Cooking for one (Mark Two)

Need2bthrifty

Morning All

Congrats on your retirement Caronc, I was lucky enough to get very early retirement back in 2011, public sector cutbacks so I jumped rather than being pushed.

At last I feel in control of my F&V mountain; pot of soup on this morning using up the shredded and other veg, I'll have the last of the broccoli with my chicken curry tonight then start on the celeriac tomorrow by doing some remoulade for lunch and plan for mash on Sun.

My original list = [STRIKE]banana, pears, pak choi, leeks, baking potatoes, celeriac, broccoli,[/STRIKE] :j focus now moves to cos lettuce, mixed peppers, cauliflower and sweet potato, but not such a rush for these.

Does anyone else have a problem with yellow split peas, last night I soaked some for my soup (12hrs) put them on this morning brought to the boil then simmered for over 2hrs and they still have a crunch to them :mad: - is it just me

Need2bthrifty

PasturesNew wrote: »

Ah, yes, income.... I've been mostly without that for about 10 years now. Just living off savings really and a tiny online income that's not able to increase as my lifestyle isn't conducive to becoming blogger of the year (you need to be young/pretty, doing selfies, have quite a good income so you're doing stuff - and preferably be able to produce photos of puppies/kids and kittens on demand for extra views). When frugal mummy bloggers are pumping out stuff with photos from their Aga, home in the country, 2nd home, holidays, travel .... and puppies.... it's game over for pauper hermits.

As a "rule of thumb", my income works out at a bit less than a single person on the dole... which is why you rarely see me doing anything/going anywhere/buying anything And even that income is an increase over last year's!

Know how you feel PN, forever the optimist I keep thinking they have to increase the interest rate for savers some time soon, or there's going to be loads more of us living below the poverty line.

Wednesday2000

I made a really nice vegetable and coconut curry with quinoa last night. I don't mind quinoa as much as I used to. I thought it tasted weird when I first tried it.:p

I just had seeded toast with houmous for breakfast with lots of green tea and my many vitamins and supplements!

I might make a spicy sweet potato and chili soup for lunch today.:)

Not sure about dinner, I might just get something out of the freezer as I feel tired and run down today. It's typical as I was going to call up to book my flu jab next week, but you are not supposed to have it if you are coming down with something.

PasturesNew

Need2bthrifty wrote: »

... I keep thinking they have to increase the interest rate for savers some time soon, or there's going to be loads more of us living below the poverty line.

Long story/try to keep it short: Had a house, saw the crash coming, wanted rid of it as it'd trap me there for 20 years (it had many undesirable qualities) if I didn't ditch it and go.... banked the money .... income from interest was about £14k/year!

At the time we were being told that mortgage interest rates were likely to be rising .... but they fell like a stone. Ditto interest rates.

Ended up buying this house just to "lock in" my savings into something as I was "wasting" money on rent.... so not in a "house I chose", it's simply that I couldn't keep spending my savings pot to pay £600+ rent a month!

I should "go and get a proper job", but I am soooo low on all confidence I keep putting it off ... and off ...and off....

caronc

Yes interest rates are rubbish, I've putting everything I can into overpaying my mortgage rather than focusing on savings though I've been very grateful for the rainy day fund I had saved over the years, it's been a godsend these past few months.:cool:

I think I've got the lurgy (probably from my Dad), just hoping paracetomel & fluids will keep it at bay. I can't decide if I'm hot or cold my my head feels as though it's full of cotton wool:(.

Need2bthrifty - glad you've got on top of the excess veggies:D
Wednesday - ditto I was going to arrange a flu jab but will hold off until this shifts

PasturesNew

caronc wrote: »

I think I've got the lurgy (probably from my Dad)

I doubt that ... you've moved in circles involving "the great unwashed" in recent days ....

We're more immune to picking up lurgy from family/close friends - it's more easily passed on from strangers in public spaces.

So don't blame him.... it'll be the great unwashed you mingled with... the last person who touched the door handle you touched when you entered a building ... the air you breathed where 10 minutes before a coughy person sat.

caronc

PasturesNew wrote: »

I doubt that ... you've moved in circles involving "the great unwashed" in recent days ....

We're more immune to picking up lurgy from family/close friends - it's more easily passed on from strangers in public spaces.

So don't blame him.... it'll be the great unwashed you mingled with... the last person who touched the door handle you touched when you entered a building ... the air you breathed where 10 minutes before a coughy person sat.

Yes probably - doesn't really matter it's just doing the rounds , though it's fun to wind my Dad up by blaming him (he takes it in good humour as loves a bit of banter;)).

Farway

caronc wrote: »

Yes interest rates are rubbish, I've putting everything I can into overpaying my mortgage rather than focusing on savings though I've been very grateful for the rainy day fund I had saved over the years, it's been a godsend these past few months.:cool:

I think I've got the lurgy (probably from my Dad), just hoping paracetomel & fluids will keep it at bay. I can't decide if I'm hot or cold my my head feels as though it's full of cotton wool:(.

I paid off the mortgage early, it was a weight gone for me, no more needing to be wage slave to keep the house. Paid off in spades when voluntary redundancy was offered I bit their arm off

You may have got the lurgy from me, those electrons can be contagious little devils

If your lurgy is like mine, it will be all over in a few days, I am feeling much better today, hope you will to

Nil breakfast, despite the oats still in soak in the fridge. I will have to eat or chuck them tomorrow

Lunch was routine ham salad sarnie, just enough ham left for tomorrow and that's it gone

Dinner, is planned to be the last frozen Linda McC veg pie, just to clear them out. With steamed veg and nuked LO mash. That lot will use up all the "bitsof" bitty stuff and then I can start over again

All this soup talk has got me fancying some. Maybe make some Sunday when tail end of hurricane is due here?

Hollyharvey

PasturesNew wrote: »

I should "go and get a proper job", but I am soooo low on all confidence I keep putting it off ... and off ...and off....

I'm going to have to live off my savings until I reach State Pension age at 66 and I'm 57 now, because my health isn't good. And anyhow, I'm unlikely to get a job at my my age. I know it is unlawful to discriminate against someone on the basis of age, but the one thing I am is realistic.

Hollyharvey

Afternoon everyone,

I've been to the hospital again, so I'm having a bit of a CBA day food wise.

Breakfast was scrambled eggs on toast. My hospital appointment was 12.30pm so I had a banana and Greek yoghurt just before I went, and then a couple of crumpets when I got back for lunch .

Dinner was a toss up between spag bog (I was thinking of making the sauce before I went out) or using my emergency pizza in the freezer for dinner tonight, and I've gone for the pizza. At least it creates a bit of space in the freezer .