Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

vhalla1478

Hi silvasava, I think you will have stripes whatever you do; it probably depends on what colour they are originally as to how noticeable that would be. In my experience the deeper the dye, the less you'll notice the stripes. Good luck! Let us know how you get on.

cheerfulness4

Miami wrote: »

The trouble is, I've just moved into my own place and can no longer raid my mum's needles and thread to use. Where would be a good place to buy quality needles and thread for a budget price? I tried buying some cheaply and they snapped as soon as I started to use them

Thank you in advance, all

Hi Miami,


If you don't have a decent market stall or little sewing shop in your town you can get decent ones from Asda and Morrisons. They tend to have them on a little display towards an end of aisle.
I think that Wilkinsons also used to sell needles etc but I'm not sure if they still do. I know what you meant about the cheapies. Was traumatised when one snapped while I was sewing in bed and catapaulted out of sight. Myself and DH daren't move. :eek:

System

I remember the other day, reading about someone saying they froze mashed potato....never done this before. Do you just freeze it in little batches and then just re heat in saucepan etc?

jackyann

I have frozen mashed potato & re-heated in the microwave (or very gently in an oven, but that can take ages and dry it out) - give it a good stir and it's fine.
However, my favourite with left-over mash is to mix it up with an egg, sometimes add other left-over veg, or chop some chillies into it, and then fry it in little dollops - goes with almost anything (as long as you're not watching the fat intake too much!). This week, had it with left-over haggis mixed in - it's called "clapshot".

As for sewing stuff: it's rather expensive to pay postage just for needles, but for all sorts of fabric & haberdashery they are excellent value: http://www.fabricland.co.uk/
and anyway, just visiting their website is great entertainment!

System

jackyann wrote: »

I have frozen mashed potato & re-heated in the microwave (or very gently in an oven, but that can take ages and dry it out) - give it a good stir and it's fine.
However, my favourite with left-over mash is to mix it up with an egg, sometimes add other left-over veg, or chop some chillies into it, and then fry it in little dollops - goes with almost anything (as long as you're not watching the fat intake too much!). This week, had it with left-over haggis mixed in - it's called "clapshot".

As for sewing stuff: it's rather expensive to pay postage just for needles, but for all sorts of fabric & haberdashery they are excellent value: http://www.fabricland.co.uk/
and anyway, just visiting their website is great entertainment!

Like the sound of "Clapshot", must give it a try

celtic_moon

I have frozen mash in batches and either microwaved or gently reheated in a pan stirring often. Makes teatime a lot easier if making more than one meal at once

So, after my weekend of bargains, the freezer is now the proud owner of 2x double portion 'skinny' lasagnas, 1 double portion of chilli and rice, 2 double portions of the layered potato recipe I got off here 6x (very generous) portions of beef wellington - plus 2 for tea 5 gammon joints, 4x generous steaks (probably 8 portions in total) and a bag of bits for stews/stirfrys etc :T

I am feeling rather pleased with myself!

Ches

I use an ice cream scoop to put little mounds on a greaseproof lined tin and open freeze then they can be popped into a freezer bag when frozen. I cook from frozen in a hot oven so duchess potatoes.

meritaten

I am not sure whether I made do or mended but its definitely not minimised!
My granddaughter was born in November and I had knitted several matinee sets for her - but, she was a rather large baby (nearly 11 pounds) so they didn't fit her for long. DIL gave me back the ones which she had grown out of, and I have taken them apart, saved the buttons, undone them and washed and dried the hanks of yarn. spent this afternoon rolling hanks into balls and because I saved the leftover yarn have enough to now knit up in the 6 - 9 months size.
I also found Two hundred gram balls in Aldi for 99p! normally very inexpensive at £2.49 anyway! they only had a couple of packs in the colours which would suit Ava - but was thrilled. I now have loads of yarn to make more cardies, bonnets etc.

HOWMUCH

Knitting make do and mender's hope you all know about Ravelry website for free patterns

https://www.ravelry.com/account/login

Not much on TV last night so I did DGS another snood off there with the Sirdar smiley stripes wool, it looks lovely I will have to photo it.

Had roast chicken dinner this evening, that's enough chicken for this week we will have some of the lasagna and casserole next week.
There's a TV program eat well for less BBC1 on Thursday at 8pm may be worth a look, but I think we have all the info we need aalright.

cheerfulness4

I've been pottering around Aldi today and I missed that wool. Probably for the best or I'd be tempted to spend too much.


Spends for today were £3.69.


DAY 27

Money Spent Today - £3.69 Vouchers Spent - £0
Money Spent in Total - £80.68 Vouchers Spent in Total - £5
Money left in purse - £0.32 - Float left- £0/£15
Jan non-foods left- £0/£15

We bought 3x milk @ 89p each, 1pk cream crackers @ 28p, pk 4 baking potatoes @ 59p and a tin of rice pudding @ 15p.


The rice pudding was a treat for DS as he had the dentist today and was feeling sore. I adore Aldi cream crackers. They are just so crisp.


Tonight I took a pk of faggots out the freezer stocks (£1 on offer from a while back) We had those with carrots, cabbage and I used 2 of the potatoes bought today to make mash for us and wedges for DS. Was delicious and so cheap. :T

Slightly concerned that my veggie stocks are very low. I had so much left over from last month but I'm down to:
1 carrot
3 sweet potatoes
4 small onions
2/3 white cabbage
celery ( getting bendy)
2 potatoes
5 pieces corn on the cob
1/3 bag broccoli
bag peas
2 tins sweetcorn.

Actually, when I list it like that its not so bad after all. My new budget starts on Sunday anyway.
I've got the 3 essentials for my HM soup base tomorrow, celery, onion and carrot.
I've only got 4 days left of the month but can't get to the shops now until Saturday. Still, think I can easily make some decent meals from that little lot.

HM Pizza tomorrow so I'll use a tin of tomatoes (forgot those) and cook off with a couple of onions and a little garlic I have left, with a shake of mixed herbs.
I'll lift a small bag of mozzarella from the freezer tonight and top it with that and then spread some tuna on one side and cooked bacon bits on the other.
I just remembered I have a tiny bag of sliced red peppers from a while back and I could add a tin of olives to the base with a make my dough.

Phew. Sorry for the waffle but I've got that all sorted in my head now. Will sleep soundly now.

I'll have a snoopy at that programme HOWMUCH. You never know, could be a little something different to learn.