New Cookery Books
I took my very old sewing machine in for a repair today. There is something slipping inside meaning that I get big loops on the bottom of any sewing I do. Plus I've had it decades and it's never been serviced, so its about time.
I had to take it to quite a new shop (2 or 3 years old) Sew Inspired in Mayfield, a nearby village. Whenever I pop in, it always has happy, chatty groups of people working away at a class of some kind. There are lots of lovely fabrics, bits and pieces to do with sewing, and loads of interesting things to look at and exclaim over. And the owner is full of an amazing amount of knowledge, and shares it freely. Such a lovely place.
Mayfield, like Heathfield, where I live, has a High Street with individual shops, not chains, making a walk along it all the more interesting. As the sun was out, and I wanted to clock up some steps, I strolled along until I came across a charity shop. I'll just pop in thought I.
Oh dear. The 3 cook books above just jumped out at me, and forced me to take them to the check out. They were only £1 each, which I didn't realise until they were rung up. I rounded it up to £5, instead of £3. But still - what a bargain!
Of course, I have no need whatever for any more cook books! But I've always loved books, right from when I first learned to read, and since discovering cooking, also at a very young age, I just love reading cook books.
Summer Trousers
Last year, I bought 4 pairs of summer trousers in viscose fabric from Freemans, including these. They were all different patterns and I intended them to last me a long time. They draped beautifully, were long enough (and at a 32-33 inch inside leg, that's not easy to find) and were very comfortable. Only issue was, they were completely uncleanable. I tried a cool wash and 1 pair shrunk at least 2 sizes. I tried a cool hand wash on another pair - shrunk. The last pair I tried I washed in cold water, straight from the tap and they STILL shrunk. Extremely annoyed, especially as I was just freshening them up prior to putting them away for the winter!
So I've looked up how to make a pattern from the last remaining pair, and I'm on the hunt for some viscose fabric to make some with. I'd like a plain pair or two, as although I like the patterned ones, it's difficult finding things to wear with them as most of my separates are plain bottom and patterned top.
Needless to say, I'll wash the fabric before making up the trousers!
A Walk In The Woods
On a recent warm and sunny day, I took myself off for a little walk along the Millennium Trail behind the Co-Op. It's a couple of miles there and back. It was little muddy in places, but so lovely. The sun was out, the birds were singing and I didn't see a single soul the whole time. My ears relaxed as it was so quiet, just my foot steps, the birds and the gentle breeze in the tree tops.
That view in the picture was fairly typical, absolutely no-one in sight. I think it might have been because it was around lunch time. The morning dog walkers had been and gone, and the evening ones weren't out yet.
What I've been making in previous April's
Three ingredient cake
For a cake with so little in it, this is remarkably tasty. It contains just dried fruit, flour and a liquid, I used tea.
Blondies
Crispy on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside, and with lovely texture that's chewy and delicious. A pretty fool proof recipe too!
Baguettes for the weekend
Baguette – crispy on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside, and with a lovely texture that’s chewy and delicious. Would you like a foolproof baguette recipe?
And what's more, they are extremely cheap
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'm well into creating an e-book from the Stretch A Chicken To Last A Week series, hope it won't be long before it's finished. I've just got a little left to do on it, but haven't got to it for ages now, hoping to finish it soon.
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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