Simple living in the country - back to basics

Cheery_Daff

Wow, that's impressive meal planning! I only do a week at a time, ad I confess I don't always stick to it 😂 But it does stop me having to think about things! Yes, this stew is a good storecupboard thing - I switch around to whatever veg/nuts I've got in. The toasted nuts really lift it to feeling like something more special.

And yes, there is a LOT of peanut butter 😂 Not so handy if you don't like it 😂

Apparently we've had a good dumping of snow overnight. I've not made it as far getting out of bed to open the curtains yet though 😂 Might build a snowman - I've never built one here, and every year my sister tells me off as she rarely gets much snow where she lives and is always jealous 😂

joedenise

@Baileys_Babe - I tend to serve couscous whenever I do anything Moroccan as that's what they tend to use.  You can add all sorts to it to make it more interesting.  I generally just add more spices to it and if I've got any in the freezer then I'll add some pomegranate seeds as they go really well too.  If you don't want extra spices then it can be served plain.

As it only takes 5 minutes to "cook" you don't really need to think about it until the stew is almost ready to serve!

CCW007

@joedenise how do you freeze pomegranate seeds, do you need to do anything or just freeze as is? Often get them on olio and don't always have a use for them immediately but freezing would be great.

joedenise

CCW007 said:

@joedenise how do you freeze pomegranate seeds, do you need to do anything or just freeze as is? Often get them on olio and don't always have a use for them immediately but freezing would be great.

I buy them ready frozen!  Can't see any reason why you can't bang out the seeds of a fresh one and then open freeze them on a tray until frozen before bagging up although not done that myself!

Cheery_Daff

It never even occurred to me to freeze pomegranates! 

Not started on my list yet 😂 Mr Cheery decided to attempt his trip, so I helped him clean the snow off the car, then went with him in case he got stuck getting as far as the road. But actually the all weather tyres were fine on the drive, and the snow plough came as far as the top of our drive, so he was fine. I walked back down, took some nice pictures, and built a snowman 😂😂

Cheery_Daff

Right, fat balls cut up and distributed for the birds, halloumi and pea curry in the hay box (on the way to the freezer) and peanut noodles for lunch 😊

List isn't progressing very well though, I'm having far too nice a time sat on the chaise looking out of the window at the snow 🙄😂 Drizzling a bit now and there's quite a bit melting off the trees. Still not decided about going out tonight - I think my preference is not, but we'll decide when Mr Cheery gets home. If it's like now it'd be ok, but there's more snow forecast, there won't be ploughs out tonight, and Mr Cheery has a hospital appointment first thing tomorrow, so we don't want to get stuck and have to stay over.

Right, timer on, need to make progress!

redofromstart

I really like the idea of freezing pomegranate seed next time I see it reduced.

one of the Joe Wicks books is the 99p kindle book of the day... 

rtandon27

Who knew that freezing pomegranate would work?! - Next time we see a pile yellow stickered it's coming home to live in the freezer!

LadyWithAPlan

Cheery_Daff said:

It never even occurred to me to freeze pomegranates! 

Not started on my list yet 😂 Mr Cheery decided to attempt his trip, so I helped him clean the snow off the car, then went with him in case he got stuck getting as far as the road. But actually the all weather tyres were fine on the drive, and the snow plough came as far as the top of our drive, so he was fine. I walked back down, took some nice pictures, and built a snowman 😂😂

What a beautiful shot! And even nicer being to sit indoors warm after being out.

I cant have peanut butter in the house - I eat an entire jar in a couple days - so I just dont buy it . but those bars look great but .. 

Cheery_Daff

We buy 1kg tubs of peanut butter 😁 Love the stuff 😁

Today hasn't been as productive as yesterday, but some things gone done.

✅ made halloumi & pea curry (supposedly for the freezer but we ended up not going out for tea so we just ate that instead)
✅ hoovered the spilt oats etc from insid the kitchen cupboard 🙄
✅ cleared off the dining room windowsills - we don't have actual windowsill yet 🙄 so they're just covered in bits of fabric, so not easy to dust, and they get a bit cluttered with stuff
✅ Started sorting the medicine into boxes. Cleared out under the bathroom sink a few weeks ago but it's all just sat in a box since then. Painkillers are all in separate tubs now, and one lot of Mr Cheery's medication. Rest still needs sorting, but we need some more tubs! 
✅ an hour of flute practice
✅ spoke to my sister for 45 mins
✅ started doing a bit of online Christmas shopping (didn't actually buy anything, but I'm amassing a list)

That's it I think, a nice relaxing day 😊

Rest of the week shouldn't be too bad.

Mon - working from home, snowy, Mr Cheery has hospital appointment at 9.15

Tues - working from home, and follow up hospital app for Mr C

Wed - office, after breakfast at a friend's house. Event in the afternoon at the place I've applied for new job 🙈 Will use for a bit of spying (unless they've told me I haven't got an interview by then, in which case I might not go 😂)

Thurs - office 

Fri - Mr Cheery has a gig in the evening, we might stay over with friends. Next bank switch due to complete so we'll see if that happens properly!

Sat - no plans

Sun - today's postponed pub lunch, then band practice for me.

Could do with getting some more Christmas shopping done online, and I might nip out on Friday morning for some bits too.