MSE blog 2008

MushyPeas

Well, I have wasted time... well not wasted really (I feel guilty sometimes abut MSE time)..... reading the fabulous Weezl's threads today. When I popped into town to go to the Post Office I didn't buy any food. Looking at the lovely meals W makes, I thought I could do the same this week. Here's my food for the week, as posted on the mealplan thread:

Monday
B: Porridge with linseed, raisins & milk (all items out of date! :eek:)
L: chick pea and potato curry from last night with spinach and more chick peas added
lentil soup (from freezer)

Tuesday
B: Porridge... + baked apple
L: lentil soup (FF)
pasta, roasted veg (cubed in freezer), sundried tomato paste, tin of plum tomatoes & apple crumble (using new ramekins)

Wednesday (now home all day)
B: not hungry
L: store cupboard cous cous - so far I have to add: stuffed olives, raisins, toasted pinenuts, sundried tomato paste
veg chilli (FF)

Thursday
B: Porridge... + baked apple
L: store cupboard cous cous
chips & baked beans

Friday
B: Oatibix (to use up - eurgh, don't like them really, but waste not want not)
L: Lentil soup (FF)
chips & baked beans

Ooh, almost organised! Now the question is.... do I get the veg out the freezer now to defrost BEFORE roasting, or just bung straight into the oven from freezer? Not sure!

*EDIT*
Had to update as now stuck in snow, not going to the smoke and not going out for dinner. Problem is, since Christmas I've been using all the food up in my house so I'm almost running on empty!!!! :eek:

MushyPeas

Just calculated, I sold three books today and made £7.29 profit - woooo :T. Won't list anymore until I have anymore envelopes .

MushyPeas

Ooh well it's brrrrrr cold today, but still not putting the heating on .

Today's money saving actions:
* meals from out of date items in cupboard or freezer
* heating OFF (brrrrr!)
* trying washing on 30 degrees, rather than usual 40

MSE tips:
* sprout your own seeds
* turn down the iron a notch

Breakfast porridge with apple was yummy! Glad I tried it and helps towards my 5 a day.

Will update at the day progresses.

Ooh and I'm loving skype, hopefully it will save me loads of dosh .

MushyPeas

Ooh snow, snow, snow! So can't get out to travel to the smoke. Trying not to put the heating on

Today's MSE actions:
* Only ironed the clothes I'll be seen in public in
* Switched iron off for last item of clothes and lowered temperature
* NO heating on all day (very proud)
* When having problems with boiler and running lots of water saved it so I can use it later (milk bottles)
* Using up more out of date food!

MSE tips:
* Monitor your portion sizes with Perfect Portions guide
* Put foil behind radiators to reflect heat

Early to bed for me, poor OH got stuck at work last night so he's very tired

Night x

MushyPeas

It's a cold day again today, but I'm one of the lucky ones who hasn't been snowed in. Here's today's list to keep me motivated:

Today's MSE actions:
* No heating on - all day - kept warm in the evening by failing at baking
* not pre-heating oven and turning it off for last 5 minutes

MSE tips:
* Not to buy anymore mouthwash
* add lentils to cooking to bulk out
* reading Weezl's fabulous threads and saving some recipes

Night night!

MushyPeas

Ruddy nora it's cold!

Working from home today, well as I have been all week. Wish I could be one of the lucky people sent home from work and chilling! Hey ho. To keep me on the straight and narrow, here are my plans for today:

Today's to do list:
* Fly in kitchen
* TRA 6 hours
* TRA invoices
* Text students

Today's MSE actions:
* Try and keep heating off - but it's cold! brrrrrrr
* Only boiling enough water in kettle
* Continue to read Weezl's thread to get some cooking ideas
* Take out food in freezer to slow cook a dinner and then defrost / clean freezer
* Using a bowl as a lid when heating soup a) saves energy and b) warms up the bowl

Top MSE tips:
* none - as yet!

Stay warm peeps

MushyPeas

Another lovely MSE style day, today's achievements:

* not having heating on :eek:
* popping to the shops (very brave) and buying lots of frugal items
* batch cooking chick peas in the slow cooker, ready to drain and then put in freezer
* cleaned out freezer ready for all yummy food I'll be cooking (and using any hot water I'd heated for other jobs such as boiling chick peas rather than boiling kettle especially)
* tidying out my kitchen cuboard and decanting supplements I'm taking into a tub so I can cut up and use the pots to grow some chillis
* finally did a bit of flying.. but now my back hurts


Top MSE tips of the day:
* make sure you keep you fridge well stocked as it saves energy (mine is often empty)
* garlic powder is cheaper than the real thing
* a price book is a useful tool

Now eating freezer leftovers.. Yorkshire pudding and mushy peas anyone?!

MushyPeas

Just planning what I'm going to cook over the next few days.

Sunday
Morning: potato, chickpea & spinach curry
Afternoon: beef stew - don't forget the dumplings!

Monday
Day: lentil soup with carrots & potatoes

Mmm that then leaves me some carrots, onions and potatoes left over. I'm due to go away for a few days Tues afternoon so will have to figure out freezing them so they don't go to waste

MushyPeas

Well, today I batch cooked some chick peas in my slow cooker for the first time. They're cooling down ready to go in the freezer so I thought I'd calculate my saving.

Serving: approx 5 portions of 240 g (equivalent to 400 g tin drained can weight)
Cost = £0.79
Equivalent tin cost = £0.16 bargain
Compared to £0.45 per tin I saved £1.45 :T

Not a lot, but every penny counts and if buy them cheaper dried, such as Natco it will work out even cheaper :cool:.

I think I'll start keeping a frugal savings total... da daaaaa it's £1.45

MushyPeas

I'm having a very productive day today, so far I've:

* hoovered the flat
* changed the bed
* slow cooked a batch of chickpea and potato curry
* moved printer from study so I can use it on the dining room table (guess I should get around to sorting out the study!)
* sorted out all the cardboard I had for recycling, it was in 4 huge bags taking up lots of space, but I've flattened it all so it's in one manageable bag
* caught up with family and friends on the phone
* not turned the heating on

So feeling quite pleased with myself as I'm not normally that productive! Thank you to the flylady and frugal threads for keeping me motivated

Quick lunch and then onto clean the bathroom, wash-up and start on the next batch cooking in the slow cooker.