Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

nursemaggie

gremlins are fixed thank goodness had great difficulty in reading today's posts.

No the landlord is not my problem, will hold off on phoning the estate agent though until I have seen the homeless team. Put in a bid on a nice house near Ginnyknit's mum. The area will suit DS as lots of shops in the area and not too far from the university so also lots of take aways. That means a chance of a part time job while he does his degree. Best bit though is both Ald! and Lid* are within walking distance.

silvasava

Fingers and everything else crossed for you Nursemaggie!

Gremlins got into my signature but hopefully its sorted now

Raining & miserable here so doing all the 'little' jobs like refilling the ink on my printer. Sorting out the stuff we brought back from the boat while she's laid up for winter and doing some paperwork filing that's been lurking. Just found two letters from our IFA that DH had left buried while I was away - nothing major though - phew!
Got to get my machine out to do costumes for Halloween - my neighbours grandaughter wants a Corpse Bride costume (remainder of my lacy net curtains) DH will be a Pirate and I'll be a corpse Bride too 'cos there's lots of net and I've a backpack to mend for DS1
Looks like I'm doing a bit of MMMing today after all
Have a good day all x

Nargleblast

Good news nursemaggie, sounds like the place you've put a bid on is just right for you and DS - will keep fingers, toes and any other loose appendages crossed for you! Hope you hear soon.

bargainhunterss

EmberJ wrote: »

Been a bit of a struggle with things recently - my back has been playing up awfully. feeling better today though, so have put some lemon cookies in the oven, have some onions and garlic roasting under them...

STILL playing catch up with the Fred so, excuse the delayed question! I've often wondered this, if you bake something sweet (e.g. fairy cakes) at the same time as something savoury (e.g. chicken), does the flavour of the cakes change? I haven't attempted it before, as I was afraid of creating Frankenstein cakes! (and for those who spotted it, yes I know it's a bad example because I wouldn't cook those two at the same temp, but you get my drift!) :rotfl:

Ta!

FairyPrincessk

Evening all,

Still in the midst of term madness here, but OH is home tomorrow and then home all next week so that is something. I spent this evening roasting a pumpkin, turning it into soup and roasting the seeds. The soup is a bit bland even with lots of seasoning, I chucked in some curry powder and that helped but it still needs something. I might add something else tomorrow when we eat it for lunch. Unfortunately I suspect what is missing is more salt, which I try to avoid in HM soups as the stock has alarming amounts. If all else fails I'll chuck in some chilli flakes and we won't notice!

I've started off bread dough and will just pop it in the fridge before bed so it is ready to warm up and second rise tomorrow in time for baking to eat with the soup. Some YS pork chops defrosting in the fridge for tea with some lurking spuds and broccoli. I've never cooked pork chops before, but as I understand it they can either be griddled or bunged in the oven with various marinades. We've also got some brown bananas so will do a banana loaf for puds.

Not much mending going on at the moment. However, I have procured (second hand, much reduced a bit grubby but scrubbed up well) a shopping basket for myself. I was teased by an older man saying he hadn't seen one in years but I've wanted one for ages and my hunch is right---it is easier to carry heavy items in the basket than in a flimsy bag. Now, it won't do for our big shops when we both take the rucksacks, but it is good for quick trips for milk and the like. I did take it for my weekly shop at the weekend since I was only feeding myself and it worked brilliantly. It was also much easier to keep things from getting crushed.

Nursemaggie I think I have a guess as to which area you mean and if it is where I'm thinking it will be a great location for your needs. Fingers crossed for you.

Vulpix I'm so glad you're feeling great. Sounds like your house is nice and sparkly too.

Bargainhunterss, I've never had a problem with Frankenstein cakes and I am a full oven kind of woman. I even play pretty fast and loose with the temperature. However, there are a few things I'd probably be careful with--shortbread and roasting onions/garlic spring to mind. I find the more important thing is to make sure you really wash your hands/knife/utensils in between tasks and store the foods separately once cooked. Be careful with butter and cream in your fridge--they pick up odors easily if not wrapped or sealed tightly. It is the high butter content that makes me wary of the shortbread.

Lynplatinum

Hiya

Vulpix - can I borrow your SiL please - I seem to keep on finding more bits of my house that need cleaning!!! Also v happy to have someone join me on my journey to loose weight - half a stone by Christmas sounds do-able! I would love the support. :A

Nurse maggie - an Aldi, a Lidil and someone you know nearby? sounds like a good place to be I have looked at a place to move to and checked it is within walking distance of a L!dil!

FP - re pumpkin soup - I suggest a little lemon juice - because pumpkin is sweet it needs a balance.

Well bought a cold box to put my fridge-able stuff in. Freezer section still working so fingers crossed - I have ordered a new fridge freezer for Friday delivery. This has put the cost up but on the positive side I can order it from my club book - interest free and no payments for a year - so that is helpful. Kinda Making Do I suppose
It has highlighted to me how much food i just buy in because I can. Weird. You can eat well without having a million different things in!! Tonight I made HM burgers with mince from the freezer (using bits up in case it dies on me!) 2 of them are now in the cold box for tomorrow night.

Minimised some more freezer bits and have put out the re-cycling with stuff I really do not need or use anymore but cannot be passed on! e.g really tatty old note book!

ginnyknit

Ooh Nursemaggie hopefully if we get a car - DwP need ours back :mad:) I can pop round to see you when Im at Mums.

Im busy busy busy! running around sorting things before the car goes back. Looking after Dgs and Dgd in shifts. Hubby has had a very bad few weeks due to the consequences re the car ( sorry to bore you with it) and Im fighting to be exempt from the bedroom tax. I guess its all making do and mending as Im fixing our life

Lots of sewing piled up and loads of knitted toys lined up to be finished off. CS has benefitted from my progress in the clearing out of stuff. Need to make some comfy cushions for hubby sitting in bed.

Other than that just sat drinking coffee and knitting :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

FPK do you have any celery salt in your batterie de cuisine? I'm never without it and find that in things that need a 'lift' because the flavour isn't quite full enough a dash of celery salt really does the trick, the celery seed flavour seems to make up for less salt overall in the dish. OK there is salt in the condiment too but less is needed overall and I find I often don't need any 'salt' salt if I use celery salt, hope that makes sense, Lyn xxx.

FairyPrincessk

Thanks Lyn and Lyn (that has tickled me, I'm easily amused). I've got both lemon juice and celery salt so will see what I can do. Betterie de cuisine--sounds so much more sophisticated that kitchen stuff!

silvasava

Grey day here & DH has decided to go down to the boat to power wash her bottom to get the barnacles off. I did flick the snails off when she was lifted out on Saturday I need to get booted and spurred cos its a messy job but needs to be done.
Think it will be fish & Chips tonight as I'll be somewhat shattered. I think this is the one time I'd prefer to do housework lol!
Have a good day all xx