30 April 2018

IT'S TIME TO WASH THE WASHING MACHINE FOR APRIL


There is an easy, cheap and energy efficient way to keep your washing machine clean and in tip top shape, and it works. It's the method I've been using for 26 years.

First thing you need to do is find out if your washing machine actually has a lint filter. My HE machine didn't, my new machine does, so check your handbook to find out if your machine has a lint filter.

If your washing machine is a top loader it should have a lint filter in the agitator.  Pull out the top of the agitator and it should have some kind of little bag or basket attached to it.

Gently take it off and give it a good clean. You may need to empty the lint out of it first. Then rinse it under hot water. If you use fabric softener then you will also need to soak it for a few minutes in white vinegar. Fabric softeners leave a film over the mesh that actually stops the water from getting through. You need to get rid of this build up.

Front loaders have different lint filters - check your handbook to find out where it is and how to get to it.

If you empty and rinse the lint filter after every wash you'll stop those black flakes of gunk that sometimes appear on your washing - that's the old muck out of the lint filter flowing back up into the bowl. Yuk!

While the lint filter is soaking, get a cloth and a bucket of warm water and add a splash of vinegar (about 1 cup). Use this to wipe around the top of the bowl, under the lid, over the outside of the cabinet etc. Don't forget the inside of the agitator and the fabric softener dispenser. If it's particularly grungy, sprinkle with bi-carb and use this as a scouring powder. Just watch your fingers - the edges of all those ridges and rims can be sharp (guess how I know!).

Put the lint filter back together and replace the top of the agitator. Then run your washing machine through a full cycle on the longest and hottest wash cycle (this is the only time I use a hot wash) and add a full 2 litre bottle of vinegar to it. Don't add any clothes or other detergents; let the vinegar work its magic. The vinegar will remove the scum and gunk and any hard-water build up in the bowl and hoses.

Wipe over the outside of the machine with a damp cloth and dry.

You washing machine will sparkle inside and out. Do this on a regular basis and you'll extend the life of your machine and save on costly maintenance calls.

My handbook suggests every 100 washes, for me that's about every two months because of the amount of washing I do. For my mother it's every six months or so as she only does two loads a week. If your family is larger you may need to do this more often. It may seem like a tedious chore but it is worth taking care of this most useful household appliance.

Think about what you'd do if you couldn't use your washing machine for a week - hand-washing, paying for the laundromat -and you'll see the benefit quickly.


27 April 2018

Meal Plan Week 18, 2018

Next week we will be eating:

Sunday: Roast Lamb

Monday: Sweet Lamb Curry, rice, pappadums

Tuesday: Chilli Pasta Bake

Wednesday: Meatloaf, vegetables, gravy

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Crumbed sausages, vegetables

Saturday: Enchiladas


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24 April 2018

Pancakes

I'm still all of a muddle, with so much to do I think I'm busy doing nothing, so when a post from Mimi popped up entitled "Budget Busting Pancakes" of course I just had to read it :)

We are a big fan of pancakes in our house.

They can be sweet or savoury, freeze, thaw and pack well and can be thick or thin(ish). When the kids were at school they'd often find pancakes in their lunchboxes as a treat.

They are quick and easy to make, and the batter can be made ahead and kept in the fridge, ideal for a quick breakfast.

They can be cooked just about anywhere - pancakes are a staple "bread" when we are camping or remote (I'm not a fan of paying $6.50 for a loaf of frozen bread from a store outback - there are other better things we can buy to support them).

And my favourite way to eat them is with Tom. He is the champion pancake maker in the family, and he often whips up a batch for us to have for brunch before he starts work or goes to sleep (depends what he's doing, his work schedule can be crazy).

I like them with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of white sugar. Tom loves them with my homemade jam - raspberry is his favourite, otherwise he'll force down strawberry or plum.

Here's my pancake recipe:

Ingredients:
2 cups SR flour
2 tsp sugar (just enough to sweeten, too much sugar and your pancakes will burn)
1 cup water, less 1 tbsp (yes, measure it!)
1/4 cup milk powder (full cream, skim - it's up to you)
1 tbsp white vinegar

Method:

Combine the milk powder with the water until the milk powder has dissolved.
Add the vinegar to the milk mixture and let it sit for 15 - 20 minutes until it has thickened and there are a few bubbles on top.
Sift the flour (or whisk it). Don't skip this step, it really does make a difference. Add the milk/vinegar mixture and whisk until the mixture is smooth.
Let the batter rest for 15 minutes at least.
Heat a frying pan over a medium-low heat.
Wipe the base of the frying pan with a butter paper (or a piece of paper towel with a scrape of butter).
Pour the batter into the hot frying pan. Don’t crowd the pan, leave room between pancakes.
When bubbles start to appear in the top of the pancakes, use an egg lifter to flip them. They'll only need a minute on this side to finish cooking.
Remove from the pan to a plate and cover with a tea towel to keep them warm.
Repeat with the remaining batter.

Over the years I've adapted my Mum's recipe to suit our budget and our tastes (and my unique cooking style) and, as the lovely Pamela says, I've made it my own.

It calls for a version of MOO buttermilk. Buttermilk makes the lightest, fluffiest pancakes, but it's expensive to buy and I don't use fresh milk in pancakes. Instead I use milk powder and water, and add the vinegar to this mixture, then let it sit for 15 - 20 minutes.

I also rest the batter for at least 15 minutes, preferably half an hour or even overnight. In the fridge of course - don't leave it out on the bench, it will start to ferment.

Another tip is to make sure the pan is hot, then use a butter paper to grease it. Then add the batter, leaving room for the pancakes to spread. Being me, I like to use my 1/4 cup measuring cup to pour the batter so they're all the same size. Don’t overcrowd the pan, leave room for spreading as I mentioned and so you can flip them without squishing up the edges. Or not - you may like squished up edges.

When we make pancakes we'll usually make at least a double recipe and freeze them. To do this let them cool completely then stack with freezer film (cut up cereal box liners in our house) between them so they don't stick and into a freezer bag or an airtight freezer container. Then just take as many as you need from the freezer and let them thaw or microwave them for a few seconds, and enjoy!


20 April 2018

Meal Plan Week 17, 2018

This week we will be eating:

Sunday: Roast Chicken

Monday: Chilli Con Carne, corn bread

Tuesday: Penne with Creamy Pesto

Wednesday: Homemade pie, mashed potato, peas, gravy

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Swedish meatballs

Saturday: Spanish rice, salad

17 April 2018

Schnitzels

Schnitzel with herb roasted potatoes
Schnitzels feature heavily on our menu.

I love them because they cook quickly, the kids love them because the leftovers make great sandwiches the next day and Wayne loves them because they make a hearty meal.

It comes as no surprise that I get a lot of questions about how we can possibly have schnitzel so often when even chicken fillets are around $10 a kilo (I NEVER pay more than $6/kg for chicken fillets), with beef and veal being upwards of $15 a kilo.

I'll let you into a little secret - my schnitzels are vegetarian! I make them myself from scratch and they are delicious, tender and moist. They are also a fraction of the cost - around $2 for five large schnitzels.

Don't be put off by the fact they are vegetarian, try them. They really are something special.

Cath's Schnitzels

Ingredients:
1 cup gluten flour*
1 cup water
2 eggs
1 tsp Marmite (or Vegemite)
breadcrumbs
Oil for frying

Gravy:
1 pkt French onion soup mix
1 tsp Marmite (or Vegemite)
2 cups water

Method:
Mix gluten flour, water, 1 egg, marmite and torula yeast together with a fork until dough forms. If you have a food processor, place all ingredients in bowl and process until dough forms. Roll dough into a log and slice into six evenly sized pieces. Beat the remaining egg, dip each schnitzel into egg then into breadcrumbs. Refrigerate 30 minutes to let crumbs set. Heat oil in a heavy based frying pan. Brown each schnitzel on both sides. Drain on paper towel. When all have been browned add soup mix, marmite and water to pan. Stir until boiling. Return schnitzels to pan, turn heat down and simmer gently for 30 minutes. You may need to add more water to the gravy during this time. After 30 minutes the schnitzels should be puffed and the gravy thick.

Serve hot with vegetable and gravy or cold with salad. They are also great on a roll or sandwich with lettuce and mustard mayo.

I often mix these up, and use a tomato gravy instead of the brown gravy. It's easy to make, tomato paste and a little cream (or sour cream works too).

To serve, a mushroom gravy goes nicely with the schnitzels and veggies.

These schnitzels can be frozen in the gravy and then just thawed and heated for a quick dinner.

*Gluten flour can be bought in the health food aisle at the supermarket or from health food stores, but it is much cheaper to buy in bulk, it's about half the price. I suggest, if you aren't a baker who uses gluten flour, to buy a small packet to try the schnitzels and if you like them, then consider buying in bulk from a local wholefoods/bulk foods store.



13 April 2018

Meal Plan Week 16, 2018


Next week we will be eating:

Sunday: Roast Beef

Monday: Schnitzels, sliced potatoes and salad

Tuesday: Pasta Bake

Wednesday: Stuffed drumsticks, salad

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Curried tuna slice, salad

Saturday: Tomato Vegetable Soup, toasted crumpets


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09 April 2018

WHAT WE SPENT, WHAT WE DIDN'T SPEND AND WHAT WE SAVED WEEK 14

This is what we spent:

Aldi: $19.90
Coles: 39.35

This is what we didn't spend (and what was moved into savings/slush fund/holiday fund):

Coffee: Wayne has gone back to using the Keep Cup and we are both still having iced coffee in the mornings. I've been making up Iced Coffee Syrup, using expresso from my machine and MOO vanilla extract. Total cost: $3.82 for 1 litre of coffee syrup, that makes 20 iced coffees (I use 50ml per drink). Our iced coffees cost just 40 cents each (200ml milk costs 20c, 50ml syrup is 20c). Between the two of us, over seven mornings, we didn't spend $52.50 on iced coffee this week!

Petrol: No petrol needed in my car this week, I still have between 3/4 and a full tank, so I didn't spend $80 on petrol, and moved $80 to the holiday fund.

Meals:  All our meals were cooked from scratch, using ingredients from the pantry, fridge and freeze so we didn't spend $376 again on takeaway this week.

Three birthday cards: We had three birthdays to celebrate this month, so instead of spending $24 on birthday cards, I made them, using materials from the craft drawers. I didn't spent $21 on buying birthday cards. I budget $1 per, so shifted $3 from the gift fund to the holiday fund.

Three birthday presents and wrapping: One gift was a potted mini succulent garden. These very cute little gardens cost upwards of $20 from the florist, this one cost absolutely nothing. The plants were strikes off strikes that were given to me by the lovely Maureen a couple of years ago, and the very cute little fishbowl was given to Hannah, who gave it to me, by the gorgeous Anne. I used sand, soil, and pebbles that we already had in the garden. $20 I didn't spent on a birthday gift, and $20 left in the gift fund.

The other two gifts were for men, both play golf, so their gifts were easy. I embroidered their names and "golf towel" on some super large, navy blue hand towels I had in the present box (and they were given to me a while back), added a bar of my handmade soap and wrapped them in cellophane I had. Personalised hand towels are $17.50 each and nice soap is $5.50 a bar. I didn't spend $46 on two gifts. I budget $10 per gift, so $30 was moved to the holiday fund.

Windows: Taking advantage of the lovely autumn weather, we washed the outside of the windows and dusted the cobwebs away. It took about an hour working together as a team, one washing, the other rinsing and drying. I was gobsmacked to find out how much we didn’t spend to get the windows washed: $185! And that was the cheapest quote, I shudder to think how much it would cost if we had more windows or a two-storey home.

Total spent this week:  $59.32
Total not spent this week: $780.50
And moved to savings:  $113.00

Remember, money isn't saved until it is safely in the bank. Until then it is just not spent - hence my "what we didn't spend" list and making sure I move money from the relevant categories into our savings accounts.

06 April 2018

Meal Plan Week 15, 2018

Saturday Night  Sour Cream Pasta Bake
Next week we will be eating:

Monday: Sausage Wellingtons, mushroom gravy

Tuesday: Saturday Night Sour Cream Pasta Bake, salad

Wednesday: Meatloaf & vegetables

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Singapore noodles

Saturday: Homemade veggie burgers

In the fruit bowl: Bananas


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04 April 2018

How We Live Happily on Our Budget

I'd love to say it is easy and we live on our budget without even thinking about it, but that simply wouldn't be true.

We are human. There are times we want things RIGHT NOW PLEASE that we just don't have the cash saved up for, and I'll admit that I don't like it. Sometimes I suffer from the "I see it, I want it, I deserve it" mindset too.

But our lifestyle is what it is. We live debt free. We have everything we need, and as of today, want. We have worked hard to get to this point in our lives, and we do not ever want to be where we were When Disaster Struck, so we have a few checks before we go crazy with the spending.

Now we don’t stand in the store and tick them off, but they are always asked before we spend money that's not on our spending plan.

1. Is it a want or a need? – Sometimes, in the emotion of the moment, the difference between wants and needs blurs, but they are two very different things.

2. Can I find it used? – There are very few things we buy that are not used.  Underwear, shoes and tyres are the three things I absolutely won't buy used, otherwise as long as the item is in excellent condition and a fair price, used suits us just fine.  If something can't be sourced secondhand, then we do our research and look for the lowest possible price, and aim to never buy anything that isn't on sale (other than the basic grocery items from Aldi that we stock our pantry with).

3. Am I buying this out of habit? – We get so used to shopping that tossing things in the trolley or basket out of habit can really bust that budget. Shop with a list for everything, not just groceries. I have household and garden items on my shopping list, clothing, medicines - everything we need to buy. I'm so focused on getting what's on the list and crossing it off, I very rarely ever add anything to the trolley.

4. Will I be able to use the item for more than one task?  – How many times have you found something in your cupboard and realised you've only used it once or twice, or even worse, not at all? Or you can't remember why you bought it in the first place? Think about every purchase, and ask yourself:
• will you actually use it,
• will you be able to use it more than once,
• can it be used for other purposes,
• do you have the cash to pay for it ,
• will you still be using it in six months?

5. Is it worth going in debt? – Unless you're buying a house, then the answer is always no! When it comes to anything else (including cars!), if you don't have the cash to pay for it, then you can't afford it. Simple.

Working out your budget to fit your income may mean you need to trim a few things, but it's a much nicer lifestyle to trim a few things from the budget and be debt free, than to buy whatever you want and live with the ongoing stress of debt.

And if asking those questions is too daunting for you, remember the $100/24 Hour Rule:

If it's more than $100, wait 24 hours before buying it. Then, if you still need it or really want it, think about how you can afford to get it. Do you have the cash on hand? Will you need to borrow from the budget? Will you have to go into debt to buy it (credit cards, store loans etc.)? Can you raise the money to buy it (overtime, garage sale, use birthday money etc.)?

Most of the time you've changed your mind, realized you don't really even like it or just plain can't be bothered going back to the shop to get it and you've just saved yourself a couple years' worth of debt re-payments!


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03 April 2018

WHAT WE SPENT, WHAT WE DIDN'T SPEND AND WHAT WE SAVED WEEKS 8 - 13

I have been absent from the blogging world for the last six weeks, due to a rather inconvenient health issue that has had me going almost stir crazy from boredom. No TV, no screen time, no reading (especially my Kindle), wearing sunglasses almost constantly and eye drops - lots and lots of eye drops.

After a visit to the specialist last week, I'm now allowed limited screen and reading time - thank goodness!

So this next week will be catch up on missing blog posts, I apologise in advance, because they will be LONG, but by the end of the week all should be caught up.

This is what we spent:

Groceries: $217.16
Petrol: $48.43
Chemist: 69.70
Doctors: $397.10
Magazines: $17
Easter: $27
Oven handle: $51.40

Spending, even on the necessities, has been limited, although the grocery budget did have more convenience groceries added to the list. It helps not being able to drive, and being housebound and so avoiding the shops.

Petrol spending was way down, due mainly to the fact I simply wasn't going out, and so not driving. I was able to shift $431.43 to the holiday fuel fund, giving it a healthy boost for our trip.

Easter was the most expensive ever for us this year. All our hot cross buns were bought - I usually bake them. I gave in and bought Easter eggs from Sweet As at Knox City because I just couldn't make them, and then filled the baskets with gold bunnies from Aldi. It was still a lot less expensive than some of the posts I've seen, but it sure put a dent in our special occasions budget.

An unexpected expense was the handle on the oven door. It snapped in half as I opened it one night. Thankfully we were able to source a new replacement (a miracle as far as I'm concerned for our 35 year old oven!) and Wayne was able to take the door apart and fit the new one. We have a spending plan category for household maintenance and repairs, and this expense came from that category.

With just six weeks until we leave on our trip, we'll be eating down the freezer and living solely off our stockpile, buying just milk for as long as I can (until the fruit and veg in the pantry and freezer run out). We may be eating some strange side dishes, but I'm sure we'll survive. My plan is to do a big shop the week before we leave to restock the freezer and pantry for the kids while we're away.

Total spent: 572.20
And moved to savings: $431.43

Remember, money isn't saved until it is safely in the bank. Until then it is just not spent - hence my "what we didn't spend" list and making sure I move money from the relevant categories into our savings accounts.



01 April 2018

IT'S TIME TO WASH THE WASHING MACHINE FOR MARCH

There is an easy, cheap and energy efficient way to keep your washing machine clean and in tip top shape, and it works. It's the method I've been using for 29 years.

First thing you need to do is find out if your washing machine actually has a lint filter. My HE machine didn't, my new machine does, so check your handbook to find out if your machine has a lint filter.

If your washing machine is a top loader it should have a lint filter in the agitator.  Pull out the top of the agitator and it should have some kind of little bag or basket attached to it.

Gently take it off and give it a good clean. You may need to empty the lint out of it first. Then rinse it under hot water. If you use fabric softener then you will also need to soak it for a few minutes in white vinegar. Fabric softeners leave a film over the mesh that actually stops the water from getting through. You need to get rid of this build up.

Front loaders have different lint filters - check your handbook to find out where it is and how to get to it.

If you empty and rinse the lint filter after every wash you'll stop those black flakes of gunk that sometimes appear on your washing - that's the old muck out of the lint filter flowing back up into the bowl. Yuk!

While the lint filter is soaking, get a cloth and a bucket of warm water and add a splash of vinegar (about 1 cup). Use this to wipe around the top of the bowl, under the lid, over the outside of the cabinet etc. Don't forget the inside of the agitator and the fabric softener dispenser. If it's particularly grungy, sprinkle with bi-carb and use this as a scouring powder. Just watch your fingers - the edges of all those ridges and rims can be sharp (guess how I know!).

Put the lint filter back together and replace the top of the agitator. Then run your washing machine through a full cycle on the longest and hottest wash cycle (this is the only time I use a hot wash) and add a full 2 litre bottle of vinegar to it. Don't add any clothes or other detergents; let the vinegar work its magic. The vinegar will remove the scum and gunk and any hard-water build up in the bowl and hoses.

Wipe over the outside of the machine with a damp cloth and dry.

You washing machine will sparkle inside and out. Do this on a regular basis and you'll extend the life of your machine and save on costly maintenance calls.

My handbook suggests every 100 washes, for me that's about every two months because of the amount of washing I do. For my mother it's every six months or so as she only does two loads a week. If your family is larger you may need to do this more often. It may seem like a tedious chore but it is worth taking care of this most useful household appliance.

Think about what you'd do if you couldn't use your washing machine for a week - hand-washing, paying for the laundromat -and you'll see the benefit quickly.

It's time to clean the dishwasher for April


It's that time again - the day to give the dishwasher a bit of TLC. I did ours this morning and now it's sparkly and clean, ready to keep our dishes sparkly and clean.

How to clean your dishwasher:

Step 1.  Place a dishwasher-safe cup filled with plain white vinegar on the top rack of your empty dishwasher. The vinegar will help to wash away the loose, greasy grime, sanitizes, and helps remove the musty odour.

Step 2. Sprinkle a cup of bicarbonate soda around the bottom of the dishwasher. The bicarbonate soda will help freshen the smell of the dishwasher as well as brighten up the look of the inside of your appliance by removing stains.

Step 3.  Using the hottest water available, run the dishwasher through a cycle – except for the cup of vinegar, the dishwasher needs to be empty.

Now that the dishwasher is clean and running right here are a few tips to keep it that way until the next cleaning.

Run a bit of hot water in your sink before running the dishwasher. You will get cleaner dishes if the water starts hot. You can collect the water you run and use it to fill the kettle or for watering plants or other purposes. Run the water until what comes out of the tap feels hot.

Make sure your water starts hot enough. Set the thermostat on your hot water service to 50 degrees Celsius. Water that is cooler than this won’t be hot enough to clean properly and water that is any hotter could scald.

A routine dishwasher cleaning is a good habit to get into. Mark it on the calendar to do regularly each month, the same day you do the drains and the washing machine.