Today I thought that I should do some more walking as well drive my car a bit more. So drove down to the river, which is a bit far to walk too! I drove over a few suburbs away, as it’s a bit flatter to walk on the pathways. There is a lot of walking and bikeways around the place. As my walk was very early this morning it’s no spend day!

BREAKFAST Baked Beans on Toast Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Blue Vein Cheese Apple Coffee
DINNER Fillet Steak, Egg, Onion & Tomatoes Coffee

My friend arrived this evening while I cooked dinner he got to the plant with the pick. Within ten minutes it was out. It would take a lot longer if I didn’t cut the top off it in the first place. As this plant does have a lot of dead plant matter in its foliage. This I was removing while I was cutting off the leaves. It’s lucky that I have outside light in that area. When he has free time between jobs next week he will come a take it all to the garden waste dump.

Our council dump has a number of sections and one is for general waste and another for garden green waste, which they recycle for our parklands and road strip gardens that our local council looks after at the moment.

They have just found a underground water supply in one of our suburbs now, this one is being tap to supply water for these gardens and road work dust spraying. This will save millions of kilolitres potable water (drinking tap water) from being used.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Ham Salad Fruit Coffee
DINNER Poach Fish & Salad Coffee

My handyman friend arrived this afternoon. He got a pick to the cardamom plant and finding it had a shallow root system but very matted. It will come out without much trouble. When he finishes work in a day or two he said he would come work on it for me. I am not that strong to take it out that way!

In all the years that I have had this plant in the garden I have saved the seeds for cooking.

It’s a large plant and it takes four years of growth before it will go into flower and make seeds. Then that part of the plant died with new growth is growing up all the time. I have cut away some that new growth and save it to give away. I will not be putting back in my garden as in ten years time I will not have the strength to do this again and replant again. My age is against me there!

BREAKFAST Baked Beans on Toast Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Apple Coffee
DINNER Mushrooms & Chicken with Vegetables Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $19.08
Today’s Savings - $4.00
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7639.45

A trip the city by bus today as it’s the day for my visit to the Chiro. Refund of $19.40 on my Chiro. Paid my Credit card off so it’s back to zero again.

While I was in the city, I visited a discount store to have a look at their hair dyes as I am down to my last two containers. Now is the time to start looking for replacement stock as last lot was bought over two years ago so I needed to increase my bottom line by $2.00. On my first stop I found what I am looking for, in the right color range in these discontinue line red tones are one of few regular colors available which make my job easy, as I am natural redhead. The last time I bought some I got it between $4.50 to $4.99 so adding my new bottom line increase, any thing under $7.00 will be a bargain. I got 4 x $5.99 normal (RRP) price $14.95 each saving $36.00. When I go to the city again I will look if they have more left and buy a few more. I went to the Hungry Jack’s today and got a free coffee with my senior card, saving $2.45

BREAKFAST Baked Beans on Toast Coffee
LUNCH Cream Cheese & Tomato Apple Coffee
DINNER Fillet Steak, Egg, Onion & Tomatoes Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $62.25
Today’s Savings - $ 57.85
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7635.45

It’s another no spending day, as I am still doing another bit of cutting back on the Cardamom plant. It’s had work on your knees cutting the stalks lower yet again. I have them down to six inches now. I have used some of my recycle water to wet the ground so I can start digging the plant out in couple of days or so. Hopeful!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Grilled Cheese with Mustard Toasted Slices Apple Coffee
DINNER Roast Chicken with Vegetables Fruit, Coffee

My project this week is to get ready for that water tank. It’s only week’s away from being delivered anytime after the 1st December in the time frame they gave me! With a two days notice of arrival.

Where the tank is going has a Cardamom plant growing for the past 10 years and is well matted in. This was in flower when I ordered the tank. I am looking at area 10 x 2 feet in the ground and 6 feet in height. No way can I get it out in two days with my energy levels of 1½ hours at a time per day. Today plan is to cut off the top of it. Working for about 1½ hours early this morning I got this done before it got to hot in that area. 5.00 to 6.30am is the best time for me or at night if someone else is doing it. If no one comes to help it will take about 10-15 hours for me to do, I would think or pay someone to do it for me. Goal here is have it finished by 1st December or earlier. To pay someone to remove this plant would be costly as it has be remove by hand. Savings here are great to do it for free. Well a little bit at a time will do it.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Apple Coffee
DINNER Spaghetti Bolognese Coffee

For the past nineteen years we have had a friend who has cancer a number of times three lots of breast cancer, bone cancer and now brain cancer. Now she has been put into hospital for the dying. I went to see her today, she had her fifty-ninth birthday just last Thursday. She herself never thought she would last this long and has live alone all this time too! I think she will last a little longer but will be in a coma soon! As a loner it’s hard when this time does come. I rang another friend and both of us went to visit her today as no one in her family was able to visit as they were packing up her Government Apartment so someone else could move in. Where would have been much as she is not a keeper of anything, just enough to get by. Well, she is lucky that has a good net work of ex-work friends who have stood by her all these years as she had give up work after the second lot of breast cancer. I will try to visit her twice a week from now on.

What did I spend today? Bus fare $2.00 off peck ticket saving $2.60. As we went to the city after visiting our friend, had lunch together, then went our separate ways.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk with LSA Prunes Coffee
LUNCH Chilli Tuna Salad & Crackers Apple Coffee
DINNER Two Chicken Kebabs with Garlic Focaccia Bread Yogurt & LSA Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $ 11.40
Today’s Savings - $ 5.60
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7576.76

Today it’s working in the garden day. First on the list is mowing my yard. By doing it myself I’m saving $35.00 here. Sweeping and raking the yard as well. I have a big project next week in the garden!

DF-M had the Waterwise plumber (Government -$20.00) at her house today too! This one did a better job than the one that came to my house. But her plumbing was bad, hopefully it will cut down the water use there. Some of her taps have not had new washers in since they were put in 35 years ago.

Helping looking after a second house as well my own can be draining at time. At least I don’t have to do any physical work, just all the phone calls and being there when the tradesmen call’s.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Grilled Cheese with Mustard Toasted Slices Apple Coffee
DINNER Spicy Lentil & Pumpkin with Basmati Rice Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $35.00
Today’s Savings - $35.00
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7572.00

It was DF-M yearly health assessment, all senior citizens over the age of 75 can have them FREE with our heath system. Along with other little services that you can get too! So far I have got DF-M someone to come to clean her house light duty only once every two weeks for $7.00 for two hours work, subsidy by the government for the balance. It’s better than paying $100 month out of her own pocket. Also I have had people to come make sure that her house is safe with rails etc. As I am 15 years younger than she is, I can’t get this service, it so that older generation can stay in their own homes longer. If they needing help then doctor can sign the forms for this kind of help. We have a very long waiting list for nursing homes here.

Afterward we went to the local supermarket for cat litter and biscuits.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Blue Vein Cheese Fruit Coffee
DINNER Poach Fish & Salad Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $8.55
Today’s Savings - $0.65
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7537.00

A few weeks ago I got a raincheck for 2 L fruit drinks, so I got four bottles, and a few other things like 2 tubs Borax saving $2.94 alone, saving $5.90 overall.

As I had a $5.00 off voucher for a dress store, that I could spend at the shopping centre I was going to, I put this in my handbag, to see if they had any swimwear left in my size. I was lucky to be able get the size I wanted, but not the colour as I am using it in the family swimming pool it will not matter it’s still a colour that I can wear. Saving $5.00 off.

I had some lunch there too! Hot dog with mustard on a roll, and caramel skinny milk shake at Wendy ‘s it’s around $6.00 with milk shake. At Tina’s the lot was $ 2.45 saving $3.55

BREAKFAST Baked Beans on Toast Coffee
LUNCH lunch out *
DINNER Black Bean Beef with Noodles Mandarin Green Tea

Today’s Full price Tally $52.00*
Today’s Savings - $14.45
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7536.35

I was able to get my washing done today before I went to DF-M place this morning. As I was to be there a lot longer than I am normally, her washing machine was off balance and the last person from a washing repairer company just put a piece of cardboard under one corner said it was too rusty to fix and too old to fix. Yes it was bought in 1985 but it still works and easy to understand how to work it when you can’t read. I have got one of same model too! Our policy is if you can fix it for under quarter of the value of new one or you can still get parts for it, then fix it. Yes they are high water users, but that’s they only problem. Both of us don’t have swimming pools so we don’t need to replace our washing machine to date. As this is part of our water level 4 restrictions for pool owners that you must have a water wise washing machines to top their swimming pools with potable water as well two other water savings in their home.
1.Water efficient indoor fittings including low flow showers, all kitchen & bathroom taps
2. Approved dual flush toilets that’s all in the house
3. A 4 star efficiency rated or better washing machine
4. Pool cover.
They have to do 3 of these options. My house has all these savings 1. & 2 but for the washing machine which I use the recycle grey water to water my garden.

When the latest washing machine repairman came, he was able to adjust the legs of the machine to make it balance. A Tip from repairman: To adjust the balance of a washing machine, you work from the front and balance it to opposite back so that if you adjust the front left you balance it to back right and front right you balance it to back left. Do make sure that when you do adjust it that you do lock the all legs down as well. This was one of the problems with DF-M as one of the legs was not lock down in place and was moving up and down when the machine went off balance.

It was a no spending day but it was learning day.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Blue Vein Cheese Coffee
DINNER Pasta with Pasta Sauce & Tuna Fruit Coffee

Fruit Chutney

Makes about 6 cups or more.

Sterilized about 7-8 medium jars before you start.

2 1/2kg (5 1/2 Pound) Fresh (6-12) ripe mangoes, stoned and sliced or you can use any soft fruit that's in your freezer or have a lot of the free or very cheap, (Peaches, Mangoes, and Nectarines, canned or dried apples, dried apricot to make up the amount. See note.
3 medium onions, finely sliced
2 cups dark brown sugar
2 cups white or cider vinegar
1 cup sultanas (soaked & drained)
1/4 cup grated fresh ginger or persevered ginger
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or 2 tsp. jar garlic
2 tsp. black mustard seeds
2 tsp. yellow mustard seeds

Combine mangoes, onions, sugar, vinegar, currants, ginger, garlic and seeds in a small stockpot or large saucepan.
Cook over a low heat, stirring for about 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves.
Bring to the boil. Reduce heat.
Simmer, uncovered for 40 minutes or until the mixture begins to thicken.
Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
Pour into dry, sterilized jars. Using a homemade jar funnel (cut off bottom of juice drink bottle, use the wide cut off end as the funnel.)
Seal immediately with canning jars seals cover (cello circles) and put on jar covers turning the jar upside down for five minutes, then right way up.
Label and store in cool, dry place for one month before using. Refrigerate after opening.
This chutney will keep for about six months and more if stored in the refrigerator after one month still sealed.

Note: Thaw all frozen fruits and cut into small pieces, soak and cook all dried fruit.
5 minutes in microwave (650W). (I found that this cuts down on cooking time a bit.)

I use this chutney when chutney ingredient is call for in recipe that I am making! I mainly use this when I make Curried Ground Beef & Rice.
Serve with Curries, barbecued meats or fish. It is also excellent spread on sandwiches filled with cheese and ham.

This recipe is the last one I made to use up all frozen mangos that I haven't eaten and found in the bottom of the freezer from last year. I have most of other ingredients in my pantry.

BREAKFAST Baked Beans on Toast Coffee
LUNCH Grilled Cheese with Mustard Toasted Slices Apple Coffee
DINNER Honey Mustard Chicken with Vegetables and Rice, Fruit, Coffee

I went to my DS home today, as he was having his dishwasher fixed. After lunch we drove to auto supply store a few suburbs over from where my DS lives. I bought a Battery charger and car paint for touch up paint for my car as some one took some paint off my car last week, small mark but it need some paint on it.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Apple Coffee
DINNER Omelette with Cheese Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $85.95
Today’s Savings - $ 0.00
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7521.90

A lot of the family treasures are kept in this cabinet. Nothing of value but a lot of memories can be found there. I have collected quite a few crochet doilies and linen tablecloths as well other things. This is place I keep my games some of the cribbage boards are very old along with some packs of playing cards that came from father’s family home that was sold 60 years ago. As each home was sold & closed some thing from each, end up in this house which is part of the hand me downs as well! It’s along time since I worked my way into this cupboard it could a good 10 years since I empty it as a whole, most times it was done by each draw at time. Now I got a box full of old pictures four generations of memories that will need to be gone through, naming any people in them, if I can. I am the last one to know any of these people if I do.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Blue Vein Cheese Coffee
DINNER Roast Chicken with Vegetables Fruit, Coffee

In the last 28 days I have

Gone shopping or bought something.14 times

Went to the city by bus 4 times

Drove my car only. 5 times

Had food bought or had for free away from home. 6 times

And had 9 No Spending Days.

It’s wet day so I spent the time reorganizing my pantry & my hold it all cupboard, it’s a cupboard that every modern house needs but doesn’t have. It next to pantry cupboard all overflows goes into this cupboard. The original owner was a dressmaker and this was her sewing room. Its now my sitting room and is just off my kitchen area with two large build-in cupboards. One thing by doing this, I am reviewing what I keep in these cupboards, grouping same things together. Party paper goods for future functions or taking to my son place when they have a party etc. My overflow of cookware that I use at times, along some gifts cards & wrapping paper that I collected over the years. Just a few of the things in this cupboard.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Blue Vein Cheese Coffee
DINNER Pumpkin & Lentil Stew with Garlic Focaccia Bread

It’s a trip over the transport department at the another shopping centre near my home. It’s time to pay my registration for my car, I paying it for a full year this time. Saving $90.00 with my pension discount this time. While there I bought a few more books saving $25.00.

This afternoon I went down the hill to another supermarket to buy some pets food and other things. Saving $10.65 here. Our food price are going up here but the cat food that my cats will eat price went down too it’s price of six months ago this time for how long?

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Grilled Cheese with Mustard Toasted Slices Apple Coffee
DINNER Poach Fish & Salad Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $593.26
Today’s Savings - $ 126.93
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7521.90

Today it’s driving DF-M around, first to medical appointment then off to get blood tests.

After we dropped it at Hungry Jacks for Coffee & pancakes. The coffee was free saving $2.45 a cup with our senior cards.

Next stop bank, chemist & butchers in the nearest shopping area. Then home to drop off the meat bought at her favorite butcher, she bought meat for me too, some ½ kg fillet steak and 200g ham off the bone, around $20.00 worth.

After that stop, we went down to the supermarket and then on to another supermarket that she likes and had lunch together as she had not eaten much since last night. As her family is coming to stay for the weekend, she needed to buy food for another five people along with her monthly bulk shopping. I was very good with my shopping and spent only $2.00 saving $2.00. Paying my phone bill while I was at it!

I had to have my afternoon nap by the time we arrived home at 2.30pm, having started out 8am this morning. It was defiantly her day, I was just the driver today.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Ham Salad Roll & Orange Juice*
DINNER 2 Egg Ham Omelette and Salsa Apple Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $78.00*
Today’s Savings - $ 35.80
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7394.66

It’s not every day that your bank invites you to wine & cheese night. All I had to do was to catch a bus to the city on my pre-paid bus ticket and I got a lift home too!

About 50 invite were sent out and only 14 people took up invite to come, along with all the staff from all near-by branches. I had OJ as for drinking wine is not good for me when I am driving the next morning. But they had a beautiful wine & white wine on offer. They bought food platters from the local supermarket very nice too! Camembert, Smoked Cheddar, Cheddar, Danish Blue, Edam, Gouda & Jarlsberg. Along with meats, dips, died apricots & fresh dates and crackers. It was a good job. I enjoy it. I had not evening meal after that lot.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Coffee Apple Coffee
DINNER OJ & Gourmet Cheese (at free Wine & cheese night.)

I walked up the street to pick up books on hold, more cookbooks to read. I read more than I cook.

That the moment I am collecting Australian Cookbooks coffee table kind with all the beautiful pictorial of Australia country before this drought. I think I have around five of these cookbooks now! I will not pay the price they are asking for them RRP $59.00 each, my price is under $5.00 each. Some don’t tell you where the pictures were taken. One sheep or cattle station looks like another after a time. I found this when I was travelling up North Queensland taking pictures of scene of cane fields in the end their all looked the same. The other cookbooks were two Gourmet Travellers’ magazines which I love to read and School Canteen book that had recipes in.

The Melbourne Cup was run today, both Japanese horses came in first Delta Blues & second was Pop Rock. Japanese was making a movie on this race, the scriptwriters couldn’t have written it any better.

Quote ~ “Delta Blues and Pop Rock, both trained by Katsuhiko Sumii, burst clear of the field down the final stretch with Delta Blues just holding on to win the 146th Melbourne Cup by a nose.

"I'm incredibly happy," sobbed jockey Yasunari Iwata after triumphing on the 18-1 shot. "It's my biggest win ever." “ Source: Reuters

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Blue Vein Cheese Coffee
DINNER Lamb Chop & Vegetables Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $83.85
Today’s Savings - $ 76.35
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7358.86

Today was an expensive day as I did buy a new car battery. The battery on its last legs, I would keep on having trouble with it. A bit more expensive than I have paid before on the old car. It has a two year warranty and I have used that warranty before on the old car. Now I need to buy a battery charger for that type of car. My son & I went off to Car supply store to price them out.

2nd mail order parcel arrived today, I was thinking that it would never come. Some good buys in this parcel, 3 throw rugs for $15.00 saving $25.00, 2 Christmas Snow Globe Trains for $10.00 saving $40.00, 2 DVD for $5.00 each saving $30.00, a engraved pen set for $5.00 saving $25.00 and crystal angel ornaments as a free gift value $19.95. Total saving allowing for P&P $144.00.
I am happy that I got the crystal angel ornaments as I do have others crystal ornaments so I use them this year. One of the Christmas Snow Globe Trains is a gift for DIL. Refer to 'Car Service & Rust Proofing'post.*

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Blue Vein Cheese Coffee
DINNER Salmon Patties and Vegetables Apple Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $127.00
Today’s Savings - $144.00*
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7282.51

Today I had a free Sicilian lunch yet again. This time it was pasta & meat sauce, (this sauce is part of sauce off next dish) meat & Italian sausage in tomato sauce, fennel & tomato salad, coke.

Very filling meal I will not eat again tonight just light snack. I am learning to eat fennel as until I start eating some meals with DF-M, I had never tried fennel before, I would never buy it but I would grow it in our climate. I do invite her to have lunch with me but she prefers to eat at home.

Another than lunch all I did today was to water the garden as it my day to water. No spending today.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Lunch out* (free)
DINNER Toast Coffee

As I was not up to walking up the street to the Chemist on Friday, so I went today. I bought DF-M & my own prescription medicines. Both of us are on a pension so get a medication subsidy. Paying only $4.70 on each script, instead of normal government subsidy that is available here. This is around $29.00 on each script.

I drop in to the bookshop and bought 2 books and put 4 others hold to buy next week.

My arm is much better, using the small soft exercise ball this method is working the best. It’s almost right, just a light pain now. All I am doing is putting it in my hand squeezing as much & as often as possible.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Italian Bean and Tuna Salad & green salad Coffee Apple Coffee
DINNER Hungarian Goulash with Rice Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $44.00
Today’s Savings - $ 38.30
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7138.51

As my son can’t come today to see about my car battery, I will leave it until he is available on Monday. My arm is too sore to drive anyway. I have tried heat gel and heat wheat bags. I am taking Panadol as well! I have a small soft exercise ball, which I will try next if it doesn’t improve by morning. Exercising the arm may help! Only working on the computer today.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Cream Cheese & Herbs Fruit Coffee
DINNER Poached Fish with Salad

It’s that time of the month yet again. Lunch with my ex-work friends, this is away of getting out of the house and without having to do what others wishes me to do. When I do go out with DF-M & DF-D or DS it want they wish to do, when to go home or go where their wish to go. Today is my day I do as I please. I did need to buy a photo frame for DF-M but it was where I was going today anyway.

As I paid my visa card last week, so I was able to put my rates bill on it for this month it interest free. Savings on full rates bill with discounts of senior pensioner subsidy & discounts etc $209.80 this quarter. Lunch was at Sizzlers again, saving $2.79. I bought a box of 5 VHS saving $6.55 on single ones.
On the way home I stop in at thrift shop where I had put away a pair of sandals all most new that I can where for $6.50 RRP $39.95 saving $33.45.

My arm is very sore but I am still using Panadol. I will have a quite day to-morrow.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Lunch out*
DINNER Omelette and Mild Chilli Salsa Apple Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $576.65
Today’s Savings - $ 252.59
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $7100.31

I am in the process of making some new friends in a new group. We meet up at a local park for a picnic today, it’s a much younger group so this will be interesting process. Afterward one of the lasses drove me home which was nice of her.

When my DS dropped in today before I left for the picnic, he was to reset my car radio only to find it was dead. Car battery again, I will need to spend some money on this problem as I have had this happen with my old car too!

To-night I went shopping with DF-D, got a few things Saving $5.80 and another raincheck on fruit juice which is lucky as I don’t have a car to go to pick it up before this week’s sale ends.
After we returned to her place as I was getting to her car, I pulled my upper arm muscle which is now very sore I will heat pack tonight. It’s like I have a dead arm but it will be alright as I did pull a muscle. As I had broken this arm before I did carry to much with it, double what I normally can lift with it.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk with LSA Prunes Coffee
LUNCH Cheese & Mustard Pickle Sandwiches Apple Flavored Mineral Water
DINNER Two Chicken Kebabs with Garlic Focaccia Bread Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $20.80
Today’s Savings - $ 5.80
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6847.72

As he is again driving he picked me up today, for a day watching DVD ‘Da Vinci Code’. We both have seen it at the movies too! It was nice to just sit and watch it all again, and pause it to find Dan Brown cameo roll in the movie. There is only one scene that I don’t remember at all in this version. I have asked for the DVD - 2CD to be my Christmas present this year. (Fingers crossed)

After we went out to do some shopping and have lite lunch, half of what’s normal bought this time. Saving $1.90.* Then on to the vet’s to get some flea & worm stuff for my cats that worked last time, it’s expensive but it did do the job. Saving $34.69 and much more if I bought it single packs at a pet store.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH lunch out*
DINNER Lamb chop Egg, Onion & Tomatoes Coffee

Today’s Full price Tally $105.95
Today’s Savings - $ 36.69
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6841.92

What a day, about mid morning my Sicilian friend (DF-M) and her DD & SIL arrived back from a weekend in the country. As they had left early for the 3 hours drive down, they need breakfast so as I was invited along for the afternoon outing. I ate with them too! Meze’s type of food which we bought on last Thursday shopping trip along fresh bread. Sun-dried tomatoes in oil, artichokes in oil, marinated mixed olives, two different cheese & meats. Very nice but rich!

Then it was off the crematory for a visit to the family crypt. DF-M wanted some chore done before her SIL flew home that night. So it was off that Mega Hardware store again. I got out with just a rubbish bin this time. Saving $7.18

After we arrived back home, we went different ways and meet up again for dinner.

Sicilian Green Salad and fillet steak cooked on the B-B-Q but marinated in garlic & olive oil with crusty bread and red wine or water. I do think, I will gain weight this week not lose it! After this DD & SIL left for the airport to return home to Sydney.

BREAKFAST Baked Beans on Toast Coffee
LUNCH Sicilian Brunch with DF-M family - (free)
DINNER Sicilian Dinner with DF-M family - (Free)

Today’s Full price Tally $17.18
Today’s Savings - $ 7.18
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6802.23

My handyman friend arrived today to fix my tap & a blind that needed few holes drilled as it was falling down.

As he knows that I like vanilla slice as a cake, that he arrived today with six of them! I don't make them but I like eating them but its too messy to make for one. See a recipe for them below. These have the puff pastry on the bottom and top with that beautiful vanilla confectionery custard filling and iced with yummy passionfruit icing. They are the cheaper version and but gourmet version, with it's triple layers puff pastry, double layer creme patisserie with white water icing is a bit rich. Can't waste them as they cost $2.50 each at the cake shop for a small cake 2 1/2 inch square. Gourmet version coffee shop & restaurant only at $5.00 plus. 1 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches Rectangle.

My car had a flat battery as I left the boot light on. I hope that was all that was wrong with it! The car club's roadside service came and restarted it for me. It does pays to be a member.

Everyone has they own version of making Vanilla Slices so here two versions. One cup = 250 ml

Vanilla Slice Deluxe

1 500g package frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup custard powder
3/4 cup cornstarch
5 1/4 cups milk
1/4 cup butter
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Icing
1 cup confectioners/icing sugar
1 tablespoon milk (4 tsp.)
1 dash vanilla extract

1) Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C.
Unfold puff pastry sheets, and place flat onto baking sheets.
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until lightly browned and puffed.
Set aside.

2) Combine the sugar, custard powder and cornstarch in a large saucepan.
Mix in just enough milk to form a paste, then gradually mix in the rest.
This will prevent lumps from forming. Add the butter.
Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until thick.
You may need to use a whisk to ensure a smooth consistency.
When the mixture comes to a simmer, cook stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
Remove from the heat, and stir in the egg yolks and vanilla.

3) Line a 22cm baking dish with aluminum foil.
Place one of the baked pastry sheets in the bottom of the dish.
Spread the custard filling in an even layer over the pastry, and top with the other sheet.

4) Mix the confectioners' sugar with 1 tablespoon of milk, and a dash of vanilla to make an icing.
Spread over the top of the pastry.
Refrigerate until the custard layer is firm.
Remove from the pan and slice.

Chef: Geoff Lindsay ~ Pearl Restaurant

Vanilla Slice

Serves Makes 4

1 sheet puff pastry, cut into 4, 6 x 10cm rectangles
2 cups skim milk
1/4 cup caster sugar
1/3 cup custard powder
1 tsp. vanilla essence
icing / confectioners' sugar
Method:
Step 1
Preheat oven to hot 200 C.
Cut pastry into 4, 6 x 10cm rectangles.
Arrange on a baking tray.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until puffed.
Allow to cool.
Separate each into two layers.
Step 2
Prepare custard by bringing milk and sugar to the boil, stirring.
Whisk a little milk into the custard powder.
Whisk the custard powder mixture back into the milk.
Return to heat.
Cook, stirring until mixture boils and thickens.
Simmer, stirring for 3 minutes.
Cover the surface with plastic wrap to stop a skin from forming and allow to cool.
Step 3
Spread custard over 4 pastry halves.
Top with a second layer.
Dust with icing sugar.

Nutritional Information: Per serve: about 1265 kJ; 8.5 g fat; 4.9 g sat fat
Chef: Jennene Plummer ~ Food Editor, New Idea

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Ham Salad Vanilla Slice Coffee
DINNER Lamb chop Egg, Onion & Tomatoes Coffee

Today's Full price Tally $ 18.10
Today's Savings - $ 13.80
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6795.05

My son called in on the way home from hospital. He does have heart disease, an enlarged heart, arteries high tension not good for a 35 year old. This is a very big wake up call for him & his wife. He is lucky that he has got a chance to right his lifestyle now. Funny you can tell them but they will not listen, its’ not that he has being going to the hospital when he has had chest pain for years now. But it was righting its self before the ECG was taken, so they would send him home again. This time it didn’t but did 12 hours later so doctors looked further this time.

After I went up the local shopping centre for a walk. I bought eggs and crackers that were on special so now I will have enough for a while. I went two thrift shops and bought some glass dishes one is the top of casserole that I use at times. And soup bowl that I can use for smaller serving of pasta when I have pasta now. I will be watching my diet more closely now too! I got a cookbook by one of my favorite author on beans & lentils. Saving $18.00 here.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Blue Vein Cheese Coffee
DINNER Honey Mustard Chicken with Vegetables and Rice, Fruit, Coffee
Today’s Full price Tally $27.50
Today’s Savings - $ 21.60
2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $6781.25