Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

FairyPrincessk

Happy Home if you have some sand you can pack it down between the cracks and it should help prevent the weeds from coming back. Something I should do myself!:D

I have had a triumph with my knitting...sort of. I have finished the back of the cardigan. There are at least a couple of mistakes in it but it won't be noticeable to the average viewer and it isn't bad for a first 'real' knitting project. I start the left front panel this afternoon when I finish work. According to others on ravelry the back is the slowest part.

Not sure there will be any other MMM ing today. Unfortunately OH has managed to find a reason to go to the shops every single day. He always comes back with more than planned and any savings we'd made on the shopping budget at the weekend are gone now. Its always the way when he is off work. I may have a sit down with him on Saturday and we'll talk through the budget again. I don't think he realizes the impact it has unless he can 'see' it.

One question: We have a pot of change. Mostly 1 and 2 p coins but a fair amount of 5, 10 and 20. Does anyone know of the best way to put it into the bank? We have a few bags but not really enough and I gather they won't appreciate us turning up with a big pot for them to count. I'd rather not use one of the coinstar machines that takes a commission or gives you a voucher.

[Deleted User]

Oh my goodness, I've just chopped two sacks and three large bags of windfall apples and He Who Knows is pressing them for juice in the garden, I declare the cider making season well and truly open!!! I smell of apples and my hands have furrows in them, not just wrinkles but it will be worth it when it gives the boy his years worth of cider to store up in the barn. I love picking the apples up in the sun and at the moment there are no wasps as a hazard, we've even started to get the phone calls saying 'are you making cider this year because we've got lots of apples if you want them', better by far than chucking them on the compost heap. He even got contacted last year by a man in the village who had lots of pears and took the blitzer and press round to his house and they made perry, apparently it was a great hit with the family. Think it's nearly autumn folks!!!

GreyQueen

FPK, if you count the coins into units (all 1p, all 2p etc) you should be able to pay them in at the bank. Ask beforehand for some coin bags if you haven't any. My mum is a terror for hoarding coppers and puts them aside until she can bag them up at £1 each and then takes them into her building society. They need the denominations separated because they will be weighing them, not counting them, IYSWIM.

I'm always amused when I see those Coin* machines around the supermarket, with the blurb about putting coins in and getting spending money out. For a % to themselves, of course.

:beer: Hic! Nice one, MrsLW. I'm monitoring a few apple trees on waste ground and the common. You have to be a fast forager in the urban areas as there are plenty of sharp-eyed people out there. The blackberries have fruited heavily, only a few of the big berries on the ends of the spray have turned black but most are red. Looks like being a good season.

I am now soliciting for courgette recipes, please. I know I can just search for them, but I'd like ones with personal testimonies as to their ease and fabulousness. I have a vague notion that it's possible to make cakes incorporating courgettes?

Today I have harvested and gifted to friend and to colleagues 11 huge bordering on marrow courgettes, which people have given every appearance of delight to take off my hands. I am well pleased as I may now have a chance at keeping up with the output. Who knew a few plants on a well-composted 5 ft x 7.5 ft bed could be so prolific?

Lottie neighbours have some kind of bluish football squash. which is growing prolifically. Seems to be a good year for the curcubits. I may even have a go at outdoor cukes next year.

[Deleted User]

GQ if you have a recipe for it a large courgette is perfectly acceptable in any recipe for Marrow Chutney. I have recipes if you need one? I also made courgette and cheese fritters the other day which were a lovely main meal for 1 when He Who Knows was away in Norway. Found the recipe online but can't remember the site!!! I know.....typical!

GreyQueen

Ooh, yes please to those, Lyn. I feel that most of my meals will be courgette-based in the next few weeks............:rotfl:

FairyPrincessk

GQ I've got an American recipe for courgette cake, similar to this one:
http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-zucchini-bread-157748

My recipe is ok, but it makes LOADS and uses only a couple of courgettes so I've only made it a few times. If no one else has a better one I'll dig mine out for you but I'll be watching for a highly recommended one myself!

We're still a bit behind--lots of buds on my plants but no fruit as yet. Thanks for the tip--I'll ask for some bags at the bank. Paying a machine to count my money for me has always seemed to be the height of hilarious ridiculousness in my book!

CEW

FairyPrincessk wrote: »

Happy Home if you have some sand you can pack it down between the cracks and it should help prevent the weeds from coming back. Something I should do myself!:D

I have had a triumph with my knitting...sort of. I have finished the back of the cardigan. There are at least a couple of mistakes in it but it won't be noticeable to the average viewer and it isn't bad for a first 'real' knitting project. I start the left front panel this afternoon when I finish work. According to others on ravelry the back is the slowest part.

Not sure there will be any other MMM ing today. Unfortunately OH has managed to find a reason to go to the shops every single day. He always comes back with more than planned and any savings we'd made on the shopping budget at the weekend are gone now. Its always the way when he is off work. I may have a sit down with him on Saturday and we'll talk through the budget again. I don't think he realizes the impact it has unless he can 'see' it.

One question: We have a pot of change. Mostly 1 and 2 p coins but a fair amount of 5, 10 and 20. Does anyone know of the best way to put it into the bank? We have a few bags but not really enough and I gather they won't appreciate us turning up with a big pot for them to count. I'd rather not use one of the coinstar machines that takes a commission or gives you a voucher.

If you have a Metro Bank near to you they have a coin machine that is free to use and they convert it to cash. They are also open 7 days a week. I use ours regularly to cash up my coins.

Chez x

Nargleblast

I made a courgette, pea and mint soup today - chop up onion, fry till soft, add chopped courgette and chicken stock. Chuck in frozen peas, finely chopped mint (not too much, say half a handful), water, veggie stock cubes and a slug of white wine. Bring to boil, simmer 20 minutes, liquidise, check seasoning and serve. Not bad! Quantities very "ish" depending on number of courgettes you want to [STRIKE]get rid of[/STRIKE] use.

Nargleblast

I have a very sinister pixie living in my kindle. When I typed "liquidise" it came out as liquidate.

GreyQueen

Nargleblast wrote: »

I made a courgette, pea and mint soup today - chop up onion, fry till soft, add chopped courgette and chicken stock. Chuck in frozen peas, finely chopped mint (not too much, say half a handful), water, veggie stock cubes and a slug of white wine. Bring to boil, simmer 20 minutes, liquidise, check seasoning and serve. Not bad! Quantities very "ish" depending on number of courgettes you want to [STRIKE]get rid of[/STRIKE] use.

Thank you! I am very much an 'ish' type of cook, so this would suit me very well.