Week 1 Stretch it out September

First of all a huge welcome to my new followers, its great to have you on board. xx

Well that's the first week of the challenge over and its been a great week, my meal plan get shuffled about as we were away until Monday so because I had taken sausages in the caravan we had those on Sunday. It doesn't really matter as long as they get crossed off the plan so I know whats been eaten. I did batch cook some Beef Stew and thats in the freezer ready for my "free" week 4.

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 We have baked 3 loaves in total and I made Blackberry and Apple seedless Jam at the beginning of the week with foraged Blackberries and Apples from our tree.

More Apples were prepared for the freezer to use in crumbles pies and for Apple Sauce, but I have seen Apple Jelly on lots of blogs and I fancied having a go.  I thought it was going to be a total disaster, I couldn't get it to flippin set!! I had given up and thought I would try and salvage it by adding some elderberries and boiling it up again the next day, but.... while I was tidying the kitchen it started to set in the pan and stuck the spoon to the plate!! Quick action was required to get it into the jars, its not perfect to look at but boy does it taste good.

Its absolutely delicious!

We had a change in the weather on Friday and this is what we woke up to.

 The gardens really needed it and to be honest so did I, it was lovey to have some nice fresh air without that hot sticky feeling.

 Today I have been pickling Beetroot with some added brown sugar and mustard, the part jar will probably get eaten next week and the others will be stored with the last lot for later on.

These were fresh picked today from my Dads greenhouse and I will ripen them to make some pickle, there is just 3lbs which is exactly what I need.  I have a stack of green beans to do for the freezer too....tomorrow!

We shopped this week and spent £20.12 from our £100 budget.  Hubby filled the car up and used a voucher we were given and saved £2.70 so that amount was put in the Sealed Pot along with a £2coin .
Its been a good week for freebies too, 3 Wholemeal Loaves (wrong ones bought for the flying club!!) a bag of allotment veg, a jar of Tomato Pickle, a packet of ginger biscuits and the above tomatoes.

My Daughter in law has just rung and invited us for dinner tomorrow :-) so I guess my menu plan will be changed round again next week, I will probably do my Sunday and Monday meal later in the week and invite them back.

How did your week go?

Thank you for popping by and reading my chunterings

Love

ETA.  My Recipe for Apple Jelly

Peel and chop as many apples as you want, I had about half a carrier bag, leave the skin on and use the cores (for the pectin).  Place in a large pan and JUST cover with water, simmer until the apples are pulpy.  Carefully ladle the whole lot into a jelly bag over a pan, most of the liquid will go straight through into the pan, secure the bag and hang it over the pan until it stops dripping, DON'T SQUEEZE or your jelly will be cloudy, this usually takes overnight to get the most out.  Next day measure the liquid,(I had two and a half pints) you will need to add a pound of sugar for every pint of juice. Once the sugar has dissolved in the juice bring to the boil until setting point.  Leave to cool slightly, carefully remove any scum then pour into hot sterilized jars, seal with a wax disc and screw the lids on tight. They will pop when cool and give an airtight seal.  I hope that helps Fran. x