Frugal February

Last time I defrosted some chicken stock it turned out to be apple sauce
Oh, I didn't check the stock I defrosted. It's in the soupmaker now - that could be interesting. Although there are some soups you can make that contain apple, aren't there?

I am cleaning the oven - and told DH that there will be no more roast potatoes now that it's February. He asked if he can have chips instead

Happy birthday whitewave
My theory is that your body needs a 'calorie jolt' every so often or else it gets used to the lower number of calories and the weight loss slows down.
So eating too much once in a while can help.
That's my excuse theory anyway, experts will probably disagree

Sounds Yummy. I Haven't tried that Oldmeg (but I will do very soon) do you just mash the corned beef into the veg then?

Yikes, my stock isn't labelled but I don't think there is anything else in the freezer to confuse it with at the moment, except for maybe curry sauce ....

Gilly I slice the corned beef and put it in an oven dish. Mash together steamed onion, steamed cabbage and boiled potato (ratio 1:1:2) cover corned beef with this and grate cheese on the top. I usually use leftover veg and that lump of cheese that’s been festering in the corner of the fridge since Noah was a lad.

Serve with boiled beetroot and/or red cabbage, and brown sauce if you want.

Very easy, very tasty, very filling and very cheap.

Onion, cabbage, re cabbage, beetroot make 4 of your 5-a day too.

Funnygran; try those easy peeler small oranges that I've been esting if you crave something sweet. I've never ben a great orange eater as, in the past they used to trigger migraines but I'm now [touch wood] clear of them. They really are incredibly sweet but, at the same time have a slight tartness which stops the sweet tooth [if that makes sense]. I'm also snacking on bananas as they're filling, energy giving and [supposedly] do something with the serotonin levels in the body thereby making you feel happy. I used to put my fruit and vegetables in a smoothie but they were packed full of calories. It seems we've all pretty much cut back on calories but lost little weight over the past month; could it be that it's been so cold and we've had our heating on so high that our bodies just aren't burning calories to keep warm? I've also been keeping the heating on throughout the night; something I've never done before.

I'm not really tempted by sweet things at all
My problem is with finding substitutes for the things I love, which are all high calorie, but with a lovely texture. Nuts, crisps, cheesy biscuits.
Rice cakes are the nearest, but still nowhere near what I crave.

Forgot to say, bake in hot oven till cheese is golden and bubbling.

Oh it sounds a bit like the Pan Haggerty I make OldMeg which is very similar. Layers of sliced corned beef , sliced potatoes and gently fried onions. I pour gravy over the top and pop into he oven until the sliced potatoes on the top go all lovely and brown. I'm drooling.

gilly what a good idea re vegetables I shall do that in future.
Chunky minestrone soupmfor lunch 420 calories
Cup of tea 5 calories

So far today then I’ve had

gilly that vegetable idea sounds good will do that for sure

Lunch
Chunky minestrone soup 420 calories
Cup of tea 5 calories

So far today 732 calories

This will now be totally ruined by dinner with sister oh well it is my birthday dinner so must be polite and enjoy it.

Sorry about the double post I didn’t think the first one “took”

Mash potatoes, sprouts, cabbage, carrots, swede, parsnips..... whatever it all gets mashed together. I also added some left over roast chestnuts from Christmas... Delicious.

Happy Birthday whitewave?? Enjoy this evening and fresh start tomorrow! OldMeg look on the bright side....think how much easier to lose weight just eating soup and scrambled egg for a week or two.?

Happy Birthday from me too whitewave

so must be polite and enjoy it.
It would be very rude not to eat everything

I'm not sure if it was stock or apple sauce - but the soup was quite tangy! A whole head of broccoli (gone slightly soft but still green), a few home-frozen runner beans and sprouts plus an onion.
I've never put sprouts in soup before but it was very nice indeed.

Tempted to make a Very Rude Reply Mrs Allboys ????

Just made 5 pints of vegetable stock for soups. Just cooling waiting to be frozen.
I think the secret to success is planning.Now, you'll either think I'm very sad or very savvy as I spent last night devising a 28 day menu

I am taking this VERY seriously!

Actually I think I sound rather smug

Actually I think you are amazing Caveperson ??

I don't even know what we're having tomorrow!
But it will be fish.
Although we do have enough soup left over from today for lunch tomorrow.

I've had salmon and broccoli and a couple of satsumas. Did a walk today and went to the gym last night. Going to the cinema [where I usually, I'm afraid, suck a few sweets ] but hope not to eat anything when I get home. What is the best sweetener to get? I'm using Xylitol at the moment, just to use it up, but I'm not supposed to take it. And I think aspartamine unhealthy. My sugar intake has crept up over the past year or so; usually because of my turmeric drinks and I do have sugar in coffee [stupid, really because I would never dream of having it in tea].

OldMeg that sounds better if I think I could lose two stone in a year. I think the motivation might have gone by then! I’m laughing at defrosting things and finding they aren’t what you thought they were as have done that myself. There’s a plastic container in my freezer with no label and it has something inside which is a strange orange colour. Either puréed carrot or puréed mango but don’t remember having leftovers of either. Speaking of strange food combinations 93 year old MIL assured me the other day that she had read a tip to put a few prunes into home made Scotch broth. She says it was delicious but since she is often a little confused about things I am wondering if anyone else has heard of this.

I think sometimes we inadvertently eat things we think are ‘good for us’ but which actually detail our efforts. Fruit IMO falls into this category. And fruit juices are to be avoided at all costs, but again only IMO. I rarely eat fruit and if I do then it’s berries.

Now vegetables, they get the thumbs up from me.