This week's date night was at home but it was special to me as my Husband surprised me by making a special effort to look smart for me by dressing up into his suit complete with a shirt and tie. I love seeing him in a suit but we haven't been to any formal events for a while now, so I haven't seen him in it for ages. I am pleased that he was free enough to take the time to dress up just for me at home and not for other people's benefit at a party etc. I wore last week's purchase, my new red and white flippy skirt.
For our meal we both had a salad, I had hot new potatoes with pepper and melted extra strength British grated cheese, it sounds so simple but it really was gorgeous. My Husband had a hot cheese individual pizza (50p) with his salad along with some of the hot cheesey new potatoes that I had. My Husband said he couldn't believe he was actually eating all these salad items now that he used to hate and now enjoys! For drink I drank iced water with my meal while my Husband had a can of Bacardi and Cola. For dessert he had a Cadbury Dairy Chocolate ice cream (50p) and I had an apricot yoghurt. So our meal ticked the box for frugal.
For entertainment my Husband suggested a game of cards with new rules, it was interesting. We enjoyed our evening together and had a couple of Bailey's and ice while we were playing. We both like Bailey's so buy it in litre bottles, expensive initially but the cheapest way of buying it in bulk. The cost per glass isn't too bad and the bottle will last us several months as we are only light drinkers. Bailey's is one of our much enjoyed special treats.
Sunday, 22 August 2010
Friday, 20 August 2010
Baking & Tick Tock Timer
My brain has really connected it now, if the electric oven is on I feel that a cake should be baking at the same time to share the cooking fuel. I put on the meat for dinner and immediately thought 'cake', it is a strange feeling but real. So out came my mixing bowl, recipe book and ingredients even though I hadn't even considered making a cake before I started cooking the meal.
I made my cake, then thought I would make a second one to be even more frugal! The first cake was a fruit one containing marmalade and baked in a round cake tin while the second one was also fruity but cooked in a large oblong shaped tray tin. As the ingredients were similar I didn't even need to wash the mixing bowl inbetween and warned the children that they couldn't lick the spoons etc until I had made the second cake! They waited patiently, they definately love the tasting bit best.
My first cake took the longest to cook as it was in a deep cake tin and I was concerned that I would forget about it in the oven, not that I have ever done this before... actually I have burnt cakes in the past. As I had left the kitchen and was now on my computer I decided to use an online timer that had been recommended to me the other day. The Tick Tock Timer was set for 15 minutes then I just forgot about it and browsed while I waited for it to go off. The next thing I knew there was a loud 'dong, dong, dong'. The children and I thought it was funny andI got up and saved my cake. If you would like to use Tick Tock Timer it is a free tool and can be found at http://ticktocktimer.com/
My Husband got served a piece of hot cake with his coffee and declared it yummy. You can't beat home baking as it is satisfying to make, delicous to eat and you know exactly what is in it. Much cheaper than the bakery and better quality than the pre-packaged variety, so if you compare it by quality it is also good value for money.
I made my cake, then thought I would make a second one to be even more frugal! The first cake was a fruit one containing marmalade and baked in a round cake tin while the second one was also fruity but cooked in a large oblong shaped tray tin. As the ingredients were similar I didn't even need to wash the mixing bowl inbetween and warned the children that they couldn't lick the spoons etc until I had made the second cake! They waited patiently, they definately love the tasting bit best.
My first cake took the longest to cook as it was in a deep cake tin and I was concerned that I would forget about it in the oven, not that I have ever done this before... actually I have burnt cakes in the past. As I had left the kitchen and was now on my computer I decided to use an online timer that had been recommended to me the other day. The Tick Tock Timer was set for 15 minutes then I just forgot about it and browsed while I waited for it to go off. The next thing I knew there was a loud 'dong, dong, dong'. The children and I thought it was funny andI got up and saved my cake. If you would like to use Tick Tock Timer it is a free tool and can be found at http://ticktocktimer.com/
My Husband got served a piece of hot cake with his coffee and declared it yummy. You can't beat home baking as it is satisfying to make, delicous to eat and you know exactly what is in it. Much cheaper than the bakery and better quality than the pre-packaged variety, so if you compare it by quality it is also good value for money.
Dawlish Air Show
Yesterday was the Dawlish Air Show. It was great fun and a real family day out. We took a picnic and enjoyed munching our tasty Cornish pasties. The weather was kind to us, a bit windy as we were up on a hill beside the coast but we had brought our warm coats so it didn't bother us. We were well armed with technology, this was our first air show and we didn't want to miss a thing! We took our portable but powerful binoculars, the video camera and both my Husband and I took a camera each. We weren't disappointed and came away with fantastic coverage of our day out.
These are a few of the things that we saw:
However, the most memorable and fantastic display we saw at the air show was of course The Red Arrows. They were just amazingly fabulous and showed off continously for about a quarter of an hour non-stop! The sky was full of planes dashing about everywhere but all coming together at the right time in perfect sequence. You can't doubt the pilots skill and precision when you have watched them in action. The sky was full of beautiful colours of red, white and blue for the british flag. (Don't tell my four year old Daughter that it was red though as she thinks it was pink, her favourite colour! Lol).
It was also a frugal day out as when we got to the park which was in a field we had the choice of paying £10 a vehicle to park and ride the bus to town for shopping or 50p a vehicle to park in the next field and watch from the field, use the onsite loos and facilities and attend the car boot sale after the show ended. Obviously, we chose the latter! So apart from the diesel to get there, about an hour's drive and a picnic it cost us just 50p, amazing!
At the car boot I was very good and didn't buy anything but my Husband wanted to treat the children to some heavy duty golf clubs that he found, we got three for two pounds. Also he bought a bag of candy floss which we all shared followed by freshly made hot doughnuts for early tea before we left for home. We ate again when we got home but we skipped afters as we had already eaten the doughnuts. We couldn't believe how much sugar they put in the doughnut bag, my Husband saved it and put some in his hot drinks saving our sugar pot, I am impressed as that is very frugal of him!
On the way home there were traffic jams but as we were beside the coastal railway, famously designed by Isambard Brunel, that had trains passing every couple of minutes my Husband told the children that we were train spotting and they enjoyed watching for trains instead of being stressed out about all the waiting around. We also liked watching lots of geese and several pairs of swans swimming around at Cockwood and the boats at Starcross.
These are a few of the things that we saw:
- Hawk T.1 - 19(R) Sqn/4 FTS
- The Breitling Wingwalkers - Aerosuperbatics
- Jet Provost
- Dash 8-300
- The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
- Lancaster and Spitfire
- Sea King HU.5 SAR helicopter
- The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team - The Red Arrows
- Tornado GR.4 Role Demo - XV(R) Sqn
However, the most memorable and fantastic display we saw at the air show was of course The Red Arrows. They were just amazingly fabulous and showed off continously for about a quarter of an hour non-stop! The sky was full of planes dashing about everywhere but all coming together at the right time in perfect sequence. You can't doubt the pilots skill and precision when you have watched them in action. The sky was full of beautiful colours of red, white and blue for the british flag. (Don't tell my four year old Daughter that it was red though as she thinks it was pink, her favourite colour! Lol).
It was also a frugal day out as when we got to the park which was in a field we had the choice of paying £10 a vehicle to park and ride the bus to town for shopping or 50p a vehicle to park in the next field and watch from the field, use the onsite loos and facilities and attend the car boot sale after the show ended. Obviously, we chose the latter! So apart from the diesel to get there, about an hour's drive and a picnic it cost us just 50p, amazing!
At the car boot I was very good and didn't buy anything but my Husband wanted to treat the children to some heavy duty golf clubs that he found, we got three for two pounds. Also he bought a bag of candy floss which we all shared followed by freshly made hot doughnuts for early tea before we left for home. We ate again when we got home but we skipped afters as we had already eaten the doughnuts. We couldn't believe how much sugar they put in the doughnut bag, my Husband saved it and put some in his hot drinks saving our sugar pot, I am impressed as that is very frugal of him!
On the way home there were traffic jams but as we were beside the coastal railway, famously designed by Isambard Brunel, that had trains passing every couple of minutes my Husband told the children that we were train spotting and they enjoyed watching for trains instead of being stressed out about all the waiting around. We also liked watching lots of geese and several pairs of swans swimming around at Cockwood and the boats at Starcross.
Monday, 16 August 2010
OXO Cubes Stock Pile
I have just found a highstreet shop where I can get oxo cubes for my Winter stews and casseroles in large boxes of 24 for £1! Each cube cost 4p at this price which actually still sounds quite a lot but gives me a saving of 51p per box compared to my usual supermarket prices as they only sell them in smaller boxes of 12 or 18. I decided to buy a stash of them for my pantry as they have a long date, 2012.
Sunday, 15 August 2010
Double Lock Canal Walk
Today was a sunny day so we had a picnic outside after Church and drove to Exeter Quay to walk about two and a half miles in total along the Double Lock Canal. We walked at the pace of the youngest child who is a fit four year old but it still took a lot longer than it could have done. It was nice and we got to see the bridge opened for the boat to go through. The worst bit was after I got home and realised I had sunburnt my nose! Lol.
Freecycle Computer Games
The children picked up a few computer games in this week's freecycle. One Son picked up a wallet, empty of course! I found a couple of cds and books, think I should have a listen and a quick read then return them for someone else to enjoy before I get too attached to them as I have too many here already! For disposable items I must treat it more like a lending library.
Picnic Date Night
Our date night this week was a picnic in the car. I simply packed a healthy salad and a can of fiery ginger beer which we shared. We drove to a picturesque location which was about half an hour away. We went on a short walk and watched several squirrels scampering up and down the trees. I had purchased a new short flippy red and white skirt as my Husband had wanted me to buy one. I wore it with a white t-shirt and my white crochet cardigan.
This week's date cost us the fuel for the car, 1 hours drive, £3 for the skirt and 17p for the can of ginger beer. All the food was already in my pantry and not bought special for the date. Our car is very economical on fuel as it is just a little runabout and we got 5p off per litre when I last refuelled due to petrol vouchers we were given at the store. The flippy skirt will be reworn for other dates and was purchased at our local charity shop, so the charity benefited from that purchase. Yet another successful reasonable cost date with emphasis on togetherness rather than expense.
This week's date cost us the fuel for the car, 1 hours drive, £3 for the skirt and 17p for the can of ginger beer. All the food was already in my pantry and not bought special for the date. Our car is very economical on fuel as it is just a little runabout and we got 5p off per litre when I last refuelled due to petrol vouchers we were given at the store. The flippy skirt will be reworn for other dates and was purchased at our local charity shop, so the charity benefited from that purchase. Yet another successful reasonable cost date with emphasis on togetherness rather than expense.
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