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

Nathalia

How about a stuffed pepper, Jackie?  A bit of cooked rice and maybe some cheese if you have it and you've got a really tasty meal.

pumpkin89

London_1 said:

so anyone think what I can do with chickpeas, red pepper and mushrooms, I also have a sweet potato in the veg box that could be used up ,so inspire me chums

Chickpeas, red pepper and sweet potato would make a fantastic spiced stew (think Moroccan tagine style) - I know you have a good stock of spices Jackie!  For a side dish you could mix a few fried mushrooms in with some rice.  (I'm in the mood for a lot of warm, spicy food this week to stave off the cold and wet!)

Auntycaz

joedenise said:

Auntycaz said:

Does anyone else who has smart meters get annoyed that before they've even had their breakfast they've already used 80p+. I know I was still paying it before having the smart meters fitted, but seeing the display when I put the kettle on for my early morning cuppa reminds me every day now. 

Mine's even worse than that!  It's up at £1.13 when I get up before I've even got the kettle on (although that is for gas and electric)!  Is yours just for electric?

I say 80p+ as that's roughly what the standing charge is for both gas and electric when I come down to switch the heating on as my timer doesn't work. I usually make myself a quick drink and jump back in bed until it warms up a bit. Im not sure of the exact amount it seems to vary daily depending on if I stay up late. The electricity changes at midnight and the gas at 12.30 so the standing charge is about 84p for both at 12.30am sometimes before I even go to bed.

Katiehound

Jackie- have you watched Jamie Oliver's newest series- 5 ingredients?
 I know the meals are for 4 people but he has some really interesting recipes. Sometimes I wish he would hand the plated meal through the screen!! One week it was store cupboard (mainly) meals. I don't have a television so watch it on Channel 4 on demand.

Who knew you could get med style frozen veg?

His pastry made with SR flour & water is really interesting as you can use it for all sorts- including flat breads

YorksLass

@London_1- The chickpeas and red pepper could make a Moroccan-style hummus.  Another vote for stuffed pepper with the mushrooms.  Or how about a tomato & red pepper soup?  I sometimes lightly fry sliced red pepper with onions and then add cubed halloumi cheese for a light lunch with toast.  Maybe make wedges with the sweet potato?

A bit of a noisy night last night with fireworks going off again - probably more than there were on Bonfire night - but I think these were for Diwali.  The last ones were around 11.30 pm.  Hopefully that's it now until New Year.

I went for my blood pressure re-check this morning and all is fine.  I think the other week was just a blip.  The nurse went through all my diabetes results too and hallelujah, I'm back down to pre-diabetic levels.     It's taken a while to get there but I'm so chuffed I've been able to do it via diet control rather than having to take medication.  Added bonus - I can now get into clothes that were too tight!  

The walk there and back was certainly an effort, battling against the wind, but it blew away the cobwebs!  Thankfully the rain didn't arrive until after I got home.  I did have a brolly with me but it would definitely have been redundant in the wind.     

Today's freezer rummage produced a large Cornish pasty that we can share for dinner with mash, swede & carrot.  I also defrosted some pate (on toast for lunch) and a pack of pork mince that I'll do in the SC tomorrow with carrots, onions etc for later in the week.  I think we'll have half with a baked potato and veg and the other half will probably go back in the freezer but we can have that next week, maybe with tagliatelle.

Right, time for afternoon cuppa and I think there's a piece of chocolate swiss roll with my name on it.     

Floss

Auntycaz said:

Does anyone else who has smart meters get annoyed that before they've even had their breakfast they've already used 80p+. I know I was still paying it before having the smart meters fitted, but seeing the display when I put the kettle on for my early morning cuppa reminds me every day now. 

I have mine on this display, so don't see that daily cost: 

Pollie

Jackie O----Vegetable goulash would use up all those ingredients.

London_1

Thanks chums for some great Ideas I've noted them down and will decide shortly . I went to Book club and it was very enjoyable as I'd not been for such a long time .Everyone was pleased to see me and some had brought in nibbles as it was our 13th birthday since we started. Then popped into the village Coop, but nothing caught my fancy, so then went to Aldi's and got my butter ,again nothing really caught my eye so came home and have been knitting for most of the afternoon. Now I'm going to do a little bit of cooking and sort out some of the food cupboards  

Cheers chums 

JackieO xx

Longwalker

@Yorkslass , well done you xxxx A brilliant achievement . I go to mine tomorrow, first one in 18 months, maybe more because the last one I had the blood tests were diabolical, she wanted me on Statins, warned me about diabetes , basically I was a mess. Finally got it together this year and have lost the weight and upped the exercise and spent the year getting myself as fit as I can , so fingers crossed

And isnt it wonderful having access to a wardrobe of clothes that now fit again ?

Im making a huge effort to get veg into me , I dont like fruit nor veg very much at all. I do eat veg cos I have to but I dont really enjoy it and have got into a ruck with eating the same old same old. But needing to loose weight has pushed me into trying new veg and cooking in different ways and Im surprising myself 

@katiehound, I have everything here ready to do the fish on the peppers and leeks, looked amazing. Ive just got to tweak it a bit as losing weight and still wanting to eat loads, I cant be doing with the amount of oil he uses 

Trying to keep the purse string tight but I fell when the nail company I use had a Black Friday sale. My nails are my treat. I do my own but I do spend on them. No where near what you would pay going to a salon but still. Its my treat , not chocolate or perfume , my nails 

DiamondLil

Katiehound said:

Jackie- have you watched Jamie Oliver's newest series- 5 ingredients?
 I know the meals are for 4 people but he has some really interesting recipes. Sometimes I wish he would hand the plated meal through the screen!! One week it was store cupboard (mainly) meals. I don't have a television so watch it on Channel 4 on demand.

Who knew you could get med style frozen veg?

His pastry made with SR flour & water is really interesting as you can use it for all sorts- including flat breads

I've been trying a lot of his dishes lately and they have all been really good so far. Even this useless pastry maker has had success with his pastry. And the recipes are pretty adaptable too if you don't have all the ingredients.