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I've just been thinking about food shopping and realised that I haven't shopped properly for over 2 weeks which is really good. I have used our shop for top ups of milk and bread and DH picked some fruit up from the wholesalers on Sat but not bad aside from that. I still have loads of chicken in the freezer and some mince. I have been using our homegrown potatoes which has helped along with some runner beans from the garden.
I made a cheap dinner last week that was sliced par-boiled potatoes layered in a dish with finely sliced onion and bacon medallions (I used normal bacon but cut off the medallions then chopped and froze the 'streaky' bits which later ended up in a casserole). I made a thin cheese sauce and poured over and baked for about an hour. It was lovely, the sauced thickened as it cooked due to the starch in the potatoes I assume and we had it with veg on the side then as a side dish with home made quiche the following night. Even the children who only like potatoes mashed or in chip form loved it.
Last night (a hungover) DH really wanted take away and I could have murdered a chicken burrito, :rotfl: however, we were very good and I made 3 bean burritos at home instead using up the last couple of large tortilla wraps. They hit the spot and much cheaper/healthier than take away versions. I have loads of the bean mix left so will pick up some wraps today to have again tonight and will portion and freeze the rest for easy fajita or burrito teas at a later date. I am also going to get ahead and cook tomorrow's dinner today as a full day at work tomorrow means limited time to prepare anything when I get home, I really should use some of the chicken in the freezer, just need to find a recipe that takes my fancy.New Mortgage: £240 999 7/2/20 £ 205 000 Aug 23 Currently: £193 313 Jan 2025
Mortgage Advance £27 000 April 2022 £22 450 Aug 23 Currently: £19357 Jan 2025
Business Loan £89 000 Jan 2023 £44 499 Aug 23 Currently: 33 382 Jan 20250 -
Butter chicken
Hunters chicken
Chicken Korma
Chicken stuffed with mozzarella and wrapped in bacon
HTH
LTotal Debt Dec 07 £59875.83 Overdrafts £2900,New Debt Figure ZERO !!!!!!:j 08/06/2013
Lucielle's Daring Debt Free Journey
DFD Before we Die!!!! Long Haul Supporter #1240 -
Thanks L! I really fancy having a go at butter chicken, it looks lovely, I will have to add some ingredients to my list for when I actually make it to the shops! Today looks like a day at another agricultural show over in Yorkshire. It's a beautiful day and the show is very picturesque (Kilnsey Show) so I think we'll venture out. Not much work will get done but I have put all the washing away and tidied the house. Will hoover and dust downstairs before we go. xNew Mortgage: £240 999 7/2/20 £ 205 000 Aug 23 Currently: £193 313 Jan 2025
Mortgage Advance £27 000 April 2022 £22 450 Aug 23 Currently: £19357 Jan 2025
Business Loan £89 000 Jan 2023 £44 499 Aug 23 Currently: 33 382 Jan 20250 -
In a previous life I showed cows at Kilnsey. Slept in the cattle wagon about 7 months pregnant, not the best nights sleep!
LTotal Debt Dec 07 £59875.83 Overdrafts £2900,New Debt Figure ZERO !!!!!!:j 08/06/2013
Lucielle's Daring Debt Free Journey
DFD Before we Die!!!! Long Haul Supporter #1240 -
Wow Lucielle!! I can imagine that wasn't the best! :rotfl: I do love Kilnsey show, beautiful place. Yesterday was so hot though, we were sitting on the grass behind stands to try to get out of the sun! Stayed to watch a bit of the Trotting racing at the end as well. Fab day.xNew Mortgage: £240 999 7/2/20 £ 205 000 Aug 23 Currently: £193 313 Jan 2025
Mortgage Advance £27 000 April 2022 £22 450 Aug 23 Currently: £19357 Jan 2025
Business Loan £89 000 Jan 2023 £44 499 Aug 23 Currently: 33 382 Jan 20250 -
The fell race is something to behold
LTotal Debt Dec 07 £59875.83 Overdrafts £2900,New Debt Figure ZERO !!!!!!:j 08/06/2013
Lucielle's Daring Debt Free Journey
DFD Before we Die!!!! Long Haul Supporter #1240 -
Toasting marshmallows gazing at the stars sounds goodAchieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £24.3K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 30.1/£127.5K target 23.6% 29/7/25
4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
5) SIPP £4.8K updated 29/7/250 -
Hello All :beer:
Hope you are all enjoying the weekend, the last before back-to-school. Good news for me these days but I still vividly recall the feeling of dread that clouded this weekend in my previous life as a teacher. :rotfl:
This morning I have got my (fat) backside into gear and been for a walk/run. Holiday with friends booked for Oct half term and I could do with losing a stone (or two)!! I have also taken some inspiration from PinkyPig and cooked a sweet potato and lentil curry using the last sorry sweet potato in the basket. It was meant to be chickpea as I was convinced I had several tins lurking but I must have used those up at some point. Substituted with red lentils and it worked well. I cooked lots of brown rice at the same time and have boxed up 4 portions that are now in the freezer and left another out for lunch. I also froze the last portion of bean enchilada mix with some rice for a later date. Freezer is now pretty full.
Last night DH fancied dinner out as our local pub has a new menu that launched this week, however, a babysitter eluded us so instead I made steak in peppercorn sauce with dauphinois potatoes, honeyed carrots and runner beans and we shared a bottle of wine. I even lit the candles.So a nice meal and probably the best part of £100 saved. I will freeze the other 4 portions of dauphinois as they are not terribly healthy, will eat them at a later date.
The house has felt a bit chilly this weekend, Autumn feels like it is on it's way. We have had the Esse lit a couple of times and run the underfloor heating from this, saved putting the central heating on and it feels much warmer now the flags have warmed up. It also meant lots of hot water for showers so no need to use the boiler at all.
This afternoon I really need to get on with some housework, DH is going to the pub later to watch the football and I find it much easier to clean when he's not around! :rotfl:
Happy Saturday all.xxNew Mortgage: £240 999 7/2/20 £ 205 000 Aug 23 Currently: £193 313 Jan 2025
Mortgage Advance £27 000 April 2022 £22 450 Aug 23 Currently: £19357 Jan 2025
Business Loan £89 000 Jan 2023 £44 499 Aug 23 Currently: 33 382 Jan 20250 -
Some lovely food there... Why would it have cost £100 to eat out? Sounds horrific.Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £24.3K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 30.1/£127.5K target 23.6% 29/7/25
4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
5) SIPP £4.8K updated 29/7/250 -
Hi SH, I pay my nephew £20 for babysitting, £25 if we're out late. Then food at our local is beautiful but not particularly cheap, add in a bottle of wine and a couple of pints for DH and we're getting towards that number. We could go further afield but if we both want a glass of wine that then requires taxis as we are out in the sticks with no public transport...New Mortgage: £240 999 7/2/20 £ 205 000 Aug 23 Currently: £193 313 Jan 2025
Mortgage Advance £27 000 April 2022 £22 450 Aug 23 Currently: £19357 Jan 2025
Business Loan £89 000 Jan 2023 £44 499 Aug 23 Currently: 33 382 Jan 20250
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