Living on next to nought - is that the key?

Greying_Pilgrim

Hej Hej! Good Morning :hello:

We're all up and about bright and early this morning......

rtandon - I hadn't seen Jack's blog, so thank you for the link. I really see where she is coming from, especially making such a healthy version for children, when so much pre prepared stuff is junk. But healthy pizza??? I suppose I look at it as an indulgence food......... However, you are right, it does look interesting and worth a try, perhaps just not healthy kale and righteous wholemeal flour in the same pizza for the residents of Greying Towers Good spot though - thanks

supersaver - good spot too :rotfl:

lilty - dunna wander off - that's the key! I think it's great you have lamb for your chrimbo dinner because you like lamb and it's a treat for you. I don't know why millions of turkeys are bought/consumed by folk who don't like turkey......

Hopefuljoy - yorky puddings - YUM indeed

mcculloch - funds are a bit tight at the mo, but I'll keep an eye out. The trouble is with our ald* is its currently a building site, so there is no incentive to venture in there

Upsidedown Bear - is that DP patiently waiting for his heated blanket to arrive? :rotfl:


Right well, Saturday morning, here we are.

Dinner last night was a little bit of a surprise. It was a Spicy Root and Lentil Casserole dish that I was going to prep in advance of our walk/cycle adventurising. Anyhow, I never got around to it, but serendipitously, our walk took just the right amount of time, we were back into civilisation and (flushing) toilets ...... by the time that the heavens opened. So when we actually got home, I still had plenty of time to cook. I had not made this recipe before, and I'll admit, I had no great hopes of it, as I thought that it was a little bit 'ordinary', given how many curries we have here at Greying Towers. But I have to say, it was tasty and filling and just the job when you've been hiking up a hillock (actually 400m+ above sea level according to the OS map ) and exposed to 'light' breezes at the top of said hillock So here's a pic of it, accompanied by some onion seed naans (actually JO's 'piadina' recipe)......



The recipe is going in my 'keepers' file. I bunged in some Swedish turnip as well as the other veggies, and I reckon it is a cheap dish - my lentils were masoor (brown) lentils - or red lentils with their 'overcoats' on. It was perhaps a little thicker than intended, it carried on cooking whilst I made naans, but you could always add a little extra stock if you preferred it thinner consistency. I blended up my own curry powder from an internet recipe, so it wasn't particularly 'hot' with chilli, but you could adapt to your taste. I forgot to say, it is thicker because I threw in some of the leftover cooked haricot beans I had from making the white bean sauce for our Buddha bowl.

We really filled our day yesterday. We went off early to mrT's to make use of our £3 off a £20 shop so that we could bag a load of stuff for the FB. I don't suppose there will be much of the valoo stuff on the shelves next week - as the Trussell Trust are having their 'big push' in conjuction with mrT. We got 30 assorted tins of pudding/veggies/spaghetti (all on our FB's 'most wanted' list). We then decided to drop off the goods at the FB on our way out for our walk. DP had never been to the centre and so it was good for him to see where his donations are going (don't worry, clients aren't around on a Friday - no privacy issues). In addition, we saw the nice receptionist, who was as enthusiastic as ever to accept our donations, so that was nice. But that is our donations until 2015 now, I hope FB's are inundated with donations over the festive period.

Our walk was brill - a real work out up to the top which was some 400m above sea level. It is a local-ish hillock, and in all the years I've lived here, I've never climbed it. It's a pity it was misty and murky, as it's supposed to be a wonderful viewpoint. But no matter, we went up to the top, had some hot chocolate, and a HM 'sausage' roll and then went down the other side, and round the bottom back to the car. I don't know how many miles, but it was good, with great company Good too to walk in 'mixed' woodland, the colour of the leaves of the trees was probably as good as we get in the uk - not as spectacular as the US/Canada, but there were some lovely glowing yellows (sweet chestnut) and oranges (beech).

Well, we're orf out walking again - urban pedestrian stylie this time

Thanks everso for popping by, reading and joining in. Know that you are appreciated, mucho, mucho

See y'all later.

Greying

Upsidedown_Bear

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

Oh I just saw the blue upside down beAr for the first time. So cool

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

Upsidedown Bear - is that DP patiently waiting for his heated blanket to arrive? :rotfl:

Yes

Is this you? :D

Greying_Pilgrim

^ You betcha! You got a pic of me smiling too

Greying x

Pippilongstocking

DId someone say neep?

Looks yummy me dear (waves to GP's chums and dear GP).

I must remember to put a few bits in ours this week too thanks for the Food Bank reminder GP, I've been doing it when I see the box, must do more like you inspire!

Hugs and hope today's a good one. Squishy damp here, perfect welly weather so I'm not complaining.

Have a lovely weekend!

Oh, have you heard of the 'singing neep' seemingly you do this and it sings. I can't say I'm more than a bit worried.........I mean it might explode. But those in the know say it works.

I have to say the singing neep or swede reminds me of this chap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY_Yf4zz-yo

supersaver1000

Sorry meant to say frozen chocolate pots not dozen. Not sure where that came from.

Yes please INOD. Easy recipes that are good are always welcome here.

xx

Greying_Pilgrim

supersaver1000 wrote: »

Yes please INOD. Easy recipes that are good are always welcome here.

+1

I have my chocolate stash at the ready now, and need to use it properly and not just 'lose' it to *sampling*

I have seen the blue bear too - very festive (and casual readers of the thread will think I've been taking nips of the cooking sherry....... :rotfl:)

Pippi - that's a good tip of how to cook a swede - I, like others, are amazed that you don't have to do something to it first to stop it exploding, but the evidence is there that it works as is Thanks everso for the link, hun

In addition to a mountain of choccy, I did bag a HUGE cauli in mrL. Look out for them if you shop in mrL - the caulis are usually bagged and are a 'certain size' (all the supermercados seem to stock about the same size). However, these were unbagged, and looked freshly picked. They were 69p and certainly as good as you'd see at a 'decent' market stall/farm shop etc

Greying

mothernerd

Christmas plans
My Christmas drawer (bottom or number 7 in the tall freezer as I also have the old fridge freezer on as the fridge part is at the top) filled two weekends ago in anticipation of my operation.
Contents
Lemon sorbet, Raspberry sorbet never have ice cream any more (allow myself the diabetic ones at Christmas and perhaps once again in the year) but these were low fat/sugar in comparison, don't have a lot so these should do all Christmas/New Year.
Chicken kebabs/Sweet Chilli Chicken baskets/Spring rolls From the party food section, all tiny bites of things that are normally 'banned'. Noted earlier in the year that MrS did frozen filo and intended having a go at doing my own but circumstance etc. Will make each pack do two/three meals with a full salad accompaniement.
Smoked salmon appetisers These were reduced. Normally buy the trimmings (£1.55 pack?) to make quiches/scrambled eggs but none available and the honey roast smoked salmon which could not be frozen was dearer than these. Again 3 with some plain oatcakes would be a lovely supper for me.
2 Summer Fruits/Raspberries Bought the frozen ones, then took them out of the packaging to save space. Again usually Christmas or a special treat and usually defrost and use in jelly so 1 jelly a day for a week. (also provides some fruit variety without giving DS3 complicated instructions - think he can manage apples and bananas). Bought tinned mandarins/peaches and pears for same reason.
5 Packs sliced Turkey Breast + 1 'scraps' Scrap pack is twice as big as the others. This is from the turkey I bought and cooked (bits I ate were lovely). Each pack will make a 'dinner' for 2 (possibly 3) or for one with enough for a salad or sandwich the next day. Like lilt DS3 prefers lamb so that is what we usually have. As he is planning to go to his gf's for Christmas, I decided to have my turkey.
2 Packs Brown Turkey Meat Nearly a whole leg in each, enough for 5/6 portions of turkey stew in each with root veg and lentils and barley. Already made and ate one batch with all the scraps before I went to hospital.
Gammon Only for me so just bought a pack of 2 slices and separated them, had frozen them before I remembered sub-dividing them further last year.
Prawns I love them (yes I know all about feeding from sewage pipes, it's ultimate recycling like the tomatoes that grow at the sewage works) but don't buy very often, 2 packs but will probably keep one for my birthday.
Didn't have time to do pigs in blankets so sausage and bacon are frozen seperately.

Normally I would pick up bits and pieces from the reduced shelf over a number of weeks and for several years I have looked at what was leftover and reduced the list accordingly (sweets/cakes/cheese - love it but there is always some left and felt so much satisfaction picking the mini truckles up for 20p each last year between Christmas and New Year.

Hopefully by Christmas I will be able to do a lot more, but if I am alone in the house I don't want to do anything complicated or be dragging heavy pans about (10l stockpot is my go to pot and I have a couple of le crewsays bought less than 1/2 price many years ago when our co-op was closing - always wanted them and decided it was probably my one and only chance of buying them guilt free).

So enough for a week of feasting or a month of little treats - the beef and lamb I bought for last Christmas, cooked and sliced in October were still turning up in the middle of this summer as they tended to disappear at the back of drawers so probably it's all celebrations until at least Easter.

Have finally set up a work station by the kitchen table - the wooden chair I intended using downstairs narrows just where my wound is, so trips downstairs have been brief (phone calls/pick up more food bits) but DS1 has been so I have a garden chair with a cushion and a pillow to make it the right height and have been through all the remaining fresh veg (bought 2 weeks ago) and it's all peeled and chopped in the fridge (lost a head of broccoli and some mushrooms) so I feel more in control (and stopped worrying about running out of food). Blown the food budget but hoping it recovers over the coming months and my waistline should improve as have very little 'bad' food.

Back in bed with a bag of carrot,celery and peppers and have two salads cling-filmed in the fridge.

little_sweetie

Upsidedown_Bear wrote: »

I'm hoping for heated men and throws for dusting :D

Can I have one of each for crimbo please?

Cor, GP, what a lovely bit of exercise you had. No wonder you are fit as a fiddle. I have been stuck at home today as DH is working and has taken the car so I've been sorting rubbish V charity shop. The rubbish pile has won I have one last black bag to throw in the skip then I need to eat. I have a swede 'singing' in the microwave even as we speak. I Love to eat them but hate to peel them as it hurts my hands. I must admit I am a bit scared of the singing neep so I am in another room whilst it cooks. If I hear an explosion I will let you all know :eek: Isn't pippi an angel to share that info :A

Hopefuljoy, I was feeling a bit down earlier and reading your lovely upbeat post has made me smile. What a wonderful woman you are and I hope that, one day, you will find the perfect 'heated man & a throw for dusting' too x

Oh, and I have just turned my neep over. It is singing away and smelling good

Hopefuljoy

Oh Little Sweetie, Lilty, Mothernerd, Greying, Beanie and everyone! You are all lovely and kind and wonderful! I absolutely love your list of freezer contents Mothernerd.... I'm glad someone else loves raspberries at Christmas. They're my very favourite fruit and especially nice with absolutely anything!

I shall ask DD for the chocolate pots recipe to share with you all. They are totally delice but do contain raw eggs so please beware if you have elderly or pregnant relatives. I'm sure there are other versions available as well.

I see the naff perfume adverts are on the TV. OMG - they get worse each year! Then of course there are the slightly odd and queezy werthers ads. All in all a smorgesboord of consumerism..... I'm so glad to come on here and chat to all of you. DD and I are thankfully immune to the advertising.

We go to chose our dog Pirin tomorrow. We are so excited! Will let you know how it goes and try to post some piccies for you all.

Take care and much love!!

Upsidedown_Bear

Smilie of the day.