The great life reset

killerpeaty

Bella_Budget said:

This week's meals are:
Sat 
Pulled pork, buns, corn on the cob, salad (always a hit)
Followed by our first attempt at gluten free profiterolls, amazingly they were delicious.
Sun attempting gluten free pastry for a leek, bscon and chicken pie with new potatoes.
Mon Greek rice and balsamic and brown sugar salmon 
Tues left over pulled pork and greek rice reappears in stuffed peppers and salad.
Wed fake away donner kebabs
Thursday thai chicken and brown rice
I run my food menu Friday to thursday, so haven't planned for next week yet. 
This week's soup is tomato and courgette for lunches 

These sound absolutely amazing and can I come around for dinner?

Sorry to hear about your health problems but it sounds like you are starting to enjoy yourself a little more? Regardless, I look forward to hearing how you get on (and my dinner invite)!

Bella_Budget

Porridgecat, my friend who makes dosas suggests medium heat, melt ghee, add batter to pan, add more ghee round the edges, flip, cook and then before next lot, wipe the pan down with a very cold wet cloth or the heat will make the lentils crack was her advice.
I'm sure the wraps were lovely though x

Bella_Budget

LeighofMar said:

Welcome with your new diary. It sounds like you've struck a nice balance between mortgage freedom and living now. That's always important. 

Oh the joys of gluten free baking. I've been at it 5 years now so I would say I do pretty decent but there was definitely a learning curve in the beginning. But this weekend we will be making one of hubby's favorites, a chocolate peanut butter cup pie, no bake. He is not on any diet and loves the sweets and treats I make so that says something. 

Your weekly menu sounds delish. 

Yes gluten free baking is a bit of a hit/miss thing for me but want to get better at it. On the plus side, the pastry worked!

Bella_Budget

Killerpeaty, pop round for dinner anytime once restrictions lift!

Bella_Budget

So called mortgage provider and the poor woman I spoke to was having a bit of a nightmare with the computer system but she could tell me we owe £96069.24 
I won't be putting more into the mortgagage as we already upped the payments but will be offsetting with saving currently £10500 (not including our emergency fund in this).
So the new total is £85569.24. Cause for celebration! 
Am about to enroll in a freebie joy makeover class (an hour a day for a fortnight) so here's hoping for some good tips. If anyone else is interested it's from the aesthetics of joy web site.

Porridgecat

Thanks the the dosa / lentil tips, it was the edges that really stuck so extra ghee might help, I was using oil as that's what the recipe said. 
Well done on the savings, that's a good amount.

Bella_Budget

So turns out you shouldn't pressure cook bell peppers for 12 minutes unless you want them to be falling apart! Still tasted good though.
Worked out my saving offsetting targets.
If I can save £5745 or £640 per month by December I'll have £16245 savings and an offset outstanding mortgage balance of 70k.
Target for December 2022 is to save £8625 or £718.75 per month to leave an offset mortgage balance of £48k.
Target for December 2023 is to save £9301 or £775 per month to leave an offset mortgage balance of £25k.
Target for December 2024 is to save £10971 or £914 per month to leave an offset mortgage balance of £0.
Well, this is the plan!

killerpeaty

Bella_Budget said:

Killerpeaty, pop round for dinner anytime once restrictions lift!

Fair warning, I eat a lot :P 

It would be incredible if you could offset by the end of 24! You must be excited. 

Bella_Budget

killerpeaty said:

Bella_Budget said:

Killerpeaty, pop round for dinner anytime once restrictions lift!

Fair warning, I eat a lot :P 

It would be incredible if you could offset by the end of 24! You must be excited. 

Thanks killerpeaty, it would be amazing!
Kind of blew the food budget this week. All good intentions out the window. Budget is £80, spent £99.24. 🙄
But i did buy lots of replacement stuff and easter eggs (lots of nieces and nephews) though this year the easter rabbit will be dumping the eggs on the doorstep and running away again.
This week's menu
Fri prawn and chorizo paella
Sat monthly take away treat (really ashamed i went so far over budget when only doing 6 main meals 🤦🏻‍♀️)
Sunday slow cooker loaded potatoes because it's mother's day and it's what i fancy.
Mon chinese chicken in lettuce wraps
Tues chicken fajitas 
Wed mozzarella sticks and puttanesca pasta
Thurs Greek omlette
This week's soup sweet potato, red pepper and coconut 
Need to claw back next week!

Porridgecat

Is there anything you got this week that can carry over towards another meal? I love it when you realise that you have enough bits and pieces to make a meal without any 'new' bits.