Renovations and Repayments.

misscousinitt

Hi Alex

If you are worried about the fat content of Greek Yoghurt, then just use a little less perhaps or maybe not everyday? Proper Greek Yoghurt has other benefits.

Instead of dressed crab - you could go hot smoked salmon or smoked mackerel - both I would say are still a luxury ingredient, but are probably half the price of dressed crab!

Belly pork makes fantastic stir fry - yes it's a bit fatty, but if you can trim the fat it makes a tasty and cheaper alternative to Pork Loin.

Cod is a very expensive fish these days. Try Whiting or Pollock - same family of fish - but much cheaper.

Hope this helps.

MCI

ETA I believe Kale is high in calcium if you wanted to include that somewhere - cheap at the moment as it's in season...

maman

misscousinitt wrote: »

ETA I believe Kale is high in calcium if you wanted to include that somewhere - cheap at the moment as it's in season...

Sardines and broccoli are also good sources. With sardines (tinned are fine:eek:) you're also getting the omega 3 oil so win/win. Fish high in Omega 3 (like salmon) is better for you than cod, but don't worry so are caviar and oysters!:rotfl:


We need a balanced diet Alex and that includes some fats so I wouldn't knock the yogurt necessarily. Or perhaps a limited amount of cheese.


You may not be your mother's milk monitor but if you're setting the meal plan for three meals a day then you owe it to her to include the nutrients needed.


I don't think you're vain at all (I find it motivates me:D). Maybe you could add weightloss to your list of daily achievements!

gallygirl

maman wrote: »

Sardines and broccoli are also good sources. With sardines (tinned are fine:eek:) you're also getting the omega 3 oil so win/win.

Luckily I have access to fresh sardines on my doorstep (well, a couple of hundred yards away ) and they are wonderful, but they don't mash up with their own tommy sauce on toast as well as the tinned ones do - a much underrated treat :T.

AlexLK

misscousinitt wrote: »

Hi Alex

If you are worried about the fat content of Greek Yoghurt, then just use a little less perhaps or maybe not everyday? Proper Greek Yoghurt has other benefits.

Don't really have anything everyday, food wise. I do like Greek yogurt.

misscousinitt wrote: »

Instead of dressed crab - you could go hot smoked salmon or smoked mackerel - both I would say are still a luxury ingredient, but are probably half the price of dressed crab!

Often have salmon and mackerel salads but this week is the turn of the crab.

misscousinitt wrote: »

Belly pork makes fantastic stir fry - yes it's a bit fatty, but if you can trim the fat it makes a tasty and cheaper alternative to Pork Loin.

Cod is a very expensive fish these days. Try Whiting or Pollock - same family of fish - but much cheaper.

Hope this helps.

MCI

ETA I believe Kale is high in calcium if you wanted to include that somewhere - cheap at the moment as it's in season...

Thanks, MCI. Always open to trying new things.

Never considered buying belly pork and honestly didn't know what it could be used for really.

I don't think pollock has quite the same robust texture as cod, though I appreciate it is cheaper / can be used as an alternative.

We do have kale sometimes.

maman wrote: »

Sardines and broccoli are also good sources. With sardines (tinned are fine:eek:) you're also getting the omega 3 oil so win/win. Fish high in Omega 3 (like salmon) is better for you than cod, but don't worry so are caviar and oysters!:rotfl:

We often have broccoli. Can't say I like the idea of tinned food in general.

I know people on here probably find the caviar / oysters a bit amusing but one of my favourite lunches is to have a couple of cream crackers with roule, smoked salmon and topped with caviar. We sometimes have an oyster appetiser but I don't enjoy shucking them.

Not doing myself any favours here, I know. :rotfl:

maman wrote: »

We need a balanced diet Alex and that includes some fats so I wouldn't knock the yogurt necessarily. Or perhaps a limited amount of cheese.

You may not be your mother's milk monitor but if you're setting the meal plan for three meals a day then you owe it to her to include the nutrients needed.

I fairly often make cheese scones and use some dairy products in sauces too. Both comments about the yogurt has made me think that perhaps it is not so bad.

They are away at the moment but I do wish to look after my parents. They both really enjoy my food and it seems to have given us something to talk about and enjoy together. I know I need to let go of the past with them as they are doing all they can at the moment to build a meaningful relationship with my son and I. Father isn't in a great place mentally at the moment, stuck in the past and everything he considers his wrongdoings. Clearly, the apple didn't fall too far from the tree there.

maman wrote: »

I don't think you're vain at all (I find it motivates me:D). Maybe you could add weightloss to your list of daily achievements!

Need to get back to my daily achievements list, it keeps me motivated in some areas, too. Actually did go to bed early tonight but have woken up coughing and generally feeling ill. No idea how I'm going to get through a weekend of walking.

I wasn't particularly looking to lose more weight, suppose I'd be happy to lose a little more but not to the point of needing to have clothing adjusted. My wife needs to try to put some weight on at the moment, she eats little more than my son and goes to the gym after work but wonders why her strength won't go up. I do want to develop my cooking skills and create varied meals, so happy to start some kind of personal challenge around these areas.

gallygirl wrote: »

Luckily I have access to fresh sardines on my doorstep (well, a couple of hundred yards away ) and they are wonderful, but they don't mash up with their own tommy sauce on toast as well as the tinned ones do - a much underrated treat :T.

I am envious, Gally. Whilst I don't think I'd want to live in Spain, I would like to live by the sea. I suppose that comes from living about as far inland as one can in the UK.

newgirly

Morning Alex, my sons often enjoy a Bombay bad boy pot noodle for lunch if you are looking for new ideas

maman

When I suggested weightloss Alex, I just meant shifting the Christmas excesses but if they're gone then well done!:T
Cheaper white fish is good for making fish parcels.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/jan/16/foil-baked-fish-ginger-chilli-recipe-hugh-fearnley-whittingstall


or baking with other strong flavours


http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2195651/pancettawrapped-fish-with-lemony-potatoes


If I'm buying cod or haddock at up to £20 per kg I want to get the full flavour. Cheaper fish I'm happy to marinate it.


I find belly pork a bit fatty although it's very popular in gastrobubs and the like. Pork shoulder is delicious though, especially slow cooked and less than a quarter of the price of some fish.


This is my favourite way of doing it:
http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pork-recipes/6-hour-slow-roasted-pork-shoulder/

AlexLK

February targets:
Total Grocery Spend: £15/>£500.
Savings: 0/£250.
Keep track of and replying to communications: All good so far.
Updating spreadsheet: Job for the weekend.
Going to bed at a reasonable time: 1/28, got up again but only because I'm not well.
One new recipe per week: 0/4.

Still ill. Today has been particularly bad. My wife got back early today so we picked our son up from school together. Whilst away she's called every night. We both took him to orchestra and my wife asked if she could read to him at bedtime tonight. It was brilliant to see her wanting to spend time with him. After our son went to bed we discussed quite a lot of things. Back to counselling next week and I'm feeling quite positive.

Can't see this weekend happening as planned; I'm really not well and as a consequence not really up for walking in the cold at the moment. No idea what we're going to do now. I'd quite like to not leave the house at the moment but I'm sure my son will.

newgirly wrote: »

Morning Alex, my sons often enjoy a Bombay bad boy pot noodle for lunch if you are looking for new ideas

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

maman wrote: »

When I suggested weightloss Alex, I just meant shifting the Christmas excesses but if they're gone then well done!:T
Cheaper white fish is good for making fish parcels.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/jan/16/foil-baked-fish-ginger-chilli-recipe-hugh-fearnley-whittingstall


or baking with other strong flavours


http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2195651/pancettawrapped-fish-with-lemony-potatoes


If I'm buying cod or haddock at up to £20 per kg I want to get the full flavour. Cheaper fish I'm happy to marinate it.


I find belly pork a bit fatty although it's very popular in gastrobubs and the like. Pork shoulder is delicious though, especially slow cooked and less than a quarter of the price of some fish.


This is my favourite way of doing it:
http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pork-recipes/6-hour-slow-roasted-pork-shoulder/

I have been walking quite a lot, doing other exercise and eating healthily (apart from the puddings ), so it's gone for the moment. Will keep monitoring it as I didn't think I'd had a particularly extravagant Christmas, though I suspect a lot of it is due to all the cakes my father brings back or persuades my son (and I) to bake.

Thank you for all three recipes, both fish recipes look really good and I will try them over the next few weeks.

The pork shoulder, I will try for next week's Sunday roast as my parents will be back by then.

Watty1

Love the meal plans. I've read a lot on here and I realise we could live very cheaply rather than spend what we do on food - but - our diet would be poorer, more boring and I would 't want to cook.
Yours works for you - go for it.
As for the calcium, leafy green veg is a great source and has the magnesium with it that is needed to absorb the calcium. Milk does have a lot of calcium yes - but - you need the magnesium to balance it and there isn't any calcium in milk so def no need to be milk monitor for mum!
Now serious words ---- you were much later to bed than me last night ---- and I find you on here at 12.15 !!! You know lights out is 11.30. I really don't care what you spend on food but please go to bed on time :rotfl:

Suffolk_lass

Watty1 wrote: »

Now serious words ---- you were much later to bed than me last night ---- and I find you on here at 12.15 !!! You know lights out is 11.30. I really don't care what you spend on food but please go to bed on time :rotfl:

I do love the way we all tell you what is best for you Alex. It is because people care and it always makes me smile.

SL

AlexLK

February targets:
Total Grocery Spend: £15/>£500.
Savings: 0/£250.
Keep track of and replying to communications: All good so far.
Updating spreadsheet: Job for tomorrow.
Going to bed at a reasonable time: 1/28, .
One new recipe per week: 0/4.

Wife managed to drag me out even though I'm still not well. Whilst we did a bit more driving than walking, we all had a really good day. When things are good like this, I find myself hoping that it will not change. However, my wife seems to go for a time wanting to spend time with my son and I, being a wonderful person to be around and not "escaping" at the first opportunity, running away from responsibility or hiding money.

We had a bit of a disagreement this morning after I mentioned that she could move here in a few months. It seems she has a real issue with our son not having to "work for money" when he's older. She said some quite hurtful things to me and mentioned that she thinks teaching will be a five minute wonder: I will find it hard / frustrating at some point and decide not to bother because I don't have to do it for money. She said that if things don't work out between us, she would like 40% of the house equity, 2 of the cars which are more her's and nothing else because she doesn't want any of my family's money. Apparently, she'd be happier with our marriage if my family had nothing - she actually said this. We did put that behind us to have a nice day and evening, though I'm not sure if this is causing some of her behaviour - the fact that something neither of us have any control over (the family we're born to) is something she takes issue with.

Watty1 wrote: »

Love the meal plans. I've read a lot on here and I realise we could live very cheaply rather than spend what we do on food - but - our diet would be poorer, more boring and I would 't want to cook.
Yours works for you - go for it.
As for the calcium, leafy green veg is a great source and has the magnesium with it that is needed to absorb the calcium. Milk does have a lot of calcium yes - but - you need the magnesium to balance it and there isn't any calcium in milk so def no need to be milk monitor for mum!
Now serious words ---- you were much later to bed than me last night ---- and I find you on here at 12.15 !!! You know lights out is 11.30. I really don't care what you spend on food but please go to bed on time :rotfl:

Thanks, Watty.

I know exactly where you're coming from re. meals. The food I prepare makes me want to cook. This past year or so, I've become more interested in cooking and eating well. Now, I rather enjoy cooking as the results are good and it is satisfying to see my family enjoying something I've made. I'm aware this probably sounds a little ridiculous but it has actually helped my self esteem quite a lot.

Where do you learn about actual nutritional content? I didn't know that leafy green veg is a good source of calcium. Nor did I know about the balance between calcium and magnesium. In fact, the only things I knew that needed a good supply of those minerals are corals (learning VERY SLOWLY about keeping a marine aquarium for my son).

Thanks, re. bedtime. I'm going to read after posting this and am determined to have an early night - very tired.

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

I do love the way we all tell you what is best for you Alex. It is because people care and it always makes me smile.

SL

I think I need to be told what's best for me - don't seem to work it out for myself. :rotfl: