Living on next to nought - is that the key?

Greying_Pilgrim

rtandon27 wrote: »

GP your dinner looks lush! I've been waxing lyrical to OH about the creative use of a neep (which to me is more exotic than sushi:rotfl:) Have asked him to try and replicate your dinner - his answer was to point out that Mrs Murry is no longer in the running!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Aw hun! We had leftovers - y'all should have hopped on the bus and come and seen us, we'd have fixed you a plate I'd even have whipped up a fresh batch of naans for you Unfortunately, there are now no more left overs, as we scoffed them for lunch in a baked tattie

Your dear OH is right that Mrs M is no longer in the running, but I'm ever so glad that she put herself there in the first place, as she and the wonderful establishments that made Glasgow the Curry Capital of 2013, were absolutely brilliant inspiration for my meal-planner in October. I learnt so much - about new ingredient combos and wine/curry matching, from my seemingly simple challenge to celebrate one cultural aspect of 21st century Scotland I bet he'd make everything better than I could too I'm still on training wheels when it comes to 'neeps'

Anyway, Dear Heart, I shall be including a meal on my December planner that will perhaps be more in keeping with your cultural heritage I think we'll need to keep it for a day we've hiked in the mountains, or chopped down a forest or two , but it'll be on there

Greying

Upsidedown_Bear

Smilie of the day.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

I have had one of those seriously CBA'd days today I have no idea why I have been trying to boot meself up the bum. I told DP how I was feeling, just in case I snapped unnecessarily at him (I've not ) but I can't seem to shake it. I suspect that a good night's sleep will make all the difference and will have an early night just now.

We went up the high street earlier, getting out in the fresh air helped. And I've also just realised that we didn't spend a thing, so I've snagged a NSD :j We did a bit of money shuffling. wandered through the m+$ foodall - nowt doing, so no temptation. We then carried on over to the park, and had a stroll around the perimeter. It was starting to get darker (been a grey day mostly), but the advantage was that the park was quiet, so it was actually nice to meander along.

When we went out yesterday, I decided to get most of the non-grocery items (you know shampoo, toothpaste, loo roll etc) for December. It'll help to keep me out of the shops when they are heaving, and also it helped to have DP to carry the shopping - as I splashed out on an 18 pack of looroll from W1lkinsons TMI - Merry Christmas! :rotfl:

I did find 5p *roadkill* whilst we were out yesterday - first bit in a loooonnngg time

I have finished November with a small surplus in my grocery budget - around about £10. Which I am very pleased about. I'm going to try 'weekly' shopping again in December, although I have meal-planned for the month as normal. Clearly I missed the NSD's target - 11/15. Now, here's my dilemma, I didn't get the NSD's because; I was spending small amounts of budgeted money much more frequently - I can't recall 'splurging' on anything unnecessary. So, if the weekly budgeting can be made to work - are NSD's redundant? I'll keep recording them for the time being, but if I am managing to stick to my groceries budget routinely, then I may whisper it not bother counting NSD's.

Our FB donation for December has well and truly been made. I don't know if our FB would have benefitted from the TT activity with mrT, but I'm hopeful that they are using our donation however they see fit - giving out to clients in need now, or nearer to Christmas. Oh, I forgot to mention, I think that it was Lilty that was pointing out the funding that :money: is giving to pilot money advice services connected with foodbanks. I'm pleased that our FB is already doing this. It has come from a much more 'rounded' support system than 'just' a foodbank. And it has been doing it for years. Of course, it gives me no pleasure to say that it has been doing it for yonks, because of course, I live somewhere where we're all supposed to be rich and there are no homeless/poor people..... well, if you used to listen to certain of our 'elected officials' that is what the line was. Thankfully there were some souls who knew different and they went and set up a safety net anyway. Just like the good souls who set up the women's refuge - something else that there was apparently no need for the council to fund.........Thankfully, most of those old fossils have either not sought re-election, or are pontificating on a much higher (or lower?? ) plane these days.

Dinner last night was toasted barley salad with broccoli. It was based on an internet recipe, but I didn't realise I was actually out of pearl barley, so I ended up using much more expensive pearled spelt that we'd bought on holiday. Still, you've gotta use it sometime eh? And better to buy a local product that supports local firms than a trinketty souvenir I think..... I combined the cooked spelt with some onion, garlic, celery and the last pak choi (chopped up) and the remaining sprouts (again, shredded). I then steamed the broccoli separately and popped that on top. The original recipe used toasted almonds, but I had none, so used a mix of toasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds. This was topped off with the last of the grated parmesan 'type' cheese from mrS. Picture here;



Dinner this evening, was significantly less sophisticated.... :rotfl:We both wanted *comfort* food So, again, inspired by an internet recipe, I made chestnut, brown lentil and vegetable stew. The chestnuts were the vac pack ones from H0me bargins. I served it with a big pile of steamed, shredded savoy cabbage and some buttery mash - oh, the mash was heaven! :DPicture here;



I did try to be restrained with the portions of mash But they did hit the spot

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

for DP's unwavering support

for the humble spud

for feeling more me own self - now that I've wittered on about us teas to y'all........ :rotfl:

Thank you so much for popping by and reading. And could someone strategically put their thumb over that burst pipe, we need to get smilie down from there...... :rotfl:

See y'all later.

Greying

in_need_of_direction

That mash looks so good. I would happily eat a bowl of that with equal quantities of butter and hp sauce.

liltdiddylilt

Hello lovely Greying!

Firstly, both those dinners looks fab. Especially the broccoli. I could eat a whole head of it if I had my way. You alsoways make me hungry, even when my own foodie endeavours have hit the spot. (Who gets to 28 and a half, without ever cooking a lasagne?!? Probably the girl who sliced her thumb open so badly on a can of tuna in her first ever cooking lesson aged 11, she had to go to the emergency room to be stitched up )

Secondly, your exercise is just what you need. It produces, as I am sure you know, plenty of serotonin which is a natural mood boost. I hope that a good nights sleep helps too!

thank you for your lovely words on my diary. Never give yourself a kick up the bum on my behalf. I look at what others are struggling with and think that my life is pretty rosy in comparison. I guess we all can find someone who is worse off that us, and it is what makes us grateful AND generous

I bought myself a set of chrome and stainless steel weighing scales with a steel mixing bowl yesterday. So delighted, as they are digital and so much more accurate funny the things that make us happy. I spied a kenwood chopper in there and after your review decided not to bother!

Big hugs to you. I hope your mood picks up and your energy is revived overnight sweet dreams!

Upsidedown_Bear

Smilie of the day.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

Ah, a good night's sleep seems to have done the trick. I have woken up in a much better frame of mind - and given that the sun is just starting to shine outside, I think today is destined to be a good 'un

INOD - thank you. I now know what we are having for lunch! Lashings of HP with it too! :D:D:D

Lilty - thank you for your kind words. I'm glad that I've been able to shake my funk. Don't know what caused it, but glad that it has booooogered orf! Mmm, that kenw00d chopper is efficient - the blade is devilish sharp, but my, the screech!......

Upsidedown Bear - I take it you've been reading Memorygirl's blog about Scottish country dancing?

Right, well, tail-feathers need to be shifted today. The weather forecast gave rain, so I didn't plan on anything 'fun' like a bike ride So let's get the shopping out of the way so that the rest of the week is freed up.

Dinner this evening will be some sort of soup. I say some sort, as I've done 29 options of my December meal-planner, but as yet, they are not ascribed to days of the week. However, my thought for Tuesdays, is to have 'Thrift Tuesdays'. Simple meals (most likely soups) throughout the month. I'm feeling more inclined to eat plain, modest fare in the run up to Christmas - making the blow-out *feast* more special somehow. I was therefore interested to read a post by Sue over at the Quince Tree blog about the meaning of advent and again, holding back with the treat foods until it is time for the feast. I'm more than happy to eat like this - although frankly, buttery mashed potatoes makes things difficult........ :rotfl:

I was chatting to DP yesterday about what is his favourite curry (with a notion to make it for Chrimbo Day). His response? 'The chickpea one'. Then he thought about it, and said, ' I expect there are quite a few chickpea ones, aren't there?' :rotfl: Anyway, we've narrowed it down to..... surprise surprise - Chickpea Chasni. That 'old' traditional dish of Glasgow town, that features mango chutney and is a sweet dish - I knew he'd like that one I was rather hoping he would go for aubergine bhuna which is my favourite dish. I know we could have a portion of each, but it will make the wine matching more difficult.

Best get onto my list making and get moving. I don't suppose that the supermercados will be quiet today.

Thanks for popping by, reading and commenting. I greatly appreciate it.

See y'all later.

Greying

greenbee

ah... but if you each have your own curry, then you can each have your own bottle and not worry about needing to share the wine either

beanielou

Two curries and two bottles of wine sound good to me
Treat yourself~you deserve it.

Greying_Pilgrim

Ay up!

Just thought I'd let you know how you inspire me and make me think There were some eggs that needed using, some 'bubble & squeak cakes' in the freezer that were taking up space and residing in the cake pan I'll need later, so I got to work to make something worthy of accompanying the hp



The small plum tomatoes are from mrL - Spanish in origin I admit, but very tasty and 50p for 250g punnet. mrL had oranges on offer too, a 7 or 8 fruit net (dep. on size) for £1 - again, from spain, but lovely fruits. If you shop anywhere near a FArmF00ds, and still have Christmas baking to do, they currently have 1kg bags of tAte&Lyl3 granulated sugar for 69p or 2 for £1. If you need caster sugar, you can whizz granulated up in a food processor = caster sugar, if you are baking cakes, which are not destined to be judged by the wi, then granulated tastes and works just dandy

Mrm have (as muddywhitechicken said they would) started their 3 for £1.50 event on veg, I got 1 large swede, 1 750g bag of Brussels Sprouts and one 1.2kg bag of carrots for £1.50 And yes, I know mrAl have swedes in their S6 for 49p, but that shop is off limits for me at present, and it'd cost more than 1p in fuel to go from mrm to mrAl anyhoo

greenbee and Beanielou - you are both wonderful cheerleaders, and very, very norty for trying to encourage me to lead a life of gluttony and debauchery However, we'll limit our consumption, so that we will be fresh as daisies and get up and about to go off in the car (weather permitting) on Boxing day, either for some serious walking or take the bikes

DP has settled down now. He doesn't like shopping at the best of times, but didn't like the 'crowds' in the shops today And between you and me, Dear Reader, the shops were quite quiet for this time of year....... However, he did have a good point in mrT - as per usual, their music was far too loud, but I don't know who chose the CD, but it was so depressing - OK they were chrimbo songs, but 'auld crooners' - the sort of thing you might listen to tucked up warm in from of a fire, with a loved one. Nothing to get you 'in the spirit' whilst out shopping......

Right, I'm away to do a bit more.

Greying