And so it begins: The Pig Vs The Mortgage

Evening:wave:

Today has felt like a bit of a whirl but I've achieved more than I'd hoped and feel less daunted about my list of to dos than I did yesterday:D
As I woke early I got my cakes in and done before I went to see dad which was great as it got me a bit ahead of schedule. As dad was bit weary I actually read for a long while whilst he snoozed and watched TV which gave me a nice rest as well as keeping him company:)

Once home I focussed on food prep annd;

Chargrilled 3kg of chicken ready for curry assembly ( this way I could freeze the sauces ahead without meat or dairy added so I can freeze any leftovers)

Iced and filled the work cakes (one chocolate - filled with the last of the jam made with ys plums and one lemon filled with freezer lemon curd made with ys lemons)

Filled dd's birthday cake with jam and butter cream and covered it in fondant icing.

Made two pavlovas (one will be Irish cream and the other summer fruits), sherry trifle (still my fave:)) and white chocolate cheesecake

Defrosted Rogan josh , korma , tikka masala and Thai yellow sauces

Put chickpea and peach curry in the sc overnight

Mse triumps inluded;

Used some leftover border from school to go round the cake

Found metallic candles from her 18th and will resuse rather than buying special ones

Picked the raspberries out of a bag of frozen fruit for the trifle base and used some of the rest to fold through cream for a pavlova topping. I've got some free blackberries to decorate it with. Cost about a £1 so much more thrifty than fresh.

Froze the egg yolks from the pavlova (couldn't face making custard:o) individually with a bit of sugar to use as egg wash.

Made butter cream with 1/2 butter and half beautifully butterly - it tastes no different


Had a nsd:)

So far my celebration on a shoestring is shaping up ok:). Just got hm naans , rice and Bombay potatoes to do tomorrow and some chocolate brownies if I have time.

Off to bed now as I'm pooped:)

PP xx

rtandon27 wrote: »

PP - you are such a lovely mama to go through all the effort to do a wonderful meal for DD!

As always your productivity is inspiring!!!

Hi RT :wave: and thank you. I didn't want her special day to go unmarked and luckily she's her mother's daughter - wanted it at home and not some upmarket eatery:rotfl:
On top of things now but I'm definitely having a lazy weekend next week!!
Hope you're well xx

Evening :wave:

Is it only Tuesday?:rotfl: My weekend was so busy it feels like a long time since I had a lazy day. I'm going to make up for it this weekend:D

Moneywise it's been a pretty good week. I had a ns weekend as I avoided contingency buying which was the right thing to do as there was plenty of food and I ended up with more drink than I started with:D. My only spends this week have been filling the car with fuel.
I had a bit of a windfall as Highways England have finally coughed up for the damage to my car which was almost certainly caused by pot holes. £256 :j

In terms of well being I need to get a grip, too many late nights, not drinking enough water, too much food and only one run since last Wednesday:eek: Must try harder and now we have a clear routine with Dad I can get into a routine.

Today's small steps to freedom and success included;

Laundry done and on the airer

Cheap, healthy eats (porridge for breakfast, lo Thai curry for lunch and !o Rogan josh for dinner)

A nsd

Swallowed a frog - phone call

Arranged for boiler to be fixed (insured phew!!)

Had new water meter fitted. It looks like the spike in usage was a misread due to condensation on the old meter (phew again !)

Classroom tidy and resources ready for tomorrow. Marking up to date. I seriously must keep this up as it takes so much pressure off.

Kids on great form

I'm off to bed - time to refocus on my health and wellbeing:)

Happy Tuesday to you:)

PP xx