Oh dear

I was just looking over my blog and noticed that it looks like we only eat very bland, unhealthy and meaty dinners. I think it is because I am trying to use up what we have so I can restock and start again meaning we don't have much variety. I hope this hasn't come across this way!

I am hoping to use up the majority of stuff by the end of this week and have asked James to give me £40 on a Friday each week, instead of £150 once a month. I am hoping this will help me save more money and stop me hoarding and stocking up on things and never using them!

So only one more week of not much variety and then I can start over again :)

Oops... Weekend Meals and New Job!

Hello!

So Saturday we went to a lovers rock concert at the O2 Arena. It was fantastic! Better than last years in fact. We were treated to a Chinese buffet there by my mums partner! It was very tasty :)

Sunday we had a few friends over for a valentines dinner :) We had chilli con carne, Jacket potatoes and salad.

I should really of stuck to my meal plan yesterday, but James treated me to a take away. He treated me because I GOT A JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited :) I start Monday!!

So this weekend I am going clothes shopping to buy a few bits. I already have some black trousers, that I bought for the interviews, and quite a few tops I can wear, but there is always room for more ;)

I will let you know what I manage to buy :)

Oops... Day Three Beef Curry

I was meant to do battered fish, chips and peas, but I fancied this instead ;)

Here are my items for my beef curry. I have never made this before, but saw a recipe (which I didn't follow) and thought it might be quite tasty.

Casserole Beef

White onion

Ground Coriander

Kidney Beans

Salt/Pepper

Coriander and cumin curry paste

Hot Masala curry powder

As you can see I make it up as I go along :)

First I sweat the chopped onion in a tiny amount of oil on a very low heat.

After 5 mins I add a table spoon and a half of the curry paste.

Then I add 1/2 pint of hot water.

Give it a stir and then add the casserole beef.

After a few minutes I then add about 3 table spoons of Hot masala curry powder.

Give it another little stir and coat the beef in the powder.

Then add another 1/2 pint of hot water, handful of red lentils and two bay leaves.

I will leave this too simmer for about 2 hours. ( Every 20mins add a bit of water as it will go too stodgy) Then for last 15 mins of cooking while I do the rice I will add Kidney beans. At this point you could add any other vegetables you want.

Florida!!

Yes, we have decided to go to Florida!! I am so excited. We want to go in September time as it's cheaper and it will be during the school holidays which will hopefully mean less queuing.

If I get a job in the next month (job interview lined up on Monday), we will be going this year. If not we will be going next year. Either way I can't wait.

For me and James to fly with Virgin for 14 nights, 4x4 Car hire with insurance, Self-Catering apartment and 14 days flexi-ticket for the parks is £2,500! Pretty good I think!

We want to take about £1500 spending money. When we are there we only rally need to buy food and any junk items that we want.

5 mins from our apartment is a Walmart and a Publix. Boy am I excited to visit them! (looser alert!).

I am so excited! Have any of you been to Florida?

Oops... Day Two

I didn't have much time to post yesterday. Yesterday we had sausage, chips and beans. That's not our actually dinner in the picture above, but I didn't have time to take pictures. Although it is far from being healthy, it certainly was yummy! Comfort food is a must when its snowing and cold outside!

Oops... Day One. Spaghetti Bolognese

So here are the ingredients for my Bolognese sauce.

Red lentils

A can of mixed bean salad

A can of peeled tomatoes

Tesco Frozen Mince

Tomato Puree

Red chillis

Sage

Mixed Herbs

Paprika

Chilli Powder

Salt and pepper

Firstly, I Browned the mince and then added one white onion. Is it white or brown? I never know. I never add any oil when frying mince as It has enough of its own.

I then added a squirt of tomato purée and my herbs and spices.

I then added a tin of peeled tomatoes. Normally I buy chopped, not sure why I had peeled, but they broke down really easy with the wooden spoon.

Then roughly a hand of red lentils. I made the mistake of adding too much before and it turns the sauce quite mushy.

Then a tin of mixed bean salad.

Then roughly half a pint of beef stock.

A quick stir and then some chopped sage and its done. I turned the heat off and put the lid on and will heat up for around 15 mins later before I am ready to serve.

It might not be technically right, but it smells and tastes yummy! I will serve with spaghetti pasta and garlic bread. Mmmmm I can't wait :)

Oops... Day One

Somehow I have ended up worth £29 left of my grocery budget! I had £150 2 weeks ago! Where has it gone. I know I spent some of it for James' Party, but I didn't realise it was so much. I have spent about £40 on food and meat for the freezer. So this is day one of my Oops challenge. I have to stretch this £29 until the 26'th February which is 17 days! I am sure I can do it *FINGERS CROSSED*.

I have quite a bit of food/spices/tins/meat and vegetables in cupboards and in the freezer.

My meal plan for this week is:

Breakfasts:

Oatmeal or Toast and Jam

Lunch:

Leftovers from dinner or Ham salad sandwiches and fruit.

Dinners:

Spaghetti Bolognese with Garlic Bread and Salad

Pork Chops, Creamy Potato stacks and sweetcorn.

Enchiladas and salad.

Battered Fish and chips with peas.

Sausage, chips and beans.

BOLD items are meals we have already had.

As you can see it is not the best meal plan, but everything on the list is things I have already got to use up.

Saturday we are out to the O2 for a lovers rock night and Sunday we are having a few friends over for valentines day so I wont need to plan dinners for those two days.

Ok this is not technically the first day of my challenge, but my third. I want to be able to share pictures with you all so I am going to start this as my first day. Tonight we will have Spag Bog for dinner. I will share pictures with you later.