My Off-grid and need to be frugal diary

AnimalTribe

Rachman3    I have loads of uses for dry bread (or end crusts which I don't like) - a kind of pizza is the most common, but I also toast it and then stack it with a thick veg stew or make Welsh rarebit with onions or mushrooms or peppers (or ham for DH). 

I had a great time with my siblings and their spouses, nothing fancy just a pub meal but it was good to catch up. On the way home I stopped at a garden centre and bought a courgette, a marrow and some bean plants as my seedlings just didn't take. I also managed to pick up a box of easy peel oranges 2kg for £1. I think I'll have to eat the oranges fairly quickly as I don't think they'll last long.

rachmac3

I am a great lover of anything on bread or between bread! especially a crusty baguette!

AnimalTribe

Rachmac3 - me too.

It was beautifully sunny and hot this morning so I planted out the courgettes and marrow plants I bought yesterday. I also sowed some more kale, rocket, chard and two types of lettuce. The beetroot seedlings are now outside too, and tomorrow I hope the weather is good enough to plant some radishes between the rows.

This afternoon DH and I went out to vote in the local elections. We picked a bad time as there was thunder, lightening and rain, so we got a little wet. When we got home though, (12 miles from the polling station) the garden was covered in pea-sized hail stones. It's amazing how different the weather can be just a few miles apart. In the past I've been lucky enough to be on the divide between rain and sunshine, snow and no snow, and rain and snow - it's almost magical.

AnimalTribe

It was a lovely sunny day again today so I managed to sow radish seeds and onions. I've cleaned half the windows in the house so that was a good job done too. 

I was in a part of the garden where the swallows have started their nesting. They were chattering away above my head, they don't like it when you get too close, but they have had the same nesting place for years and we usually come to an agreement. I saw a few more hares today. Usually I only spot a few a year, but there are loads about at the moment, more hares than rabbits which is very unusual. 

Tonight I'm just watching a DVD and relaxing. The dog is happily asleep at my feet. I should think so too, as I played fetch with her for ages earlier.

AnimalTribe

I've been very busy today with deep cleaning the kitchen, weeding and transplanting some broad beans. I've repotted a bay tree that I'd forgotten about and it was doing poorly in a dark, dry corner - I think I've rescued it in time.

I've put in an order for some seeds to sprout. I haven't done any sprouting for a long time, but it will be good to get back to it and I've ordered a pressure cooker. I've never used a pressure cooker before so that should be interesting.

LzzyIsGod

Oooo I'm very fond of my pressure cooker- I still have my mums very old one from the 80s which I've never really mastered tbh but the modern Instapot is brilliant and I use it ever such a lot. 

joedenise

I use my old pressure cooker on the hob a lot particularly in autumn and winter although do use occasionally in spring and summer to cook dried beans.  I’Ve got a small Pressure King Pro but really can’t get on with it - much prefer the old one.

Which sort have you bought @AnimalTribe?

AnimalTribe

LzzyIsGod & Joedenise I'm looking forward to experimenting with my pressure cooker when it arrives.
Joedenise I bought a Hawkins Contura 3 Litres Induction Compatible Stainless Steel one. Fingers crossed it works well. I bought it mainly to cut down on the cooking time for dried beans and pulses.

It's been a pretty boring day today. I've done a bit of tidying and went shopping. I have a few people over for lunch tomorrow and I needed some fresh stuff. I also managed some yellow stickered stuff for me and DH. The supermarket had coriander herbs for £1.50 a pot. It isn't just one plant but lots of plantlets so I will plant them outside once I've hardened them off. I've done it successfully with other herb pots in the past 

joedenise

Mine is also a stainless steel one.  I have 3 different sized bodies - 3, 6, 7 litre with a single lid to fit them all.  Means I can choose the size I need for specific needs.  It also came with a glass lid which I mainly use with the 3 litre pan for making things like curries and chilli.

I hope you get a lot of use from it and enjoy using it.

AnimalTribe

Joedenise I was tempted by the 5L, but 3L is enough for me and DH. A 7L must make an enormous amount, very useful to make extra portions for the freezer though.

Lunch was good, and we had some extra unexpected, but welcome, guests turn up. I had to lock the dogs up in a separate part of the house though, as they don't get on with loud toddlers. Although the dogs got some treats when the guests left so their day wasn't all bad. Other than make lunch and clear up after everyone had gone I didn't do anything really, as the day was just filled with people.