Help... It's time for change!!!

Anne_Marie_2

Mint, here's my basic tomato sauce recipe using fresh tomatoes....you can get them really cheaply at the moment at Ya Beles (the fruit and veg stall). I make it in bulk and freeze in portions. It can be used for spag bol, chilli con carne, tomato soup and a host of other recipes.

A load of tomatoes, as in supermarket shopping bag size
A few onions, I'd use 3 large, or 4-5 medium
One garlic bulb
Dried oregano
Olive oil

Half/quarter the tomatoes, depending on size. Throw into a roasting pan.
Quarter the onions and separate them a bit, throw into the roasting pan.
Put the cloves from the garlic into the roasting pan.
Sprinkle with around two teaspoons of oregano, than a good dash of olive oil. Toss the whole load around a bit, and then roast in the oven at about 180C for around 40 mins. It doesn't matter if you get a few black bits. Allow to cool and then pour into a suitable bowl/pan for blitzing with a stick blender, or if you have a separate blender/liquidiser use that.
Freeze in suitable sized portions. You might not want it blitzed, so equally fine to freeze as it is.

This is a very basic recipe, and can be varied by adding whatever you like in the way of vegetables for roasting, or in the spices/herbs that you add.

Mint1955

Two more things for my folder thank you.

Well no wood yet and the glass panels are now due tomorrow so another day hanging around. It has been lovely and we are having tournaments down by the pool playing a Swedish game called Kubs or Krubs where you have to throw sticks from each end of a court at wooden blocks. It's been a fun afternoon.

One good thing I now have a shelf in the cupboard that used to house the gas canister so it's easier to access things now.

The other builder is doing ok with the outside work so that's also good.

Throw together pasta last night meant leftovers for lunch and tonight is sausages but at the moment not sure what with!

Mint1955

Last nights dinner still in the fridge as we ended up at the local village for dinner which was very cheap and nice to meet up with others.

Wood maybe tomorrow now but it might be today not sure why he phoned to be honest lol.

the glass panel man who asked us to be up early with hot water for cleaning the glass as he gets each of them in (immersion had to go on for that as solar doesn't really heat this time of year until about 10) as he would be here by 8 still hasn't arrived as the glass wasn't correct so he has had to wait for one piece to be done again. He could have left the extra piece and collect it until another day but that's too easy!

Third guy who is doing outside isn't coming today as both his helpers have to do statutory one day military registration that all chaps who have done their military service apparently have to attend yearly.

So we gave up and got in the hot tub and did some planning lol

So it's sausages for dinner later after a drama club afternoon for me and not sure what OH is doing.

Sorted the ex gas canister cupboard and even though it's not huge it's going to make a difference as now I have had a move round and put like with like around the kitchen it's much better.

Last two weeks so I have also made a list of meals in freezer and we may be having two meals a day lol

Anne_Marie_2

Noticed earlier on that you had mentioned guests needing torches. Totally invaluable here when you don't have street lighting. First of all, I got a couple of those wind up ones, which are totally fine, but give off so little light. Ended up getting a couple of the LED Lenser torches, one a P7, the other a T7, I can't tell the difference between the two, but they are brilliant and I wouldn't be without mine now.....they give an amazing beam, and you can see clearly where you are walking.
I have the wind up ones too....handy for guest bedrooms, and for keeping around the place when we have a power cut.

Another great thing I bought for Cyprus was some quality solar lights, can PM you more info if you like, as already have mentioned them on this board, and don't want to bore people.

Mint1955

I will look up the torches. We do have wind up ones but yes a bit dim sometimes.

Hoorah we have wood at a good price and it's the good hard wood we need for our burner and one ton isn't scary and today the wood store roof goes on and a pallet has been donated by the builder to stack the logs on. Job done ;-)

The glass and railings are finally finished ;-)

Outside wood is treated and the last coat of special paint goes on today so finally we are done outside for winter.

Builder 2 is doing a workshop style session with OH Monday so that some of the minor internal stuff OH can do himself after instruction.

Fabulous 10k ramble yesterday afternoon along the coastline after a visit to the bank with loads of questions which were very efficiently answered. A quick shop for something nice as a dinner gift (not so easy here) managed a nice box of chocs though. Exchanged some currency to see us through the last 10 days. Last night we had a get together with some Norweigian holiday makers which was lovely but that's another meal I still have to use up in the freezer. I think I now have more meals than days left lol

Anne_Marie_2

Sounds like it's all coming together, well done you.

Mint1955

I did these this morning. The mixture was very crumbly so I added a little more butter and just about got them in to a ball but they seemed a little drier than expected at the supposed dough stage but I moulded and they stayed together just about. One half I did as plain and I added sultanas to the other half which made those a little moister after cooking.

They both tasted fine but the plain were a little crispy and crumbly on first bite.
The best bit was they all got eaten lol

BISCUITS
2 cups flour (plain or S/r)
1 cup sugar
6 oz marg/butter (or about 1/3 of 250g tub)

Mix ingredients together in a bowl, no need to add anything else, the dough will come together (might need to mix with hands!).

Place little balls of dough onto greased baking tray and flatten down with a fork (to make little circles) They will spread so leave room between each.

bake for about 10-15 mins in oven about 200 degrees.

If they rise you can flatten again with fork, halfway through cooking.

Leave to cool on wire rack and enjoy!!

Feel free to add favourites, such as raisins, choc chips and so on at the dough stage.

will keep in airtight container for good few days.

Mint1955

This time next week we will be waking up in the uk ready to start the clear out ready for house sale etc.

We haven't sold a house in over ten years so need to research charges and estate agents, solicitors and any new rulings around sales.

Here we have a few smaller jobs still to complete before we leave but today as part of a group charity fundraiser we are delivering new winter and sports shoes to the children in the local village school. We walked 100 k up on the mountain ridge as a challenge over three days which was an incredible personal achievement and three different local groups will receive our donations.

I have been reading loads of old style threads for cooking and cleaning and have saved loads of bits of information. Life will be very different here and I can't wait to be able to immerse myself but first I have to get rid of all the "stuff" we have accumulated in the house in the uk.

Not looking forward to the weather in uk next week but I will appreciate the central heating lol it's still warm here most days and we are still outside a lot in t shirts and shorts but it gets damp and chilly after sun down.

Using up all food and freezer stuff is ongoing so today I need to plan when we are eating and what I need to buy to get us through until tues.

We have spent time lately reflecting over the last 10weeks and realise we are so very lucky to be able to make this move. DH and I have been through a lot in 16 years and this is now our time. I am sure ss and sd will panic when the reality hits home that we are actually going ahead with the plan but they are living away from home and we have been talking about it for years.

Mint1955

Just a little update .....

Tasks to be done

Get gas bottle moved out of a kitchen cupboard and locate outside which will free up a cupboard and be safer. DONE

Have shelf put in cupboard DONE

scavenge local sandstone lumps to build a little walled cover for the gas bottle DONE

Fix the panels on the jacuzzi outer that have come unstuck due to the sun.DONE

Get safe fitted DONE

House number on wall DONE

Make up cabinet for bedroom DONE

Start collecting kindling for the log burner. DONE

Chase up the log delivery DONE

Chase up builder to put roof up to shelter the logs ongoing but promised before Friday

Chase up other builder to winter proof the outside walls and wood etc Done coming Monday DONE

Re do sealant around windows outside DONE

Indoors jobs which will probably wait until we return

Scrape out and renew all grouting on floor tiles

Remove clean and re fix all tiled uprights (our skirting boards)
DONE

Scrape back and repair damp patches

Do new sealant round all windows inside

So not bad going and at least the house is done outside for the winter.

Mint1955

Lovely visit to local school with our walking groups donation with lots of smiles from the children.

The week is going too fast but with return flights booked for new year to come back for two weeks mainly to use an incredible luggage allowance and loads of avios points for just £51 return it makes returning to uk easier lol

Now the railings are all complete we sit in the mornings on the roof with our first cuppa and chat. No phones pads or tv just the fresh air and the rising sun warming us. The air is so clean and the silence is beautiful just a few birds twittering. The occasional tractor trundles past and we hear the traditional sounds from the Muazzin as he calls the faithfull to prayer at the local mosque.

We are going on a ramble today which will include local caves and tonight a simple meal out at a new local place with friends.

OH is using his new DIY skills on the internal bits and we have a plan of sorts to tackle the rest when we return. This will save us loads and also give our days a focus in the winter as even here we are confined to barracks at times due to rain.