHAT a difference it has made putting DP in charge of the budget! He can now see that repairs have to be saved for/budgeted out of a finite amount of money, and what would previously have been *given* to the recycling, now has to earn some money to pay towards the replacement :j IT HAS CLICKED :j:j:rotfl::rotfl:

I have pootled about for most of the day, done a stack of chores, but could have done more DP put me to shame with how much he has achieved

Dinner this evening was in the frugal vein, but I turned to Jack Monroe for inspiration (there aren't quite enough veggie recipes in Leanne Brown's books to fill a whole month). I made her Vegetable masala recipe, with boiled basmati rice to accompany, and due to the prompt from wishus I also made chappati's for the first time - using a recipe from Meera Sodha's book, Made in India. Picture here;



Sorry for the poor picture quality, the light was at a funny point (overcast and time was ticking on), so I couldn't get a really sharp image, and fit everything in in some sort of detail

I was very pleasantly surprised by the Curry. As I was making it, I thought that it was going to be too......... um, conventional. I don't know how else to phrase it - we eat a lot of curries, and I'm used to using a wide range of spices and flavourings. This was very simple. But I have to say, that once the yoghurt and the 'fresh' (actually chopped, frozen) coriander was added, the dish transformed The dish was super frugal, as it contained 3 potatoes from the 49p bag I got for the wedges (last night's meal), carrots from the mrM YS haul, HG gifted garlic, HG gifted runner beans and some greek style yoghurt from mrAl - which cost about 25p for the quantity used, had I used the 'ordinary' plain yoghurt, the cost would have been even lower If you'd like to make Jack's Vegetable Masala recipe, you can find it HERE using HG veg is entirely optional

The chappatis worked out really well, the recipe was simple and straightforward, I used a mix of plain and wholemeal flour as I had no atta. The chappatis cooked quite quickly and kept flexible as long as they were kept warm. I would certainly use the recipe again. You can find Meera's recipe HERE - EDIT: I made 1/2 the quantity stated in the recipe, hth.

It struck me tonight that this meal planner, based on Leanne and Jack's frugal fare, is definitely paying dividends. I am not thinking, 'oh I need X to make a meal, or Y to have for snap.' I think I have only spent about £60 of the grocery budget - including buying items from the 'store cupboard' (eg rice, oats, lentils etc), which is better than the stage I am usually at by this stage of the month Never to old/experienced to learn, eh?

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

for the free exchange of information on the thread - recipes in this case, ALL GOOD

for the discovery of another flatbread recipe - that can by made up in next to no time

for DP's initiative - I could have told him until I was blue in the face, but nothing is as gratifying as having him being *rewarded* for acting on his own initiative Millionaire-dom, here we come..... :rotfl:

Oh, I forgot to tell you, that the spouse of the mentor who died - the one I told you about - got in touch with me following receipt of my condolence card. You were, of course, all correct, and they were touched by my card and that I had taken the trouble to contact them. Cheery Daff - you in particular spurred me on to get the card written/sent when I was dithering, so THANK YOU

Thanks for popping in, reading, commenting, and swapping recipes here. It is very much appreciated, although if you could all take a share of the plum, damson and sloe pits home with ya to your own compost bins, that'd be mighty appreciated - I Thank Yee

See y'all tomorrow.

Greying

Shortie

Evening Greying. Off to check the curry recipe, especially when you mentioned HG runners, which we have a sudden abundance of!


Have you ever made Rotis? I've most likely not twigged them in photos before, thinking they are chapattis. If not, give them a shot, we love them :-) I use the recipe below for rotis and they turn out lovely and flexible (even when cold) and flaky. MMMm


http://showmethecurry.com/breads/rotli-roti-indian-bread-recipe.html

Greying_Pilgrim

Shortie wrote: »

Evening Greying. Off to check the curry recipe, especially when you mentioned HG runners, which we have a sudden abundance of!


Have you ever made Rotis? I've most likely not twigged them in photos before, thinking they are chapattis. If not, give them a shot, we love them :-) I use the recipe below for rotis and they turn out lovely and flexible (even when cold) and flaky. MMMm


http://showmethecurry.com/breads/rotli-roti-indian-bread-recipe.html

That's interesting shortie, because in her 'preamble' to the recipe, Meera says that chappatis are also called 'roti'. EDIT: I read it wrong, she calls them 'rotli'. But I like that your recipe stays flexible, all the time - brings them into the frame for snap bags then! I will warrant buying one of those lovely stainless steel tiffin boxes yet! :rotfl:

Jack says to use green beans (150g if I remember rightly), so I just substituted the runners in, but I sliced them thinly so that they cooked in the residual heat of the curry. Nothing worse than overcooked, grey runners _pale_

How is your plum crop shortie? Were the boys telling you tales, or has mother nature peaked twirly in your neck of the woods?

Greying

Shortie

We've been out since early this morning but tomorrow is a day at home for us so I'll be having a plum-peek tomorrow

Urgh here too to over cooked runners. And any stringy bits. Our hooks love us when we pick runners as I'm fussy when I pick, knowing that one stringy bit will put me off the whole lot on my plate..


Oh, and I haven't bought a tawa for the rotis, I just use a normal frying pan with no oil :-) I don't always quick-cook them over the naked flame either - sometimes I just use the frying pan (yea, I can be lazy!)

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

Shortie - I cook all my flat breads in the frying pan. I can't justify any specific pans or presses, I don't make them regularly enough. I'm still trying to streamline my kitchen equipment - but it is going very s-l-o-w-l-y :rotfl: In fact, I'm trying to do the cr*p out and no cr*p back in to replace it at the moment, but DP is thwarting my efforts somewhat. One of the big DIY chains was giving away a 'free' lunchbox. DP spotted it, I thought my 'we don't need it, even if it is free' had been heard...... it hadn't - it came into the homestead yesterday..... what a pile of **** - it'd last about 2 seconds on a building site. And now I've more plastic in my home :mad:

Today will be a nsd - I hope

Dinner is going to be a bit of a change around on the planner, as we've got to have a 'quick to prepare' meal later this week, due to a visitor. So I'll make the more time-consuming dish tonight. I need to prepare some pasta sauce too. So a bit of cooking is on the cards.

I really wanted to have a little jaunt today - just a walk or a cycle ride, something to look forward too, but DP wasn't keen, nothing has been organised and the day will just descend into doing chores, and we'll be back to Monday in no time Arggh. Difference is good, but sometimes, differences in what motivates people in couples can lead to nowt getting done. I feel like that today

Ho hum. Enough of the pity party. I'll shift a tail-feather and get moving, that'll brighten my outlook

Have a great day, whatever you are up to

See y'all later.

Greying

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Morning Greying, sending one of these :grouphug:over. Life is certainly a roller coaster, and if you have a few struggles going on at work, it adds another layer of carp sadly.

I hope work settles down and the powers that be, start to think more long term than short term.

Are you able to make some enticing baked goods to take on a bike ride with DP this afternoon - maybe after some morning chores you could just down tools and recommend a bike ride, to earn the treat?

The flat breads look great and I've saved the link - thank you

Tilly x x

brizzledfw

Hi GP:wave: hope you get to go on an impromptu bike ride, maybe as Tilly says with a snack in the rucksack as a treat?

A slow day yesterday, but out on our bikes to visit friends, back late after a fabulous tea, love cycling with the family in the dark in Brizzle, feel very virtuous and healthy

Roti are a great flatbread. We eat them all the time with curries and veggie dahls. OH makes them..his department You have to finish them off with a gas flame (imo), but yep, just use a griddle or frying pan. We also love them with scrambled egg. Yum.

Partly as a result of trying to cut our grocery bill but also to try and be healthier we are meal planning much more veggie meals so will look to your thread for inspiration. It was also great to dig out my battered 25yo copy of Rose Elliott's Veggie Cookbook for a recipe the other day. A few years ago, I'd use it most days. Anjum Anand also does great Indian recipes I think..most used Asian cooker book in our house..do you have any of hers?

Anyways, best get up..the sun is shining!:)

Karmacat

Hope you get a little jaunt or something, GP - I've just jumped onto the downside of the roller coaster myself :mad: literally just as I was reading your thread (nothing to do with the thread! A phone call, about cash-or-cheque from a client, no emergency, so very :mad: right now ... normal service will be resumed ...)

phew, rant over. Really hope that even a little jaunt happens for you, after reading that, I plan to do *something*, rather than just work in the garden - maybe take a little walk to the village and admire the duck pond :j

xxx

Greying_Pilgrim

Ay Up! Thank you all, for such kind words

In the interim, I have mostly been.........

DARNING SOCKS!!!!!!

How so very unlike the life of our own dear Queen :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Sadly, I really don't think that the bike ride is going to happen today DP, bless, did suggest a walk - but, Dear Reader, it was through the grottiest bit of town, through a bit of a run down housing estate and over to the industrial estate....... I said yes, initially, but then couldn't summon up the enthusiasm to go. Idyllic country lane, or sandy beach yes. The ars3 end of town....... nada

Still, the socks are now darned, DP is keeping busy and I'm thinking about the next chore to get on with. But I will try to get a little walk in this afternoon - the weather is too good not to imho.

brizzle - Anjum Anand is ace I really like her stuff. Her Lemony Spinach hotpot is a firm favourite, and I know that I have more recipes written down of hers to try i'm also liking Meera Sodha - new on the scene, but I like her recipes and I also like her sense of humour

Thank you again, for taking the time to pop in - you've ALL cheered me up no end


Greying

liltdiddylilt

I have read it before, but Jacks 'Poverty isn't just not having enough food' reduced me to tears not once but twice this morning, when reading for myself and then when reading to Him on Skype. His response was 'if it makes you cry don't bl00dy read it'. Not quite what I was going for...

Nevertheless I have resolved to buy her book. I don't have a good e-reader so the real thing will be of much more use in this house. Have spent the morning reading her store cupboard heroes, and although my herbs are all dried I have decided to buy some tins and grow my own when the next season comes around... Windowsills are also sparse in my flat. I've one in the kitchen and the bathroom and both are overloaded with various cleaning products for house or body but I can fix that.

Just cooking eggs. I used to get them from a man who comes to my work, £2 for a dozen extra large. All fine until he dropped some off to me when I was on holiday a couple of weeks ago, & 5 of the eggs cracked, yoke and all, as I placed them in the pan to cook in various forms. They spread so far it was obvious even without the yolk being compromised that they were seriously old. I let him know, and he offered to replace them... Cue him arriving at work the following week whilst I was stuck on the phone, & colleague coming back in with half a dozen... Where are my other half?! 'He said he owed you these'... hmm... Never again! So I have ended up with 24 eggs for £4 on offer from Mr A's so I have the same price... Good job I like eggs.

Veggie masala for tea here!!