My turn to host coffee for a group of friends tomorrow morning and we have friends stopping off on their way to the ferry in the evening so I've been having a bit of a bake-a-thon.perfect for such a miserable grey day.
Have soaked fruit for a tea loaf which I'll bake in the morning along with some scones,and have made a carrot cake and some chocolate and walnut brownies-never made these before, they're from a Mary Berry book so fingers crossed!
Just got to stop the rabble from scoffing them!
Wednesday, 13 February 2013
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Brrrr!
Snow beginning to thaw now and a lovely sunny day on the Wirral :)
still a bit chilly thought so have made a massive pan of veg chilli for tonights meal which has also used up the wrinkly bits of veg lurking in the fridge!
Basically I chop everything up small and fry slowley in a dollop of olive oil with cumin seeds chilli flakes and lots of garlic.Once its softened I add a tin of kidney beans,a tin of tomatoes and a tin of baked beans and leave to simmer away.We'll have it with baked potatoes and there should be some left for tomorrow and we'll have it with tortillas and bits sort of like fajitas.
Mabel braving the frozen wastes!!
still a bit chilly thought so have made a massive pan of veg chilli for tonights meal which has also used up the wrinkly bits of veg lurking in the fridge!
Basically I chop everything up small and fry slowley in a dollop of olive oil with cumin seeds chilli flakes and lots of garlic.Once its softened I add a tin of kidney beans,a tin of tomatoes and a tin of baked beans and leave to simmer away.We'll have it with baked potatoes and there should be some left for tomorrow and we'll have it with tortillas and bits sort of like fajitas.
Wednesday, 9 January 2013
New year,new rules!
found out today that the hubbie is having to take a pay cut of £7,000 a year!
His job is changing slightly and in many ways its good as his hours will be more predictable,he's often working 2 to 3 hours extra at the end of a day for no extra pay(he's a gas engineer and doesn't leave a breakdown till it's fixed)and it will be less stressful so less risk of him having a stroke or heart attack!
My job at M and S is over now and whilst I'd like to find something else our son takes his GCSE's this year and I feel I need to be about for him,he has autism and I think I need to be about for the next 6 months.
So........
Lots of penny pinching!We have a nasty overdraft to clear of about £1/000 and a credit card of about the same,the heatings been turned off,showers rationed and baths banned!Eating from the freezer till its empty,and my huge stockpiled pantry.Luckily the hens are laying again,hopefully we won;t get egg bound!We both enjoy a glass of wine but thats off the menu too!
So I'm guessing we'll be a lot healthier in 2013,especially as I'll also be cycling everywhere!!
His job is changing slightly and in many ways its good as his hours will be more predictable,he's often working 2 to 3 hours extra at the end of a day for no extra pay(he's a gas engineer and doesn't leave a breakdown till it's fixed)and it will be less stressful so less risk of him having a stroke or heart attack!
My job at M and S is over now and whilst I'd like to find something else our son takes his GCSE's this year and I feel I need to be about for him,he has autism and I think I need to be about for the next 6 months.
So........
Lots of penny pinching!We have a nasty overdraft to clear of about £1/000 and a credit card of about the same,the heatings been turned off,showers rationed and baths banned!Eating from the freezer till its empty,and my huge stockpiled pantry.Luckily the hens are laying again,hopefully we won;t get egg bound!We both enjoy a glass of wine but thats off the menu too!
So I'm guessing we'll be a lot healthier in 2013,especially as I'll also be cycling everywhere!!
Saturday, 15 December 2012
crazy!
I've been doing the christmas job stint at m and s,and am truly shocked at how much money people throw at the festive season!Hundreds of people spending hundreds of pounds on nonsense such as ready prepared veg you microwave in individual portions!I know the stuff is good quality and I wouldn't have a job if people didn't shop there but it seems slightly immoral when we live near some of the most deprived areas in the country.The town the shop is in is in an affluent little town full of footballers wives who probably don't know how to peel a sprout or roast a potato,it just seems so wasteful!
We'll be having 9 for Christmas dinner and it will be home grown veg(some frozen earlier in the year plus cabbage and sprouts from the garden and potatoes grown in sacks on the patio)my mother in law provides a turkey crown for the meat eaters and my sis in law is doing the nut roast this year,all in all probably costing what the folk I've met recently spend on a starter!
(m and s are great employers btw!!!)
(don't want to be sacked just yet!!)
We'll be having 9 for Christmas dinner and it will be home grown veg(some frozen earlier in the year plus cabbage and sprouts from the garden and potatoes grown in sacks on the patio)my mother in law provides a turkey crown for the meat eaters and my sis in law is doing the nut roast this year,all in all probably costing what the folk I've met recently spend on a starter!
(m and s are great employers btw!!!)
(don't want to be sacked just yet!!)
Friday, 30 November 2012
Sunshine!
After all that rain how lovely to have a crisp winter day!took the woofers for a run on the marsh,with a lovely view of North Wales.
So lovely to be out and about,read an article that said you need to be outside for an hour a day in the winter and its as effective as a dose of prozac!Don't know how accurate that is but felt pretty good to me!!The chickens enjoyed the pause in the rain and even managed a dust bath in the empty greenhouse!
Looks like cold sunny weather for the weekend so shall be out as much as possible.
So lovely to be out and about,read an article that said you need to be outside for an hour a day in the winter and its as effective as a dose of prozac!Don't know how accurate that is but felt pretty good to me!!The chickens enjoyed the pause in the rain and even managed a dust bath in the empty greenhouse!
Looks like cold sunny weather for the weekend so shall be out as much as possible.
Monday, 26 November 2012
frugal fun
despite the wet 'n' windy weather gathered the dogs up and wrapped and waterproofed myself and went for a yomp in the woods,took a rucksack with cake and a flask of hot chocolate,but sadly forgot the camera!dogs are now flat out and I feel that I've blown away the cobwebs!Shall defrost some spicy butternut squash soup for this evenings meal,mmmm!
Thursday, 15 November 2012
skint!
payday today and once i'd allocated money for direct debits,savings and money to daughter at uni, we have exactly £23.17 to last the month!However cupboards are stocked, there are cabbages and leeks in the garden,the freezer is full and i have a sack of spuds.Most importantly there is enough food for all the critters for the month!
I start a christmas job at m and s on monday so that should cover the silly seasons needs as big daughter and her boyfriend will be here.
Also am making up little hampers as pressies with jam and chutney from the autumn and planning to make some mini christmas cakes.Can't believe that it's only 6 weeks to go but can't wait to have all my family in one place :)
I start a christmas job at m and s on monday so that should cover the silly seasons needs as big daughter and her boyfriend will be here.
Also am making up little hampers as pressies with jam and chutney from the autumn and planning to make some mini christmas cakes.Can't believe that it's only 6 weeks to go but can't wait to have all my family in one place :)
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