Well I'm very late with this newsletter, where does all the time go!
Updating u3a website
I've been working on a new website for the u3a I go to. It looks so much more fresh and modern than the old one and it's lovely being able to make it look beautiful. Lots to do yet, but websites being what they are, it will be an ever changing feast with lots of updates from groups and things that are happening
New Driving License
I am of a certain age and I had to get a new driving license this month. It was a very easy process though. I filled in the form online which was super simple, and waited a couple of weeks for the new one to arrive. I had to cut the old one in half and send it back, but waited until I'd got the new one before I did that!
Cooking With Friends
Had some lovely cookery sessions this month with friends. The way the days fell this time, we had Cooking Up A Storm on Tuesday and then the following day we had Cookalong!
Cooking Up A Storm is a group I run, at my house, and this month we made Pineapple Nut Bread, stuffed with pineapple and pecans. Rather than 1 big loaf, we made it in individual mini loaf tins to make it easier to divide and carry off home.
Similarly with a 3 Ingredient Chocolate Caramel Tart, individual tartlet cases were used. This contains just Mars bars, cream and cornflakes, so not something to be made every week! Really delicious though!
The final thing we made this month was Pea Salad, quick and easy, and very tasty.
I shall have to make sure I do healthy things next month. The brief from the group is unusual things as all the members are accomplished cooks, so there's no lasagna or spaghetti bolognese for us!
Recipes This Time
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.
I used a Tandoori paste when I made them, which was delicious. I used 2 generous tablespoons but was surprised that the flavour wasn’t stronger, they could easily have taken twice as much.
Pack them into a lunch box either on their own, or with the pasta and tomato sauce. Perhaps with parmesan on top too.
Leftover Salad
Now we are in some beautiful warm weather, thoughts turn to salads for dinner.
One of the most wasted food items are bags of salad leaves. They are packed in a protective atmosphere and often wilt very quickly once the pack is opened. But, leftover salad ? What on earth can you do with that!
Leftover Citrus
Citrus too are a much wasted item. It's amazing what you can do with orange and lemon peel - you can even use the pith and the pips!
Carrot Jam
I was looking at the leftovers in meal plan 2 and thought, with a little adjusting, I could probably get another day out of it. And right enough, I did! Very satisfying!
One of the things I experimented with was wondering if I could use the last of the carrots, and the plentiful sugar remaining to make a jam to use in the week. So I had a play in the kitchen, one of my favourite things to do, and came up with something delicious – a carrot jam!
I've tried the recipe successfully with swede too, still to try it with onions. There are lots n the fridge right now, so maybe I'll do that this week!
I published an ebook for meal plan 1 in August 2021 and am delighted that many people have thought it was worth getting. I repriced it again in June 2022 and it was still holding on, even in these scary times. Now we are in September and prices have shifted again and I've managed to get my head around WooCommerce so I can feature it on the blog and you can find it here.
I was busy recooking, photographing and updating the recipes for Meal Plan 2 and putting them into an ebook as well. The meal plan was first written in 2013 and still prices up, which is fabulous and that is finally complete. The book is done now too, prices seem to be stable enough to do it.
I've finally completed the e-book from the Stretch A Chicken To Last A Week series. Took me absolutely ages to finish it off!
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 over 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. I've done a couple more, need to edit them now. So much to do, so little time!
With all best wishes, until next time
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