Carrot cake in the oven

supersaver1000

Crikey, I was so tired last night, fell asleep downstairs and then had a really good sleep after DD woke me up to go to bed (after putting in the earphones to drown out DHs snoring!).

Well my spagbol was a great success last night - so much of a success that my plans of dinner today and several freezer meals are out of the window. I used 2 x 400g of mince, some free courgette, carrot, mushrooms as well as the obligatory onion and tinned toms plus a few porridge oats. They thought it was lovely, but they must have hollow legs. Still..... that is the great thing about cooking when people really enjoy it, so I am not complaining.

However, how to stretch out my mince for tonights meal. Well I was thinking about a great dish I used to do in another life which was pasta and mince baked with a lovely cheesy sauce. I'm sure it had eggs in the cheese sauce as it used to rise slightly a bit like a souffl!. I haven't cooked it for years and didn't even know if it had a name, so I've done a quick internet search and came up with Pastitsio - which is a greek baked pasta dish. So I'm going to do this tonight - I've found a Rick Stein recipe and its also on youtube if anyone wants a looksie. I've already got my bolognese, so I just need to boil up the pasta, make a cheese sauce and add the eggs to it. Really looking forward to it. I think I'd better make some more bread - perhaps in long shapes to turn into more garlic bread (I've got garlic puree in the fridge).

Here's the link to the recipe: Rick Stein's Pastitsio

Lilty, I hope you are feeling better today. If not can you snuggle down and have a restful day. Does Jellytot like movies at all. The first movie my DD ever watched was Beethoven - she loved it, and it was wonderful just snuggling down for that length of time.

Get back to full strength soon as you are a real inspiration :T

I can't wait to hear more about the Christmas card making. When DD was at primary school I bought some florist cellophane with Christmas pics on and some red ribbon from flabby, then bought some plain white mugs from wilkos and she filled them with sweets then wrapped them up with the florist stuff as presents for the teachers etc. They looked very effective and very christmassy. So nice to make things yourself.

Greying I will definitely be following your instructions for the burgers soon - I'd like to make a batch for the freezer soon. Although I will probably have to make several batches at once to have any leftover - they are very popular. Actually its incredible how, after following your thread, my cooking has become way more popular. Amazing - thank you.

Oh well, just going to surf your threads then I'd better get on with making Supersaver Heights a bit more respectable, and make room for the new processor. Feels a bit naughty, but I am planning to use it a lot especially in my quest to make all my own bread

giblet1979

Hey SS,

Wow - so many up and downs since I last caught up with you. Congratulations on all the good news / moneysaving and sorry to hear that you've had the downs as well as ups. Sending lots of hugs and good wishes. I know you're going to do great, and it'll all be worth it in the end.

You've inspired me to go and make a 'baked bolognese' for tea which (in theory) will allow me to get on with the work I've been planning on doing

Gib x

supersaver1000

Thanks Gibby. Welcome back. We have all missed you. Hope all goes well now for you, hugs right back at ya!! Xo

liltdiddylilt

I've been AWOL briefly, and look at all this!! Thanks as always dearest GP for your fantastic help. I am feeling slightly ever-so stalked mind you :rotfl: - Burgers are on the menu once the boiler has been installed this week. Til then it is stuffed marrow all the way after in-laws turned up (with another 1 to add to 2 I had) supposedly for dinner at lunchtime & then turned their noses up at my food plans... then once it was cooked drooled over it and hung their noses... I was a mean lilty. I did not give them another chance to eat it. Just sent them on their merry way to their fictional 'sausage casserole'. So now I have days worth of marrow to eat

Love it when food is enjoyed so much SS... does ruin plans somewhat. I try and bulk my curries out with lots of veggies as they disappear into hollow legs too!

Christmas card making is on the menu. Today I am mainly cutting some sprinkly little folded paper snowflakes, as we have been saving the sturdy see through plastic lids from containers like creme fraiche etc & will be gluing them to the front of the fabby card Apple has sent, with a different 'snow scene' inside each one. Sprinkly shaker snowflakes and all!

Mojo partially returned and sore throat banished. Jellytot doing ok but slept from 6pm to 8am when I was forced to go and wake her up from a super-sound sleep to get ready for nursery. She is very hungry at the moment so I think that she is on a growth spurt!

Hugs guys

giblet1979

Loving marrowgate lilty....gotta be quick with us MSE'ers x

supersaver1000

Hi All

Here I am again awake in the early hours.

I had lunch with a friend earlier today. She has applied for the temp job in the upstairs office. Apparently they told her it could turn into a permanent one. Damn, I knew I should have followed it up - I'm going to ask if they'll accept a a late application tomorrow (doubt it, but I'm going to ask). I've also got an appointment with HR so to discuss other options.

I had my first uni meeting, which was very positive. One slight downer that someone said they applied for a student loan and was turned down. But others said to keep trying. Bit worried about that, but I can't see why a third year degree course should be any different to an OU course.

Not much else going on except I'm way over budget and need to earn more money. Still things are settling down with work now so I can start to think of extending my hours in some way. Hence the meet with HR.

Lilty and Gib, thanks so much for popping by, you really keep me going.

giblet1979

Aww Ss hope you got some sleep

Sending caffeine hugs lol

Must rush as spectacularly late. Take care and catch ya later X

liltdiddylilt

Wow that was an early start SS! Defo caffeine hugs required for you to get through today. Couple of cans of red bull?

Hopeful that the job upstairs will take a late app! Maybe for future ref, apply even if you're not convinced. Interviews are good practice, and no one is saying you have to take the job if it isn't right for you!! Is it a maternity leave job? I came back from maternity leave think positive as always! xx

I am sure you are going to be fine with your student loan. Stay happy and it will all work out well!! Honestly

Big hugs!! Hope you're having a bit of a relax today

supersaver1000

Well here I am again. This is becoming a habit. Going to have to do something about it as I need to be on the ball and can't bear being half asleep at work. Lots going on at the moment, in my head and in reality. Hopefully all going the right way so should come good soon.

I think a bit of exercise is really needed. I should go swimming as I have 4 tickets to use before October and I find it a bit warm to run at the moment.

Hmm, thinking about it I have had coffee the past few days. I think I need to cut it out again. :coffee:

On the good side of things, I made lovely pizza dough in my new processor. Then soda bread. I'm feeling very Mary Berry lately. LOL. Haven't bought any shop made bread for over a week

I need to get a container to put a few herbs in outside - any ideas anyone? I do have a bit of wood in the shed, maybe I need to make something. On second thoughts I'm just a tad busy at the moment to start another project. But I need to plant these little pots up. I'd like a portable herb garden - maybe some kind of crate. :question:

Right. Off to put my earphones in and try to get back to sleep.:A

Ali-OK

Hi SS,

Ooh new gadget sounds good and hope you're enjoying using it...but not in the early hours

Hope you manage to have a full night's sleep and wake up refreshed and raring to go.

Any news on the late app? Fingers crossed for you.