Thursday 8th October - What small DFW things will you do today?

foxgloves

CLF - Good advice being shared today on stress management techniques. I find this works for me. In my mid-thirties, I did have a terrible period of anxiety syndrome during which I found it very hard to get myself back to work & normality. Am determined not to go that way again if at all possible! So I tend to catch negative, worried thoughts & mentally sort them into things over which I have no control & things I can actually change. That puts me back into control because it helps me see there isn't any point getting so stressed about stuff I absolutely can't change, whereas I can start making a practical plan to tackle the other stuff, over which I have some influence.
The other thing which works for me is to simply tell myself firmly (every time the worry comes into my head) that I will deal with it when it actually happens. Sometimes whatever it is never does happen. If it does, I tell myself that will be the time to think about it & use all my planning skills, common sense & available support network to tackle it. Worry never solved anything. If I'd had this approach in the first week or two of being poorly, the anxiety wouldn't have got so out of control. Well, as my Dad would say, 'We live & learn'........
F x

allydowd

OH survived an hour in the dentist's chair and is now on the sofa with a lovely new smile and a really swollen face . She's demanding soup and a cup of tea, which she can't have yet, so that's a good sign. :rotfl: And she wants curry for dinner, which I think might be a touch ambitious too...

She has had everything done free on the NHS for clinical reasons and is going to have the private fitting done in three to six months so this has actually cost us nothing so far except petrol. Just two hygienist visits to go in a couple of weeks which will be free. Then we'll get the rest of the reconstruction done next year when everything has healed.

Splashed out on a £1 ice cream block for her which then melted slightly in the car on the way home and is now re-freezing.

This afternoon will be spent on the sofa with recordings from the tv as I've cleaned everywhere except the kitchen with Stardrops and washable cloths and I need a rest!

foxgloves

DNMS - I love Madhur Jaffrey's recipes. Yes, you're right, I do use quite a few of them. Hope I'm not getting too boring! Is the book you've borrowed from your friend Madhur Jaffrey's Curry Bible? The recipes I most use from that book are:
*Mung Dal with green chillies (p. 201). I'm not sure which exact lentils are 'Mung Dal'. I use split yellow ones, but they are much smaller than the yellow split peas traditionally used in Western cookery (which take 3 months to cook). I can't remember what they're called, but I buy them from the World Cuisine aisle in Sainsbury's. We grow garlic & chillies so this is a cheapy recipe for us. It's worth really taking the time with the onions as she describes to get the lovely flavour. Freezes really well, so worth making lots if you like it.
*Beef 'Kaati' kebab p.215 These are yum. Made them last night. Good fake-away recipe, as gives some of that quick spicy tasty hit of an Indian take-away. I serve mine in pittas. For the beef, I use whatever I've got. The Sainsbury's 'Basics' packs of frying steaks work well, but I've also used stewing steak if that's all I've got. It's tougher than the frying steaks, but it worked fine cut into little thin strips. Oh, & olive or vegetable oil works fine. I think you'll like these......mr f says they remind him of festival food.
*Curried whole chicken p. 80 Oh my days, this is nice, & it does FAB rubber chicken too, as you have all those tasty curried leftovers for making into pilaf, sandwiches or just eating on their own with a jacket potato, salad, etc. I really want to cook this now! My only tip would be to wear gloves when you are massaging in the curry paste as the first time I did this, my hands were on fire from the chillies for the rest of the night.
*'Curry Powder p. 324 I made this one day when I'd run out, but had all the other ingredients in stock. Smells gorgeous when you toast the spices. Lasts a while in a tight-lidded jar.
I also use a few of Madhur's recipes which I hand-copied from other books - Hard-boiled egg masala, a Madras, which was for fish, but I use the sauce for lamb, chicken, or its original purpose which was for poaching salmon steaks, also a recipe for a leftover meat curry.
Hope this is helpful. Happy cooking. I bloody love curry, I could honestly go & start making that whole chicken recipe now......if I had a chicken......
Best wishes,
f x

lego_mum

I love this thread, its so supportive and I learn so much from you all
Hugs to those who need them. I've also struggled with depression & anxiety and your words all make so much sense. Wish I'd had all this advice at the time.

Just as the date cake was about to finish cooking, Dh text asking me if I could make him one to take to work tomorrow so cooking cake number two now! I think I'm down to 19 bags of OOD dates (best before June 2012) Cakes taste good, just goes to show eh! Also I'd run out of allspice again for the recipe and like last time, I've not rushed out to buy some (and probably another £30+ of shopping) I looked on the ingredients list on the back of the bottle it was ginger, nutmeg, cloves & cinnamon and I've got all in individual bottles anyway, so I took a teaspoon of each and whizzed it around in a coffee grinder thing (something I'd picked up when clearing out a tenanted house we have) (needed to whizz it as it was whole cloves!) put it through the sieve and I now have all spice again

Ally, glad your OH is doing well.

foxgloves

Hello. Was just about to sign out, then realised I'd replied to CLF & DNMS, but not put my list up. I need to crack on now, so I'll make it a speedy one:
*mr f won his work's 'Bake-Off' sweepstakes last night - £12 - & he gets off with not having to bake. Yay!!
*Picked all the remaining cherry tomatoes in every shade between bright red & deeply green.
*Sorted through big paper carrier bag of tomatoes I put to ripen last week & removed the red ones to the fridge.
*Cleared overgrown herb garden & cut several bunches of herbs for drying. Now tied & hanging from kitchen ceiling.
*Picked a green & red pepper & chilli for tonight's stir-fry.
*Picked up another large colander full of pears. I ate three last night, which was too many & I felt very stuffed. mr f only ate 3 small ones. Amateur!
*Complete small knitting project & finish library book ready for a big bag of returns on Monday. In fact, all free leisure today, as am updating my blog too.
*Did a few surveys.
*Write shopping list.
*No heating on. Sun is pouring through the window. Expect it will start getting colder soon, but so far, I've not even had the furry rug over me watching TV at night & the bedroom window is still open. I bet those big greedy energy companies are wringing their hands & praying for snow!
*Plan a cheap weekend.
That's it for today.
f x

carrielovesfanta

Hi folks,


Thanks for all your lovely cyber hugs and advice. I'm perking up a lot now, possibly due to the crazy exercise session at lunch time! (and pizza afterwards ahahahahaha)


Thanks for all being lovely


clf x

determined_new_ms

foxgloves wrote: »

DNMS - I love Madhur Jaffrey's recipes. Yes, you're right, I do use quite a few of them. Hope I'm not getting too boring! Is the book you've borrowed from your friend Madhur Jaffrey's Curry Bible? The recipes I most use from that book are:
*Mung Dal with green chillies (p. 201). I'm not sure which exact lentils are 'Mung Dal'. I use split yellow ones, but they are much smaller than the yellow split peas traditionally used in Western cookery (which take 3 months to cook). I can't remember what they're called, but I buy them from the World Cuisine aisle in Sainsbury's. We grow garlic & chillies so this is a cheapy recipe for us. It's worth really taking the time with the onions as she describes to get the lovely flavour. Freezes really well, so worth making lots if you like it.
*Beef 'Kaati' kebab p.215 These are yum. Made them last night. Good fake-away recipe, as gives some of that quick spicy tasty hit of an Indian take-away. I serve mine in pittas. For the beef, I use whatever I've got. The Sainsbury's 'Basics' packs of frying steaks work well, but I've also used stewing steak if that's all I've got. It's tougher than the frying steaks, but it worked fine cut into little thin strips. Oh, & olive or vegetable oil works fine. I think you'll like these......mr f says they remind him of festival food.
*Curried whole chicken p. 80 Oh my days, this is nice, & it does FAB rubber chicken too, as you have all those tasty curried leftovers for making into pilaf, sandwiches or just eating on their own with a jacket potato, salad, etc. I really want to cook this now! My only tip would be to wear gloves when you are massaging in the curry paste as the first time I did this, my hands were on fire from the chillies for the rest of the night.
*'Curry Powder p. 324 I made this one day when I'd run out, but had all the other ingredients in stock. Smells gorgeous when you toast the spices. Lasts a while in a tight-lidded jar.
I also use a few of Madhur's recipes which I hand-copied from other books - Hard-boiled egg masala, a Madras, which was for fish, but I use the sauce for lamb, chicken, or its original purpose which was for poaching salmon steaks, also a recipe for a leftover meat curry.
Hope this is helpful. Happy cooking. I bloody love curry, I could honestly go & start making that whole chicken recipe now......if I had a chicken......
Best wishes,
f x

AMAZING! Thank you. No not boring at all!

lego mum I agree I love how supportive and friendly this thread is. We're all fantastic! :A

PurpleFairy26

Evening all. Late post from me, not sure where the day has gone considering I have been awake since half 4 :eek:

Love ready the curry stuff, we love curry here. I have a m&s curry bible which has lots of lovely recipes in that we cook regularly and hairy biker jalfezi is a firm favourite here but will hunt out the Madura jaffrey one (trip to the library I think) as always happy to try more

My list for today:
Ended up working in the end (although confess to a small nap this afternoon - was at home so I wasn't snoring in the office or anything like that :rotfl:). Hoping just to do half a day tomorrow.
Picked up mag and recipe cards from Mr t when I popped in for 1 item (and only came out with 1- which is impressive in itself!!!) must remember to upload receipt to COS
Read magazine above
Decide what to do with with apples work colleague donated, he said he had loads more going spare. I encouraged him to bring them in :T
Washing in line, must get it in shortly before it goes 'cold' - wish I had an airing cupboard, has anyone any bright ideas on a cheap but useful alternative, you know just to take the 'edge off'
PAD to cc
Update spreadsheet
Early night
Some washing on overnight on 30 so I can dry tomorrow

Enjoy your evening everyone

Baileys_Babe

Ally Thank you for getting us started this morning.

I have managed to read this thread on and off through out the day but this is the first time I've managed to sit down with time to post.

:AA big thank you to everyone who shared strategies for coping with anxiety and other MH issues :A

Thank you also for the list of Madhar Jaffrey's recipes, think I am going to be trying to track them down so we can give them a try.

Ally wishing your oh a speedy recovery.
Bob hope the discharge the 2 of you very quickly.

Today I will/have:
NSDPost on this thread for support, motivation and inspiration
Open curtains fully
Close curtains before it gets dark
B/L/D from stores
Renew library books
Soak porridge overnight
Set DW to run overnight
Set WM to run overnight
Unpack bags from today’s outing
Check FPL
Educate children for free
Entertain children and us for free
Read Martin’s email
Dry washing on airer
Dry laundry outside
No heating
Place order with wholesalers
Have a go at freezing pesto, it seems to go mouldy very quickly even when covered in oil, so I have decided to experiment by putting teaspoon sized blobs (technical term) spaced apart on a baking sheet covered with a silicon sheet and open freezing, once frozen I will transfer them to a plastic box and then hopefully I can just get out as much as I need and the rest will be fine.

YORKSHIRELASS

Sorry, in a bit of a rush, will read properly later. I am another sufferer of anxiety. What helped me massively was acknowledging that I do have anxiety, and understanding the physical effects that it can have on you. You cant control it but you can tell yourself that you are just panicking and are not going to keel over and die!

Someone leant me a great book, must dig it out and tell you the title. Exercise is really important to me too. Will check out those links, very helpful.

Hope they let you home soon Bob. Got to go, back later.