No-spend January/Frugal February - the no-spend challenge continues

[roguepixie]

OK - am attempting to start the second thread ... hope this works.

rhubarb goes unbelieveably wonderfully with mackerel.

My mum always made rhubarb jam as we had loads of rhubarb growing in the garden. I really fancy that now. Lovely and tangy.
I only started making crumbles last year. I'm Belgian and although I have lived in the UK for over a decade I had never thought of making it. What a discovery! We have apple crumble at least once a week (with icecream for a nice hot and cold thing). I can see the DC craving this as a comfort food when they are grownups :)
Nigel Slater made this caramel and rhubarb on his show a while ago and I've been waiting for rhubarb season to make it.

should be easier than going to each blog post! I like that site, thanks for recommending moo! It's like flylady minus the "improve yourself from an initial state of worthlessness due to being simply a woman" undertone.

Btw, I mentioned the organizedhome book (cut the clutter). It is fab. It is way too full of tips and lists for me too write down, so I will have to buy it sometime.

although there is either something wrong with those pdf files or my printer doesn't want me to get the kitchen organised. They are coming out blank whether I print in grayscale or default colour, whether off the website or from downloaded docs... anyone else successfully printed them? (recently)

I will try now, hold on

I have just printed this one and it has come off fine. organizedhome.com/sites/default/files/printable/notebook_food_inventory_pantry.pdf

Can you save it and then print it, not sure what else to suggest. Or maybe try putting organized home into google or suchlike and access them that way rather than through my link

Have done it both ways without success. Must be problem at my end of the pipe. hmmmm

I could post you some if you want to PM me your address

I can only print while I'm in work though as my printer at home has died

Dear god I wouldn't hear of it but that is very generous of you! I don't keep an IT manager for a husband for nothing, though.

Printed out fine here. From my iPad too. Are you out of ink perhaps?

Nope, I've printed other things from file. I think it's an Adobe problem on this machine. Will send to DH.

I don't have time in the morning to make lunch for work (I am up and out the house for 6am and not getting up earlier to make lunch) So I have started making a couple of pots of something on a Sunday, one large pasta pot salad or couscous type salad - I had a peep in M&S for some ideas and then went to the greengrocer. I then make a large vat of soup for the week.

This week I made leek and potato and Curried parsnip soup, both had 2 and a half liters of stock added to make them go a bit further.

The salad was broad bean and feta with bits and peices added for colour.

I out them in pots in the fridge so it was just grab two pots and off to work.

This week I have 10 chicken drum sticks to roast, a melon to chop up into 5 peices and place in freezer bags in the fridge and pop corn to make (dd2 has a popcorn maker) I got some onion granules to sprinkle on the pop corn and some smoked paprika. It will all be bagged up and ready to go.

Big shop day today, £195 in Asda, and that was without fruit and veg which I will get at Morrisons on Sunday. Did get ds a birthday present and some clothes so normal shop was about £165 which is for 2 adults and 4 kids.
Then had DD1's first cello payment come out of bank at £47, only 8 more to go and her only 16th present is paid off.

Bought DD3 a new swim costume for £4 off Ebay so I can now try and sell her old ones and will be posting loads with the no-selling fees this weekend
Also have someone coming to see some reusable nappies I have for sale on gumtree so could have £100 by tonight

My goodness this thread is moving quickly! Thank you for all the well wishes on the boy, I am very excited. I'm sorry can't look back at who asked (on phone) but I'm due mid July, 6 days after my birthday actually! Best birthday gift ever!

The pizza recipes are great, think I'll try reckoner's and see how it goes. I'm great at cooking things I already know how to make but seem to be rubbish with new recipes

I am of those of you doing eBay. As I moved countries last summer in sort of a panic I honestly have nothing to sell except perhaps books, which I don't imagine sell too well.

Lexi rhubarb and mackerel - do share how that works! Love both.

Deb75 after school activities payments - ouch...it feels like every time we turn around it's another hundred pounds between the two of them for something...

woohoo, I ordered DD birthday present from Hollister(in the sale) and was prepared to pay the £10 delivery charge as that was cheaper than getting the train to Birmingham. Well it doesn't look like they have charged me for delivery ! So that can go in my Xmas fund

baked mackerel with rhubarb and orange sauce - basically you make a stewed rhubarb sauce/coulis and the tartness (which you can sweeten to your taste) cuts through the oily fish and matches the strength of the flavour.

or this which seems simpler than the above, and I think is the one I previously used.

Mackerel is so cheap compared to other fish and it is amazingly good for you.

Lexi - Ebay free weekend starts Saturday 21st and ends Sunday 22nd (January). As far as I know it starts at 00:01 on Saturday morning and finishes at 23:59 on Sunday night.

Just marking my place, will catch up properly later.

Right. Just banked cheque from one new client so feeling virtuous and then got paid in cash by another one ... and I managed to get home without spending any of it .

When I popped in to bank the cheque I also went to John Lewis as I need a new fitted sheet for my bed, to replace one that has started to wear through. Had a look and they were really expensive so I am dragging a white one out of the cupboard and using that. I will wait for the next set of sales before I buy another one - or perhaps have a look in TKMaxx (do they do sheets????)

Making a roganjosh curry tonight. Will need to buy some naan at the shop and a small pot of yoghurt (should be under £2.50). I did spend £30 today on topping up my oyster card but seeing as I am whizzing around seeing clients I need to have a few £'s on it

I have a pizza dough recipe but it is for a bread maker (with dough option). Am happy to post it here if anyone wants it? Would work if made by hand but you would need to leave it to prove.

No supermarket spend for me this week (for the first time in years) . Will need to get a few veggies and some fruit this weekend but not too much.

roguepixie not sure how you feel about Primark or Matalan but both do reasonably priced flat sheets or valance sheets

Has everyone discovered the supersavvyme website for coupons and free samples of Proctor and Gamble products? I have just signed up for an Olay trial and some free toothpaste. I wanted coupons too, but I couldn't get the buggers to print.

Here