The Week that Was 10 July 2016

I didn't post last week because we were away.  Wayne and I went to Ballarat last Saturday and stayed overnight for the Winter Wonderlights event at Sovereign Hill. It was cold! But so enjoyable. We stayed in one of the older hotels in Ballarat, full of history and just beautiful and then went to the Mill Market this morning. We took snacks and drinks and of course the picnic basket and thermos. I booked the hotel and bought our Sovereign Hill tickets online using my RACV discount.

Winter Wonderlights show at Sovereign Hill, Ballarat - it was cold but well worth the wait, the lights were beautiful and the carollers were gorgeous.

Sunday we woke to a cold, miserable, foggy and soggy day - typical Ballarat in winter. It was perfect for a trip to Mill Market, where we spent a very happy couple of hours oohing and ahhing and drooling over all the pretties.

Then it was time to head for home. I dropped Wayne at LaTrobe Uni in Bundoora so he could help pack up the stand at the Hobson's Bay Club train exhibition and headed on home.

We had no power on 30th June, from 8am until 5pm. It was cold, thank goodness for the fire. Of course no power meant no modem and no Internet unless we used our phones. It was such a peaceful day. I think we should have one power-free day every now and then, it does a soul good to listen to the silence and have time to think one thought at a time, slowly.

Collected water from the showers and added to the washing machine.

Kept the fire going and the ducted heating turned down to 15 degrees during the day. It only came on if the house was really cold. Turned it off completely overnight. I'm expecting a slightly lower gas bill next round.

This week I've had some beautiful op shop finds for a grand total of $10.  I found a double doona cover to turn into a tablecloth for the kitchen table. It will also make 10 serviettes, two tea towels and two new pot holders. There's still fabric left so I may make more tea towels or perhaps a runner for the table. It's blue and white (of course) and coordinates beautifully with my blue and white plates on the wall.

Excuse the creases, I was in a hurry to get this post finished! The doona has washed up beautifully, now to just hem it and the tablecloth will be done!

I also picked up some flannelette pillow slips and a pretty flannelette sheet. I'm going to make pot holders from the pillow slips and re-usable make-up wipes from the sheet. The make-up wipes are going into gift baskets for Christmas.

I found two new vintage embroidered tablecloths, a doyley and a cushion for our bed too. We're in the process of redecorating our bedroom and this little pillow will fit right in to the colour scheme and style and I just love it.

I went to a couple of paint shops to collect colour chips and to price paint. Now to make a final decision and get started.

I measured the window in our bedroom. It's an odd size - 4.5 metres wide. I have some lace curtain I've been saving ( or hoarding, depends on your point of view). If I'm very careful and don't make the curtain quite as full I may just have enough and that will save at least $150. I can reuse the tape off the current curtains which will save more.

Made breadcrumbs using crusts from the freezer.

Added three extra single serve meals to the freezer.

Last week I double batch cooked Sweet'n'Sour Chicken, curried sausages and mac'n'cheese and froze half for future meals.

Sweet'n'Sour Chicken

Picked lettuce from the garden for sandwiches.

Used 50:50 cordial base from the freezer to make cool drinks this week.

We've eaten all our meals cooked from scratch using ingredients in the pantry, fridge and freezer. The freezer is gradually emptying as we go through this year of minimal grocery budget.

I planted some more broccoli and cauliflower seedlings and fed the growing plants with worm tea.

All the kitchen scraps were either fed to the worms, composted or added to the bokashi bucket. It makes such a difference to how full the garbage bin gets.

Dried all washing on the clotheshorses next to the fire.

Getting the most from the firewood - heating the house and drying the washing!

Took advantage of the rain to wet my car, then I raced out with a bucket of soapy water and the broom and quickly gave it a wash. Then a quick squirt with the hose and it was shiny and clean again. Saved $8 at the car wash and only took 5 minutes. And yes, I'm sure our neighbours think I'm mad!

Took the hems up on some trousers for Mum.

Made some vanilla room freshener for the bathrooms.

Downloaded some free ebooks for my kindle.

Downloaded some free embroidery patterns.

Downloaded some free card making templates.

Downloaded some free scrapbooking papers to use as backgrounds for  cards.

Made a baby card for Hannah to take to a baby shower next weekend. Put a gift together from the present box and wrapped it all in a recycled and redecorated paper shopping bag. Saving - up to $30.

Revised our spending plan for the last six months and the next six months. It's the start of a new financial year and a good time to review budgets to make sure they're on track. If they're not it's early enough to catch and make any necessary adjustments so you end the year on track financially.

What have you done to save money, time and energy this week?

Meal Plan 10 - 16 July 2016

One of our favourite winter meal is chilli and cornbread. I make the cornbread from scratch and we eat it hot, straight from the oven, with a big bowl of chilli. Any leftover cornbread is delicious thinly sliced and toasted for breakfast the next morning.

Cath's Crockpot Chilli

Ingredients:
2 cans baked beans in tomato sauce
240g can tomato paste
400g can diced tomatoes
1kg mince, browned and drained
2 medium onions, coarsely chopped
1 cup diced celery
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chilli powder (more or less to taste)
salt and pepper to taste

Method:
Put all ingredients in slow cooker in order listed.  Stir gently to blend, being careful not to break up beans. Cover and cook on high for 5-6 hours or low 10 - 12 hours. Times will vary between slow cookers. Test after the minimum time to see if the meat is cooked and the sauce has thickened. Serve with rice and cornbread.

Easy Cornbread 2

Ingredients:
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup plain flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted

Method:
Stir all ingredients in mixing bowl until just combined. Mix with electric mixer on medium speed for one minute. Pour into well greased 20cm square cake tin. Bake at 220 degrees Celsius for 20 - 25 minutes until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

Sunday: Roast Lamb

Monday: Chicken & rice casserole

Tuesday: Pasta bake, salad, garlic bread

Wednesday: Chilli and corn bread

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: MOO Butter chicken and rice

Saturday: Tacos

This Week's Fruit and Veg Haul

Sweet potato 29c/kg and bananas 99c/kg at Pellegrino's this week

Some great prices at Pellegrino's and Bushy Park this week, so good I couldn't resist and did dip into next month's grocery money on my way home from the station run early this morning.

Pellegrino's:
Sultana grapes $5 a box
Bananas 99c/kg
Sweet potato 29c/kg
3kg bag oranges $2
10kg bag large brown onions $7.50

Bushy Park:
Bananas for 78c/kg - another great price and a good winter fruit.

I bought up big on sweet potato. We love sweet potato roasted, as mash, in Sweet Potato Chocolate Cakes, in pumpkin and sweet potato soup and as wedges. It's a very versatile veggie and stores well in the pantry. I put it into a hessian bag so it stays dry, cool and dark and keep the bag in the bottom of the pantry. If you haven't tried sweet potato yet, do.

Pellegrino's also have 3 kilo bags of oranges for $2, not quite the 5c/kg I paid at the end of last year but they're so sweet and we've picked all off our tree for the moment. I put half in the fruit bowl and have processed the rest for Whole Orange Cake.

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This Week's Meat Specials

I've just received the email catalogues and the meat specials for Victorian Cheapskaters this week are mostly chicken, but that's OK, we like chicken.

I have a little room in the freezer and little money left in the meat budget so I'll be buying whole chickens from Tasman (they work out a little cheaper than the No. 18's from Australian Butcher Store) and stocking up on chicken fillets from Australian butcher store.

Tasman:

Whole chickens $2.99/kg

Australian Butchers Store:

Chicken breast fillets (skin on) $4.99/kg

Chicken casserole pieces $2.99/kg minimum buy 2kg

No. 18 whole chicken $5.99 - this is a family size chicken that will easily feed 6 with leftovers, a great price

Creamy Root Veggie Bake

Winter is the perfect time to enjoy root vegetables. They go well with a roast or as a side dish to grilled meats. This recipe fits beautifully in a no waste kitchen, as only the turnip and swede (and yes, they are different vegetables) are peeled. It is also a little unusual in that it uses the celery root, the white bottom part of the celery, that is usually composted. You'll need to wash it well and use a veggie peeler to scrape away any tough fibres before you slice it.

Yield: 6 - 8Author: Cath Armstrong

Creamy Root Veggie Bake

ingredients:

• 2 large potatoes, scrubbed and sliced thinly
• 1 turnip, peeled and sliced thinly
• 1 swede, peeled and sliced thinly
• 1 parsnip, washed and sliced thinly
• 1 celery root, washed, peeled and sliced thinly
• 1 large carrot, washed and sliced thinly
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1-1/4 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup cream
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, divided

instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees Celsius. 
2. Coat a baking dish with olive oil.
3. Get out a large pot, fill with water and bring to a boil. Add the vegetables and cook uncovered for 3 minutes (you're just blanching the veggies, not cooking them.)
4. Prepare large ice bath in sink.
5. Dump the veggies into a large colander or strainer, then immediately immerse the strainer of veggies into the ice bath for several minutes until veggies are cold - this stops the veggies from cooking further after being drained.
6. Remove the strainer of veggies from ice bath and drain well.
7. In a large frying pan, over medium-low heat, add the butter and garlic and cook for about 1 to 2 minutes or until garlic gets fragrant.
8. Add the stock, cream, thyme, nutmeg and cayenne pepper, stir and continue cooking until mixture begins to simmer and thicken, about 5 minutes.
9. Spread vegetables evenly in the prepared baking dish.
10. Pour creamy mixture from skillet evenly over vegetables and sprinkle half of the grated Parmesan cheese over the top.
11. Cover the baking dish with oiled foil, put dish on top of a baking sheet to catch any spills, and bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes.

How to Make a Paper Tole Card

I used to do a lot of paper tole when the children were smaller, usually at night when they were in bed. It was a way for me to unwind from a frantic day before I went to bed.

I love the detail in these 3D cards and they are so easy to do.

You can buy kits from craft shops, or you can be a true Cheapskate and make your own.

You will need:
1 sheet of good quality wrapping paper - don't skimp, the paper needs to be a good quality to withstand the layering and glue
PVA glue
Curved nail scissors
A blank card - size is up to you and will depend on the size of your image.
Foam sticky dots or matchsticks cut into 10mm lengths (I prefer to use sticky dots, you can get them at any $2 or craft shop)

Step 1. Decide how many layers you want on your card. Traditionally paper tole is between 5 - 7 layers. For a card up to 4 layers is enough - you don't want the card design too deep to be able to fit an envelope or post.

Step 2. Choose your image. Using your nail scissors cut out the number of images you need - in my example I've cut out four.

Step 3. Taking one complete image, carefully cut around the edge using the curved nail scissors. Curved nail scissors make cutting the fine detail so much easier than regular craft scissors and give the edges of the image a nice finish. Glue this image to the card. This is your base.

Step 4. Taking the next image, choose which parts you are going to layer onto the base. Use the nail scissors to cut them out. Using the sticky dots, stick them in place over the corresponding part of the base image.

Step 5. Continue as above with the third image, layering with the sticky dots to give finer detail.

Step 6. The fourth and last layer is the layer with the finest detail. You may need to cut the sticky dots in half as the layers are small for this step.

Step 7. Add a sentiment if desired - handwritten, stamped or pre-made and glued in place.

And there you have it - a gorgeous paper tole card for the price of a sheet of wrapping paper and a blank card - under $2.50. And depending on the size of the design you choose you will get at least four cards from one sheet of wrapping paper, bring the cost down even more.

Meal Plan 3 - 9 July 2016

Quick Curried Sausages - a hearty and cheap winter dinner

Things happen and even the best planned meal plans can sometimes change. Wayne and I will be away tomorrow night, so Hannah has swapped the meal plan around and she'll be making kebabs for dinner using leftover roast meat and wraps from the freezer and salad veggies from the fridge.

On Tuesday we had curried sausages for dinner. I only had four sausages but they made six hearty serves of casserole, enough for dinner and a freezer meal.

Here's the recipe I used, it's from the Cheapskates Club Recipe File.

Quick Curried Sausages

Ingredients:
1 sausage per person
1 potato, peeled and cubed
1 piece pumpkin, peeled and cubed
1 small sweet potato, peeled and cubed
1 large onion, peeled and diced
1 cup peas
2 tbsp curry powder - adjust to suit your taste
1 tbsp butter
1-1/2 cups MOO low-fat evaporated milk
2 tsp coconut essence

Method:
Place the sausages in a pot of cold water to cover and slowly bring to the boil. Simmer five minutes. Drain. Allow to cool a few minutes then slip the skins off the sausages. Slice into 1cm thick pieces.. Add onion, water and curry powder to a frying pan and cook until the onion is transparent. Add the other vegetables to the pan and cook two minutes, stirring constantly. Turn heat down to low. Add evaporated milk and coconut essence and stir through. Add sliced sausages to pan. Stir to cover with sauce. Simmer over a very low heat 10 minutes or until vegetables are cooked and sauce has thickened slightly. Serve over steamed rice with pappadums or naan bread.

This week we will be eating:

Sunday: Roast Chicken, baked vegetables, steamed beans, gravy

Monday: Tuna

Tuesday: Chops and veggies

Wednesday: Mexican meatballs, steamed rice

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: MOO Honey mustard chicken, mashed potato, steamed greens, carrots

Saturday: Homemade Soup and toast

What will you be eating this coming week?

Cheapskating on Autopilot

There are some days I wish I had more hands!

These days the things I do to save us money have become such ingrained habits that I don’t even realise I’m doing them – they’re all done on autopilot. So, when I was asked to talk about the everyday things, I had to stop and think - really think - because most of them I just do without conscious thought.

*I automatically check for the markdowns in the meat cabinets as I zip through Aldi, Tasman and now Australian Butchers.

*I automatically put the veggie water into a container in the fridge to use as a soup base or to make gravy or stock later in the week.

*I automatically put the leftovers from dinner into a container and freeze it for a future easy meal (we're a family of five and most of my recipes make at least six serves so there's always at least one left). These then become free meals for nights when we're running late or can't be bothered cooking.

*I automatically hang the washing outside in the sunshine and wind. The sun is a free stain remover and deodoriser, the washing smells divine after being sun-dried.

*I automatically go to the op shop/$2 shop/discount shops first – 9 times out of 10 I find what I’m looking for.

*I automatically turn lights off when I leave a room.

*I automatically dress in layers so the heater can stay off longer.

*I automatically open the drapes wide on winter days when the sun is shining to warm the house, and automatically close them again as soon as the sun starts to go down about 5pm.

*I automatically close the drapes and windows tight early in the morning during summer to keep the heat out and open them wide as soon as the sun has gone down to let the cool in.

*I automatically look for the ‘specials’ at the fruit and veg shop – and plan our meals around them.

*I automatically look for items to put into the Present Box – it’s nearly always full of gifts, cards and wrapping.

*I automatically cook more than one thing at a time in the oven – all shelves are used while the oven is on.

*I automatically turn the gas off once the pot has come to the boil and let the veggies sit to steam.

*I automatically put the veggie peelings into the compost.

*I automatically do the mending as soon as it becomes necessary.

*I automatically ‘turn’ sheets when they wear out.

*I automatically overlock the frayed edges of towels, face washers and bathmats as the hems unravel.

*I automatically put old sports socks into the cleaning cupboard to use as dusters etc.

*I automatically use microfibre cloths and Miracle Spray for cleaning – instead of hundreds of other more expensive cleaning products.

*I automatically split the toothpaste tube and get at least another two days' worth of toothpaste out of it. I do this with all tubes - make-up, hand cream, even the condensed milk we use when camping.

*I automatically cook from scratch rather than order home delivery or go out for take-away.

*I automatically recycle plastic bags – use the grocery bags for rubbish, rinse out and dry the fruit and veg bags to use in the fridge and freezer (I don’t recycle plastic bags that have had meat or chicken in them).

*I automatically wash and dry the foam trays that some foods come on to use as plates for pot-lucks, mixing paint or glue when crafting etc.

*I automatically put foods into Tupperware containers rather than using plastic wrap – I’ve had a 100 metre roll of plastic wrap for at least 6 years!

*I automatically turn the sauce bottle upside down, rinse out the tomato soup can and scrape the cream bottle and peanut butter jar with a spatula.

*I automatically use the butter wrappers to grease cake tins.

*I automatically check the price of petrol – and fill up when I see it at its lowest for the week.

*I automatically compare prices and sizes – carrying a calculator makes working out the per gram price easy if it's not on the label (and it's easier than fiddling with the calculator on my phone).

*I automatically catch the cold water in the showers and use it in the washing machine.

*I automatically save used tea bags to use as firelighters.

*I automatically add fruit and veggie peelings to the worm farm and compost bin.

*I automatically save coffee grounds to add to the compost and worm farm.

*I automatically darn holey socks before buying new ones.

*I automatically save paper bags to be re-used.

These are just a few of the things that I do on autopilot. I don't do them all every day or even every week, but I do them without thinking.

They all save us money, some only a few cents at a time, but at the end of the day, it all adds up. If I can save just $1 a day, I’ve saved $365 in one year!

And that’s three days that I don’t have work – it’s three more days I can spend with my family!

The Week that Was

Wonder of wonders, today is Sunday and I'm actually posting my week that was.

The days go so quickly I really need to write down the things I do to save money, time and energy each day, or even as I do them!

Persevered with a particular card I want to make for a special birthday - here's the sixth incarnation.

3D baby grand piano card

I've saved the shower water and used it in the washing machine or to mop the floors or to water the indoor plants.

We've cooked all our meals from scratch, using ingredients we had in the pantry, fridge or freezer.

Gave AJ a discount docket for petrol and my Flybuys card so he could fill his car at the cheaper price and get me the points - I have enough for $60 in Coles vouchers, now I'm just waiting until they actually have something on sale worth stocking up.

Gave Wayne a big kiss and hug for the beautiful roses he bought me "just because".

A few weeks ago I broke my favourite vase, so I'm re-purposing a green Ball jar as a vase for these beautiful roses Wayne brought me on Thursday

Continued with the double batch cooking to stock freezer meals. This week I added ravioli pasta bake, curried chicken and quiche to the freezer.

Made a batch of pies for tea last night - they weren't on the meal plan but were requested. 500g mince, 1 onion, some sliced mushrooms and gravy made 14 pies for a cost of $7.20 or 51 cents each.

Used my membership card at the chemist and save 15% on the cost of my medication.

Returned an item to Coles for a refund because I found it cheaper at another store in the same Centre (saving $8!). The woman was a little perturbed that I'd found it cheaper but I was able to show her the docket as I'd already bought it.

Downloaded 23 free ebooks for my kindle from hundredzeroes.com.

Really enjoyed talking to two lovely women in Aldi. It was a pleasure to meet you both and I hope you say hello next time we bump into each other.

What did you do to save money, time and energy this week?

Meal Plan 26 June - 2 July 2016

Mac'n'Cheese, quick and easy a on of my family's favourite treat dinners

Sunday: Roast Beef

Monday: Sweet & Sour Chicken & noodles

Tuesday: Curried sausages, rice

Wednesday: Swiss schnitzels, steamed veg

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Deluxe macaroni cheese, tossed salad

Saturday: Cheese pancakes & salad

Fruity Tea Cake

I apologise in advance for another recipe post, they seem to be the theme this week.

Pamela messaged me a few days ago asking for the recipe for the fruit cake with ginger ale in it. Here it is! It is so simple, just three ingredients, but it tastes divine, is moist and never lasts long in our house.

This really is the cheapest, quickest and easiest fruit cake you'll ever make. Slice and serve with butter or freeze for a quick grab-n-go snack.

Fruity Tea Cake

Ingredients:
2 cups cold tea (or dry ginger ale or chocolate milk)
2 cups mixed dried fruit
2 cups SR flour

Method:
Soak the fruit in the cold tea for 10 minutes. Beat in the self-raising flour. Pour into a greased and baking paper lined loaf tin. Bake at 180 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Let stand in tin for five minutes before turning out onto a cake rack to cool.

Variation: This is so good, it adds a little zing to the cake. Substitute dry ginger ale for the cold tea, then follow the recipe. The cake is moist with just a hint of ginger - delicious.  Or use chocolate milk for a change and enjoy the chocolaty treat.

Cost: $2.36

The ingredients I use in this cake all come from Aldi: tea bags, self-raising flour and mixed dried fruit. The cost will go up if you shop at another supermarket buying branded ingredients. If you use generic ingredients the cost will be around the same, with the dried fruit being the variable.

If you use generic dry ginger ale the cost will be approximately $2.60.

How to Cut Back on Household Expenses: Heating

There’s nothing cheap about running a household as all facets of it require us to spend money. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t find an affordable way to run your household. In fact, you may be surprised to find that you’re spending more money than necessary in several areas of your household expenses. Below are a few areas where you may be able to cut back your household expenses.

We all spend money heating our homes during the cooler months, which can add up to quite a bit of money over the year. There are ways to reduce these expenses though and they are all simple things anyone can do.

·Use ceiling fans – Use ceiling fans to force warm air down. Some ceiling fans have a reverse switch, others you need to reverse the blades to drag the hot air down from the ceiling.

·Close unnecessary vents – Many of us have vents in our homes that don’t need to be open because we’re seldom in the room. Close those vents and you’ll instantly save money.

·Close doors to rooms you aren't using. - There's no point in heating rooms you aren't using. Keep the doors closed most of the time. Open the doors one day a week to air the room and keep it from getting damp.

·Change filters regularly – Stay on top of changing your airconditioner filters regularly. You should be changing them every 30-60 days during heavy use.

·Open curtains and blinds – During cooler months, keep your curtains and blinds open during the day. This allows the sun’s rays to naturally heat up your home. Close curtains and blinds during hot summer months to keep cool air in.

·Close curtains and blinds - During cooler months close the curtains and blinds as soon as the sun starts to go down. Warm air will be trapped in the house and they'll block the cold coming through the windows.

·Use space Heaters – Space heaters  are a great way to supplement your central heating, which helps lower energy costs.

·Bring out the throws and knee rugs - Cover up of an evening with a throw or rug and keep the thermostat on the heater turned down. You'll be warm and cosy without affecting your heating bill.

·Check around windows and doors for draughts - You'd be amazed at just how much cold can sneak in through gaps around windows and doors. Seal them up with specialist tape you can get from any good hardware shop. It's a simple DIY job, the tape isn't expensive and it will save you a lot of money all year round.

·Use draught stoppers or sausages - A sausage against exterior doors will keep draughts out. Again, they'll not only keep cold (or hot in summer) air out but save you money.

What to do with a Glut of Sausages

Other than barbecuing or grilling and serving with onion gravy, what can you do with a glut of sausages? I was pondering this very question on Saturday night after we'd been very generously given lots and lots and lots of sausages.

Here's the list I came up with:
Quick Curried Sausages
Colleen's Sausage Casserole
Crumbed Sausages
Sausage Wellingtons
Sausages in Plum Sauce
Paprika Sausages with Mushrooms
Sticky Sausages
Sausage Neopolitana
Barbecue Sausages
Sausages with onion/mushroom/pepper gravy
Sausage Bolognese
Sausage Stew

Sausages are an inexpensive meal. Not one to be had often, they can be a little on the fatty side, but cooked properly and served with lots of steamed veggies or salad they are a tasty addition to meal plans.

What is your favourite way to enjoy sausages?

The Week that Was

I'm playing catch up - again!

Life gets so busy around here, some days I wonder where the day has gone as I climb into bed.

Over the last couple of weeks I've been busy organising care for my mother. For those who have done this, you'll understand just how time consuming and difficult it can be, trying to find somewhere we feel comfortable caring for  a loved one. I'm still looking - and it's not that I'm being fussy (I am) but that there aren't a lot of vacancies at the moment. Right now we're taking each day as it comes and praying for guidance and a solution that works for Mum.

We've also had the fire going non-stop burning firewood we've collected. This means we're not using the ducted heating unless it has been very cold and this should give me a credit in the gas category at the end of winter.

We’ve all collected the water from showers and the kitchen sink to use in the washing machine. I also tipped the water from the water dispenser into the washing machine (we used it on Saturday for cards).

We've eaten home cooked, from scratch meals using ingredients from the fridge, freezer and stockpile.

Re-purposed a toothbrush holder into a vase for our bathroom. It's perfect - the holes make the ideal "frog" for holding the stems in place.

Bought petrol from Woolworths using Hannah's Rewards discount - it was 4 cents a litre cheaper than anywhere else locally - and then I realised it had been three weeks since I'd put petrol in my car. What a difference staying home and planning trips makes.

Spent $12 at the op shop on a new, tags still on, black overcoat for me.

Used my spending money to buy three tapestry canvases, again from the op shop, for $25 for the three. I know these canvasses retail for $85 each; I've never been able to justify buying them before. Now to get Wayne to put my frame together and I'll have my winter evenings full of stitching. Saving: $220 (or at least $220 I didn't spend). I have plenty of wools, cottons and silks to work them. Now to plan them and start stitching.

Hosted our card making group and learned how to make easel cards and shabby chic cards. Cost: materials from my craft stash. It was a lovely afternoon and my card box has increased by eight new cards.

Made a double batch of MOO Taco Seasoning.

Made six dozen sausage rolls, cost $9 or 13 cents each.

Made three dozen mini quiche, cost $4.25 or 12 cents each.

Used the slow cooker to make a big pot of minestrone using pasta and sad veggies from the fridge; made pumpkin soup and beef and vegetable soup. What we haven't eaten has been frozen.

Fed the worm farm with veggie peelings from the kitchen.

Picked lettuce and capsicums from the garden.

Picked oranges, grapefruit and mandarins off the fruit trees.  Waiting for the lemons and limes to ripen.

Opened the curtains on sunny days to warm the lounge room, and made sure the blinds and drapes are closed by 5pm to keep the night cold out.

What have you been doing to save money, time and energy?

Meal Plan 19 - 25 2016

Herb Rissoles - use fresh herbs from your garden to create your favourite flavour combination

This week we will be eating:

Sunday: Roast Chicken

Monday: Pasta bake, tossed salad, garlic bread

Tuesday: Herb rissoles, steamed vegetables

Wednesday: Fish Alaska*

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Cream cheese patties, steamed veg

Saturday: Lamb souvlaki

*Fish Alaska is a recipe from Annette Sym's Symply Too Good to be True.

Meal Plan 12 - 18 June 2016

Old fashioned pot roast - one of my favourite winter meals

This week I've made a big pot (I used my stockpot) of chicken soup. I used stock I made from the chicken carcass from Sunday's roast, and a small amount, perhaps 100g, of very finely shredded chicken meat, also from the roast. I put in a grated zucchini that was looking sad and some grated sweet potato as well as the usual celery, onion and carrot. I put the sweet potato in because the piece wasn't big enough to feed all of us as a vegetable or to steam and mash for chocolate cake. The soup is delicious!

We have pot roast scheduled for Wednesday night. I love this meal, it's so simple to make, but tastes like it takes hours and hours. It does cook for a long time, but my input is about 20 minutes all up - my number one reason for loving it.

Next week we'll be eating:

Sunday: Roast Lamb

Monday: French shepherd's pie, steamed greens

Tuesday: Spaghetti Bolognese, salad, garlic bread

Wednesday: Pot roast, veggies

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Enchiladas, tossed salad

Saturday: Homemade hamburgers

Meal Plan 5th - 11th June 2016

Homemade Chicken Fried Rice - delicious, cheap and a great way to use up leftovers

Winter is here with a vengeance so I've made a big pot of meat and vegetable soup and another big pot of pumpkin soup and we've been having soup for lunch all week.  I use MOO stock (either beef, lamb, chicken or vegetable - depends on the type of soup) to make our soups and they are always so rich and tasty. Even Wayne, who most definitely is not a soup fan, enjoys my homemade soups.

The chicken we'll be enjoying on Sunday is huge - the biggest chicken I've ever bought so it will well and truly feed us for at least three meals with meat, as well as making soup (perfect for the long weekend next weekend).  Our roasts always do at least two meals, often more. When I can stretch them to two or more meals it makes a roast affordable (for our budget).

This week we will be eating (apart from lots of soup):

Sunday: Roast Chicken

Monday: Beef casserole, mash, peas

Tuesday: Wellington loaf, steamed veggies

Wednesday: Chicken fried rice, spring rolls

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Refrigerator Lasagne, tossed salad

Saturday: Haystacks

Crocheted Coasters

These pretty crochet coasters are quick and easy - really! A set of six takes about an hour to make. The original instructions for these coasters suggested using an 8 ply wool. I tried that but felt they were too thick and bulky, making them a little unstable for  glasses. I've been using 4 ply crochet cotton and they are perfect. They sit nicely on tables and glasses and mugs don't wobble.

You will need:
Crochet cotton
4mm crochet hook

Round 1.  Make a slip knot. Insert hook and make 6 chain. Insert hook into first chain, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.  Make 3 chain; this forms your first stitch in the next round. 20 stitches.

Round 2. Make 19 treble in circle.  Insert hook into third chain from the bottom, yarn over, pull through both loops. Chain 3 (this is the first stitch of next round).

Round 3. Make 1 treble in the next stitch. *Ch. 2, make 1 treble in next 2 stitches. Repeat from *  end. Insert hook into third chain from the bottom, yarn over and pull through. Make 3 chain.

Round 4. Insert hook into second space (ch. 2 space) and make 2 treble, chain 2, make 2 treble into same space.  Make 2 treble, chain 2, make 2 treble into next space. Continue to lasat space. Make 2 treble, chain 2, 1 treble in same space, insert hook in third chain from the bottom, yarn over, pull through. Make 3 chain.

Round 5. *Insert hook into ch. 2 space. yarn over, pull through. In next space make 6 treble. Repeat from * to end. Insert hook into space next to 3 chain. Make 5 treble. Insert hook into third chain from the bottom, yarn over, pull through. Yarn over, pull through, cut yarn approximately 10cm long, pull through to tie off. Thread darning needle with end of yarn. Weave loose end through work to tidy.