So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

themadvix

Popped out on my bike for the free alcohol-free beer in the newsletter (which we'd already signed up for anyway) - we like it and will drink it even if we don't get our money back (hopefully 2 x £6.50 back). While I was out, received an email from main client about a big project happening in the next month (on top of the one we're waiting for) and did I have time free? Of course I do 🙄 Never rains but it pours! 

Also have a cat sitting booking for next Weds/Thurs too. 😊

I did also put the cards in the post and a bag to the CS. Nearly done with sitting in the dark too - looking forward to dinner (mainly the rice pud!).

ETA: Just had a LinkedIn message from someone who used to work for one of my clients - would I be interested in working for their new company.... honestly, you couldn't make it up!  If you don't see me for a while, you know why!

Cheery_Daff

Lots of cheese in your basket there! 😁 Excellent work 😁 

I didn't know tofu changed texture after being frozen. In fact, I think I always just assumed it would go soggy - I've never actually done it! 😂 Will experiment next time I have some in 😁

redofromstart

Did someone mention cheese? Yum!

Sounds good with all of the potential work even if it is all at once.

themadvix

Morning all,

Yes, lots of cheese! Not all for eating at once though! I had read about tofu changing texture before Cheery, but confess it was a video on Instagram that convinced me of it - the marinade seemed to penetrate much further and the poster was also impressed by the texture change. Of course, I can't try it with this lot (and I checked Sains' own stuff for freezability yesterday - there was a display with it on as you went into the store - also not suitable for home freezing!). So it'll have to wait until I can get some that is freezeable.

I'm collecting a cat key at 10, but other than that (and not falling off my bike/freezing en route) my aim is to get the stuff done for Cambridge this morning that is covering the sick leave. This leaves me free (currently) to crack on with all the work that is due to arrive. I am not complaining *at all* about the work - it's excellent, but why don't things ever come less 'lumpily' when self-employed?! Have finished a few bits of proper work this morning and sent them back, so that's one thing off my plate.

Mr MV is home tonight and I have planned a squash trayback for dinner (using the creme fraiche bought the other day). I'm hoping it'll be nice as we have quite a few squashes still to use up both from the allotment and the R'ford squash box and Mr MV decided/admitted the other day that he doesn't really like squash! (We then had a risotto and he actually quite liked the squash in that, so I think it's flavour, texture and context dependent!).

R'ford delivery arriving today, so I'll have  the ingredients for my sausages (I've ordered two lots of leeks, who knows where they'll fit as they're usually too long for the fridge drawers!). Looking forward to the fruit - I don't often get it from R'ford (we don't eat huge amounts), but the vitamin C boost and general cheeriness of it persuaded me (the lack of pears in the fruit bag was also a factor).

MS things:
* PA longitudinal survey done
* Work bits finished up
* Booked in a small cat sitting job for next week

Gratitudes:
* Sunshine -  it's mighty chilly this morning (-6 at 7am) but the sun is out
* Lots of work in the pipeline - this feels good
* Mr MV is home tonight - he'll be glad of this too - he's not slept well at all while he's been away

Have a good day all!

LadyWithAPlan

Yeah to the MOT and lots of work 

on soft play I am still traumatised by My DN birthday - I had a lot to drink the night before and squeezing myself thru tunnels, the bright flashing lights and the noise, the screams  - I felt as if I had taken a hallucinogenic! I never actually have (beyond a bit of absinthe) but I was definitely transported to a place I never plan to return to … 

EssexHebridean

I'm quite intrigued about what might be in tofu that would make it unsuitable for freezing - how strange! Also that you've suddenly come across several brands which aren't suitable for freezing - makes you wonder if there has been some form of regulatory change somewhere that means manufacturers are suddenly putting that on the packaging, doesn't it! 

Great that you have plenty of work, but as you say, perhaps would be more ideal if it wasn't all coming in as a big flood all at once! 

We also had -6C this morning - and my goodness it felt like it too! In fact it was still -3C when I got into London for the office which is unusually nippy even for this bit of London! 

themadvix

Oh, goodness me LaPlan, I definitely wouldn't be on the softplay with the children! We did enjoy softplay without children last summer at an adults only farm night that I won tickets for - it was great fun!

It may well have been the case that it's always been 'not suitable for home freezing' EH, but it's rather irritating. I don't buy it that often because I'm often disappointed when I do  -hence I wanted to try this approach and see if it improved things. It might be that Toofoo is OK to freeze, but it was more expensive than Cauldron, so I bought the Cauldron - it didn't occur to me to look at the time.

R'ford delivery has arrived and guess what.... my grapes were subbed for pears! 😏 Any suggestions welcome - we are not pear eaters generally speaking, but definitely not going to let them go to waste or give them away (if we can avoid it). At least I got the blood oranges (which were out of stock to buy individually, which was one of the temptations of the fruit bag!).

Am currently holed up in office with heated airer on (and washing on it - and window open) and heating in rest of house down at 15. Will have to turn it back up shortly as Dad will be popping round at 3 - it will be very nice to have some company in 3D form!

Have received a piece of work I was expecting from a client, so am cracking on with that. Made good progress with Cambridge stuff this morning - at least as far as I could without responses from people.

Greying_Pilgrim

tmv - interested in your chat about freezing tofu - are you talking about firm tofu?  Actually, on the FAQ's section of their own website, cauldron only say the 'advise against' freezing tofu because of the texture change - and say that if that doesn't bother you/affect your use for the product, then go for it.  Link Here.  

I did also think that THIS website was quite informative about storing tofu.

My apologies if I have got the wrong end of the stick and you were looking to freeze silken tofu - which i believe is a no-no because it would alter the texture too much and you generally use ST for things like desserts and sauces that don't need grainy lumpiness about them.

Greying X

themadvix

Hi Greying, lovely to see you! No, definitely talking about firm tofu - very interesting about the Cauldron website. I might give it a go then... I was expecting texture change, so that would be fine! The other link you gave confirms what I expected to happen - a firmer texture would definitely be a benefit for me, as would a less tofu-y flavour (not that I have anything against it, just it's not really very interesting!

I don't think I've ever tried silken tofu (not knowingly, anyway).

Cheery_Daff

I spotted an old Aldi tofu wrapper when putting the recycling out today - pleased to report NO mention of not being suitable for freezing.

*waves to Greying**