Well here we are, safe and sound on the other side of Christmas. All that hoo-hah, and before you know it, it's time to take the decorations down again. I shall probably do ours today and pack them away for another year. Each year, I get 2 or 3 really nice things, usually tree ornaments. I don't really put much else up, a few things scattered here and there, and the cards received of course. I've got quite a nice collection of glass ornaments now. This year, I bought a few solar lights for out side. Tiny lights on a string which come on at dusk and last at least until we go to bed. And 3 others. The are described as firework lights. They are a bunch of lights on long stems that can be fanned out, and they do indeed look like fireworks when they're on. They only last about 3 hours, but they may be in a part of the garden that doesn't get much daylight to charge them up, so I'll have to experiment
Later ...... Well I dismantled the tree and bagged up some windowsill decorations. Then had to get another bag, and then a box, and another bag. So maybe I have more ornaments than I first thought!
A quiet Christmas
We had a nice if rather quiet Christmas. We were due to have 3 people for lunch, and a couple of visitors in the afternoon. But that all went to pot as we were all put in Tier 4. So it was just me and him and a rather large turkey. We didn't mind too much as we enjoy just pootling around not doing much, but doing it together. We'll eventually be able to meet up with friends and family
A rather nice thing is the unexpected conversations I've been having. A handful of last minute Christmas cards resulted in not one but three doorstep conversations.
Then yesterday, I was getting some steps in by walking round the block, when a friend passed by doing the same and we chatted for quite a while. It was lovely!
New Year diet
I restarted the diet, yet again, on the 1st. A lifelong ongoing project. People say it's easy to lose weight but hard to keep it off. I don't find it easy to lose any AT ALL!
I'm putting a bit of accountability on the facebook group as that helps, and I've restarted the exercise. Wish me luck!
Veganuary
After the rich diet of the festive season, January is the month that thousands of people follow a vegan diet, maybe for the first time. If perhaps this is a new thing for you, you might need a few ideas on what to cook, and here are lots and lots
Need some ideas for Veganuary?
Beef and mushroom jacket potatoes, with sprout salad
Another couple of posts going out this week for this. Beef and mushroom jacket potatoes, with sprout salad
Had 150g left from a roast beef joint and wasn't sure what to do with it. Ended up doing this tasty little thing.
There was enough for 3 (got the rest in the fridge that husband will have in a bit of baguette tomorrow lunch time).
Cut the beef into small cubes. Saute a largish onion until really soft, slice in 3 or 4 mushrooms and cook through. When cooked, season with a couple of tblsp of soy sauce
Cook a jacket potato each, I just have small ones left, so we had 2 each.
Meanwhile, shred 3 raw Brussels sprouts each, mix with a couple of small carrots, shredded, a handful of dried cranberries and a handful crushed walnuts
Make a dressing with 6 tblsp olive oil, 2 tblsp balsamic vinegar, tsp grainy mustard, good pinch salt, good tblsp cranberry sauce. Whisk well. Add about a tblsp of the dressing to the salad and mix well
Split the jackets, add about a tsp of butter and top with the beef mixture
Price rises and shortages
It's possible we may experience price rises and shortages in the New Year. If that is a worry for you, do please visit the Facebook Group where we can help each other. No food stuff is compulsory, so if we have, for instance, pasta shortages, as we well might as panic buying might resurface, come and talk and the members will be able to come up with all sort of ideas for stuff that you CAN get. No-one is going to starve, although it's quite possible we may have to adjust our meals a little. There are many clever people that can seemingly magic meals from nothing.
Not many new posts this time, although I have lots of ideas and a HUGE list of recipes to write up!
Do some and say hello on the fantastically frugal Facebook group, or the sensational slimming sustenance group. I'd love to see you
With all best wishes, until next time
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