Living on next to nought - is that the key?

Piquant_2

I love stew and dumplings, being a veggie too I'm very nosy about what you make your stew out of. I will be making a butternut squash stew in the slow cooker for tomorrow, think I might be adding a dumpling despite trying to lose weight :whistle:

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

How are you all??

Piq - howdy Sorry to disappoint, but I miscalculated on the amount of cooked beans that I had in, so we didn't have stew..... sorry However, to try to answer your question... I try not to throw 'everything' into a stew. I know that is likely to of been it's origins, but it rarely tastes good. So, I tend to opt for a 'bean' stew or a 'veg' stew - with actually beans and veg in either, but with heavier proportions IYSWIM. I needed to make a 'bean' stew, as I'm low on veg - ie no parsnip or carrots, but hadn't got enough varieties of beans to of made something good. So instead we had aduki bean chilli. However, one 'stew' that I do love, and haven't made for ages - but it is really good on cold days - is pearl barely and mushroom (with plenty of chunks of carrot and onion) now that is nice - I'll try and add it to the planner in January - I think you can do pearl barley in the SC can't you? Anyway, ever so glad you dropped in - and fantastic news about the potential field - everything crossed for it falling into place

So I achieved a NSD. I have updated my total - I'm pretty sure that I've diddled myself, as I updated last night, but I have a feeling I didn't save the change, as I thought I was up to 5 already.... still, I have no other record, so we'll stick with 5/9 and aim to do better

We've had a meeting of sub-committee No. 5. Not a lot on the agenda tonight, but one or two things sorted and completed such as 'what variety of cheese do you want as your choice on the 'C'mas day cheese board?' - y'all know, the important stuff Oh, and DP needs to give me some money for a stamp to send off his contribution to the 'Movember' campaign - and thought 50p was for 1st class :rotfl:Apparently last time he had to buy a stamp it was 12p or something and that was first class! :rotfl:

We've received the first 'C'mas cards through..... does anyone else dislike it when people write ..... um, 'less than positive messages on cards'.... erm, and still obviously expect you to display them? If I need to do a little note in a card, I put it on a slip of paper - that way it can be removed and our 'seasons greetings' can stand in isolation (and I'd hope that my message wouldn't be too dismal at this time of year anyway ). Perhaps we just have odd friends and relations..... :rotfl: DP is already talking about renting a cabin on the side of a hill, with a month's supply of food and drink to escape it all.....:rotfl: And it's only just beginning.....:rotfl:

So dinner - nothing fancy, aduki bean chilli and rice. I'm not sure of the origins of the recipe, but reasonably straightforward and works with any type of bean you have; oil, 1 onion, chopped, garlic (to taste), 1 fresh green chilli chopped, 1 tbsp ground cumin, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp chilli powder (of choice), 1 bay leaf, 1 carton passata, dash of soy sauce (optional), 1 tsp cocoa powder, 300g cooked weight aduki or other beans, 1 tbsp dried oregano. Fry onion, chilli and garlic in oil, add the spices and bayleaf and cook for a few minutes. Add in the passata and beans and cook for 10 minutes. Add in soy sauce if using and the cocoa powder. Stir thoroughly cook for 5 minutes. Add in oregano. Remove from heat -check seasoning - and serve with boiled rice.

Picture;



I bought the aduki beans from AF many moons ago, the green chilli was in a reduced pack from mrW (and frozen), spices from the store cupboard and passata from L*dl. All in all an economical dish

Right I am away to brew up a vat of bobotie so that I can make a spicy shepherd's pie tomorrow and so that a portion can be frozen to be served with baked potatoes later on in the month - and it'll give you all the impression that I'm uber-organised :rotfl: I should add that there is also nowt on t'gogglebox

So, today I am grateful for these 3 things;

to the person who took time to make us a Christmas card - lovely

that we still make time to 'discuss stuff' - looking back over the past couple of months we have achieved so much more than we would of otherwise

for my health and well-being.

Thank you so very much for popping in, reading and commenting - I greatly appreciate it.

See y'all later.

Greying

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

Ever such a quick note from me, before I head off.

Today will be a spends day - bananas and TV guide required. I also have some letters/cards to send, but they are all stamped and ready to go - so no additional expense - just need to remember to post them

Dinner this evening will be spicy shepherd's pie. As the oven will be on, I need to make some buns for snap, as we're out of them too (why've I got this 'end of the month' feeling already?? :rotfl:) and I may even make a rhubarb crumble out of some prepped rhubarb that has been in the freezer for a while - free up a little space and gain brownie points from DP

Just been listening about 'annuities' on the radio - it's just a chance for someone to 'cream a bit off the top' at every given opportunity isn't it? I can see why people are not turned on by the idea of private pensions.

Ach well, best up and at 'em I guess, seize the day!

Thanks so much for dropping by and reading - I greatly appreciate your support

See y'all later.

Greying

EssexHebridean

Your food sounds as tasty as ever - now, bobotie is the south African mince thing usually topped with a sort of custard isn't it? Never quite got to the stage of actually making it! Sounds tasty though, and especially when used as a base for Shepherd Spy too. We have roast chicken dinner tonight - second meal for us off Sunday's chook and there's plenty more yet - he was a sizeable beast! Mash instead of roasties though and - hurrah - I saved gravy! Might use the batter mix I got from AF to do yorkies if MrEH is really lucky - I blame discussion of dumplings for making me think of that particular comfort-food route! :rotfl:

I always understood that if writing a message inside a Christmas card other than the standard Happy Christmas and a very Merry New Year, one should write it on the right-hand-side of the card so it doesn't show to the outside world when the card is displayed. I rarely do though - like you, if notes are required they usually go separately within the envelope.

Hope your day has been seized well! xx

joeyh1980

I love this thread - been watching superscrimpers and saving a lot more of late but getting a lot of ideas on here. I love having NSD's but sometimes living city centre it is such a hard thing to do. I think I'm going to have a no spend January in 2014 where I try and have as many NSD's as possible. Anyone game

Pippilongstocking

Come on then what buns did you make??

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

Ay up EH - well if you agree that 'messages' in 'C' mas cards should be 'outta sight' then I don't think that I am being overly pedantic - I guess I really do have weird friends and relations It's not about sending a card anyway - it is always actually about them. Decided not to play a long time ago - they obviously are awfully slow on the uptake.

I should of said - 'veggie' version of bobotie - but yes, you are right, savoury custard topped mince. It usually has fruit in it too, but whilst I could do that from a veggie perspective - it is affording it at the moment I think dried apricots are one fruit usually included. I like to make either version - ie 'topped' or 'not toppped', feels like an extra dish at my disposal then

And I am so sorry that talk of dumplings ruined your healthy eating regime

joeyh1980 - hello :wave: and welcome. So living city centre - in Edinburgh - what is the issue, the amount of 'availability' or the access to YS'd stuff? I'm going to still try to get 20 NSD's in December. At this rate, I'm thinking October was a fluke! If I could get 20 NSD's in January too, I'd be :j You have seen what THIS crew do over on the DFW's board, haven't you? seems like a fantastic place to start

Pippi - banana, peanut butter and chocolate Dropped on some barginacious bananas in A$da - 12 for 20p :j Only one was actually 'ripe', but the rest are a bit battered. They'll do grand for 'normal' eating, even if they ain't so pretty and the ripe one went in the buns

Um, Karma was last known to be heading out to Wakehurst place..... nothing since? Hope all is OK. To our Scottish contingent, you've not lost one of your 'Tardi' (assume that is the plural??) have you? It's not appeared at WP and sent our Karma off through Stargate SG-1 (or whatever that place was called) has it?? Karma - hope you'll drop by when you've the chance

Today has been a 'funny old day'. If I really follow the 'serendipitydoodah' to it's logical conclusion, I have absolutely no idea what the universe was trying to point out to me today :(Saw 3 people, definitely who I have 'encountered' in the past, but were very much to the 'periphery' of my life IYSWIM. No idea

Got the TV guide - it has gone up to 45p!!!! 7p rise since last week! Mind you, DP has offered to pay for the RT for the 'C'mas special - he doesn't like the budget version...... Oh, and it's 'darstedly David' and 'jail-bird Janine' on the cover for those that need to know

Right, dinner is about ready and the footy is starting in a mo, so I'd better get along.

So, today I am grateful for these 3 things;

the small business owner who tried ever so hard to help me, but couldn't improve something for me, but would accept no payment for their time - THANK YOU

for seeing 'N' - they are obviously battling cancer - so kick it's butt 'N', kick it's bl00dy butt - damn disease....:(

that I got wished a 'happy winter solstice' today - not long 'til it is.... then the longer days are a-coming :D

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

Pics of dinner possibly tomorrow

See y'all later.

Greying

brizzledfw

Just catching up..the food looks yummy as usual. I am thinking about adding some dahl to the planner...I had some great moong dahl at the weekend and with a dash of coconut it was very tasty. Fancy more of that and it's so cheap. You obviously love AF but have you tried your local Indian supermarket? OH went to one near us last week and got bags and bags of staples, herbs and spices for under £50. To my mind better than giving your money to Mr Big superm&rket too

No Xmas cards for us yet..oh sorry, we have one! Maybe everyone has given up on us this year, I am pretty erratic myself so wouldn't be entirely surprising :rotfl:

Greying_Pilgrim

Ay up

Ta for popping in brizzle , nope, can't say as I 'love' AF - pretty disenchanted if I'm honest..... bought some stuff in the past, but haven't bought anything in a while a) because the postage is starting to make OOD stuff as dear as stuff with months til BBD and b) because of their stoopid 'limit' policy - ie you can only buy 1 bag of cashews (albeit they were at a very good price) but you can buy as many choc bars, bags of crisps, bottles of pop etc etc as you like. I think when the cashews were available, I could only buy one bag, but something like 40 packs of 8 bars of chocolate - so 320 choc bars, but only one 500g bag of nuts???? They always limit beans/nuts/pulses - hard cheddar if you are veggie

I don't, unfortunately, have a 'local' Asian supermarket But yes, I agree, Asian stores run rings round the soopermarkets with their little jars of this and little packets of that for £2.99 a pop

Anyway, dinner has been consumed.......



Spicy shepherds pie with 'swedish' turnip and green beans...... and.......



rhubarb crumble and custard. The rhubarb was from the parentals - from May time when the gardening parental was hospitalised - trouble is I'd forgotten it was rather 'tart'

Thanks for reading and joining in - you know I greatly appreciate it

See y'all later.

Greying

Greying_Pilgrim

Good morning :hello:

A broken night's sleep again - wish I knew what the hickey I was worrying about.....

Definitely aiming for a NSD today - the days are whizzing and my purse isn't remaining shut for long enough - despite the fact that there is little in it

The meal planner has a blank on it for today. In theory it had a blank yesterday, but I'd delayed the shepherd's pie from the weekend so did a shuffle. At present, my brain is a big blank zone, so I'm not sure what we'll have...... watch this space, I don't think we'll go hungry.....

Right, best get up and at 'em I suppose.

Thanks for dropping in, reading and commenting. I value it enormously.

See y'all later.

Greying