It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

Katiehound

euronorris said:

Florenceem said:

Our half term holiday was last week.

 
I do have some bacon rashers in the feezer, and maple syrup in the cupboard. Has anyone ever had that combo with pancakes? Is it good?

 

I feel certain I used to have that combination... just a year or to ago (ha ha ha: a lifetime ) at the Lyons Corner House at Charing Cross!

Pollycat

Katiehound said:

euronorris said:

Florenceem said:

Our half term holiday was last week.

 
I do have some bacon rashers in the feezer, and maple syrup in the cupboard. Has anyone ever had that combo with pancakes? Is it good?

 

I feel certain I used to have that combination... just a year or to ago (ha ha ha: a lifetime ) at the Lyons Corner House at Charing Cross!

James Martin seems to think it's OK:
Pancakes with crispy maple bacon recipe - BBC Food

Florenceem

I saw something about energy prices being lower - hopeful.

YoungBlueEyes

Reminds me of a time me and himself were in York for a NYE do. There was a poster in the 'Five Guys' window for a syrupy bacon milkshake so I went in to ask about it. The fellah gave me a wee free taster and it was delish!

EssexHebridean

Florenceem said:

I saw something about energy prices being lower - hopeful.

I think the expectation currently is that we'll see the 20% increase in April, but then the next time the cap is set after that there is a likelihood that it will then fall below the EPG level. If this is the case, then the EPG will cease to be applied and we'll revert to paying the rates set by the cap again. Not  much of a ray of hope, but a small one, perhaps! 

YorksLass

Monthly meter readings sent and bill has arrived - £272.54 (30 days, gas & elec).  Not great but slightly less than Jan and Dec so at least it's heading in the right direction!  I've now turned off the upstairs radiators - apart from the bathroom - and am hoping for milder weather, although it seems we'll be back to single figure temperatures again from Wednesday.  

Today I've made a large white loaf, a SC rice pudding using half a large tin of evaporated milk, 4 potato cakes using the leftover mash from yesterday and have hard boiled 4 eggs, 2 for tonight's salad and 2 that we'll have later in the week for sandwiches with sliced tomato.  This morning's bacon sandwich was most enjoyable  - it's now an occasional treat rather than a regular on the menu.

Tomorrow I'll be making a tomato based sauce to have with the last two turkey burgers.  I'm going to turn them into meatballs in the hope they'll be a bit more palatable.  

weenancyinAmerica

@euronorris - that's the usual way pancakes are served in the United States at restaurants- with bacon or sausage, and sometimes eggs. Have to go to a restaurant that specializes in pancakes to get ones with lemon or orange. 

euronorris

For a bit more detail on predicted energy prices, there is this article here: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2023/january/wholesale-energy-price-drops-could-feed-into-real-prices-from-ju/ 

Martin Lewis, and others, are also calling for the current price cap to be extended until the prices fall below that level later this year: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2023/02/martin-lewis--postpone-the-planned-cuts-to-government-energy-sup/

Toonie

We've just had our fuel bill through, £239.34 for 30 days of gas and electric. I've reduced the heating timer already and lowered the temperature to 18c when it is on.

Tonight we're having beef ragu, DP with pasta and mine with wholemeal pitta bread and a salad. No pancakes here, as neither of us are that fussed on them.

Overall we're muddling through, the granola is lovely, I only made a small amount so I make some more tomorrow or Thursday. I also want to do some baking for the weekend as we're planning on doing some gardening and we'll want something to keep us going. Possibly flapjacks, maybe some scones too.

EssexHebridean

We're starting to see a reduction in energy use at home as a result of the weather being warmer - here's hoping it stays that way although we certainly could well have another cold snap yet. I've  dropped from over 25kWh of electric having been used by the time the peak rate starts first thing in the morning down to around 18kWh though - that equals a bit over £1 saving so it's a definite improvement.  It will be interesting to see whether the decision is made to leave the EPG at its current level - there certainly are grounds to do so - the £3000 planned level was originally proposed at a time when it was looking very likely that rates would have increased far higher at the moment than they actually have - and in fact even holding it at the current level would represent a big saving over the planned budgeted spending on it. I think Martin has presented a really good case in favour, and he's now being backed by huge numbers of charities and similar organisations too - so we'll see. We're only a few days off the new cap being announced now, so current predictions ought to be reasonably solid.