From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

Ah yes, LotsOfTea - vital wheat gluten, seemingly much more easy to get hold of in the US.  I have never used it, and I'm trying to think what you can make with it for vegans........ is it Seitan that is made from it?  I know the tins of 'Mock Duck' as it used to be called are made with it.  Something to consider if I can find a smallish bag of it, at a not too expensive price.  I'm not sure I want to invest a tenner in a KG of the stuff from h&b.  Thank you for mentioning it though - you've given me something to think about, as I have never used VWG.

So LG and I pootled into Greying Town this morning.  We did all the "chores" we needed to do, and then we set to with finding a raffle prize.  We did manage to find several options (which frankly I was amazed by, I thought we'd set ourselves 'mission impossible'), but did end up spending more than I had anticipated.  Seems like you can get nowt for less than £5 these days 🫤 which is all very well, until you consider that we're going to be expected to purchase raffle tickets for the fundraiser too........ 🙄

Interesting that one store had notices on the door to say that they were unable to accept contactless payments and card payments in general were going through slowly.  Thank heavens LG had their pocket money cash on them.........

I did buy some milk in M&$ - there weren't any YS'd tatties, and they were charging the same price as other supermarkets for their basic white all-purpose potatoes, so I wasn't moved to purchase them.  I have added the £1.45 spend to my siggie figgie.

We had a lovely walk.  We witnessed a couple of thrushes having a bust-up, presumably over 'territory'.  I also noticed that the horse chestnut trees are starting to send up their flower buds.  

DH came home from work just before 1pm, so we all had cheese & cucumber sandwiches for lunch - I grated some of the new cheese, but also grated up the remainder of the red leicester.  Isn't it funny how 2 colours of cheese somehow looks 'posh' 🤣

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening MFW'rs

We ended up with curry plate for tea.  The aubergine and cauli curry was made with waste veg box contents, and was out of the freezer.  I made a pot of dhal to go with - I had to make up a batch of curry powder for it, but that's ok, it'll help in the long run.  Once it's cooled, there will be at least 2 pots of dhal to pop in the freezer I think.  The dhal used up half of the last chunk of ginger that I got in the first MrS waste box.  I'm grateful to have made good use of that ginger.

We enjoyed watching a bit of the women's 6 nations rugger.  I saw bits and pieces of the Wales v England match.  Wow.  And as for Abi's debut and back story - just WOW!

DH and LG popped out this afternoon 😉They found themselves in MrT 😉 Anyway, apparently LG spotted a little crafting kit that took their fancy, and in theory, they could have bought it.  But DH mentioned that it was alot of money, that could be saved to something more special.  LG apparently listened, and found 2 little individual packs of the same craft items for 50p each........ £1 was duly invested, and they have been contentedly crafting for the rest of the afternoon 😁

Greying X

in_need_of_direction

Abi is totally inspirational 

Cheery_Daff

OOh, excellent MSE action by DH and LG there

Always admire your food efforts Greying Sorry to hear about the soggy carrots though - nobody needs soggy carrots!

Greying_Pilgrim

Cheery_Daff said:

OOh, excellent MSE action by DH and LG there

Indeed Cheery, and from what I gather, it would have cost £6 more, just for "lots" of the crafting bits, and a cardboard box.  The 2 little packets have provided 'more than plenty' and LG has left off where they started yesterday and is quietly sat working away 😁

I've been spoilt with a HM card and some chocolate this morning 😁🩷

Bright and breezy with us.  Will double check if there is any washing that could benefit.  

Now off to find a coffee, as it's later than it ought to be 😁

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

😬 DH went to mrT yesterday and bought a little gift for me for today.  Nothing outrageous, and I had said, "please don't bother getting me anything, I would rather we took a sandwich out for a ride".

DH and LG were out for ages.

This morning, DH realised that he'd left his bank card at MrT 🙄 Cue a trip back to MrT to see if they had it.  LG went.  Luckily the card had been handed in.  But DH let LG buy more of the crafting bits 🙄 They didn't buy the box..... but 3 more packs of the individual components 🙄We have a gazinty billion of these in the house now 🙄

And we won't be taking a sandwich for a wander, as DH has some admin work to do 🙄

Money saving is one step forward, and one step back, isn't it.......

Greying X

teapot2

Much eye rolling there GP, commiserations x

badmemory

Time for a giggle -  I got a new mobile last week as my old one was only 3g so needed a 4g.  No problem.  Realised this afternoon that it said 14.20 not 15.20.  My old one used to auto correct.  So I decided to make the new one the same.  So when I auto corrected it it went to 06.20.  Anybody know which country is 9 hours behind or maybe 15 ahead.  Isn't technology wonderful!

rtandon27

@badmemory - that did make me giggle - Alaska is 9 hours behind & Samoa is 14 ahead, but I don't think any are 15, that may be across the date line!

Greying_Pilgrim

Note to self.  NEVER.  EVER. make baked gnocchi.  EVER. AGAIN.

I know that N1gella is thought to have started the trend, although i think she made pan-fried, but online there were recipes for sheet-baked.  

It was absolutely dreadful.  Chewy. Chewy. Chewy.  Yuck.  

I wish - for a start - I had only done one packet, but I thought (had it worked), 1 pack was slightly stingey between 3.  But 2 was too much.  Way too much.  

To be fair to LG they did eat what was put on their plate, and did I and as did DH, but none of us enjoyed it - no denying 🫤  The pizza slightly made up for it, but only slightly.  

I'm annoyed at myself - I should have stuck to just doing pasta, as I'd intended.  What a waste - but then thinking about it, I had bought the gnocchi originally for an SC dish, and hadn't got around to using it.  I think ambient gnocchi and I probably can't be friends.  so I shan't waste any future grocery budget on buying them.  I think I would be prepared to give 'fresh' gnocchi a go, but shan't rush to try it out.  

My jaw muscles are huge now, they've had such a work out..... 🤣

We ate tea in silence.  It was awful 🫤

But I love that I belong to a family who know what the gig is, and try their best.  

Tomorrow night's tea will be a quorn tomato bake thing in the SC, with pasta.  Degree in hindsight, I knew that would have worked with rice, and could have used pasta tonight, but didn't 😔

Ho hum.

Greying X