Friendly Frugaleers Festive Preparations and Financial Accountability

[Wolfcub]

New Fred

Welcome Me !

Glad most people had a good Christmas. I got the hairy bikers one pot cook book from PILs - love a one-pot recipe, me. I really can’t remember what my first cook book was but I have faaaaarrrrr too many now.

Anyway, I’m back in the land of the living (just).
That cold was (is) something else, I felt much worse than I usually would with a cold. Really feverish and drippy and achy and soooo tired. I was completely wiped out on Christmas Day and only marginally better yesterday. I feel really bad about the fact that we were at PIls and I did absolutely f-all to help MIL. I made it through Christmas lunch but that was me wiped out. I don’t usually cook there but do help with the clean up but I did nothing at all. Whereas MIL hardly sat down all day. And I’ve probably given it to them too

Back home last night after boxing day family lunch with BIL et al. DH was back to work today so I had to look after the DC on my own while still distinctly under the weather . I thought the easy option was taking them to the local park (10 mins walk away if I’m walking alone). What a grave error of judgment that turned out to be! dD insisted on taking her new scooter. She has not worked out how to scoot yet. She would not allow me to tow her. She therefore pushed the bloody thing all the way to the park. Zig-zagging. Backwards. DS was beside himself at going so slowly. I tried to go home about 15 mins in (only having reached the end of our road) but they both started bawling. We made it there 70 mins after leaving home with a few minor meltdowns en route. I was a broken woman. Pushed kids on the swings for a bit then headed home. DD was all out of fight by then so she let me carry her and her scooter all the way home (with DS insisting on crossing the roads back and forth to read every street sign). She is really rather heavy. I am never leaving the house with them again.

Anyway, please excuse that essay, I’m just venting, after plastering on a smile for 3 days!

consolation spend: £70 on posh yarn and a few knitting needles to make gifts for people. I knitted a möbius cowl thingy last night that was really quick and kind of miraculous (a möbius cast-on and then knitted in the round, for any knitters - sheer witchcraft!). I made it with naice yarn and it’s proper squishy and warm and beautiful. It’s for a friend but I wanted to make some for a couple of other people, and matching hats and a set for myself . I feel no guilt. It’s been a pretty crap Christmas.

Supposed to be going out tomorrow night with DH in London for a friend’s birthday. I’m not feeling like it at all, considering bailing out.

Oh now I want more recipe books.

Favourites on my bookshelf are:

The two JO ones I mentioned in my last post
Ching he hung’s Chinese food made easy
The hairy bikers pie book
Anjum anand (I think that’s her name) I love curry and Indian food made easy
Aaaand
Red velvet chocolate heartache by Harry someone or other - all cakes made with veggies. Yumm. A fave from there is an almond and apricot tart. It tastes like Dr Pepper. Also love the courgette cupcakes.

I've been there, Me! I love Northimberland. I've been a few times.

I have borrowed Jack Monroe's books from the library and yes they are good. The carrot and bean burgers are a favourite here and work out costing something crazy like 9p each.

I know what you mean about 15 minute meals. We use that book a lot but to do it in 15 mins usually requires using every single attachment on the food processor and about 6 pans so it might be quick to cook but the washing up takes ages! We often just chop it up with a knife and adapt slightly to the I ingredients we have.

I love HFW's books. I didn't know he had a new one. My favourites are the 2 veggie ones and 3 Good Things.

I also have 2 of Anjum's books. The same one as Em and a veggie one which is great. I adore recipe books. I often sit in bed and look through them when most people would read a novel!

I remember the frustration when dd got her first scooter Sea. Of course now we don't see her for dust! She's due an upgrade actually, that might be a good birthday present.

Should be NSD today. Going to make soup with excess carrots and parsnips and dh is making bread. Delish!

The cookbook I am loving at the moment is Sirocco by Sabrina Ghayour. Persian cooking so different to what we normally cook. It helps that I have found a Persian bakery and grocery store on my way home so I am not bankrupted by all the ingredients made popular by Yotam Ottolenghi.

The other one I love - although not strictly a cook book is The Flavour Thesaurus by Niki Segnit. It matches flavours so I can look at what I have in and take it from there. Who knew that if you add anchovies to a beef stew it tastes more Beefy....so you can add loads more vege and pulses without compromising richness of flavour.

Darlington

Ooh I love “Jerusalem” by ottolenghi. I bought it after visiting Israel a few years ago.

I'd love an Anjum Annand book she's a great cook. My favourites are ones that are books you can read not just cook from, I love reading about food. I started Kitchen Confidential for the millionth time last night. I do however love a Rachael Allen recipe, she has the best quiche.

I think Today will be spent nailing next year's budget before the new year starts.

Sea stay home and rest.

Sea - Dr.Wolf is right. Rest is what is called for. I suspect we are all going to be battered in the public sector as the political promises unravel so take this time to store up resilience.

I am spending the next few days sorting out my goals and how to achieve them. This year I am making them less work related so I can have a safe space to retreat to. I am going to have another go at a bullet journal - an electronic one so I can access it anywhere.

DH is home today at least, so I can farm out the job of exercising the kids while I cook for fake Christmas tomorrow with my side of the family. Posh fish pie and pecan pie, yum.

My most used cook books, in no particular order:

Nigella domestic goddess
Anjum Anand’s Indian food made easy (her North Indian chicken curry is my all time fave)
HFW veg and more veg
Hairy bikers pies
Diana Henry - crazy water, pickled lemons
Rachel Allen Bake
A few soup cook books, including 2x Covent Garden and the EAT! book of soups

I have a load of others that I love to browse through but they don’t necessarily fit with our lifestyle quite so well! I need to have a cull. Space is definitely an issue.

The builder has got in touch with me today to say he’s scheduled our main bathroom for the first week in January - that’s next week! Yikes! I now need to try and buy all the tiles and bathroom fittings in the sale. This week. Small panic.... and we are starting the planning for the main works for the house too. I am really excited at the thought that this time next year we might actually be living in a lovely house that’s as close to our dream as we’ll ever be able to afford (in London, for sure!) . But the upheaval, the project management, the cost.... I have a massive project at work over the next 6 months too. Eek.

I am going to bury my head in the sand right now and cast on my next knitting project - bobble hat for friend to match the cowl scarf thingy. Knitting, yay!

Get plenty of rest sea.
unescorted I hope things won't be as bad in the public sector as I fear, but can't really see a bright side. Worse for dh than me probably, finance BP in the prison service. Unfortunately to appeal to the red wall voters, there's likely to be less money for rehab and more of a lock up & throw away the key attitude.
I like the Hugh FW books, Mary Berry all the way for baking and Good Housekeeping Complete for a great reference book
Arrived in Devon at 1. Got to bed much later, so lie in today. Grey weather here, but hope to get out later.

Christmas Sea- that sounds grim and like what our youngest son had just before Christmas- he had a raging fever and couldn't lift his head for a couple of days, but while he was out and about after that, he's still not 100% even now. I remember reading that if you think (hope) you might have 80+ Christmas days, you are bound to gave a couple of stickers, at least you crossed one of (trying to see bright side for you).

Snuggly- Would you mind sharing the bean/carrot burger recipe? Sounds delish. HFW is at Sage Gateshead soon for free food event, I just got tickets yesterday! Genuinely interested in the topic but also have a massive crush on him -ha!

Life long- you might be interested in event at Sage mentioned above too? Any good/free/cheap days out you would recommend your way with kids? We love Preston Park Museum (which I think is near your neck of the woods) but always looking for new places to explore.

Wolf- I spent the past few days tweaking a budget, looking at goals for the year. Also wrote down what we had a achieved last year which was lovely. Hubby and I managed a cheapo night away on two separate occasions which was a big deal for us, firstly because we couldn't afford it before and also our youngest son became disabled 18 months ago and requires a high level of care (including night), so it has taken a while (understandably) for my parents to feel confident watching him.

Unescourted- because of the above, I feel ill when I think of current political climate and potential (should that be inevitable ) impact on NHS. My son's care is expensive and lifelong and I shudder at what the future might hold.

I won't be spending much/anything today as going to visit an elderly relative, hubby is with kids so unsure what their plans are yet-hopefully nothing to £££.

Tomorrow we are going to Centre for Life in Newcastle but we have annual passes and will take lunch, pretty sure city centre parking free on a Sunday so should be another cheap day.

Hope you are resting up Sea.

We are overdrawn. Not much and it's just because we had a couple of unexpected spends on top of Christmas e.g. new tyre. I have borrowed from our ISA until dh gets paid but actually I think Jan and Feb need to be frugal. We are already planning to eat out of the freezer and cupboards for a couple of weeks and just buy some fresh fruit and milk and so on.

Me I'll have a look for that recipe. Fairly sure it's online. Will they and find it and work out how to post a link ...

I have liberated my ancient breadmaker from the back of the cupboard and am giving it a test.

Ds is supposed to be seeing h but h slept in so now we are hanging around waiting until I can go and drop him off

Unescorted I agree we're in for a bumpy ride. There are lots of rumours and wrangling a about what will be happening to us. Some of which has made it into the news. I'm using this two weeks to steady myself and get my own shit in order ready for the onslaught.

cookingonabootstrap.com/2019/11/01/carrot-kidney-bean-burger-recipe/

Here you go Me!

Okay, I officially love this Hugh "Love your leftovers" book. It's made for frugaleers with a passion for food. Lots of writing too, not just recipes. Here are a couple of pages

Catface is throwing a strop at me. I’m not letting her out of the living room door. If she wants out she has to use the kitchen door. We’re slowly working up to the cat flap. She’s not happy. And is desperate to go outside.

The kitchen door is open. She’s just a bit thick.

We're finally back home from mums, had a good Christmas but it's full on and I feel sorry for my mum who ends up stressed trying to please everyone.

The puppy has a fantastic first Christmas and I imagine will sleep for a week now 😆

Am chilling out for a moment before starting to sort out all the stuff, there seems to be tons of it everywhere!!

Your bug sounds like the one doing the rounds here seacow you poor thing.

I totally agree with all that North, thanks for posting the pics.

I was a bit creative with leftovers last night. We had a lot of sprouts we hadn't cooked at Christmas so I shredded them and stir fried for a few mins then crumbled in the remaining stuffing, added a couple of crushed garlic cloves and mixed it all up before transferring to an ovenproof dish and topping with grated cheese. Baked for 15 minute s or so and it was delicious.

I have also just cleared out the freezer. Only a couple of things were so ancient we chucked them but we reorganised it all and listed what we have. There is enough Bolognese to last us until about Easter plus about 12 pork sausages and 9 Quorn ones, 3 boxes of sliced up overripe bananas for cakes and so on and I gathered almost a whole bag of oven chips by consolidating all the bags that had just a few left in the bottom. We now how quite a lot of space in the freezer and plenty of food to keep up going.

Anybody else up for sharing what they do with leftovers in the spirit of a frugal and non-wasteful start to 2020?

I love a bubble and squeak. Or a Spanish style omelette.

My best leftover food though has to be toast potato soup. Fry onion and garlic in butter (has to be butter). Add chopped roast potatoes. Chicken stock. Blitz. Lots of black pepper and lovely bread to serve.

Dm makes a Christmas dinner soup. Leftover “dodgy” bits of turkey (the bits she’s picked from the carcas) the remaining veggies and potatoes and turkey stock. Crumbles crispy bacon over it. Yummo.

I’ve also made a turkey and stuffing pie before. Mmmmm.

We have bitten the bullet. And have started potty training ds. Dh took him into town for a haircut. And popped into george and bought 20 pairs of pants.

Ds was excited about his new pants. So I struck while the iron was hot and whipped his nappy off and pants on. We shall see how this goes.

Ds has just helped me sort laundry into four baskets. Mine dhs his and dds. We’ve put his away. Have given dhs to him to put away.

Have also squashed all the cardboard into the recycling box.

That sprouts creation sounds lovely snuggly. Last night we had fajitas with onion, pepper, turkey, lumps of stuffing & Cajun seasoning. Served it with wraps, lettuce, cheese & yoghurt. Was delish. Also made stock from turkey bones, added leftover veg, lentils, blitzed it, lots of lovely soup.
DH and I often have small portions of the previous night's tea to take to work for lunch.

I take leftovers to work too.

Potty training here too Em. So far so good!

I will have a look at that event me. I'm currently in Gateshead at the skate park.

How old are your DC and I will list some days out. Preston park is canny. The cafe in the park isn't that good do we take a pic nic everywhere . Butterfly world is over priced imo. The skatepark there gets very busy. The little street is nice and they're is a yes ship which is tastey.

Wow, some of those food ideas are great and sound delish. Inspired to use left over Christmas ham in wraps as that will be a quick and easy dinner for tonight. We do PP a lot in summer as often has cool free craft stuff, only done BW once, like you say thought it was £££ for what it was.

Emem- good luck! Feel I need to crack on with getting our twins dry through the night. Not sure how it will pan out as eldest still bed wet on/off until about 9, middle boy was dry day and night by under 2 so not sure where they will be. It's complicated as son's disability can cause bedwetting and also hubby or I often bed share with him to keep an eye on him overnight (we got him a double for this reason), don't really fancy the idea of being woken up covered in wee when we already have to check him several times through the night. Daughter (other twin) has had 5 nights in a row dry previously, but then just went back to wetting all the time. Not sure if I should wait until warmer weather for line drying but seems a bit pointless if their nappies are still mainly wet.

Lifelong- they are 15, nearly 7 and 5(x2-twins).

I will get that from the library I think but I try not to have left overs.

I use mine for pizza dough more than actual bread wolf as I don't like the way it bakes. Though the pannatone was nice but too dark.

Nàtional trust places all around the north east are lovely.
Hardwick park, wynnard park and castle Eden walk way. Especially if they're is something on at the observetory.
Salt burn is a lovely beach and chip shop
We like hall hill farm too. Not particularly cheap but a nice day. This is Durham web site sometimes do vouchers.
Rspb saltholme is nice. Primary times usually do a free parking voucher.
Shildon railway museum is nice too. Smaller brother of York.
The Swedish shop play ground is always popular too. It's obv not intended as such but my DC used to love a day out in IKEA.
Beamish is totally worth the annual pass fee though it's not cheap in the beginning.

Will keep thinking.

Mine are 10&12 so in between yours.