Book Club Books
The book group I’m in has been meeting over Zoom. We usually have a good few months books chosen in advance, but with the current situation when everything has been so temporary, we’ve let that slide and have just been going month to month. A couple of members have found this difficult however, especially if they buy the book from eBay as it often doesn’t arrive in time for them to read it.
The rules of the club are that we all take it in turns to choose a book; we can’t have read it before; and it must cost £5-£6 maximum.
So this month, we all had to choose three books and we decided which ones to schedule in for the following 12 months. We all told each other our choices so we can look at them online before meeting to discuss which ones we want to read. I liked the sound of many of them and I now have an enormous pile of books as I’ve already bought LOADS of them!
Now we have chosen which ones we'll be reading as a group, I have been able to dive in to the rest and have read Hamnet, this months choice, which we'll be discussing next week; The Midnight Library; The Corner Shop; The Confessions of Frannie Langton and I'm currently reading a thriller I found in a charity shop.
Have enjoyed all of them in their different ways.
Dodgy Knee Update
It's been 12 weeks now since I injured my knee. I've been seeing an osteopath every few weeks and she is really helping. Last time she massaged all around that knee with her fingers of steel. Painful, but in a good way.
It was really bad earlier in the week, the other knee was joining in and my back was hurting too. Couldn't stand up straight and was tottering about feeling sorry for myself.
With my husband doing most of the physical bit, we got the runner beans in and yesterday I did a longer walk and that seems to have helped. All is feeling good and I'm hoping I'm on the home stretch now.
All seems better for the last few days - are we getting to the end? I do hope so!
The Garden
I'm growing parsley and mint on the edge of the path and bed, both are going mad, and the lemon balm is up and doing well and will soon join in the going mad, it's a vigorous plant! I think I'll make a pesto type thing from some of them and see what I can make that's nice. It will certainly be super fresh!
Plus I can make some herb tea now I have so much of them.
And here we have the salad leaves protected in their circle of copper; the tomatoes in the greenhouse, I have planted them in large pots and stood the pots in boxes this year. I think it should prove easier to keep them well fed and watered; and the pic on the right is the newly planted runner beans
Honey Soy Chicken
I made these lovely honey soy chicken drumsticks recently, using Aldi chicken thighs instead of drumsticks. I prefer thighs really, I think they are the best cut on a chicken, much more succulent than a breast, and a lot of flavour.
I also added some beans to stretch it. It doesn't make for the best picture, but it's super tasty!
The recipe is adapted from one I used to preserve the chicken in canning jars. It made a huge amount and was super tasty, but husband and I found the chicken rather over-cooked. So I've downsized the recipe and adapted it to cook on the hob.
Spiced Lentil Balls
These little lentil balls are very tasty, working beautifully with the pasta and tomato sauce. My husband had parmesan sprinkled over his. They could also be used much like falafel. So dip them in hummus, stuff into a pitta bread or wrap with salad and hummus. Full of protein, with 19g per serving, these are great for growing children.
Apricot Jam
Apricots are in the shops, so now is a good time to make some beautiful fresh apricot jam. I made some yesterday and I'm going to see if I can take a nice picture today
It's my husbands favourite jam and this recipe comes out even tastier than the posh Bonne Maman he likes
Do come and say hello on the Fantastically Frugal Food Facebook group, or the Sensational Slimming Sustenance group. I'd love to see you. Lots of useful tips, recipes and ideas. The nearly 17,000 membership are brilliant, brimming with talent.
And don't forget Thrifty Lesley, where there are 800+ recipes of fantastically frugal food and many weekly meal plans. And Cheap Family Recipes where you can find all kinds of delicious things that don't cost much with two family monthly meal plans.
I've also got a few YouTube videos up, not many yet, but I'm planning to do more
With all best wishes, until next time
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