2012

I'd like to wish all my fellow bloggers a very Happy New Year xxx

Last Post

As this will be my last post for 2011  I thought I would end with my plans for 2012.  I want to make 2012 a year of saving instead of spending and I have started by joining Saving for Travels sealed pot challenge.  For the last few years I have been saving £2 coins but the tin I was using wasn't sealed and it was too easy to "borrow" a bit of change so I have been on the lookout for a sealed pot.  Most of the ones you see in the shops are really quite posh and very expensive at around £12 so I was thrilled when I found these in B&M today at the bargain price of 89p each.  I had some £2 coins left over from the Christmas shopping savings and I have been adding the odd bit of change to the tin including 20p everytime I have a no spend day with the hope that by December when we all open our pots there will be enough for lots of lovely christmassy treats.

I plan on using the red one to start with and if its a bumper savings year will carry on with the second, if not that can be saved for 2013 challenge. 

Do you have any plans for 2012?

Thank you for reading and I do hope you have a wonderful New Year.

Karen xxxx

Blow off the cobwebs

Now the festivites are over for another year it was time to blow off the cobwebs and walk off some of the food and drnk of Christmas with a lovely walk around the lake at the Lakeside Shopping Outlet. It was a lovely walk and just cold enough to sting your lungs and nip your ears, its amazing how much better you can feel after some lovely free fresh air.  Its probably only a mile to walk the whole way round but you can veer off to the shopping centre.  As the sales were on we did call in at  M&S and I bought some table crackers for next year. It was packed with people carrying loads of bags so there must have been some nice bargains, lots of them were sat outside Costa and Thorntons enjoying a hot chocolate in the winter sunshine.

The path runs all the way round the edge of the lake but we decided to go up the path to the top of the hill.

Mobile phone photographs.

Thank you for looking

Karen xx

Todays bargain basket and a freebie

Close to where we live we have an old crop drying mill which has been turned into warehouse type shops where you can buy stuff really cheap.  Its all stuff thats close to its sell by date or even just out of date, its much like the Approved Foods site thats widly used on the Old Style and Frugal living forums.  Its one of those places you call in from time to time to see whats available and today was one of those days.  We were on our way to school to see our grandaughter perform in the school panto and this mill is just around the corner. 

 These are a few of the things I bought Candy canes 12 x 5 boxes £1. Jaffa Cake bars 3x10's £2. Asda thick chocolate honeycomb biscutes 3packs £1. Tracker Bars 5for £1. Cadbury's whole nut chocolate 3 bars£1. at the back there are 10 packs of Kit Kat and Lion Bar pieces they were 5 packs for £1.

 Flora Buttery in date until the end of the year and ideal for next weeks baking £1.

 Seabrook's Crisps in date until the end of January 48 packets £2.49.  Last week it was Walkers plain crinkles.

 Dr Otkers Custard Powder makes 19.25 Lts which is 5p per litre.  Just add boiling water.  We had 2p worth  tonight and it was really creamy and delicious.

 These are the Lion Bar pieces and were out of date 16th October but they are still fine to eat and make instant choccy flake buns, 1 packet 20p makes 12 quite generous buns and they are really nice.

 Even my hubby can make them and no doubt he will eat them all and there ae 10 bags to go at!!!

And finally a freebie, my daughter in law's friend has an allotment and he gave her 5 jars of pickled beetroot he  did this week and 2 of them have made there way to my house :-)  We love Beetroot and eat quite a bit of it especially those cooked pre packed ones.

So even though I have spent £12.97 today I think it has been worth it, I know they are non essentials but it is stuff we buy from time to time so might as well have it cheap.

Thank you for looking and I hope you found a bargain today.

Karen x

What weekend!!

Where on earth did the weekend go?  Saturday was spent cleaning the house and doing the washing, in the afternoon my son and grandaughter popped in on their way home from town.  Today I really needed to get the wallpapering done in the hallway after having the new door fitted last week, first my hubby had to sand down some of the filler he had used to fill some cracks in the wall. Once he had done that there was no putting it off and now...... its all done.......yay!!!  I much prefer my usual papercrafting :-)

Google image

 I was up quite early this morning and knowing this week is going to be busy I did a bit of extra cooking, first I made some Leek and Potato Soup for lunch, the bread wasn't ready so we had a cheese scone with it which made a nice change from a breadbun.

 I had defrosted a large pack of mince to make Shepherds pie and there was plenty left over so I took some small pastry cases from the freezer and made these individual meat pies which are now frozen ready for next week.  I like to have these cases ready for any leftovers that we  have from time to time, they are the last 4 so when I have time I will make another lot of pastry and roll it out ready. I freeze the lids seperate with some baking parchment between it makes them easier to defrost.

 3 lemons have been lurking in the bottom of the fridge for a couple weeks so while the oven was on I whipped up 3 lemon drizzle loaf cakes.  They are lovely, we had a slice each with some 6p custard poured over for our pudding, the other 2 are frozen. What on earth did we do before freezers? I love having nice homecooked food stashed away for busy days it stops the temptation of a takeaway!

Tea tonight was Shepherds pie (with plenty left for tomorrow) parsnips and brocolli, Lemon drizzle cake and custard.....mmmm......stuffed!!!!

Thank you for looking

Karen xxx

New Door and Mince pies

After much deliberation over the last 12 months we finally have a new door, the step on the old frame was completely rotten and in danger of braking off.

 This is the original door and was 20 years old. Ooops you can see me taking the piccie in the window!!

 And as if by magic here is the new one and rest assured it is straight, I just can't take a straight photo to save my life, my hubby says it looks as if I've got one foot down a hole lol

 Next a bit of Christmas baking, some yummy Mince pies made with Rose Crust pastry and ASDA Port and Brandy Mincemeat.  We have already eaten 2 each and they are really delicious, the rest have been frozen.

 As you can see from the picture they are lovely and buttery an melt in your mouth.

 I also made these Alice Fruit Cakes (you can find the recipe from my side bar) I took one of the loaf cakes to my Mum & Dad today and swaped for a dozen eggs :-)

It did smell like Christmas in my kitchen yesterday and was all warm and cosy from the oven.

Thank you for looking xxx

Family Weekend

Last weekend my youngest son his wife and my grandaughter came up from Plymouth to stay with us for a few days and this is what happened when my 4 year old grandaughter got hold of my camera. The photos are not that brilliant but I wanted to share such a magical weekend. Its not that often we all get together and these times are just so precious to me.

 Philip,  David, me and Daniel

 Danielle Rose age 4

 Daniel age 31 (Danielle's daddy)

 My Dad, Mum, Julie (Daniels wife) with Danielle

 David age 35 and wife Louise (my frugal princess :-))

And lastly Danielle sat playing Angry Birds and having a cuddle with grandad

We all had a fabulous weekend and I got lots of lovely hugs and kisses from Danielle,  it went much too fast and I am missing them all but was left with some lovely memories.  Roll on February when I will be going to Plymouth to see them.

Thank you for looking xxx

Kitchen Gadgets

Introducing 2 more of my favourite Kitchen Gadgets or should I say essentials, both of these kitchen items are well used in our house and would have to be replaced instantly if any thing happened to them.  I have had a slow cooker for years and years although this one is only about 4 years old and was a £20 bargain from TJ Hughes, its huge but perfect for those batch cooking days when I need to fill up the freezer ready for those lazy days.

 Next is my ancient food slicer, I know this is more than 20years old cos we bought it at our other house, its not in constant use but when we have a gammon joint or a large roast its perfect for those nice neat slices, it also makes your meat go further.

 This weekend both of them were used, Sainsbugs have an offer on topside beef at half price and small gammon joints are 3 for a tenner.  The beef was just over £13 and was HUGE and only just fitted inside the crock pot. It had long slow cooking for about 12 hours with some stock a couple of carrots, onions and celery.  The smell wafting through the house was devine and making us hungry.  Once cold I cut it in half and gave my son one piece and the other was sliced on the slicing machine and put in pots with the gravy and popped into the freezer.  The gammon was cooked in the oven along with a chicken and some homemade stuffing, this was also sliced, we used some for sandwiches and the rest portioned up and put in the freezer.  The last few slices of each are for us to eat today and if any left for my lovely hubby a sandwich tomorrow while I'm at work.  I get to eat for free at work :-)

The initial expense of the meat will prove worth it when we are tucking in to some yummy meals later in the month when no cooking will be required.

Thank you for reading xxx

Baking Day

Its ages since I had a cake baking day and since my lovely son and family are visiting this weekend from Plymouth I thought I would treat them to some of my home baking.  Out came the trusty Kenwood, I love these mixers, this is my second one the first lasted about 25 years, this one is only about 7 years old so still new :-)

 I made 60 fairy cakes in total, here they are undecorated

 and decorated with butter cream, chocolate buttons, chocolate truffle hearts, cherries, mini marshmallows, glimmer sugar and sugar strands.

 I also made 2 chocolate cakes and a jam and cream sponge. The chocolate cake has melted mars bars and chocolate buttons on and the sponge just has a sprinkling of caster sugar.  The other chocolate cake I filled with cream and left the top plain.

They are all boxed up and safely tucked away in the freezer for the weekend.

Thank you for looking xxx

York

We thought it was about time we got our act together and start our Christmas Shopping and as I hate shopping in Doncaster we headed off to York.  I love going to York its such a beautiful city, although it was packed with shoppers and loads of kids!! It was the teachers strike day and we had forgotten all about it.  Never mind, we just got on with things and managed to get the presents we went for and treated ourselves to a lovely lunch.

 Well can you guess whats in this bag?  Its my Christmas pressie so you will have to wait to see it! Those of you who know me know I have a passion for certain bags, well a girl has to have a treat now and again and it is nearly Christmas :-) This will be the last one for a while as we are going to concentrate on saving next year and as my DH says I already have enough bags to set up my own shop!!

We had a fabulous day out and even managed to call at Sainsbugs on the way home and picked up lots of Whoopsies...... result!

Thank you for looking xxx

Windy Wash Day

Its been quite a blustery day today in Yorkshire with a bit of sunshine and blue sky, although its been cold it seemed a perfect day to get the washing done and on the line.  It all dried beautifully and is now ironed and ready for wear.  I love it when clothes have been dried outside they smell so fresh and it helps to blow the creases out and make ironing easier,  its also FREE!! I hate having to use the tumble drier.

Lovely hubby has been busy this weekend, yesterday while I was at work he striped the wallpaper from the hall walls and took down the dado rail ready for tomorrow when we have our new door fitted, and today he has been preparing a brand new spreadsheet for our 2012 budget so all in all we have had a productive weekend.

Dinner tonight is chicken breast with mushrooms and onion gravy with root mash, cabbage and leeks, I am doing enough for dinner tomorrow evening too as I will have been at work!

Time to start cooking....  thank you for looking xxx

Bad Blogger!

I'm such a bad blogger and this blog is so neglected again!!  I have decided to give myself a big kick up the bum and  get back to being organised in so many different areas of my life.  First I want to start with the household budget and being more organised in the kitchen, these past 6 months I have been really slack and not as frugal as I should be.  My cupboards and freezers are full to bursting and after a recent inventory I felt quite cross with myself and also embarassed about the amount of food we have stored. So as the saying goes we all have to start somewhere and after a really busy 2 days at work I came home and made a lovely fresh salad for tea with some homemade coleslaw and lettuce from the garden.

Its so easy to make homemade coleslaw, it tastes so fresh and so much better than any you can buy and the cost is very low.

I used 2 carrots a quarter of a small white cabbage a very small onion from our veg garden and a good dollop of mayo, any kind, I used this one because it was on offer. It made enough for today and tomorrow and the bit in the bag will go into the soup pot in the morning.

This lettuce was so crispy and fresh and there is quite a bit left in the garden.

So here is what we had for tea tonight, lovely jacket potato a piece of left over quiche and some beetroot with the crispy salad and coleslaw.  I haven't costed it out but reckon about £1 each.

Free apple pie and 6p custard.

The Apple pie was given to me by one of our lovely customers, she makes the most delicious buttery pastry. It seems bizarre bringing Apple Pies into the bakers shop where I work, we do get funny looks from other customers when they are brought in piping hot.  We are both now stuffed full!!

I also have a nice new meal plan on the fridge ready for next week, using food from stock.  Good feeling being back in charge :-)

Thank you for looking xx

Come fly with me.....

As some of you know, my lovely hubby has his Private Pilots Licence for flying light aircraft. Usually he takes his mates for a ride but just now and again when he is short of a victim passenger I go with him. Now its not my favourite thing to do, I'm more of a fan of big jets that take me to nice places on holidays but I do like to show willing!!

 It was a beautiful warm summers day but my goodness was it bumpy up in the sky, it wasn't too long before I was feeling a bit yucky, after about 40 minutes I had had enough and we headed back to the airfield.

 Seeing the runway was a welcome sight and I managed to keep it together, when we got home it took me about 2 hours to fully recover. I've been flying with him quite a few times over the years and never felt as bad as that before so it might be a while before I go again!!

Coming in to land and hoping its nice and smooth......... Yes it was......perfect!

Thank you for looking xx

First Pickings & Elderflower Cordial

Got back from holiday on Wednesday to find the lettuces in the garden had grown like mad, they are huge and only just fit in the colander.  We have loads of them so I think we will be having lettuce every day for a while.  Also  we had these few Strawberries ready, I have had to net them this year to keep the birds away from them. The eggs are from my grandaughters chickens and lovely they are too. So on the menu tonight is mushroom omlette, salad and strawberries and yogurt for afters.....yum!!!

 This big fat strawberry was just begging to be eaten..........by ME!!!!

 It will all be washed down with a cool glass of my homemade Elderflower Cordial made with sparkling water and a slice of lime.

Just wish I had bought some of those posh bottles with the stoppers from Ikea the other day! not to worry recycled bottles dont affect the taste and its very MSE :)

Thankyou for looking xxx

Meet the new neigh...bours!

Meet our new neighbours, they just arrived next door last night after the owners had been to put up an electric fence. There are 2 of them but the other one is hiding, he must be camera shy.

 This is the stone wall to my bungalow and the white tape is about 2ft inside the field. We had horses in the field last year and they would come and hang their noses over the wall and wait for a carrot. Everytime I went shopping I had to buy an extra bag of smart price carrots so my grandaughter could feed them.  They got so used to it they could hear the door open and they would come galloping up which was a bit spooky at night if you were popping to the garage.

They bring back memories of horse riding and spending the day at the local stables many years ago.

Enjoy your day
Karen x