2021 Frugal Living Challenge

nannygladys

Hi everyone
Looking after dgs today, dd3 has a new job after maternity leave and its only 3 days a week, so I get to look after him for one of the days - love it!!! 
So today went very quickly, but I did manage a quick trip to a new Lid@l on the way back for a couple of bits and treated myself to a fresh croissant that I ate with some hm jam when I got in whilst my dinner was cooking and it was blooming lovely!!!!
Made a menu for the next 2 weeks when I get paid and the only things I need are the treats really, so I'm thinking of making a lemon cake this week and a fruit one next week as I have all the ingredients in, and perhaps some twinks as well.
The CS shops have at last opened around here so I will be going in to hunt some summer dresses down, either to wear or to alter to fit can't wait.
Anyway off for a quick lurk and then to bed.
Happy frugalling everyone
Nannyg

willow_loulou

elbree said:

Good work @willow_loulou! Every penny helps! I'm interested in the Too Good to go - is it an app you're using? 

Thanks! Yes it is, there is a website too. It’s pot luck what you get and the bags vary in price. It’s a good way of them getting rid of things like sandwiches and ready meals without landfill and getting a portion of the money for it. 

My M&S bag last night was a huge thing of profiteroles (gone instantly! My sons face when he saw them!) 
a pasta ready meal, a chicken and pasta chilled meal and a pack of 3 filled rolls. Roughly £16 of food for £4. I got petrol on the way and dropped of a bag of clothes. 

We will have the 2 pastas for dinner tonight with some salad. I’ll just have plain chicken though as too much rich sauce for me! But it’s changing up our diets and making my life a bit simpler not having to decide what to cook! Win win ! 

I need to empty the freezer now so I can freeze more of what we get.
I’m wondering if I can feeeze the filled sandwiches. If I take the lettuce out of say a ploughman’s. Anyone tried it? Did you @fru@Frugaldom ? 

willow_loulou

@nannygladys how lovely that you get dgs now - enjoy! 

joedenise

@willow_loulou - you can definitely freeze filled sandwiches but you must take out any salad from it.  I've frozen cheese, ham, tuna mayo, egg mayo ones in the past but don't bother now as both DH and I are retired so no longer need to take sandwiches to work!  I wouldn't freeze sliced egg sandwiches though as they don't seem to freeze as well.

marionmgcars

Thanks for all the great posts everyone, am enjoying reading them all.  I’m trying to make meals from freezer & cupboards & keep cost of shopping down.  Also got 3 lots of bread for freezer from Olio .  

balabooberlies

Hello/Morning....

Hope you can help 'cos you're all so clever.....

Onions.  When you chop and freeze them (not blanched?) do you defrost them before using or can they go straight into frying pan ?

Potatoes.  I have loads at the moment.  Can they be roasted and frozen ?  Mashed ?

many thanks

bala

joedenise

bala I would just chop and freeze, I would open freeze them and once frozen put into a bag.  When you want to use them just grab however many you want and use them.  I haven't tried frying them though I only use them in stews and casseroles.  I think they would probably spit if you try to fry them but others may come along who have tried it!

Potatoes I have only ever frozen mashed potatoes.  I usually just freeze in piles (an ice cream scoop would work well!) then oven bake them like duchess potatoes.  I think you can also freeze them as chips - just blanch and toss in oil before open freezing.  Cook from frozen in the oven.

-taff

balabooberlies said:

Potatoes.  I have loads at the moment.  Can they be roasted and frozen ?  Mashed ?

Aunt Bessie certainly indicates you can I wouldn't fully cook them though, just go halfway and then cook as normal from freezer.

balabooberlies

Thank you.  Will try all methods....


bala

wort

Bala I chop and freeze onions, I cook them in a dry frying pan , and the water in them from being frozen evaporates as they cook, same as mushrooms and peppers, you could add oil, but I think it makes it a bit healthier!! 
Roast potatoes if I've made too many I freeze them , then just reheat in oven like you would frozen chips, if you are doing the roast pots specifically for freezing then possibly don't fully cook then they aren't too well done. 
I like to put extra roast pots in a patatas bravas type sauce ! Yum xx