Living on next to nought - is that the key?

liltdiddylilt

Hey GP

I really did mean to take you a picture of my dinner last night (and tonight) but it was too tasty and I near on ate half of it from the pan before serving it was thoroughly inspired by you. There was meat involved... BUT... I got 5 portions from less than 200g of mince. Because I added the same weight again at least of lentils, and a tin of chickpeas to my homemade bolognese (for the small) which was then jazzed up with some cumin, ground coriander and chilli powder resulting in it being a little too hot for my tastes - really must start measuring - and so I had a spoon of creme fraiche at the side of my miniature baked potatoes, covered in my chilli with a tiny touch of cheese sprinkled over. To be honest I don't think it even needed the mince.. I came across the odd bit here and there and it added nothing except an extra chew... :rotfl:

Thank you again... who knew chickpeas were for anything other than store bought houmous?

Greying_Pilgrim

Oh, that's the thing though Karma - the canna is such an exotic, tropical plant, and yet it grows in the UK - pretty extensively, more knowledgeable gardener type folk could fill you in as to the true extent - and I've never heard mention of it as a food stuff. Gosh, human beings really haven't begun to scratch the surface of all 'knowledge' about the natural world have they?

Lilt - well done hun, that's inspired food prep. And genius to rescue the too hot with a little dash of dairy Chickpeas are officially brilliant. Definitely my favourite pulse, and I eat a lot of pulses..... I think if I ate meat, I would still include it in dishes, because, you can ring the changes by adding different things. Afterall, instead of 'one' version of Bolognese, you've already got two versions at least now What would it be like with haricot beans added? Would your spicing be different? Endless possibilities to play with, to keep your budget intact and your tastebuds tantalised Are you edging toward half-term? Hope you get a well-deserved rest.

I forgot to mention, that the radio was tuned into R6 music this morning, and the presenter (I assume) was talking about...... breaking out his slow-cooker as it's the right time of year I looked up who it was, and it is likely to have been Shaun Keaveny. Good to hear a chap aged 42 waxing lyrical about his chosen mode of cooking (I take it it was him, and not Noel Fielding, who was supposed to be on the programme too - I turned over to R3 I'm afraid......)

Greying

Upsidedown_Bear

Night Greying and fellow Pligrimers.

liltdiddylilt

I have to say I have rather a soft spot for Noel Fielding, although I cannot stand any of his programmes. When he appeared on a New Years Quiz Show... he was utterly fantabulous and I fell in love. Everything ever since...

I think there are endless possibilities in my cupboards alone. I've spiced paprika, and star anise and all manner of things inspired by you in the cupboards begging to be played with. Not to mention pearl barley, pinto beans, butter beans and indeed haricot waiting for a turn. The chickpeas were just the first tin out of the cupboard when trying to give it some texture!

Half term is next week, so Jelly is off to nursery 9-3 Tues & Weds, and then on Thursday we are off to visit my mum & dad which i cannot wait for! We come back next Tuesday and I will be straight back to work the day after so my holiday shall be all up home! Jelly will be at home chilling with daddy for a few days before starting nursery again the following week. She does love it so.

Oooooh UpsideDownBear - soooooooooo prettyyyyyyyy! Night night sweet dreams!

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

Well, the weather is definitely livelier here this morning..... Hope everyone can stay safe today.

DP helpfully made a big deal of setting the alarm for normal work getting up time last night....... 'because we've got to go up the high street.....' I pointed out that until we knew what the weather was doing, there wasn't much point in planning anything that included venturing out into the 'big wide yonder'. I'll give you three guesses who's internal alarm clock pinged into action bright and early this morning ...... so narked - especially as someone is still snoring their head orf! :rotfl:

Mind, a cup of coffee in relative quiet and a mooch around diaries is no bad thing.....

I was also just reading a very good post on Jacob's blog over at eaRly retirem3nt extr3me. He was likening a certain personal finance book to the thinking of 'Fit Dad/Fat Dad'. It actually occurred to me, that it answered one of the dilemmas that I have in posting on this diary. In fact, it is that 'small daily steps' that always make the difference - in weight loss, debt-reduction, saving money for a specific thing, training for a sport.... you name it. It's the little and often and getting into the mind-groove to do that (which may need goal-setting to help you on your way), that works.

So, applied to my situation, it is counting NSD's that enables me to maintain my budgets - I know much sooner if they are going to go awry, so I can take remedial action. Or I know that a 'one off' occurrence has blown the budget, so I can reset, and do better next month. Menu planning enables me to buy food thoughtfully/mindfully, not just load my trolley with a number of individual items that are 'nice' and then have nothing to eat..... Spending time pouring over library books (I should imagine that 90% of the books I borrow have some sort of cooking angle :rotfl:) gleaning new recipes - especially cost effective ones - saves me money twice over, once because I don't have to buy the book and once because I get to try out new recipes that are generally cheaper than ready meals or meals from a cafe/restaurant (although Greying is not claiming to produce food of restaurant quality! :rotfl: Before you all write in to complain!:rotfl::rotfl:)

If I didn't record my 'daily doings' here, would it be easier to fall off the debt-free rails? Would it take even longer for DP and I to achieve the financial goals that we need to, in order to 'move on' with our lives? Actually, do you know what, I think that it would. I think that I'd maintain some discipline, but things would slip. And whilst I don't advocate living on buttons, or 'denying' yourself (life is way too short), for myself or anyone else, I do like the 'framework' of strategies that DFW/MFW offers - to live a rich life on a budget - and it's definitely helping me.

Thinking about recipe books (didn't take me long, did it? :rotfl:) I borrowed a couple of books from the library the other week. One was a cookery book written by a talented 'amateur' winner of a cooking show, and one was by a trained chef, who has appeared on TV, co-presenting a cooking show. Interestingly, although both the books demonstrated the 'passion' for food that these individuals had, I wasn't motivated to try any of the recipes that were contained in the pages. There wasn't even - for example - a spice rub/mix for a meat dish, that I thought, ooh, I could make that but substitute lentils, or halloumi or...... And I was thinking about the high proportion of dishes that I tried, and subsequently kept the recipes for, in Leanne's PDF booklets. OK, I'll be the first to point out that she had included a higher proportion of veggie friendly fare. But I was still surprised at the ratios. Mind, are cookery books about cooking or business? I walked past the local oxford famine book shop last week, and was surprised at several titles in the window that were 'relatively new' and the books themselves were in good condition....... Anyway, just another opportunity to shout HURRAH! for public libraries Use them, don't lose them!

I'm probably going to make our dinner from the 'Soupsand....' stable tonight. I know that it is not Thursday, so I *shouldn't* as I'm mucking me planner up. But a) I have already soaked a mountain of split peas/toor dal, and b) if we do venture out onto the high street, we may just have a cheeky wee lunch out at the greasy spoon........ Well, we are on hols Oh, and you've probably guessed what type of soup I'll be making, but the accompaniment is hopefully going to be a 'new' recipe I've not tried before. Please tune in later to laugh at my efforts

Right,I hear stirring and stomping down the stairs, so someone is looking for porridge.

Not aiming for a NSD today, but the weather may snag me one, we'll see.

Thank you for popping in, reading, and commenting. I am grateful

Stay safe - please.

See y'all later.

Greying

DawnW

I'm sure that much of your food is better than 'restaurant quality' to be honest Greying, unless when you eat out you go for Michelin stars that is! We don't eat out often, but when we do are generally disappointed, and feel we could have done better ourselves at home. You only have to see the cheap catering suppliers turning up at most run of the mill pubs / restaurants to guess why. I would much rather buy good quality ingredients (yes, even Aldi super 6) and have something nicer and cheaper at home!

mrsinvisible

Good morning, hope 'daddy bear's' porridge wasn't too hot! and that Goldilocks kept out of the way.
I agree with you GP, about the need for a framework to keep abreast of DF maintenance.
Yes, l rescued the great balls of fire, and made a barbecue sauce, and with a bit (lot) of chilli and garlic, it was almost presentable, as the empty plates proved (or they were too scared to leave it).
Off now to battle with the elements and put out the washing, l may be some time. xxx

Upsidedown_Bear

Smilie of the day.

Greying_Pilgrim

Upsidedown_Bear wrote: »

Smilie of the day.

^ made me laugh out loud, never mind smile! :rotfl: So appropriate for today :T Upsidedown Bear

mrsinvisible - they must manufacture strong clothes pegs out your way - either that, or you'll be on a trip over to Hull, to claim yer *smalls* back

DawnW - Ha! nope, 'fraid I don't routinely eat in Michelin starred gaffs I have actually been to a 1 star place. The food was nice (for vegetarian), but just that, nice. It did prove that when I concentrate and don't wander away from the stove (:o), I can make a nice mushroom risotto, and that my panna cotta is 'right' - consistency-wise. Oh, and the other thing that it had going for it (and I'd actually lump Hugh F-W's Axminster place in with this comment as well) is that it charged a fair price. Locally, we have a lot of pubs/restaurants with pretensions.... ie £16 for half a cow/beef/pig/sheep or £16 for a veggie lasagne - I don't think so.......

Right, best get on. DP has just finished lagging pipes, and is in need of a cuppa.

Greying

Upsidedown_Bear

Poor Smilie - he has been windswept today.