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 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

Italian Bean and Tuna Salad

1 can (185g) Tuna in springwater
1 can (420g) butter beans or 3 bean mix, drained.
1/2 small onion, thinly sliced
Lemon juice to taste
Italian Dressing, (Fat-Free) to taste (optional)
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp. grated gingerroot fresh (optional)
Small red pepper finely chopped (optional)

Drain tuna and beans.
Break up chunks of tuna with a fork
Mix tuna with the beans.
Add onion, pepper and lemon juice and or Italian Fat-Free Dressing to taste.
Add ginger and red pepper if you are using.
Serve with Cos lettuce & sliced tomato or green salad.
Serves 2 as main meal or 4 as side

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

All I did was water the garden, I had some recycle water left from when I last did the washing so I used that today. I do try to use it up as soon as I can, it’s not wise leave a long time in storage tanks. My friend & handyman called as well! He is trying to fix my front water tap which playing up. Well it didn’t get fix this time. I made a lite lunch for both of us. Saving money by using what I have in the house and not going out to buy anything, just because I have a visitor.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Salad with Blue Vein Cheese Apple Coffee
DINNER Pasta with Pasta Sauce & Tuna

I have just finished the repotting garden all but the large pots, which I will need someone too help me lift them. I am still to weed the garden but this can wait a bit longer as my next project is get ready for the tank and painting the garage which the tank will be going behind as the water will be coming off it’s roof.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Bread with Tomato & Blue Vein Cheese Carrot Cake Coffee
DINNER Black Bean Beef with Noodles Mandarin Green Tea
SNACK Pancakes with Maple Syrup Whipped Cream

Today I got out my old Mower and mowed the grass, its not a lawn but mixed grasses with weeds in it but it green. This chore took around hour to do. I have 20 perches of land, so it’s not that large to do around the house on just three sides. I did get into weeds specially the bindi-eye with a knife. The knife handle broke but being a hoarder and a tightwad, I just went to the can that I keep some wine bottle corks in, got one out then work the knife blade into it. Now I got a few more years out that knife I think. On the subject of hoarding, I have large coffee cans that I put things in when these are full then I stop collecting that item. I find these in the street at times, or I just ask the neighbors for some as I don’t drink wine any more.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers & Blue Vein Cheese Coffee
DINNER Omelette with Cheese Coffee

I needed to clean the pot plant area before I do much more so that it will clear and tidy to return the pots once potted. This job took over 1½ hours to do. I did cleared it out and put another bag of bark over the ground too! I did manage to get around 10 pots repotted as well! This will save me a lot of water when things get bad. I am using a cheap potting mix but adding a lots of fertilizers and Wetta ® soil products too! As I will be using mostly recycle grey water, I also adding a bit of gypsum to help with any salt in the washing grey water. I also have clay in my soil so with any run off, this will help the general ground soil as well! This is a tip I read a few months back so I am trying it out as my plants are not any nursery bought plants, they all died years ago.

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

Today I started to repot all my pot plants. The first I had too clean to my entry floor, which is tiled. I keep a few of my plants in this area, which I repotted today! I am trying to do about 10 to 15 per day until done, or until I run out of energy to do any more. I bought all the garden supplies over last few weeks. So its time start using it to save water, as most was for water saving and for repotting. I hope get a lot done this week as everyone is away at the moment and my son is working this weekend, and will have days off during the week instead. As he works four days straight 12 hours shifts and then has three days off, starts all over again. That is why he is at home during the week as times.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Garlic Bread & Blue Vein Cheese Fruit Coffee
DINNER Omelette with Cheese

It’s wash day at my house so it’s also watering the garden backyard day as I do use my washing water to water my garden.

Not much else in the way of saving money or spending money today for that mater!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Cream Cheese & Herbs Fruit Coffee
DINNER Fillet Steak, Egg, Onion & Tomatoes Coffee
SNACK Pancakes with Maple Syrup Whipped Cream

It’s my cousin birthday today as she lives alone 40 minutes away but can get to my place via a train, she came to dinner to–night and I pick her up at the train station. Instead of going out to dinner, I pulled two single dinners form the freezer and used these. She bought the dessert too!

I gave her a small gift from hoard of gifts that I have bought over the years. I have a suitcase full plus a cupboard with these kinds of items. I shop my own cupboards first then only buy if I don’t have the item that I need. Working in retail over the years, you do learn to pick out very good bargains by knowing the (RRP) prices of all kinds of lines. A few years ago I stop buying these items, and now I am using them as gifts to the right people.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Coffee Apple Coffee
DINNER Beef Bourguignon with Basmati rice & vegetables

This morning the man came to measure and check if I could put in a water tank. He said yes, his firm could get a tank over the garage roof no problem at all! So I am getting one installed a 3000 litre size with best pump, road base and all work done by them too! I didn’t get another quote as I have seen they work before and all paper the work has come thorough, which is the most important part of getting the water tank as the REBATES are almost the full cost of the tanks. Mine will set me back six months of NO interest and $40.00 out of my own pocket when finished. The waiting time is around 12-14 weeks so it will be around January before anything happens with this project. I will factor in costs and saving when I hand over the cheque.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Macaroni & Cheese Apple Coffee
DINNER Devilled Sausages with Garlic Focaccia Bread

Today was my ironing catch up day. I iron for pin money and all those business shirts arrived yesterday to be ironed. So it was an ironing day, as my next lot of ironing of my own ironing would be need to be done too! I make it a rule that I can never go more than two wash days without ironing before the next one. If I do then I would need more clothes. I take only 45 minutes to iron with my ironing press so it’s not a problem to do! I much refer to be on the computer. Within 2½ hours I had all the ironing done for both household.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Grilled Cheese on Toast Apple Coffee
DINNER BBQ Soy Beef with Vegetables & Rice Green Tea Orange

A Free lunch at DF-M place, she is having a BBQ lunch and has invited me down to it. Just the two of us. Fillet steak and Italian salad with broad beans salad as well. Very nice!

Balancing the budget as I check my budget every 2 weeks bring it up to date. Keeping me on my toes with what’s happening with my money and keeping me focus on this challenge too! All money transfers are done at these times too!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH BBQ steak & salad *
DINNER Thai Satay Chicken with Steamed Rice & Green Tea
SNACK Yogurt & LSA

In my local area the electricity company is installing new electricity meters in houses that have old style ones, next year we will be able to choose whom you have as our supplier as at the moment it’s the state government is the only supplier. So we will have fun of locked in contracts and the good and bad along with it too!

As my meter box turn off switch is locked in a room and can not be access from the outside. I had to make contract with the company doing this job, so that I was home when they did come. Well he came today, I have a new digital meters and not the technology of 60 years ago or more. All houses that are over 50 years old are getting these new meters. No cost to us I hope! Keep you posted on that one!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH French loaf with Low-Fat Cream Cheese & Tomato Coffee
DINNER Omelette with Cheese Coffee

At times, I like to try packet goods out first before I start substituting commercial-made items for a recipe made from scratch one. I was lucky the other week to get three packets of meals that I just had to add the meat too! Now that I know what it tastes like and what ingredients the manufacturer used. Now I can go and look at my cookbook collection for similar recipes and make my own combinations up using a few different recipes and ingredient of the packet as a guide. This does end up at times with a new version with a similar name. I start this when I couldn't eat certain foods over a number of period years, now I can eat them but not as much as before.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Low-Fat Cream Cheese & Tomato Mandarin Coffee
DINNER Pasta with Pasta Sauce & Tuna

In the last 28 days I have

Gone shopping or bought something. 11 times

Went to the city by bus 3 times

Drove my car only. 4 times

Had food bought or had for free away from home. 3 times

And had 14 No Spending Days.

Lets see what next 28 days tallies will be.

20th week’s Summary of $$$ Stretching challenge

Kitty’s Real Spending Total $4200.03
+ 2006 Total $-t-r-e-t-c-h Savings Tally $5814.26
= Full Price (RRP) Income Challenge $10014.29

Opening CC Balance $0
Kitty’s Opening Balance Rollover $209.32 ($30Bill A/C)
$$$Money in - $1030
= Total Income Balance. $1239.32
Bills Total $ 418.50
Other Spending & Groceries $296.42
$$$ Money out = $714.92
Cash Banked in other A/C’s $140
Kitty’s Rollover Balance $384.40 ($111.50 Bill A/C)
CC Balance $0

Thai Creamy Chicken Satay for 2

2 tsp. oil
1 tsp. red curry paste
250g (1/2 lb.) chicken fillets, cut into small cubes
1/2 cup coconut milk -see note
2 tsp. fish sauce
2 tsp. brown sugar
2 tbsp. crunchy peanut butter or less
Vegetables if using - see note
6 baby corn halved, 1/2 cup small pieces cauliflower & 1 small onion, sliced
Steamed jasmine rice
Lemon wedges

Heat the oil in a wok, add red curry paste and fry for 1 minute.
Stir in chicken and fry 4-5 minutes or until golden brown.
(Batch cook chicken if too much for wok at one time)
Cook onion, in wok and return cooked chicken to wok.
Add all remaining ingredients except lemon wedges and steamed rice.
Bring to the boil.
Lower heat and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes or until sauce has thickened.
Serve with steamed jasmine rice and lemon wedge.

Notes: coconut milk -(regular or lite) or evaporated milk plus 1 tsp. coconut essence
Vegetables - are not in the original version but I have been served these vegetables at times. So if you wished to use less chicken or serve a large portions then add vegetables.
This is one of my favourite Asian meals.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Pasta with Chilli Tuna Sauce
DINNER Thai Creamy Chicken Satay with Vegetables and Rice, Orange, Green Tea

I just went through some of my cookbooks and was putting them away in they boxes. As on the week-end I was looking for some recipes that were in bottom box of all places.

I must spend more time putting them in some order so I can find them more quickly.

I can’t put them on shelves as I have to many books for that. I am boxing them in categories, as they are all reference books. Time is money so saving time save money.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Jaffas with Chilli Tuna Spread Mandarin Coffee
DINNER Beef Bourguignon Coffee

I have been collecting recipes for a number of years now. What I would like to do with them, is to find about 30 – 50 recipes and study and follow them through the past 250 years until now. How they have charged with time. How the recipe were written what the ingredients use in them or how they were made and ways they are cooked and served. This is a challenge that one day I am yet to do! It may never get published but it will be an interesting study.

Today I have been working on the computer editing an ebook that I was sent to edit. Now I need to make an index for it. Which is missing on it! I like to make things so that I only have to do something once or just to update it when it’s out of date. It must be my path in life, to find ways so you only do something once or a good routine that can be followed.

I spend a lot of my time re-editing others people work to my way of doing it, so that I can read it once and understand what’s written. Some people do not like the way I do things too! We are all different.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Avocado & Herbs fruit
DINNER Steak, Egg, Tomatoes, & Grilled Onions Dinner

As I am looking for recipes to make from scratch in most things that I am cooking. So here is another one that I will try soon!

Hungarian Goulash
Serve 4-6

2 med. onions
Canola oil
2 lbs. Chuck steak, diced
1 cup dry red wine or tomato juice
1 can 410g tomatoes diced
1 tsp. caraway seed (optional)
2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1 large red pepper/capsicum , seeded & chopped
salt & pepper to taste

Chop the onions and saute them in the oil.
Set onions aside and brown diced steak.
Combine, then add the rest of the ingredients and simmer on top of the stove for about 2 hours or until the meat is tender and juices have reduced.
Serve with noodles, steamed potatoes or boiled rice.
Can be frozen. Thaw and reheat

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH BBQ Soy Beef with Rice Green Tea Orange
DINNER 2 Fish Cakes & Salad Orange Coffee
SNACK Pancakes with Maple Syrup Whipped Cream

This is the one that I used this time. As I had some black beans paste in my pantry.

Black Bean Beef with Sweet Chilli
Serving 2

1/2 lb (250g) trimmed rump steak, cut into thin strips
3 1/2 oz (100g) black beans paste
2 tsp. chilli sauce
4 cups of chopped or sliced vegetables (Red Capsicum, Shallots Onion Carrot & Bean Sprouts)
2 serves cooked jasmine rice or 5 oz (150g) rice vermicelli (prepare before you start cooking.)
2 tbsp. stock or water if paste too thick.
Combine paste with beef in bowl.
Heat large, non-stick pan or wok add beef fry 2 minutes or until cook, stirring constantly.
Add vegetables, stir-fry a further 3 minutes.

I found another recipe for Beef and Sweet Peppers in Black Bean Sauce, which I will try soon!

Beef and Sweet Peppers in Black Bean Sauce
Serves 2 to 4

INGREDIENTS:

Marinade:
1/2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
1 1/2 tsp. cornstarch/cornflour
1 tbsp. Canola oil

3/4 lb (750g) steak (sirloin or rump)
2 bell peppers, 1 green and 1 red
1 small onion
1 tablespoon black bean sauce to taste
2 cloves garlic
2 large slices ginger
4 tbsp. oil for stir-frying, or as needed
1/2 cup chicken stock or water
soy sauce
PREPARATION:
Cut the beef into rectangular slices, about the size of a large postage stamp and 1/4-inch thick. Add the marinade ingredients and marinate the beef for 25 to 30 minutes.

While the beef is marinating, prepare the vegetables.
Remove the stems and seeds from the bell peppers and chop. Peel the onion and chop.

Use a cleaver or knife to chop the beans into tiny pieces. Finely chop the garlic and ginger. Mix the chopped garlic with the black beans.

Heat the wok over medium-high to heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil. When the oil is hot, add the beef. Brown briefly, then stir fry until it changes color and is about 80 percent cooked. Remove the beef from the wok.

Add 2 tablespoons oil. When the oil is hot, add the ginger and the garlic and bean mixture. Stir-fry briefly until aromatic. Add the onion. Stir-fry for about 3 minutes, then add the green pepper. Stir-fry for another minute, then add the remaining pepper.

Pour in the chicken broth. Heat to boiling. Add the beef back into the pan. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for a few more minutes. Taste and season with soy sauce if desired.
Serve hot with steamed jasmine rice.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Cottage Cheese Chutney & Herbs Fruit Coffee
DINNER Beef Bourguignon Chocolate Rice Coffee

It was a busy day today at my house! My DS arrived just after breakfast and went onto my computer and stayed there.

Not long after that a neighbor that I rarely see arrived to say that she had locked herself out of her apartment, and as she didn’t have her glasses with her could I find a locksmith as she didn’t have her landlord phone number on her mobile (Cell phone). After two goes, we found a locksmith that would come ASAP then her mobile went dead in the middle of giving her address too! After another call on my phone, he would call within the hour then he couldn't get it open so had to put a new lock in it as well! So it was a costly mistake to make, as now she was $100 out of pocket. My DS wouldn’t been any help even if she had left a window open as she is top level of the apartment block.

I had to phone about home help for DF-M. Which after a lot of chatting got something done at that front. Now someone is coming to help her, keep her house clean. Not that it’s dirty at all. But she does need help and she can get help with government subsidy.

While all this was going on, I did my pay day budget balance. Which came out on right side.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Chocolate Muffin Apple Coffee
DINNER Poach Fish & Salad Coffee

At Lunch time today the parcel arrived that was quick.
I got for FREE.
Biography Book ‘The Restless Spirits’ by Cassi Plate value ?
ABC magazine value $7.95
2 DVD ‘I-CLAVDIS’ Part 1-4 (652 minutes of viewing time) value ?
1 CD – The Audreys … on the modern side but OK for background noise. Value ?
1 CD – Danny Boy … 19 versions of the same song. OK for background noise. Value ?
I do like Danny Boy TOO!
Plus an autograph of radio announcer. Priceless.

I will check the values when I go to the city to-morrow! I will the value of saving to-morrow.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Cottage Cheese Chutney & Herbs Fruit Coffee
DINNER Steak, Egg, Tomatoes, & Grilled Onions Coffee
SNACK Homemade Muesli Bar

At lunchtime today I went off, after putting my smart causal op shop clothing. To look at the three new houses on my block, they look down on to my house. There are two town houses 3 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms each and older styled home with 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, I glad that I don’t have to clean that lot! Not much storage in any of the houses and there is no yards for children to play at all.

This afternoon I started to read a romance novel for charge. I don’t do this as much as I used too do! At least I will have a quite day!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Crackers with Cottage Cheese Chutney & Herbs Fruit Coffee
DINNER Omelette with Cheese Coffee
SNACK Homemade Muesli Bar

I went to my pantry & freezer today to look at what I would like eat next week.
For Protein :~ I found 1½ lbs. rump steak cube & large can tuna, I also have some rump steaks plus eggs as well!
As I have hoarded a few packets of sauces, I have chosen three of these Beef Bourguignon, BBQ Soy & Black Bean Beef. I will use 1lb cube rump steak for Beef Bourguignon adding canned mushroom & onion it will serve 4 so I will have some for freezing too! ½ lb cube rump steak for Black Bean Beef with vegetables & rice vermicelli. That one will serve 2 meals over a couple days, as it will not freeze. I will use one piece of steak for BBQ Soy along with vegetables serving 2 meals over a couple days. I use the tuna to make a Mini Fish Loaves later in the week. I will need to buy some potatoes & Chinese vegetables too! I will put them on my shopping list for Sunday’s Fruit & Vegetable Shop.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Coffee apple
DINNER Poach Fish & Salad Coffee

Had a busy no spending day today. I got in and did my tax and posted it too!

Hopefully I will get money back, but not to sure on that one. We will just have too wait and see.

Watered the front garden & fertilizing it too! Boy! Did it need it, as I don’t remember the last time that I did it! I am in the process of fertilizing to whole garden and adding compost as well! I plan to repot most of my pot plant’s then just see what the water restrictions will be for next level. I will just cut back as each die’s if that what it comes too!

I found some time to do some cooking tonight, as I do live off my homemade TV dinners lot!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Mussels & Balsamic Vinegar with Salad Coffee
DINNER Devilled Sausages with Garlic Focaccia Bread Coffee

Today I worked in a corner of my garden pruning a tree with the help of my next door neighbor's son. After putting in the branch in the two rubbish bins. I worked on the garden beds around that tree. Put in the water bottles etc. The families next door over the fence found a snake in their garden the other day. I was asked if i would lend them some of my garden tools so their could cut back the under growth in their yard as it’s a rental property with two family living there with young children. I think it was a lizard not a snake but they are about and are the poisonous ones too! So one cannot be careful. I got my tools back that is the main thing and now the garden beds are clear too! What the wive's have to do the get the their husbands to clear the garden. Just scream SNAKE!

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Pasta with Pasta Sauce & Tuna Coffee
DINNER Pumpkin & Lentil Stew with Garlic Focaccia Bread Coffee

When I have visitors or guests to stay, I serve a lunch, where I put out in divided dishes enough food for all of us in controlled portions plus one extra serve. It’s most times, mix your own salad, only thing I make is one of the following mixed beans salad, rice salad or pasta salad. I serve enough of other things to make a meal. Mixed salad green, olives, sliced tomatoes, pickled onions, bread & butter cucumbers, asparagus, fresh shallots & herbs, cheese, eggs, ham, tuna or sardines, Chutneys, relishes, lemon juice and two salad dressings and a long with crackers & bread. What is left in the dishes is used to make a meal later in the week. I never had anyone say I don’t eat this stuff, very little is left too! If put out full containers of each for two or three people they take a lot of one thing and don’t try any of others. e.g. olives serving is 4 so I put out 12 for two people. Cheese is 30g each. If it’s a luxury item then I only put out enough per serving only.

BREAKFAST Muesli & Milk Coffee
LUNCH Soup & Toast Apple Coffee
DINNER French Onion Chicken with Toast Fruit Coffee

I had some homegrown Kent pumpkin to use up this weekend.
Chopped up half of want I had to boil and gave the other half to DF-D to use. Then I set about making some Pumpkin Soup later in the day. As I was using cooked cold pumpkin, I need to charge the recipe somewhat. I blended few recipes together and did a what's in the pantry style soup I start out with 3 pounds of raw pumpkin that was cooked & cold still in it's cooking water. I put this in a large saucepan and blend/mashed to a pulp. Adding 1 tbsp. vegetable stock powder to 1 cup boiling water into the mixture. Heating this up on a stovetop. Adding 2 tsp. minced garlic, 2 tsp. minced ginger paste, 2 tsp. grounder coriander, 2 tsp. Thai Green Chilli Paste, and to give a bit more of a kick, I put in 100g Cajun All Purpose Sauce that need to be use up. After bring to the boil then slowly simmering for around 20 minutes. I had large serving of this for dinner with toast. I got around 6 serving for next few days. It can be frozen up to two months. I just reheat it in the microwave.

Now to make a copycat recipe of Cajun All Purpose Sauce. It will be fun trying!

BREAKFAST 2 Boiled Eggs & Toast Coffee
LUNCH Grilled Cheese on Toast Apple Coffee
DINNER Pumpkin Soup with Toast Salad Coffee