Shoptastic fairy

Doesn't shopping day come round quickly?

There we go, aldi joy!
£19.58 to be precise, taking my total spend to £39.01. But, I have enough meat to last the month if we manage to stick to the menu plan!

DS does love his veg!! But we may have to find an alternative mayo. Him and his girlfriend go through it like mad... and today SHE asked DS if I'd make her a sandwich at dinnertime! I know my sandwich making skills are epic but i thought it a tadge cheeky!!
So, thats the meat for the rest of the month, and as there wasn't loads to do today i thought I'd have a bit of a batch cook..

TVP 'mince'! Only a cup added to the savoury mince mix! Not the prettiest but protein tastic.It's on the shelves, I buy it in bulk...aint gonna work out how much it costs!

Zizzed some celery (which both DS and OH say they don't like!) carrot and onion for a base for both lots of mince. Did some dry frying and ended up with some interesting fat (more about that in a bit)

18 portions of savoury mince!! That was a big swede :-P and there might be some oats in there, and maybe a spoonful of lentils, and alot of carrots, and the tvp, peas and celery! Then there was the mince that became bolognaise..

15 portions:D made with last years homemade pasta sauce :) and some carrots, onions and celery! They will eat celery if it kills me. (DS asked for it in his lunchbox, but discovered he didn't like it raw, so its nearly dissapeared somewhere/everywhere)
Last nights chicken leftovers have been decanted...

And this ickle bit was for tea, in a fried rice stylee..

with some eggies made into omelette strips..

The eggies came from DS's G?F so it makes up for the sandwich request!! I did offer cash but was refused :) Ate the fried rice before I could take a picture!!
Anyhoo...mince fat...would you look at all this...

MMMM fat. I've clarified it before...instructions from WW2 booky

I use this one alot! Good instructions too..

And look how much fat is cooling off..

I reckon there will easily be enough for pasrty for pasties out of that! Tomorrow I'll peel it off the water layer and heat it to rid it of water :) Perfect and less wasted! I do like a day when I feel I've achieved something. And there are now lots of easy cook meals in the freezer!
BBS x I think I need a rest!

I'm fairy sure its wednesday

Now the thing about school holidays is, I forget what day it is regularly. And to make matters worse my mate, Jones the Steam is here. But he normally comes on a tuesday. I'm easily confused.
So money earnt - zero. Money spent £24.06!!!!
And would you care to know why I spent so much? It was this...

Do you see it??? A space!!! I told you I was starting to panic as I used things from the shelves...and so £24! So now there is NO room on the shelves...wanna see?

Ah joy, tinned tomatoes and beans filled up!

And to my left...then to my right...

I LOVE my shelves!!!! I know they've got untidy again. I need another sort out but hey ho the suns been shining! So..DS has learnt to chop wood with the big axe..he is now officially an adult after all...would you look at my pile now!!

Its now two rows deep :D I am a most happy fairy and DS tired himself out! He has even said he'll do more tomorrow, helpful lad!
Tea was pizza and wedges...and how do you make one 10inch pizza feed 4 adults>

With an awful lot of potato wedges!!!!

And that is my biggest bowl!! We love starchy staples!!!
So, today Jones the steam has been helping...wanna see what he did?

Beautiful, ploughed, black land :)

Lovely!

There he is..in the tractor! can you spot him?

:D and his furrows are fairly straight...but as dad used to say, God don't grow things in straight lines and he do alright.

I'm happy now, this means we can nearly start some planting! Finally. Late as usual.
I am a happy fairy. i have wood (giggle) and ploughed land :) BBS x

Wandering wednesday

Today was definitely a wandering wednesday. Delivery day, the last of the celeriac went to the wholesaler and the auction. So today ...
Earnt - £18-         Spent - £15.74 in aldi!

There is still £45.66 in the grocery jar:D

Mmmoney!! And yes, I know I bought mince..super duper el cheapo mince:D I just can't help myself!! But it was for tonights tea...spaghetti bolognaise...and I did use 2 packs of the homemade tomato sauce..

Trouble is..theres enough in a pack of mince for about 3 meals for us lot...so, you guessed it...more for the freezer! Does it look any emptier to you?

Nope, me neither!
Now heres something to admit. I'm starting to panic as things are getting used. there is nearly a space on the shelves as I haven't bought beans or tinned tomatoes for ages. A space!! Well, nearly a space. And the other freezer nearly has shelf space too. Strange isn't it how things make us feel secure. Its food for me, and lots of it. And books. Maybe I'll show you the book shelves one day. Maybe!
And the rhubarb is ready...I just haven't paid it any attention yet.

And yes, thats a tv. How untidy am I? I like mess what can I say!
So anyway, delivering and shopping and a look round a rural clat store that sells everything. And I picked things up, alot of things. And I put them all back as I decided each time that I would rather keep the money than have the thing (a liquid pump, craft ribbons, baking tray, fire poker, piggy bank) If I'd bought them it would have been about £15. But I didn't!!Go me and my frugal zen-ness!
And would you look at my dress I made a couple of years ago..

Now what I wanted was something 40's style. But the neck was too high and annoyed me, the skirt was too long for 40's and as for the ties...well...not on anyone over 5!
But I love the mix of fabrics...

And I love the green stripey ness. And the buttons are cool:D and the puff sleeves are right. I just need to sort out the neckline, maybe shorten the skirt, remove the ties, add pockets, and maybe I'll have something that feels more 40's make do and mend.
I was thinking about making it into bib and brace but I don't think it would work with the shaped top. Anyway...we shall see.. I shall do some designs and get the sharp scissors out, and look at the 40's magazines!! I'll have to show you those one day too!!
Anyway...as you can see today I have been procrastinating...there wasn't enough hot water from the fire last night to do the washing up (my excuse)

It's like someone has let off a bomb in the kitchen :-S
Worktop anywhere? Yes, I am this messy sometimes!! Completely unhygenic :D I think I'd better go wash up!!
BBS x

Wed 2nd..shopping already!

We always shop on a wednesday, mainly because we deliver at the same time! Even when theres nothing left to sell, force of habit I guess. And as we didn't get any orders this week, well, definitely just habit!
Mince and tatties last night was great :) And I fed my below the line friend, at least I know he's had one proper meal a week! OH thinks I'm daft taking pictures of food! Maybe I am!!

So, went shopping and I spent...

£9.44 :) And thats with doggy treats and biccies for OH which I had forgotten!Yay under a tenner! Though we will need more rolls and milk on saturday. But that should only be 3.56:)
Today I spent chopping wood! I love doing it...its good if you have unresolved tensions!! And I have filled my first bin!

And there is also another 2 wheelbarrows full waiting to be stacked to season!
On a money saving note..my wellies decided to leak this morrning when I walked the dog through the long grass:( I have a brand new pair still in the box, but I don't wanna wear them yet! So....

Yes..I used a carrier bag to stop my socks getting wet!! I'll leave them by the fire tonight and hopefully they'll be dry by the morning! And my new wellies are still new:)
Tea tonight was kebabs(freezer), with pittas (freezer) And salad, our red cabbage and onions and some aldi bit!

Before and after...

Salady joy...

And yes, we pretended we were at the kebab shop! Which I haven't been to in about 8 years!

YUM!!!!! Chilli sauce and I'm a happy bunny!
Thats enough for a wednesday! I'm offski for a bath (yes I know, but we can't have a shower!)
And remember poorly kitty...i sat him on my lap, gave him a cuddle....and he wee'd on me!!! Just sat there :-O I NEED a bath!!
BBS x I like this not spending too much!

Tuesday, April!!

Pennies!!!! Yay!! As DS says...we shall eat this week!!
Last nights tea was Chow Mein, all shelf and freezer food!

So thats £28.32 earnt. £1.38 spent on 2 kebabs from the butchers.

Tonights tea is mince and tatties. Tatties we grow and mince is in the freezer from a bulk cook a few weeks ago :)

Mmmm apple cinnamon herman! I will get round to posting the recipe...soon! Especially if any of you out there love cinnamon like I do!! Thats deserts for the next few days taken care of:)

Oh..look whats for tea with the mince and tatties!! PSB-tastic!! It should make the plate look fuller a treat!!! And its jolly good for you :D

So, shopping tomorrow.

Well, as it kebabs tomorrow, I want some

 pittas - 49p

lettuce - 45p

Also need rolls for OH x3 1.56

ham for OH - 1.79

carrots - 59p

 eggies - 1.35

milk x2 - 2.00

Total of £8.23 :)

Doggy needs some treaty chews but thats not exactly groceries!
Didn't get any orders today :( At this rate whats left of our celeriac will have to be ploughed in :( Such a waste!
BBSx