From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

beanielou

I absolutely loathe gnocchi. Yuk. 

rtandon27

Oh what a shame GP - ambient gnocchi can be a tricky one to get just right!  OH has done a baked version but only with fresh and one pack always seems to provide us with 4 servings.  I think it magically multiplies when cooked.

Blackcats

beanielou said:

I absolutely loathe gnocchi. Yuk. 

Me too!  

Sorry that tea wasn't great but fair play to family GP for struggling through.

edinburgher

@Greying_Pilgrim - You tried something new and it didn't work, it will always be worth the attempt. Well done for the family solidarity, I can imagine the grim, stolid chewing in silence 😂

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

ed - it were right grim 🤣 I did end up throwing away the remaining gnocchi, which pained me to do, and pains me to write down 😔I can absolutely see the argument put forward about not being able to risk "experimentation" because you can't afford to "waste" ingredients/money.  Hopefully it's a mistake I won't make again in a hurry.  I followed the recipe and it didn't work, and a joyless tea and waste resulted.  Lawks, I shudder just to think of us all around the tea table...... 🤣

Last day of March.  I struggled to get up this morning - it was still dark! 😁

Tea is already set to go (in my mind), I shall NOT deviate, as I can't inflict another grim experiment on my dear family 🤣

There was pizza left over from tea last night, so that has been safely stowed in the freezer.  

I think I am pretty caught up with clothes laundry.  I will have to go through the cupboards for the shopping list though - I will have to do a grocery trip probably earlier this week.  

Another saving has been put to the windows fund.  I also now have £50+ 'in hand' (unless I spend anything today!) to save towards May's food budget.  I shall struggle to save much in April, as we of course have the Easter hols. The food budget usually takes a hammering in the hols, but at least the freezer is still pretty full, so I've given myself at least a bit of a fighting chance.

Can't think of owt else MSE to report.  

Thanks for your support for my cooking misadventures, and your kindness in acknowledging my family's ongoing stoicism.......... 🤣

Greying X

Sunshine_girl2

I enjoy your diary , just delurking to say after reading about veg boxes from Mr S on your diary . I was in there last week and found them, there was a suitable one so it winged its way home with me. 

I wholly agree with you about certain aspects of school and parental contributions. This week it's donate an Easter egg for own clothes day x3 for my DD . 

Back to lurkdom now . 

LotsOfTea

I did feel for you hearing about the gnocchi disaster. The shelf-stable ones are a bit more solid than the fresh ones which is good when you're just boiling them as they're less fragile but it sounds like they turn to rubber if baked. I will learn from your experience and never try! It is frustrating though when you've expended just as much effort to make a disappointing tea as to make a great one. 

Re: demands for contributions from schools, in my limited experience of 1 child who has just started secondary school the 'bring in this, dress up as this, come to this fundraising event' stuff pretty much disappears after primary school. On the other hand there's a lot more uniform and more of it seems to be branded. When you're getting close to that time it's worth checking out local charity shops and Facebook groups as there are often groups where parents sell or even give away outgrown uniform. 

badmemory

I agree with Ed, just keeping trying the new.  I remember how LG used to not like several things which of course youngsters grow out of IF they get new things to try.  LG will not be the child who lives on spaghetti hoops as an adult.  Yes I know one & thankfully it isn't mine.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening MFW'rs

Hope the day has been spiffing for you, and that you've had the best weather.  We've been incredibly lucky, wall-to-wall sunshine.

Sunshine_girl2 - how fab you got a box!  In my experience, MrS usually provide more 'varied' boxes, but I've rejected some on the basis that the contents weren't just 'on their BB date', but well and truly past it and disintegrating into a puddle of mankiness.  I've rejected plenty of MrL boxes too - but that is more likely to be on the basis of a parsimonious fill, or 73 green potatoes and a kiwi fruit..... in all 6 boxes........ But when you can use the contents of the boxes from either store, they are well worth purchasing.  Stick around - we have a right larf here 😁

LotsofTea - yes, I can see that happening for LG - although it's interesting that the school have started to listen.  A fundraising activity, actually it was the PTA  that was going to do it, that was slated for Easter has been quietly shelved and this 'raffle with conditions' has been put up to replace it.  And thank the lord we seem to have finally seen the last of the blessed Filla-smartees-tube-class-who-raises-most-gets-a-penny-lolly, carpness.  Anyhoo, we have handed over our contribution to the 'raffle with conditions', so have done our bit.   We don't buy raffle tickets, and never have a humungous network of fam-lee to sell them too, so just hand in a small cash donation.  

badmemory - do you know, spaghetti hoops are literally the only pasta shape that LG still dislikes!  Despite my protests that they are still amongst the most budget friendly items for a lunch with toast.  They will tolerate them (just) in minestrone soup 🤔

Thank you for all your wise words and support. It is appreciated.  And Fam. Greying KBO for another day 😁

I couldn't believe how "nice" tea tasted tonight 🤣 It weren't nowt fancy, but it was edible 🤣 It was HM tommie veg sauce, a packet of qu0rn pieces put in the SC.  Some macaroni boiled up and then drained and combined with the sauce and qu0rn.  I served with steamed (frozen) cauliflower.  Clean plates all round.

After school activity went well.  The trainer was pleased with LG's efforts.  It's always nice when a third party comments on how they find your kiddo mature of attitude, engaged in the activity and putting in the effort.  The journey to and from is so much better in the light too, although the roads remain as potholey 😬

I didn't spend anymore of the grocery budget today, so I leave March with £52.40 in hand to take onto May's budget.  I am going to try to spend no more than £250 in April on food, so that I can then enter May with at least £100 of 'saved' money.  But let's not get ahead of ourselves.  It's not going to be easy to achieve, so we'll have to try our bestest at all turns.  

Ta for popping by.  Greying X

elsien

I'm just going to be a belated addition to the gnocchi debate. Never successfully made my own (one of those life is too short things) but the packet ones lightly cooked, in tomato sauce with crispy bacon bits and finished off in the oven with a cheese topping. One of my comfort food go-tos. 

I made the most of the first day of extended daylight by setting foot in my garden for the first time this year. Lawn mown, some weeding done, a lorry load of bluebells to dig out after the next lot of rain - always surprises me how deep their roots go.