NST February Challenge : A Winter Voyage

f0xh0les

NSD 4 today. There is nothing I need to buy. Even DS1s food tech is ready. What I am going to do with the rest of the Trex and a bag of wholemeal flour I have no idea yet. Might feel a carrot cake coming on ....

Calling14

Foxholes - carrot cake sounds yummy. I never think of buying trex isn't it just fat?

Claiming a SFD today. Looked for security light but undecided which one to get yet. Will need milk by tomorrow so will hold out until then.

Ate nothing but rubbish so far today. Must try harder been looking at Sainsbobs recipes for ideas Veggie Barley Risotto going into my slow cooker tomorrow. Had barley for ages but never used it looks yummy.

Grateful for
Quieter day in work
Tallkmobile offering a better deal, half what I pay now for my mobile and a new sim card to improve my reception.
Glad didn't drop off cs bag yesterday, decided I like coat I put in it and it is really warm if we are having cold weather. Washable sheepskin look one from Next sounds bit weird but think I will dress it up with a scarf and use it.

thriftylass

f0xh0les wrote: »

I have a pot of dried chillies next to the salt and pepper on the table. It is not the same, but it helps.

Yes, we'll be doing sth similar. We got a whole assortment of spicy condiments that will go on the table.

Work not that busy just now (shhh..don't tell the boss :cool:), so I sat down and I'm making a meal plan that fits our new schedule and the shopping list. I'll probably do a Tesco pick up order for Friday (so I can edit my list based on deals and ideas over the next few days etc). It's a bit more expensive than our usual Aldi or LIDL but I got money off vouchers. But that way I can plan meticulously and there is no danger of deviation from the list while in the shop with the whole family (really rare to be able to go by myself).

I will also start to reduce our simple carb intake by eating more healthy (veg) protein and complex carbs to stop the snacking.

FurryBeastOz

I'm giggling. I've made a profit today.

Returned spiraliser. They didn't notice I'd bought it on a spend £30 and get £5 off voucher along with returning some Christmas gifts. So I spent £27.95 last month for spiraliser, 2 packs of freezer labels and a cafetière. Today I walked out with £29.99 cash as their machines were down (and I haven't paid the CC bill yet.)

So £2, 2 sets of labels and a cafetière up.:D

Victory dance:j:j

However, did forget I would have to buy train ticket. Budgetted work expense so not counting it.

Have to hold up my hand to £3 in the dangerous food shop in Glasgow. Prep Fitness Kitchen - they do 'health' food. I.e. Calorie and macro counted. Coconut and Vanilla Protein Balls. Yuuuuuum:o

short_bird

Ah, public transport...
50p extra to board a bus because it was a different company. had waited 20 minutes for the bus to arrive... Didn't figure that into the equation :rotfl: (Tucks 2 50p pieces into bus pass...)

Dia_Pita

Good afternoon all, my apologies for not checking in but been so busy.

On Friday emptied the spare room, and the new bed arrived so the DGC can stay overnight (we are redoing the whole house this year and this came out of this budget) and the old futon was given to charity.
On Saturday DD1, DSIL1 with DGD1, 2 & 3 arrived bringing the kitchen sink for DGD3, once they were settled in DD1 & DSIL1 went off to charity ball. Then we had no water for approx 3 hours due to a burst mains pipe in the area & as we did not know how long it was going to last and a baby in the house, DH spent 1 hour going around the supermarkets for bottles of water ( so was everyone else)
I spent the nest 6 hours (until 2am) entertaining DGD3.
On Sunday afternoon they all went home, so good to see them all but so glad for the peace and quiet when they had gone home. It was our 34th wedding anniversary but did not go away, we just bolted down the hatches and spent some special time together.
Monday we decided time to make more use of our gym & pool membership and went swimming, also we made a type of flat bread using tomato juice instead of sugar, tastes lovely. We have been swimming again today and DH is washing the car as it is lovely out,

As you know we have recently gone sugar free, tomorrow is my first weigh in, DH started after xmas and has lost over a stone, hope I have lost at least 2lb.


Thank you abundant for your suggestion for recipes I will try and add some. We usually have poached eggs & tomatoes with spinach for breakfast or homemade yoghurt with oats & chopped walnuts, I will be adding fresh fruit to this after tomorrow.

So today's recipe is how to make easy yoghurt or Greek yoghurt at home.

I usually buy a 2 litres of full fat milk, which I warm in a pan to blood temperature of 36.5 degrees.
Whilst the milk is warming I sterilise two 1.2 litre flasks with boiling water form the kettle for a minute or two and then empty.
When the milk has come to temperature I add about 4 tablespoons of my previous homemade yoghurt (you can use natural shop bought yoghurt) mix it well and then pour the milk & yoghurt mixture into the two flasks fasten the lids and leave overnight.
The next day I pour one of the flasks in to a container I use for my normal pouring yoghurt, as this is now yoghurt and give it a stir and place in the fridge ready to use.
To make the Greek yoghurt I use the bottom pan of my steamer & then place the steamer pan with holes into it and line this with a piece of muslin which covers the bottom of the top pan & hangs over the sides, then I pour in the yoghurt from the second flask & the remaining yoghurt from the first flask on to the muslin (making sure that the edges of the muslin do not fall into the pan).
Then fasten the muslin around the edges of the pan with the pan lid.
Place this in the fridge again overnight.
The next day all the excess whey will have drained trough the muslin into the bottom pan and this can be discarded.
In the muslin (in the top pan) you have Greek yoghurt, scoop the yoghurt off the muslin and place in a container in the fridge. Both last for at least a week and remember to keep a small amount of the pouring yoghurt to make the next batch with.

I find it is so much nicer and cheaper than shop bought, if you make some, please let me know how you went on.
Hope this has not been too long and tedious to read.
I am grateful for having a husband that loves to cook, my health and my lovely family.

Toni'sfriend

Ahoy Shipmates

The weather here was awful today. Icy rain but I did manage my usual 2 mile walk. C’s gone to meet his friends and the Cabin Boy is in sick bay with cold/flu type symptoms. Personally I think he’s working too hard and not getting enough sleep.

Spendy day. Had to get some cold and sore throat remedies for the medicine chest and a supply of tissues (needed them anyway) and some bits and pieces (bread, milk, etc). All came to £11.14 so not too bad and budget is still on track.

Since I’m on my own I unearthed some fish fingers for lunch and a curry for dinner. It might not help the weight loss much but it will free up a tiny bit of room in the freezer. C has bought me a new cookery book (like we needed any more books!). I suspect there is an alterior motive as he has been drooling over the TV programme (and the TV chef} for weeks.

I was meaning to do lots of clearing up today but I’ve done absolutely nothing,

Today I’m grateful for;

A relaxing day to myself
Old movies on TV (I love old black and white movies)
Being in my jammies out of the cold.

ChasingSunshine

Today am grateful for
1. Friend announcing pregnancy after struggle trying
2. Free lunch at work
3. Catch up TV for the lazy evening I have planned

greent

Well today's weather was all over the place! Cold but bright first thing then warm enough for short sleeves come lunch time - and then hammering down with hail and rain at 2pm! Rainy for the 3.15 school run and dry for the 4pm one... British weather!

Slightly longer at work than anticipated this afternoon - we were all told an earlier finishing time than what actually happened - still, just about made school run and it's all money in the end..

NSD today - did pay for Zumba but its PAYG so cant change that and was budgeted for and cash taken out on Sunday (spend day).

Long and busy evening with activities for DS1 and DS2 tonight - so everyone will be tired in the morning. Will prep as much as possible tonight to make it as smooth as I can! Also need to try and do a bit of ironing.

Amended some fleabay listings earlier - just threw them up to take advantage of an offer - have now done decent pics and description. Hopeful of some of it shifting. It's all toys from the kids - so they'll get the money. Not masses expected - but the toys are quite big items, so some decent space will be gained back

Have a huge pot of basil which has outgrown its pot some time ago now so have been looking up some pesto recipes using cashews (all I have) to use it - may try making that tomorrow after work - will form the basis of an easy dinner then!

Today I am thankful for:
* not having work this morning - so no desperate rush first thing
* the internet
* free veggies for the guinea pigs from my mum

crazy_cat_lady

Just a quick check in from me. Cabin boy is fully fit and returned to regular duty this morning. This means I have to take him to football training in 5 minutes so I won't get back on tonight (as it will be bed time by the time I get home). Managed to bag nsd number 4 - too busy with work to think about much else.
Today I'm grateful for:
1. Finally getting something science related into Year 11 after 2 years of trying.
2. Having food ready prepared and cooked
3. DD being old enough to muck in and help properly around the house.
Take care shipmates. I'll be back on properly tomorrow.