2026 Frugal Living Challenge

Viking_mfw

@prudent Crown Prince squash are excellent. Taste quite chestnutty. They make really good curry and really good soup. 

AmyinIraq

I’m picking up a 2 good 2 go bag from Costa tonight because I’m working late, first time picking up from there, not sure what to expect. 

It’s been good reading people’s tips about dried beans and pulses, does anyone have advice for how to cook them without a pressure cooker?  (I don’t have one due to a nasty accident with one in Iraq, long story!). I’ve tried to cook dried beans and chickpeas with limited success, no matter how long I cook them for they always seem to stay pretty firm. 

ShazzaDazza

AmyinIraq said:

I’m picking up a 2 good 2 go bag from Costa tonight because I’m working late, first time picking up from there, not sure what to expect. 

It’s been good reading people’s tips about dried beans and pulses, does anyone have advice for how to cook them without a pressure cooker?  (I don’t have one due to a nasty accident with one in Iraq, long story!). I’ve tried to cook dried beans and chickpeas with limited success, no matter how long I cook them for they always seem to stay pretty firm. 

I dont have a pressure cooker. My version is I soak in plenty of cold water over night at least 8hrs I find. The peas or beans swell. Then I change water and i boil in a saucepan until cooked. lots of non pressure cooker advice online via reputable sites...
Good luck!
I find my beans or peas are definitely firmer than the canned versions 
x

maryb

There was a tip (I think on another thread) by Pipney Jane - after soaking, freeze them overnight before cooking.  They swell and it softens them

kimwp

I soak mine overnight (could be 20 hours) and have tried simmering them for several hours after the initial boil, I find them still quite firm (though I think the older they get, the longer they have to be simmered?)

Certainly not the softness of the jars of garbanzos in Spain, nom nom.

Arrietty

Morning all,

rain again here today but yes @ShazzaDazza I have also noticed the light is creeping back in the evenings and it also seemed slightly less dark when I left for work this morning - still appreciating those who have left their twinkly lights up 

My NSD streak is over!
I had a lovely time shopping in BigBugs yesterday - had my list typed out in my notes and had also made sure to unlock any special offers or items with additional points.  I was very good though and did NOT buy things I didn't need... apart from the block of Red Leicester which it turns out already had a twin at the back of my fridge. I'll find a use for it - never yet has cheese gone to waste!

I spent £11.27 on household items and £58.99 on food/grocery items.  Total spend of £70.26 but I used my CC which had a £10.25 credit on it due to cashback earned last year so my actual spend was £60.01p which I think was pretty good.  I came home with 3 good sized bags of food and will do some batch cooking at the weekend. 
I got a coupon for double points on fuel and now have £5.38 in points.  

Feeling extremely virtuous today   

mumtoomany

Well shopping was ok. Got some bargains. We now have 30 blocks of butter in the freezer £1 each. 8 boxes of mince pies, 20p each, 2 packs of biscuits 20p each, 3 packs crackers 10p each, and 4 packs of welsh cakes 20p each. 29 apples for £1 and 11 bananas for £1. 36 packs of Seabrook crisps for £2.10. And this years Christmas pudding is now sitting waiting for December. Other reductions that i can't remember.

Total spend on all the above and other stuff, mostly needed was, £65.76. Bring the grocery shopping for the year to date to £69.06. Not to bad for half way through the month. We also got redex, because lidl had it in, £19.96. A tube of no nails type stuff that OH needed, £2.29.

I also got a phone. We are getting fibre broadband next week. Only been waiting for 5 years, since the village got it! We are going to ditch the land-line phone,  it only gets used a couple of times a week. I had no mobile, so have now bought a basic one. £24 including £10 credit. I used the Tesco vouchers, so only paid £14.

 Will go and update my signature.

Hugs, mumtoomany.xx 

PipneyJane

Greying_Pilgrim said:

mumtoomany - I know you were having this red kidney beans convo with PipneyJane - but have I misremembered or do you have a fArmf00ds near to you?  I have noticed that our local FF has - for several months - been stocking pulses, specifically la1la brand - ours have (or have had); chickpeas, red kidney beans, red lentils, channa dhal and black eyed beans, in 1kg bags for 99p.  BUT I have only been lucky enough to get BE beans once - and i purchased the last 2 bags on the shelf.  I thought it might be a 'one time gig', but our store appeared to restock (although not the BE beans 😭).  There seem to have the red kidney and red lentils quite often.  I am sure shops differ in layout,  but I've found these bags on the shelf above the more 'world foods' frozen veg - think okra and frozen ginger.  On the shelf there is usually the tinned chickpeas, or tinned cannellini beans (whatever they've got to shift), chopped tomatoes (NOT the 12 packs - more likely the tins they have at 3 for £1 or whatever), and the shelf runs on into oils - veg oil, olive oil etc.  

Naturally there's no guarantee they would have the beans in stock - but perhaps you could ask if they have them - La1la brand, 1kg bags, 99p

HTH.  Keep up the good work!  Greying X

Thanks @Greying_Pilgrim.  I’ll have to explore.  Do you know, I don’t think I’ve ever bean to a branch of Farmf00ds?  It’s only recently that they’ve opened a branch anywhere near us.

- Pip

Greying_Pilgrim

PipneyJane - they tend to be a bit 'jumble sale-esque' in layout.  They firmly remind me of the cheap and cheerful N3tt0 stores of the late 90's, early 00's in their layout.  These 1kg bags of pulses weren't where some of the promotional 'world foods' are displayed eg 10kg bags of rice/chappati flour - which is normally by or near to the door.  These bags were slung displayed on very narrow shelves that hover over the freezers.  But they have always been with other world foods, so tinned beans, tinned chickpeas (3 for £1), ghee, balsamic vinegars, oils, pasta (small bags) etc.  Which makes me think they weren't just a 'job lot' to get rid of. 

Anyway, only worth looking out for if you're going anyway (just in case they're not universally stocked), and/or asking about when you're in-store if you can't find them.  The bargains are still in FF, but you have to hunt them down - some of the stuff  (esp branded) is as dear as the leading supermercados...... 😉 You have to be selective and/or go regularly to tap into bargains 'most' visits - imho.  I don't go regularly as it's not a location that I'm in very often to make journeys cost effective.

Greying X

PipneyJane

AmyinIraq said:

I’m picking up a 2 good 2 go bag from Costa tonight because I’m working late, first time picking up from there, not sure what to expect. 

It’s been good reading people’s tips about dried beans and pulses, does anyone have advice for how to cook them without a pressure cooker?  (I don’t have one due to a nasty accident with one in Iraq, long story!). I’ve tried to cook dried beans and chickpeas with limited success, no matter how long I cook them for they always seem to stay pretty firm. 

I would definitely freeze soaked dried chickpeas before cooking them @AmyinIraq.  The freezing makes all the difference, because when the water expands inside them, it breaks down the cell walls.  You will get a far creamier result.  (My HM hummus is definitely creamier if the chickpeas are frozen after soaking.)

Soak for at least 12 hours, then freeze.  If you aren’t using a pressure cooker, bring the frozen beans or chickpeas to the boil and boil hard for 10 minutes - to breakdown toxins -  then turn down and simmer until cooked (approximately 1.5-2 hours for kidney beans; 2-3 hours for chickpeas).  Don’t add salt - it toughens their skins.  If you need to top up the cooking water, boil the kettle first and add boiling water.

HTH

- Pip