Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

GreyQueen

I've made a rather nice pear crumble at the weekend, using up some ingredients which had been loitering in the cupboards as well as the pears.

OK, the sugar was soft brown sugar not caster, the flour was SR not plain, but it all came out perfectly well.

cheerfulness4

I love crumble with brown sugar. I sprinkle it over he top of my bread and butter puddings too before baking. It makes a lovely crunchy top to compliment the gorgeous soft underneath.
Argh, don't get me started on puddings. Its coming on for shorts weather soon and my behinds not ready for it yet.

[Deleted User]

Good Morning chums,dry but a bit grey looking at the moment .I am off down to Sainsbobs this morning to see how much their large turkey crowns are for DD for this weekend
There will be 9 of us for Easter Sunday lunch so DD wants a large one.She is not keen on a whole turkey, as she really hasn't the space .Her kitchen is lilliputian and how she turns out meals for her family of 6 plus moi, and DGS GF is a miracle at times, plus any other waifs and strays that arrive
I am down for making a large apple pie as its a family favourite

I am looking forward to the end of Lent so I can once more eat my beloved ginger biscuits that I gave up.
Doesn't sound a lot to give up I know but I think I have ginger flavoured blood running through my veins as its my
go-to biscuit with a cuppa every morning when I get up,and at elevenses, and afternoon coffee and probably in the evening when watching TV Not that I have become obsessive or anything :):):)
I also have a coffee morning U3A meeting this morning at Dobbies (freebie as I have a voucher ).Quiz night tonight at the pub (only £2.00 and you get supper thrown in )So a busy day today.
Hopefully I will be a bit more productive tomorrow ,with the lighter evening I can see where the house needs spring cleaning so that will be on the cards to be starting at some point this week.I have at the moment three 'clutter drawers in the kitchen so they are going to be dealt with this week as i know there is a lot of junk to get rid of.
DGS Ben starts his holiday job at Groombridge Place this week I hope he enjoys himself plus earns a few pounds to help with his deposit for his September student accomodation
Right time to toddle,
have a good day all, JackieO xx

cheerfulness4

Ginger biscuits are just so moreish. Perhaps you should have given up Custard Creams instead, JackieO. I wouldn't miss those.

I was just contemplating my five :eek: drawers in my lounge that need a pick through. I don't know how we do it. Everytime we can't decide where something belong we stow it in one of the drawers.
I've gone through them once in the last few weeks, eyed the contents and then popped most of it back in with a quick slam. I must stop procrastinating and sort places for everything or get rid of these little bits in them.

Just done my last shop of the month. I love a fresh start with a new month. :j

TUE 31 MAR
DAY 31

Money Spent Today - £3.52 Vouchers Spent - £0
Money Spent in Total - £92.84 Vouchers Spent in Total - £8.80
Money left in purse - £0.16 Float left- £0/£15
Jan non-foods left- £0/£15

Hit the jackpot with the YS fruit and veg at Morries today. Got 1x big bag red potatoes @ 19p, 1x dirty potatoes @ 19p, 1x lrg bag big onions @ 19p, 1x bag sml onions @ 19p, 1x big bag mixed coloured peppers @ 25p, 1x bag clemantines @ 25p, 1 x bag royal gala apples @ 25p, 1x twin pack celery @ 25p, 2x bags of carrots @ 19p each, 1x YS 4pt milk @ 35p, 1 x lrg bag of lemons @ 19p, 1 x tin ravioli @ 39p and 500g natural yoghurt @ 45p.



So that is the end of my March budget and I've come in with 16p leftover to go with the previous surplus of 9p from Jan/Feb to bring my total to 25p to go towards my bottle of Ameretto at the end of the year! Those hot chocolates are going to taste so good with that come next winter.

What I'm gradually learning is that sweet treats and savoury snacks were taking up too much of our extras budget and we're slowly decreasing those. We've been having HM rice puds and HM cakes to avoid extra spending. We've all lost a little weight this month which is an added bonus.

The freezer still has foods that we haven't eaten that must go this month. We are tending to eat the new buys that I've bought this last few weeks. I want to defrost the freezer at the end of April at the end of my spring cleaning spree. Everything must go!

I'm excited that we're finally going into a new season and our foods are now reflecting that. Lots of salad being eaten with our meals and less carbs. Thick soups with a little HM bread are enjoyed as a main meal now whereas before they were a lunch or supper. We're not geting as hungry now.

I am really looking forward to my April grocery challenge. I've got spinach now ready to eat in the garden and my HG veg are coming on, although way off eating yet. I shall need those to help as my massive stocks of essentials, ie coffee, tea, rice etc are all but depleted now. We are drinking our stock of 'real' coffee now as our instant has all gone. DH is gutted. I'm loving it!

good_advice

Afternoon money savers.
This morning I have been busy with the needles, knitting. Then pulling some back.
I could not get on with the cardi pattern front. More like hard to read the tiny print for lacy stitches.
Not to be put off, I am knitting a diffrent pattern with a bit larger print.

Went into town for x1 hour. Picked up my FREE coke zero from Greggs. The only time I go into that shop is for a freebie. Last time it was a free doughnut - I gave oh .
The coke zero price is £1.25. It is now chilling in my fridge.
The only fizz we usually drink round here is from the HM sodastream.

Went into M&S outlet store. I like to look in the clearance area at the back. Picked up a summer 100% cotton dressing gown.Label says made in India. £7 White with little pink flowers.

I think a lot of schools will break up today for x2 weeks Easter holidays. Our area go back on 20th April.

April fools day tomorrow.

cheerfulness4

The children around here have broken up already on Friday. Its so peaceful as we are on the final little run up to the local primary school. Not that they are much bother. I love watching the littlies toddling along with their reading book wallets. They seem so tiny.

Mum has decided to also clear out her freezer for defrosting and has given me a carrier full of bits and pieces her and dad don't want.
We got 1 sml pack of beef mince, 1x block of stork marg, assorted part bags of Brussels, broccoli and peas. 3 x posh scones (already eaten those!), 4 x turkey escalopses, 1 x mixed florets and 1 x bag roast potatoes.

If only she would declutter her store cupboards now.

MrsCD

good_advice wrote: »

Afternoon money savers.
This morning I have been busy with the needles, knitting. Then pulling some back.
I could not get on with the cardi pattern front. More like hard to read the tiny print for lacy stitches.
Not to be put off, I am knitting a diffrent pattern with a bit larger print.

good advice - you could photocopy your pattern, but make it bigger - maybe 150% to see if the print is easier to read.

good_advice

MrsCD wrote: »

good advice - you could photocopy your pattern, but make it bigger - maybe 150% to see if the print is easier to read.

gosh thanks! I thought 100% was the highest.
I will try that.

cheerfulness4

I never thought to do that when I'm reading some recipes. They are ridiculous on some websites. You have to squint to see whats there.

I have an afternoon of sewing planned. Still haven't found a willing helper to pin my hem up so I'll press gang an unwilling one in the form of DS later.

I shall catch up watching that Back in Time foodie programme and the autumn Kew on a Plate which I missed. Then I am going to have a cosy hour or two meandering through my cookery book collection. Change in season means all new menu plans. Can't wait!

kittym

Afternoon everyone.

Just finished a lovely bacon buttie for lunch. I made wholemeal bread buns and cinnamon rolls yesterday. They wouldn't have won a place on master chef for how they looked, but not bad for 1st attempt.

Well done on the YS Cheerfulness, and HM rice pudding is my favourite pud. I could eat it every day.

I think my seeds went into shock on the windowsill yesterday when it started to snow :eek: In the last 24 hrs we've had every weather you can think of. The only thing left would be a tornado.

Hope all went well on Monday Howmuch.

Well time for a cuppa, then I'm off to tackle the Mount Everest pile of ironing that seems to have accumulated. :mad::mad:

Bye for now. xx