Back in Oxford, our huge haul, and creative packing

Hey!

So my husband and I are finally back in Oxford.  It was a great month in Norway and I honestly can't wait to go back.  I did even less than usual but the best part is that I got to cook whatever I wanted without having to pay for the groceries.
It is very weird to have a year off but it's been a good 5 months so far.  It feels longer but I've learned so much about how to support my husband and bad habits or reactions that I need to change, but this blog isn't about, thats on my other blog.  This one is about food and cooking!!

While we were in Norway we decided that there were two essential food items that we needed to bring back to Oxford and they were cheese and fish.  Cheese and fish are relatively cheap in Norway considering that everything costs an arm and a leg.  We got 1.3 kg of salmon for 6 GBP.  Basically a complete whole slab of Salmon.  Pictures below.
So we stocked up on salmon and cheese.
Since we were flying with ryan air, we didn't want to pay for more checked bags so my husband and I made it our mission to fit everything into two carry-ons.  Including all new clothes we got and books for school.
My mission was to make it fit.  And it did.  I ended up wearing all the winter clothes I got for Christmas and looked like a balloon but I didn't care.  Ryan air couldn't charge me for wearing too much clothes so I wore as much as I could.
We had about 12 kg of salmon, 2 kg of Cod and 3 kg of cheese.  In one hand luggage.  That hand luggage also included 1 kg of smoked salmon and random small items of clothes such as socks and underwear.  Anything that would fit into nooks and crannies.
The other hand luggage had an air-popper for popcorn, a ninja blender, a large wok and any clothes that could fit.
My purse had all my make-up, airplane necessities and any clothes that would fit.  My husband's backpack had books and clothes as well.

We ended up making it all the way back to Norway after a 2 hour plane ride, 3 hours of waiting and 4 hours of bus ride from London.
Some of the fish had defrosted so we ended up baking it and just saving it for later but all the other fish made it okay.  The cheese made it and all the electronics work fine.

It was a really stressful day because I was certain that my carry on was going to burst but it made it!
Now we have so much fish and cheese that we can mark that off our shopping list at least for the next month!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!
It's been a very long time since my last post but I can promise you it has been a very eventful time.  My husband and I went back to Norway for the holidays and there has been so much food that I haven't even had time to experiment and test out recipes.

I did make a honey rosemary pull apart roll courtesy of Chef John from food wishes.  His blog and youtube channel is really great.  If you haven't seen it, I would check it out.  I also made a lot of other dishes for the in laws, such as a roasted leg of lamb with an infusion of honey and rosemary that was a big hit.
Next week I'll post pictures of all the adventures we've had.
I'll be attempting a quiche and an avocado, key lime pie.

Here is the link for the honey rosemary rolls. http://foodwishes.blogspot.no/2012/12/rosemary-honey-pull-apart-dinner-rolls.html

How are you guys doing???

My new years resolution is to eat better and spend less! Will give more details on the next challenge next week.  I'm thinking of cutting out a lot of carbs and focusing more on local fresh but I don't want to break the bank so need to brainstorm!

First Pinterest recipe

Hi all,  I know that when I started this blog I said that I would try to do one pinterest recipe every Sunday.  Well somehow I just forgot about that.  I don't really know why, but it just didn't happen until last night.
I did my first one.  What I made is from my pinterest board "spoonful of good eats." http://www.pinterest.com/pin/125045327129815691/

Here is a picture of what the recipe looked like.

Here are the steps to what I did. 

THIS PART WAS THE HARDEST PART.  Of course on the blog post this recipe comes from it doesn't tell you anything about how to do this or the best technique.  I just scooped very delicately and did my best.  It wasn't perfect and the apples I had didn't have the toughest skin.  Of course I didn't use the honey crisp apples that they use in the blog, I just used whatever apples I had on hand.  It also seemed like such a waste to cut up and discard all the leftover apple so I recommend throwing it into a blender and blend with some greens for a powerful green smoothie. 

This is a before picture.  I placed them in these individual aluminum ramekins/muffin tin things.  It just seemed like a safer idea since the bottom of the apples weren't smooth.  I didn't want them moving about and it worked just fine.  I had just enough filling for three apples. 

This was the end result.  Of course mine didn't come out as beautifully as the ones on the original recipe blog but of course I'm not an expert in food photography, placement and photoshop.  I did allow my husband to eat one and I sprinkled homemade granola and honey on the top and he loved it.  He really really like it.  I had a small taste and it was really good.  My husband said the soft apple afterwards was a nice touch.  

I did modify the recipe a little.  I really don't like using a lot of sugar so I cut that in half and use less fat cream cheese.  Tasted great.  RECOMMENDED and very easy. 

REDUCED FOR QUICK SALE!

On Monday I went to Aldi.  This was the first time in a month.  I've been doing the rest of my shopping at other stores but only buying things that were listed on the checkout smart app and the shopitize app.  I also only buy things that are reduced for quick sale.  I don't buy any meat because I don't think that it's all that much reduced but fresh veggies and fruit I will usually buy.

For example,
I've learned that Food Co-Op marks down their prices extraordinary at the end of the day.  I bought a few heads of lettuce for .10 pence.  .10 pence, thats all! I went back the next time during mid-day and the same head of lettuce was only marked down to .60 p.  Not a good bargain considering that M & S next door was selling fresh heads of lettuces for .60 p.

I also bought a bag of potatoes for .10 p the other day at Tesco, not end of day.  They also had bags of salad and fresh that were reduced so much that I bought all the bags.

I've also learned that the person that is marking them down has a lot of wiggle room regarding price.  Some days they are reduced heavily and other days they aren't.  I sincerely believe that this has to do with the person marking them down.  I'm still trying work out the best days to go shopping at the stores but so far it really seems like hit or miss.

I also tried to follow some advice given but this youtuber about going at the end of the day and most of the time that doesn't work.  Either all the items are gone or they haven't been reduced further.  There's no reasons for me to wait all day and then go in the evening when its exponentially colder to try to score some basement prices.

I've also learned that I can bargain for lower prices.  Once, just once, there were something on reduced and I saw another item that was similar for a lower price and I thought why aren't these the same price. I ask if I could have both for the same low price and the manager said yes.  So don't be afraid to ask.

Now, the freshness of reduced for quick sale items. I've generally found that veggies last a week past the use by date.  They stay fresh as long as you keep them in the crisper and keep them dry.   I'm happy to announce that the many bags of produce I bought lasted for more than a week and I was able to eat salads and fresh cooked veggies for days and days.  It was wonderful.
So go for the clearance items and hope these tips work for you.

:)

Taking time to stop eating!

Last week my husband and I decided we should do a fast.  It is a discipline and a way for us to remember that man does not live on bread alone.  We live by the words of God as well.  I'll just say this now...It was really really hard!
I love to eat. I really do.  I love to cook and think about food and planning about food and everything that has to do with food.

I also complain very loudly about being hungry something that really annoyed my husband.  It's hard for me to feel hungry because it's natural for people to just reach for food when we are hungry.

It made me think about how much time I think about eating and planning and how much I take for granted having food in the fridge.
I have food in the fridge most of the time and if I don't I just go out and buy something more to eat.  It's very simple and I couldn't help but think about the people in most of the world that don't have things to eat for days.
If not eating for one day was this difficult I can't even imagine how difficult it would be not to eat two days in a row.
It was very eye opening for me.  Just thinking about food gives me happiness.  I love planning my meals and figuring out new recipes but to stop all of that put so many things into perspective for me.
I just want to challenge you to try to not eat two meals.  Don't do breakfast because that's too easy and don't do it on a day where you have work all day because you won't really think about it that much.
On a Saturday when you have time at home, try to not eat lunch or dinner.  Or just don't eat dinner and see how you feel.  Suddenly you'll see that you have lots of time on your hands and how much you appreciate living in a country where food is easily accessible.
Food is a great thing and we only live because we eat food but our soul also needs to eat.  Our soul needs to be woken up to all the things in the world and grow to have compassion, patience and gratitude.
If you think you can do it, give it a try and let me know how it goes.

The husband and I have decided to fast three meals a week, mostly dinners on different days and to save the money and give that amount to the poor.  Hopefully we can do and I hope you try.
Fast so that you can go slow and give thanks.

Cooking for four

My husband's parents come to live with us for a week and it has been really fun.  I have a great relationship with my in-laws and I know I will miss them when they leave.  Since they have been here they have helped buy the groceries and make purchases for us.  It's been wonderful to not have to swipe the credit card as often or make any huge purchases.
I'm sorry that I haven't updated for a week but I have some great dinners for you to see.  I've been cooking up a storm but the most fun one to make was Nutella Star bread.  It is really easy to make and really good.

First I have to build up to the grand finale.  One evening I had to cook something really quick and had some beef steaks in the fridge. I sliced it up into strips and started sautéing them.  I then cut up some celery and broccoli.  I had to do something with those as they were starting to go bad.  I also had some tofu in the cupboard so I cut that up and tossed it together with the celery.  I tossed the beef strips with the broccoli, made some steamed rice and called it dinner.  This dinner took me a totally of 20 minutes and allowed me to watch the salt content, oil content and fat.  I was really happy and so was my husband.  He almost ate all of it.  I really want to try to eat less meat, less refined carbs and more veggie carbs and meat.  But moving on to the next picture you'll see that not true yet. 

So I had ground beef that also needed to be used so I decided to make a simple lasagna.  I'm one of those people that likes to look up recipes but when it comes to lasagna, I say anything goes and this was no exception.  I layered it the traditional way but I through it two layers of frozen mixed vegetables.  The vegetables were the perfect tenderness and added some much needed color to this dish.  I would high recommend doing that for all mothers who have picky eaters. 

Lastly I had this apple pie.  I'll be the first to admit that I didn't make this one. I bought it half off at Sainsbury's.  Usually 5 quid but on sale for 2.50.  I was really happy with how it came out and it wasn't sweet at all but nice and sour.  The way I like apple pie, you can taste the sourness. 

Now, the grand finale! Here is a picture:  I know....you are practically drooling over the computer right now.  And trust me it's as good as it looks.

I would recommend doing this and it's really easy.  Just make a basic bread dough, roll out four circles and layer with Nutella.  Then cut strips and twist.  Brush with egg wash and bake! Done!

GO NUTS

The end results and a new challenge

Hey!
I finished my challenge of not spending more than 40 GBP a month on groceries and these are the results.
It's not possible! It was difficult but what I did learn was that I could survive on 40 GBP for about 16-20 days.
There are some things that I had to buy more often for example eggs/bread/milks.  Things that expired sooner rather than later.
I looked over all the receipts for the last month and it looks like I spent a total of 85 GBP for the month on groceries and other non-perishables.  That's not too terrible considering that we started with nothing.
I went shopping the last day in October for groceries because my refrigerator was literally empty as was my pantry.  Picture below.  I had one chicken left that I roasted and used for the next few days.
We had a friend stay with us for a week so I had to buy a few more items to take into consideration that this person probably wanted to eat something different and fresh.

I did try to BBQ in my oven and it worked out well.  I used a yogurt curry indian marinade and skewered the chicken and it came out really well.  It was very tasty and I'll probably try to do it again.
I bought a total of 50 GBP worth of groceries.  My goal it to not spend more than 80 GBP for the month but we will see how it goes.  My husband's parents are coming for about 10 days so I don't know how well I can keep that goal but you never know.
Things I've learned about stretching the dollar.
Buying fresh vegetables is a gift and cooking them and storing them the minute you get home keeps them around longer.
Milk goes bad very quickly.
Meat is overrated and we are learned to eat less meat and more greens.
My husband really has a sweet tooth and loves chips, granola and sweets.  Things I don't usually buy because it is not in the budget but when I do buy them they are gone in minutes. (its a problem.)
Below are pictures of some  of the dishes I made, if you are interested in the recipe drop me a line.

My way of stretching the dollar. I had very little roast chicken left but I had some spinach, and puff pastry left so I just combined it and rolled it up.  They were really good and my husband loved it.  This cost .25 pence to make per serving!

Made a beef stroganoff for my husband.  Very good!

BBQ some chicken, yogurt flavored.  Very nice. 

Fresh made pita bread with a nice salad and the chicken.  Great meal!

Our very empty fridge. The yogurt I bought was on reduced clearence.  We need to get our protein somehow. 

My first time making yorkshire pudding.  I was very proud!

A lovely roast chicken. 

Roasted veggies with steamed kale topped with a savory lemon dressing.