The next chapter ....

benbenandme

Had a cheeky £5 on a slots game and won £40, been a pretty good day moneywise today :money:

benbenandme

Morning all, today I have taken the dog for a walk and then gave him a bath, ds and I have cleared a random plant that was growing out of the gutter - I didn't want the surveyor seeing it on Wednesday and thinking there was a problem with the gutters/drains as they are fine, but this plant may have rang bells so better it's gone

I've just emptied out the cupboard under the eaves in the lounge, most of it is for the tip, some bits can be car booted, a few bits may be kept but not much. I will do a tip run tomorrow, I can't face it on a bank holiday weekend

Ds is going to his friends at 2 and his parents are taking them banger racing tonight so he won't be back until about 10/11 tonight. My food shopping is coming between 3 & 4, I may make a cake this afternoon. Other plans for today are to sort my food cupboards so I know what is there and I can start using up some of it. I need to do an inventory of the freezer too, there is so much meat in there that has been there for ages, how long is too long?? I have beef, sausages, salmon fillets, chicken breasts, mince, chicken goujons ... I forget to defrost it so it never gets touched

benbenandme

Well thee food cupboard sorting didn't happen, instead I've got lost on pinterest - in the new house there is a big cupboard next to the kitchen, it's under the stairs but the stairs go up 6 steps, then turn, then up again. It's under that bit. Anyway, I'm trying to decide what to use it for. The house has a porch so shoes / umbrellas etc can live out there, there is room in the hall for a coat rack and the hoover can live upstairs (big airing cupboard and a spare bedroom) as downstairs is all wooden floors.

So, I'm currently getting all excited at the thought of having a pantry The kitchen does have a decent amount of cupboards but I know I want to lose one to fit in a slimline dishwasher. I have been looking at all sorts of storage solution ideas, I'm thinking some space for food stuff and maybe some bits for all those bits you don't use very often (sandwich toaster etc). Oh I just want to get moved in

superpup

Hi, delurking again! I'm so excited for you re the new house. You really deserve it, you work so hard and I'm so impressed with how you just get everything done! I'm the worst procrastinator.

Re the food in the freezer, I'd just eat it! Worst thing is probably freezer burn which still wouldn't stop me eating most stuff.

I'd love a pantry :j

When do you reckon you'll be in the new place?

benbenandme

Hi Superpup :hello: I'm hoping to be in before the end of the school term, so anytime in July, however as I'm selling a leashold property it could be slower than that. Summer holidays would be okay but ideally I'd like to be in before that then have the 6 weeks to sort myself out The people I'm buying from want to go asap too as they need to move schools for their children so don't want to be after the summer. The solicitors know we're all in a rush but who knows??

Today ds and I are planning our train route for the summer as I need to start making some reservations. I also need to do a bit of housework as I've let it go a bit since I sold the flat.

benbenandme

Payday today, so I have moved a bit of my wages into my savings Hoping to reach my total for the year this month

benbenandme

When I say this month I mean June

benbenandme

So we're both up and dressed, time to make a list for the rest of this week I reckon

• Ironing TODAY
• Pay £1 coins into bank
• PTA stuff - Wednesday
• Gut corner cupboard in my bedroom
• Several runs to the tip ONGOING
• Another car boot sale (weather dependent) - Sunday
• Clean bathroom TODAY
• Change bedding TOMORROW
• Clean kitchen TODAY
• Clean lounge TODAY
• Move stuff from hall to the garage TODAY
• Clean car inside and out
• Food cupboard inventory TODAY
• Freezer inventory TODAY
• Plan train holiday / make reservations TODAY
• Plan bestie's birthday present
• Type up notes for work
• Recycle old mobile phones
• Clean kitchen cupboards TODAY
• Clean the W key as it keep getting stuck TODAY
• Start looking at removal quotes

I imagine there will be extra bits to add on there as we go.

Eager_Elephant

benbenandme wrote: »

. Other plans for today are to sort my food cupboards so I know what is there and I can start using up some of it. I need to do an inventory of the freezer too, there is so much meat in there that has been there for ages, how long is too long?? I have beef, sausages, salmon fillets, chicken breasts, mince, chicken goujons ... I forget to defrost it so it never gets touched

I cook all my meat from frozen unless it's a Sunday and I remember in the morning to get it out.


I usually defrost mince in the microwave and then cook with that - only take a few minutes on defrost setting.


Chicken breasts are usually oven cooked but if I am doing curry I will either defrost in the microwave or I will cook curry in the oven using frozen breasts - found out by accident that oven cooked curry is the preferred choice of DH, DS and DD.
I put everything in a metal oven dish including curry paste, veg, tomatoes, chicken etc and just oven roast for 30-40 mins and once ready I swirl in some cream and voila!! The flavours really infuse.
I only discovered this as I don't eat meat (unless we have reared it) and I did a vegetable curry in the oven (broccoli, cauli, beans, onions etc) and that tasted amazing and I wondered if I could save time by doing a meat curry in the oven.


Or you could just put it in the slow cooker to cook - I have never browned anything before putting it in the slow cooker. I feel it defeats the object of saving time etc.


Most meat will last 3 years or more in the freezer.


The other thing is to get the meat out when you remember and keep it in the fridge until needed - a few days is fine. Once it's in the fridge and you see it regularly it should make you use it up.

benbenandme

Thanks EE, I will do an inventory and then start using it up, there is too much there to waste it. It will also help keep my food bill down this month

The estate agent phoned and my buyers want to come back on saturday, this has prompted me to get on with the cleaning, the bathroom is now all done. I'm hoping this is just first time buyer excitement (they only viewed once before putting in an offer) rather than them getting cold feet. I'm sure it's fine as they have paid for their homebuyers survey to be done tomorrow, I'm just so nervous of anything going wrong, I'm sure it will be fine