Living on next to nought - is that the key?

Good Morning :hello:

I'm in a bit of a rush, so this will be quick. But as a quick answer re Yoghurt photos, I will post a photo of the finished yoghurt - whether it is an unqualified disastrous grey mess, or something that looks vaguely like the stuff in a shop. I won't post 'making' photos though I'll be starting the yoghurt off this evening.

Today I have to buy milk, bananas and a TV listings guide. The last thing is a luxury - I'm wondering whether we should forgo it for a couple of months to put into the key fund. I'll see if there is a solution. I mean technically the info is online/on your TV, but it's so handy in mag form....... All expenditure today is budgeted for.

I have been out to look at, encourage and water the lettuces. They have grown overnight (I kid you not) and the 'hot' salad leaves have particularly started to grow strongly.

Right, I've snap boxes and coffee flasks to finish off preparing.

Oh, and just to restore a modicum of decorum to the thread, would viewers of the above photo kindly avert their eyes away from the carrots, and instead concentrate on the 2 smiley faces on the potatoes nearest the camera.........Thank you. :rotfl:

Thank you for reading.

Greying

beanielou wrote: »

You can pick up a TV mag for about 40p which wont break the bank too much

See now Beanielou, that is great advice, because that is in effect what I ended up doing. I looked at the price of the 3 mags and went 'down a brand' (well, 2 actually) and bought the mag that was 52p. It lists TV progs (doesn't do radio progs unfortunately) and means that I have the mag, plus £1 to put in the key fund :money:

Piquant wrote: »

I think you're allowed a TV mag, you're not serving a punishment here. You are quite right Piq, a money saving or debt busting journey is not about sack cloth and ashes. Thanks for reminding us.

Lovely smiley faces on the potatoes but what is the carrot next to the sexy carrot doing? I don't know and hadn't *seen* it until you mentioned it :eek: :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Upsidedown_Bear wrote: »

:eek::eek::rotfl:

ETA
Sorry, must have missed the bit about "a modicum of decorum"....:p

In my best schoolmarmish voice and with rapid clapping, 'smiley faces, people, smiley faces........' :rotfl::rotfl:


Right, now today has been great. So where do I start.

Um, I found 10p in 'roadkill' (2x5p). And as described above, saved a £ so that's gone into the key fund.

The seedlings are growing still. There are also signs that the beetroot is starting to germinate and one of the corianders.

For dinner we had; Saag aloo, colourful spiced cabbage and lentil dhal. All were tasty, not 'hot' spicy so actually very nice to eat in this hot weather. The potatoes, cabbage and onion were from yesterday's grocery delivery, so another low cost meal for us. Yay! The saag aloo was a 'Hairy Bikers' recipe from their curry book. The BBC don't seem to of done that as a series yet, despite the book being out ages. Perhaps it will be on in the autumn or something - assuming the TV have optioned it. The cabbage recipe was Reza Mohammed, from his book that tied in with the 'Spice Prince' series on Food network. Neither of these recipes seems to be on the net anywhere, so I can't provide a link. I got both books on loan from the library. The lentil dhal was the recipe I always use (originally Australian) and it was a pot from the freezer, so a reasonably quick to prepare dinner too.

Ummm, now I'm trying to think was there something else.... erm nope I don't think so.

So, my 3 things I'm..............................STOP.

I remembered.

I had a go at making yoghurt this evening.

Quick summary, I bought some whole milk from Ald* for £1. I used 500ml to make yoghurt and topped the bottle back up with water. It is still probably a bit too 'creamy' for our taste, I could dilute it further I think.

I heated the milk up and put in some milk powder. The recipe said 25g, but I only had 14g without opening up a new packet. as it's optional, I just put in 14g. You then have to let it cool down the temp the yoghurt cultures will work at. All the advice on the web is that this is the boring bit and takes agggeeeesss. I figured in the warm weather it may take even longer. It didn't. I got a bit caught out and I think I *may* of let it go a bit too cool. However, I stirred in the starter yoghurt and it has gone into a pre-warmed flask.

I am going to be good and not open it until the morning. If it's gone wrong, it's gone wrong.

I will however, (whatever the outcome) have another go at this. I'm not convinced that the recipe I followed was correct. It called for 3 tbsps of starter, whereas everywhere else on the web called for far less per 500ml of milk. Counter-intuitively, more starter does not make thicker yoghurt, it apparently splits it and you get whey and cheese! I know what recipe I shall use next time. I did enjoy having a go. I hope something edible comes out of this effort - even though it has cost only a few pennies to make. But I think I may well be hooked.

Now, the 3 things I am grateful for today;

- bloggers. It was because someone blogged about lime trees and collecting lime blossom to dry for tea - showing pictures, that I have realised that trees that I walk past regularly are in fact, lime trees - there are 7 of them. I think they make good honey too - the trees were literally humming with insect life today.

- the internet. How would we be able to acquire such a broad range of skills, so quickly without it?

- my 'dishwasher'. Experimentation is so much easier when someone does the dishes afterwards.

Thank you for reading.

See y'all soon.

Greying