But non the less... BREAD.
Why am I so excited you might wonder? Well it seems I have finally cracked the good old fashioned art of baking bread! Nothing fancy to date but what has come out has been totally delicious. Oh I regret even more now my non ability to bake bread previously. I've come across a method which involves slapping the dough down, not kneading and it really works for me.
News to us was also just how good home - made pizza is. The kids love putting on the mozzarella balls and tearing them all stringy once they're cooked.
Time spent off the computer has been put to good use, idle hands and all that. Being frugal & wholesome at the same time we've been eating a lot of homemade foods lately. Saving money has been a bonus and the noticable change in tastes is wonderful to see too.
So we meal plan each week, make a list before shopping, checking the store cupboards before leaving, feed the kids and ourselves before leaving the house (it really helps!)
Resist the junk food offers - not as easy as it sounds as there are just so many junks on offer.
Buy meat from a good butcher - cost has increased slightly but there is less waste and the taste really does show.
We've found a local smallholding whose happy chickens wander the substantial garden, mixing with the ducks, geese and annoying the goat. We now buy our happy eggs from here, cheaper than a supermarket but the best bit is we're buying local.
Bulk cook base dishes, freeze them and add odds n bods to bulk them out. Dont throw leftover bolognaise/pasta store and turn into a tastey lunchtime pasta bake.
Dont waste the carcuss of the chicken, strip it bare for another meal, boil the bones for a stock and freeze what you dont use within a couple of days.
We are a family of cake/bun addicts, its a terrible thing (tee-hee). Ive always baked our own cakes, as they taste better and I know for a fact there are no nasties hidden in them. But when you really put an effort into searching the library for new books to browse you build a wonderful selection of tastey cakes/buns that are ready to nibble on within the 1/2 hour.
Most of the veg is still from the supermarket as Ive found the local market stuff to go off just too quickly so till I have time & internet to search for an alternative it will stay that way. The veg from the booty is good, but there arent many boot sales left this year (eeek).
So times up, must dash again... family are all well. Im missing my online family but know I'll have a chance to catch up with you all properly soon.
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missing you honey but glad to hear you've cracked the bread! xx
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