Living on next to nought - is that the key?

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

Ha ha, so Upsidedown Bear if there is someone in a M Mouse outfit in front of me in the queue, basically I've no hope of getting my hands on some choccy :rotfl:

Thanks Beanie

Euk! It's taking ages to lighten up this morning

Just heard on the news that the British Red Cross are making a foray into food bank collections......

Today should be another NSD and will be AF. Football tonight, England versus Montenegro at Wembley so I'm wondering whether to do curry. It's not what is on the planner, but that is more suited to tomorrow night anyway and will require the oven (so I can also cook some other things at the same time - having had prep time in the day).

Right, best get up and at 'em. Have a great day all.

Thanks for popping in, reading and commenting. It is greatly appreciated.

See y'all later.

Greying

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

I have had a really good day today - hope you can all say the same

Racked up another NSD today and there's no alcohol in the house, so I'm claiming another AF day too (just to confirm, there is no alcohol inside of me either - so ain't cheating ) must remember to update siggie.

We'll be cracking open the dandy&B'dock and gingy beer though just now to watch the footy.

I changed energy suppliers. I decided to go for one of the 'fix' products. Hopefully it will all go through OK and the supplier will keep to their word. Interesting when I rang my current supplier with meter readings - I wanted to make sure I was in credit, so that they couldn't delay a move from them - I was told I was on a tariff I 'wasn't eligible for' and that there were cheaper tariffs available :eek: What happened to 'we'll keep you informed at all times as to which is the best/cheapest tariff for you'. Phooey. Anyway, I caught the operative out, as I explained that I was eligible for the tariff - because X,Y,Z and got complemented on my memory skills :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:But apparently that has all changed, goal posts had moved and if I had time now they could shift me to a 'better' deal. I left 'em sit on that.

I have no idea whether fixing is the right thing to do. I do think that energy prices will do nothing but rise, I do think the companies will always pass every cost onto the consumer, but will they honour their deals..........................

In honour of playing Montenegro in the footy, I used a little of my spare time this arvo to concoct a meal that had Montenegran influence. No mean feat, as Montenegro seems to of taken influences for its cuisine from all its near neighbours. I ended up with Lentil Koftas, wet polenta, a mildly spiced tomato sauce, topped with yoghurt and harissa. Photo here



And yes Dear reader, it is a bit carb heavy, ideally some purple sprouting broccoli or tenderstem broccoli would of set it off lovely, but I had none Besides which, both DP and I have been active today (independently - norty), so we'll probably get away with it Plus the weather was cold - need to get into the swing of 'stick to yer ribs' cooking

If you'd like to have a bash at making the lentil koftas, then a recipe very similar to the one I used is here
The only change I would make would be to toast the bughar wheat before washing/adding to the lentils (and make sure you use fine bulghar - the stuff the size of cous cous or smaller) and I would also add in the lemon zest as well as the juice - the lemony zing is lovely.

Another cheap eat and thank you wiki for giving information on Montenegro's cuisine

Right, the kick off is nigh, so I'd better get a wiggle on.

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

an early night/a good night's sleep - I had one last night and it makes all the difference to the day............

MSE - it has saved me money in the short-term, today I hope it will save me money in the long-term. It beats getting out your calculator, working out kilowatt hours, conversions and algorithims any day of the week (plus the folk on the DFW forum are a super bunch to hang out with )

for confidence - not big-headed arrogance - but confidence enough to pick up the phone and deal with a call centre, confidence to stand my ground against corporate whitewash and confidence to press 'submit'............... Both DP and I know too many folk who won't even pick up the phone..............:(

Right, I'm outta here to drink some pop and shout at the telly

Thanks so very much for dropping in, reading (even when there have been no turnip related posts.....:D) and commenting. You are all appreciated. Very much. By me.

See y'all later.

Greying

Edit: Golly - I do have an awesome memory!!! Tizer is red - I remembered after all these years. Huh - simple things and all that :rotfl::rotfl:

Greying_Pilgrim

Well. T1zer may be the same colour as 'back in the day' - but it doesn't taste the same

And the footy is boring

Greying grabs a dandy&b'dock and returns for the 2nd half........

Greying

Moominmama76

Hi greying
Just wanted to pop in and delurk spent the last few weekends catching up on your diary. I enjoyed every second I feel bereft now I have caught up :-) I am a newbie still to learn the art of adding an emoticon. To hear someone enjoying life without having to spend much money is an inspiration to me, it has really made me want to begin to make changes to my life. Thankyou sooooo much. Hope u don't mind me popping in hi to everyone xx

brizzledfw

Hi moomin

Food looks lush..as always! May have to try those lentil koftas....I am also going to put the girl called Jack red kidney bean burgers on my planner list for this week..I do like them!

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

Welcome Moominmama76 - and thank you for your incredibly kind comments. Please feel free to stay and join in. I guess we're lucky in a lot of respects. I do feel for families. Even the best 'budgeteers' are feeling the pinch. Still, I also get heartened by folks tales of taking their kiddies out into the park, having a kick around with a footy, or a play on the swings - with a brown baggy picnic and lots of laughter - and reporting it more fun than an uber expensive play or theme park. So life is what you make it I guess.

I loved the BBC4 documentary about the Moomin's creator Tove Jansson (and yes, Dear Reader, I did have to g0ogle that to get the name right, I'm not that clever ) Tove was an incredibly talented artist - she lived in some wonderful properties too

Brizzle - thanks for swinging by. Yes, I can heartily recommend the koftas. Maybe it is something that your DD may like to make? The squishing of ingredients by hand is quite fun (you can probably use a spoon, but hands are fun ) and rolling them out into b.a.l.l.s or quenelles, or cigar shapes is quite fun too Oh yes, I like Jack's burgers - they're on the MP for this week. I do add in ground oats or breadcrumbs or bulghar though, as I find them a bit difficult to shape/manage otherwise - but a brill recipe none-the-less.

Well, we were up with the larks - sorta

Our local L*dl has been divested of a quantity of dark chocolate - 100g of 50% cocoa solids for 17p - can't be bad. It will be useful for cooking if nothing else. And no, Dear Reader, I've not tried any for 'research purposes' I'm still full from last night. Not too sure if it's the carbs or the pop - I didn't have the D&B in the end, just the T1zer. Forgotten how *fizzy* pop is.......:rotfl: I also picked up a 250g tub of B0urnv*lle cocoa powder from ald* for £1.99. I'm not wholly sure of my facts, but I think that this is a good price, now the TEDV product has been withdrawn.

Thank goodness England managed to win the footy last night. Not convincing though, not by a long chalk. Superb goal by young Mr Townsend though - in addition to playing well. Glad he got 'man o the match' :T

Well, today will see a lot of sorting, and some cooking. I can't claim a NSD, but will be going for AF as that's achievable

DP is out for most of the morning, so I'd better go make whoopee

Thank you so much for dropping in, reading and commenting. I do greatly appreciate it.

See y'all later.

Greying

Edit: Yes, my intincts were correct - the B0urnv*lle cocoa powder at £1.99 for 250g in Ald* is at least 51p cheaper than the next cheapest (A$da) and up to 90p/£1 cheaper than MrT/MrS respectively. It is on a *specials shelf/wire basket* along with a host of other baking products - glace cherries, cake mixes, decorative dragees etc. BBE 08/2015

Pippilongstocking

Waves - will head of later to find out about this chocolate from that European supermarket you mentioned - thanks lovely!

I hope you have a splendid weekend.

Thanks for the hug over on mine - much needed and hit the spot.

I have to get myself sorted today and I require a substantial list.

And I have to empty the car of vegetables totally forgot to do that last night - but I guess its like a fridge eh?

Have a fab one

beanielou

EEk to the tizer.
Anyone got any thoughts on the heated throws aldi are selling from tomorrow?
Ta in advance.

kissjenn

Sorry had to de-lurk at that one...heated throws.

I've given Grandad an extra quilted cover and a fleece cover for his bed but heated throw sounds much better. Plus I was ill last week and completely screwed up his birthday so that would be a wonderful and useful pressie perhaps. :T:T

Greying_Pilgrim

Beanie - but T1zer is made by bArr drinks of Glasgowtown... mind you, I think I'll stick to their 'made from girders' pop in future - unless the recipe for that has changed too?????

I have only read about those throws over on Piq's thread. Piq seems taken with hers though - which is a good endorsement right? Do you think that it is something that they may be discussing on the 'Preparing for Winter' thread on the Old Style board? Are they only for sale tomorrow? I know DP would lurve one, but I can't help thinking that we need an electric blanket for the bed first. Fed up of that being cold and damp (because of the house, not because of 'accidents' ) when we crawl in of a winter's night

Hi kissjen - lovely to see you here - de-lurk more often please

Greying