Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

misstara

Celtic moon - sending lots of positive vibes in your direction

The flat is now lovely and clean, I've also caught up on the washing and ironing. I finally finished unpacking my case (I came back on Sunday ) and put it away so the flat looks a lot tidier).

I noticed that the international market is on (it comes here every few months) so me and OH are planning to go a wander round after work tomorrow. From past experience, it's not particularly cheap so probably won't buy much/anything but it's always good to have a look.

We'll sit down over the weekend and make a meal plan for next week. We're trying to be very careful with the pennies at the moment as OH isn't getting many shifts and I'm also struggling for shifts at 2nd job. Thanks elona for the cheap meal suggestions.

PS it's raining here too, one of the downsides of living in Scotland!

nursemaggie

Good luck Celtic Moon. I will be thinking of you tomorrow BlueGreen moving days are the most exhausting days ever.

Bluegreen143

Thanks for your good luck wishes all

Managed to spend the late afternoon/evening at the new house once the old owners had moved out. It was just as perfect as remembered and the garden was even better! I ate a couple of ripe strawberries from our garden which was just amazing

At the moment there is a small apple and a small pear tree which have just a few tiny fruits on, lots of raspberries, strawberries and redcurrants, two medium sized cherry trees and LOTS (and lots) of gooseberries. I've never done anything with gooseberries before, don't think I've even tasted one. Hopefully you lovely ladies have some recipes for me as I have a massive supply!

The veg patch just has gone to seed parsnips and celery and some spring onions, so if there's anything I can plant this late, let me know I also have a greenhouse which I haven't investigated much yet but think they've emptied it of plants anyway.

meritaten

You know - One of the BEST things about this thread? that even if you don't squeeze your purse until it squeeks, are only 'occasionally' MM&Ming, NOBODY makes you feel inadequate or letting the side down! everybody seems to have the attitude (to quote an ad), that 'every little helps'. it is such a change from some threads where you would be scared to admit to not searching out the best bargain, or spending one penny more than others think you should.
I think the thread founder and the stalwarts on here should give themselves a huge round of applause - I think they are wonderful people! and you know who you are!!!!!!!!!

meritaten

Bluegreen? gooseberries can be very sweet and delicious or very tart like a lemon - either can make a dam good pie or jam. with a pie, stew them first with plenty of sugar and TASTE THEM - you will know if you need to add more sugar. if the gooseberries start to go a reddish colour - don't pick them yet - let them colour all over, then they will be ripe and sweet. (not all gooseberries are green - I have a green bush and a red bush and I have to wait until the reds start to colour before I can remember which is which) the red ones are very sweet and I tend to eat them raw before I can make a dessert with them.

Lynplatinum

Hiya all

Elona - ohh that list rang some bells with me - fittata (Spanish omelette) was also a use up thing!

Blue green - good luck with moving - when I do im not looking forward to it and there's no chance I ll be pregnant as well!! Glad place still looks good. Look after yourself - you have ages to sort out the boxes - cup tea and a bed are the most important!!

Celtic - its hard to take those giant risky leaps in business - I have been where you are :eek: how can I put this, meaning it in the best way - whatever happens you always have friends on here AND having been on here you know how to survive on very very little! Wishing you the best!

Well guys - joy of joys - the kitchen is finished!!! Yea!!! and stuff is back in there! Phew! Looks much better! :j

Because I have not been out shopping at all I have very little in the fridge in the way of fresh fruit and veg! Today 'invented ' a new filling for a YS frozen wholemeal pitta bread - grate a medium carrot - grate about an oz of cheese - mix with a dessertspoon of light mayo - sprinkle with a few sultanas for sweetness. Really yum! Necessity is the mother of invention!! :rotfl: Tomorrow am out on a brewery trip with me CAMRA mates so no time for shopping then; Sunday evening Im out to a Cabaret in Nhampton my son and his lady are organising - sometime I must fit in a shopping trip (even freezer is looking empty!!)!!!

MM&M today (other than food!) is that I washed out all the brushes and rollers and they can now be used again! Also all wiping off paint splashes and wiping down was done with rags accumulated over the year!! Also have asked for a couple of loans back in from friends - realise that Im owed over £50 from various folks! Need those tenners back now!
So frugal re food budget - have kept to my £5 per week for 6 weeks to 'pay off' my expenditure on treats for Writer's Group! but have over spent a bit on the old entertainment. So am gonna keep on the £5! I havent starved - I have stopped throwing even the limpest carrot out (double entendre intended!!) - and been far more 'using up' of old stuff out of cupboards and freezer! Loads more there to go!! May soon be asking for inspiration for the weirder ingredients :A

Talking of stranger things - tea tonight (plus enough for tomorrow) to use up pearl barley was a Nigella one - delicious - used frozen peppers! http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/barley-risotto-5010

Really yum - also added a bundle of herbs wrapped in a bay leaf (was given some of these a few years ago but they still wok well!) and a sprinkling of cheese!) Enjoy!
Frugal tomorrow will be not buying too much beer!:rotfl:
Cheers folks!

Bluegreen143

Meritaten - thanks for the gooseberry tips - I didn't know you got red ones, I thought they were all tart - I'll keep an eye on them. There are four or so(!) bushes in the garden so there could well be both.

Lynplatinum - sounds like you've had a great day for MMMing! The barley risotto recipe sounds nice, and I have some pearl barley so I might give it a go

camelot1001

Celtic - hang in there, I hope things turn out ok.
Bluegreen, wishing you a happy move.
Ah Silvasava that's rubbish, good job you have a handy OH.
Val - Well done on your spending!

Starting to use things up here as we are away from Thursday, some very inventive meals, one or two of which will use pasta for DD!

I was in Waitrose yesterday and they are selling 3 chickens for £10 so I cooked one and put the others in the freezer, I had some last night when it was hot and I will strip the carcass later.

My neighbour called round last night to see if I could do a couple of bits on the sewing machine for her, I'm not great at sewing but I put some straps on her DDs sundresses and took in a pair of shorts for her DS, I have to say they looked ok. They are off to Spain today.

DD has homegrown lettuce in her salad for packed lunch today, it's lovely to be able to pick your own!

[Deleted User]

I always wrap my clean paintbrushes in cling film once clean and its keeps the brush part of them soft
Great MM&M going on I too am 'shopping' from my cupboards at the moment as I have far too much stuff in there and I want to use some of it up.Too hot to bake today as I already have the fan on to get some cool air circulating.But I will get the piece of gammon out of the freezer to defrost and cook in some cola for slicing for next weeks lunches.tennis will be starting and I am glued to the t.v. when thats on. Lots of salads for me.I discovered that I had some spuds left in the bag and after denudeing them of the sprouty bits they don't look too bad I had some last night with the last of the HM quiche and salad and still have some for today left over.Nowt is going to waste in this house at all :):)
Have a good weekend everyone what ever you are doing
Cheers chums JackieO xxx

silvasava

Morning All - its a beautiful day here 'darn sarf' Hope the move goes well Bluegreen & thinking of you and crossing everything Celtic Moon.
As its so glorious I'll spend as much time as I can in the garden. DGD is coming round to do my roots with the last half of my colour. Will need to stock up in the next few weeks so I'll take a look at the aldee ones that have been recommended. DH has promised to hit the ironing basket - a chore he's taken over since he retired (most of it is his shirts anyway ) sported out on a couple of steaks from aldee for tea tonight and will have more strawberries for pud. The blackcurrant bush is ripening and I spent about an hour picking and topping and tailing for a bowlful at most. Makes you realise why they are expensive as they are so labour intensive!
Have a lovely day all xxx