Lockdown (almost) over and frugalling continues!

[ememem84]

New thread. All welcome

The school thing is making me fidgety too! Between us, my household goes/works at four schools in September 😬

Unescorted WHAT HAVE YOU DONE??!!

I made your Anzac cookies this morning. I did not need to know how good they are . And I can’t shake off the hovering DS either. Really sorry about the job too (I’ve not posted for about a week so am v behind!)

Love what a nightmare - the changing rules are such a pain at the moment. How would YOU feel if you couldn’t have a reception with guests (never mind extended family’s feelings) - would you be okay or would you want to postpone? I hope you get your wonderful day in the end.

Em DD’s cake was fab! How did it taste? You can’t go wrong with buttercream, IMO. I’d eat it off a spoon if I could and I have done

Lonely glad the job prospects look a little brighter 🤞🏻. Being cheeky - you mentioned a cookie recipe - any chance of sharing? I’ve tried a couple of new ones recently out of a book and they were lovely when fresh but did spread very thin and then went sticky and bendy very quickly, so a bit iffy after the first day. I am continuously trialling new ones - if I find any real winners I’ll share them if people are interested.

I’ve been making a lot of masks. About 28, for my family and for a good friend. It’s been a bit of a sweat shop production line here as I’m up against the holiday deadline to get lots of stuff done, but it has reminded me how much I like sewing and using my sewing machine. However, it’s not working properly now (I had to borrow my mum’s to finish the masks) so I need to get it repaired while I’m on hols. I’m dropping it off to a bloke someone recommended on FB on Friday. £45

Not frugal times here. First reformer Pilates session yesterday, £25 (introductory session, will be £35 in future). And I bought yarn. A friend has been diagnosed with breast cancer so I want to make her a scarf, just to show I’m thinking of her. I found a lovely pattern for a triangular scarf and then bought some fabulous purple yarn - fancy hand dyed stuff, so £50 . It’s her firm favourite colour so I’m sure she’ll love it. And while I was researching that I found another irresistible pattern so I bought myself some yarn too. Made of silk and yak’s wool. I’ve never knitted with yak! That was about £60 . Holiday knitting now more than sorted. I also need to start my christmas crafting soon. I’m definitely in the mood to make! (Jam running total now at 26 jars, between 5 flavours. Trying to source green tomatoes to make my green tomato jam, also have bacon jam in my sights).

I need to get myself over to the Christmas board .

Plans for this weekend: making baked goods and shortbread dough (we’re having a tea party on Monday pm for DD’s lovely LSA from school - I will over after) . And some quail’s scotch eggs. Also a lot of cleaning (house is filthy) and packing and holiday prepping. I need to get DDs smaller car seat out so we can also fit DM in the back of the car. When we did that last year we found mice had nested in it and eaten it, prompting a mad dash to buy a new one the morning we left! I told DH we need to get that and the roof box sorted this weekend in case we hit a problem.

It was 36C here yesterday and I was not happy - 25 today, much better but still too hot for housework!

On my holidays. Yaay! Only until Friday but still. I had a very intense week at work - it was crazy busy. I had a glass of wine last night and slept like a log. Slept right through until 8.30 this morning. The poor cats were very hungry - normally I feed them around 6 or 6.30.

I'm going away on Tuesday for a few days with my BFF. We're staying in a hotel for two nights. The hotel has a spa so I rang this morning to enquire about booking a massage. I may have left it too late though. It won't be the end of the world if I cant get the massage but it would be a nice extra. Mainly I'm looking forward to a good catch up with my friend and some nice food and relaxing with a glass of wine or a g&t.

I need to sort out who's feeding the cats while I'm away. My sister is coming over and is going to stay overnight with them. So I just have to get someone to cover one evening feed. I need to sort out my clothes and figure out what I'm bringing also. I'd like to think I won't need much for two nights although our changeable weather usually involves packing everything except the kitchen sink because you have to pack for every type of weather eventuality.

My cooler bag and picnic basket/cooler arrived yesterday. They're lovely. One has flamingos on it and the other one has sail boats. I can't wait to try them out. It won't be this weekend though. I need to give the house a good once over and try to mow the lawn before it rains again. It's turning into a jungle - if the weeds grass grows any longer, I'll need a scythe to cut it!

Sorry to post and run but I've loads to do today. I'll come back over the weekend and catch up on your news.

First tomatoes from the garden!

And some of my jam haul (though already given a few jars away and some are already open in the fridge ).

I’ve not done much. It’s too hot and I’m actually aching a bit from the Pilates. I’ve just sent DH to the tip so can cross that off my to-do list 👍🏻

Have a lovely break Tayto, you deserve it x

Afternoon everyone 😀
@ememem84 glad you enjoyed yourselves 😃
@ChristmasSeacow come over to the Christmas threads the water is lovely 😂
@Taytocrisps
Love hth do you do it? My mind is boggling 🙀
@lifelongfrugaleer thank you 🤗
Born God it really won't be long before they go back to school in Scotland !

I forgot spends Tesco 14 Morrisons 8 😃

Aaaahh Dd is screaming because she’s tired but will not nap.

Dh has gone out. I want to nap. But can’t because Dd is screaming and dh isn’t here to deal with her. I’m so tired.

Because Dd is screaming and in a temper I can’t actually do anything. I want to maybe start making dinner but can’t. Or tidy up. But can’t. Ffs.

I went out 2day! In my area shielded ppl have been advised not to partake in the pausing of shielding but I’ve just felt so down about it all :( so my stepdad took us out. He’s in my bubble so can go in the car wiv him. But we went 2 a cafe and had a sausage and egg sandwich :). The ppl there no me cuz I lived on the same site as them when I was little they couldn’t believe I had DC lol. DSD paid 4 the sandwiches. Then went 2 stourport 4 the river and a picnic the rides were open and was very busy but didn’t go on that. Made sure 2 keep clean and socially distance.

Also I am thinking about driving. My DM said she’d pay 4 my lesson but I’d have 2 see whether I could afford the insurance tbh! Rly want my own independence. Never drove cuz ex did so didn’t c the need. Also want 2 go 2 college. Didn’t end up going cuz of the DC but want 2 now. Maybe a night school or sum thing. Thinking of maybe doing health and social and being a carer or childcare or something like that. I’m hoping 2 get a job by the time Sully is at school bcuz hopefully by then will have my mental health more stable and will b able 2 take a job on.

Glad u had such a luvly day em❤️

I feel the same about the Christmas threads sea I’ve been planning presents now in my planner (bloody luv my planner!!) and want 2 start knitting or sum thing in the winter months. I might have 2 join u over there😂. Good on u 4 making the masks! Not an easy task but keeping ur loved 1s safe

Oh enjoy ur holiday tayto I hope u enjoy ur hotel on tues. are u off anywhere nice?

How old r u dc em not sure I’ve asked?. My ones have been the same lately I think the heat is rly getting 2 them!

Oh I 4got £50 on the weekly shop yday

mummy Dd was one this week and ds is 2 (but will be 3 in September).

Dh came back and is in the shower. In All fairness to him he hasn’t been crap or anything he’s been working his butt off in the garden. I’m
Just shattered from all day yesterday with the dc and most of the day today. I went riding earlier though so it sort of cleared my head a bit.

Early ish night for me.

I solved the Dd screaming issue by popping her in her high chair and just cracking on with things in the kitchen. She was mesmerised by the stand mixer

seacow here is my cookie recipe... I'll attach some pics so you can see what you should get! They are ace and stay crisp (not that they will last more than tonight). One batch makes about 48, I usually roll half in granulated sugar, and mix a bag of chocolate chips into the other half.

Beat 225g butter (or marg for biscuits, don't use stork as it's too soft and they run)
1 1/2 cups caster sugar,
2 teaspoons vanilla together.
Add an egg.
Then add:
2 1/4 cups plain flour,
1/4 cup SR
1/4 custard powder (secret ingredient)
1 teaspoon bicarb and
1/2 teaspoon baking powder.

That's it. You can add whatever, anything dry would do, sultanas, cherries, nuts etc. I roll into balls, see pic, and put 6 on a non stick sheet. I gently squash them.

200°c (gas 6) for about 8 minutes.
Let them cool for a few minutes before lifting them off the tray.

I have been peevish today. Everyone is pissing me off a bit! Guess I'm still a bit hot from that stupid weather yesterday!

Oh, I use the stand mixer as it's so easy.

Both just a bit older than mine then em I’m glad DD calmed down and ur DH has been doing a bit more

I’ll have 2 try them cookies sea

Ah thanks so much Lonely, they sound great. Is that 1/2 CUP custard powder? It’s so nice to have you back... not just for the fab recipes but the chat too! I’m also grumpy due to the heat.... just too much. I was out in the sun this afternoon playing swing all with DD and I was suffocating - it’s really humid here too!

Speaking of having you back for the chat, what’s the crafting atm? I’ve wound all my new yarn today on my lovey winder. Ds is always entranced by it too. As soon as I have a free hour or two I’ll cast on!

Forgot the pictures earlier

Lonely those cookies are gorgeous! l would eat them all raw

Sea amazing jam ! Well done! l haven't done a thing except eat

The jam looks amazing sea

sea sorry forgot the cup, its 1/4 cup of custard powder. Something in it (presumably the cornflour) makes them magic, and a bit yellow!

Yay for tomatoes! I picked some, but it's a bloody jungle. Had beans and courgette from the polytunnel for tea.

Still cross stitching at the mo. Need to get this finished so I can move on!

Well, it’s just jars and naice labels from where you all are! Ha ha. I’ve been on a roll. DD is a big fan of jam (though not allowed it every day).

I’m doing scones on Monday for our guest so it’ll be its first proper outing.

I’ve just made the dough for a slightly lemony shortbread and I went rogue and put in a load of smashed up freeze dried raspberries. Hope it’s good! The log of dough is chilling in the fridge to cook tomorrow.

I think I might be obsessed with baking. However, I’m still on my diet (been going well... till now!) so I can only nibble a corner of each new recipe. Just to test, you know...

That’s fabulous Lonely! I love the strong colours

I love jam.

I’m picking blackberries as and when we go for our walks now. Then freezing them and I’ll make jam when I have enough. A couple of years ago I made “ah ye bastard!” Jam. So called because ddad swore like a trooper whenever he got pricked by a thorn on the brambles.

We’re picking them in our garden too Em - our garden isn’t huge or rambling at all but our neighbours helpfully don’t maintain their garden too much, so we have fruit-laden bramble branches hanging over into our garden. Too high for the kids to get scratched on, but handy to pick from with a ladder. Win win. We’re also freezing as we go - it’s either more jam or a LOT of crumbles

sing love the new name.
Sea sorry although lonely may have just done the same to me. have you tried biscotti? Super simple and last for ever in a jar. I use the Felicity Cloake recipe and play about with flavours. The lemon & fennel is good but the best we have found so far is orange & hazelnut.

Lonely I am in awe of your cross stich.

wolf we missed out by a couple of miles … Hopefully it is lifted soon. From my selfish point of view I want to pickup some things from Manchester for DD before she goes to uni. She will just have to get them herself when she gets there.

I am starting the annual food review - working out what we are eating and how to do it cheaper. Number 1 on the list is recreating McDs wraps. DD has an addiction & had got half way there using shop bought breaded chicken fillets. We experimented with a couple of spice rubs yesterday …. The BBQ chicken rub is bang on. 450g of chicken breasts makes enough for about 20 wraps. Next on the list is curry sauce - I am going to give the Curry Guy one a try to get the British Indian Restaurant style. Hopefully this will reduce the take outs or the buy in a bag "take aways".

Other things I need recipes for are McDs burger sauce - I am not a fan of the Heinz one which is a bit too sharp. Instagram bowls - the lovely grain based salads with toppings or noodles with nom nom nosh. Preferably with bits that can be prepped in advance and thrown at the bowl to reduce hunger pang to scoff time.

unescorted

Last weekend I made satay chicken thighs (a whole tray of them. We had some for dinner then the rest I chopped and used for salad bowls.

Typically I’d have in the fridge/cupboards:

Spring onions
Peppers
Cucumber
Red onion
Carrot (grated is ace on salad)
Cheese (as above)
Raddish (as above)
Peanuts
Cashews
Black beans
Sweetcorn
Rice - I usually make a load of this and have it cold in salads
Chickpeas - either roasted or as they come with curry mayo