Pennypincher’s Pantry

frugal recipes & ideas, menu planning, retro collection and Nigella Lawson recipes

Bills rise again!!

 

Gas prices are likely to soar, then remain high, it was reported tonight.
 

Channel Four News said it had seen an internal report for the company Centrica which suggested gas prices could rise by 70%.

Jake Ulrich, managing director of Centrica Energy, told the programme: “I think it is going to hit people hard.”

He admitted that gas price rises were likely to lead to a “potentially significant” rise in the number of people in fuel poverty.

And he predicted people would have to change their habits to deal with higher prices.

“I do think we will see people change their behaviour, I think people will use less energy and I hate to go back to the Jimmy Carter days in the US but maybe it’s two jumpers instead of one.

“I think people will change the temperature they keep the house, they’ll be more cognisant of energy waste, they’ll buy better appliances.”

Gas prices are likely to remain high in the foreseeable future, he said.

“The pressure is going to be upwards on prices for some time.”

And he added: “We’re part of a world economy and I don’t think we can rely on UK production or cheap gas, cheap energy of any sort any more.

“I think it’s a reality not only in the UK but in Western Europe and North America - energy is going to become relatively much more expensive in the future

quoted from Today’s Independent Newspaper!

So many bills are set to rise once more :( We do have gas central heating, but we also still have the original open fire place in our lounge and thank goodness we do, as the thought of having central heating as our only source of staying warm is frankly quite frightening!!! eekkkk!

 What with prices soaring through the roof, along with food and petrol I have been researching other ways of staying warm this winter.

I am seriously considering investing in one of these paper log makers

 

Thats the environmentally friendly log maker to recycle your waste paper into logs. To burn on open fires, wood burning stoves, chimineas and solid fuel fires.

Help to conserve forests, reduce landfill and save on heating costs by using newspaper, junk mail, shredded paper, cardboard, wood chippings, and wrapping paper as fuel.

  • Soak old newspapers or magazines etc, in water
  • place them into the machine and press out the excess water
  • eave the paper brick to dry thoroughly
  • The logs can be used as your regular logs and burn for long periods (approx 1-2 hrs)

ok, I am off to do some more research……………..

 

 

 

 

July 18, 2008 Posted by pennypincher | Winter & Christmas planning, money saving tips | | No Comments

Sunday Lunch with Yorkshire puddings!

The Yorkshire pudding mix has been prepared, the carrots have been chopped:

We all love Yorkies in our house, even ds2 eats them,  which is quite something as he is a fussy eater!!

We need our engery this afternoon, as we are off to a car  boot sale  at Redcar, its quite a walk round it all! I am hoping to pick up some retro plates or some old fashined cookery books!!

The Yorkshire pudding recipe, I use has been passed down by my Mum:

8 tablespoons of plain flour

1 egg beaten

1/2 pint of milk

1 pinch of salt

Just mix all together, preferably in a jug, so you can pour the mix into the pudding tray.

Pour a little oil in each tray and heat in hot oven, till oil is smoking hot ,then just add mixture.

Bake in the top shelf of hot oven for 25 mins until crispy and they have risen!

even our black lab enjoys some yorkshires!! :)

July 13, 2008 Posted by pennypincher | cookery, food, recipes, retro collection | | No Comments

I wanna!

I have been watching these retro soup bowls on ebay and I really like them :)  They look so 70’s would be great with chicken noddle soup in them!! hmmmmm

July 12, 2008 Posted by pennypincher | I wanna, retro collection | | No Comments

The frugalista’s

The-Frugalistas-Meet-women-beat-credit-crunch-style, just been reading this article in the daily mail online, wow, it is an inspiration to us all!!! love it, love it!!

July 11, 2008 Posted by pennypincher | food, money saving tips | | 3 Comments

Menu plan w/c 12/7/08

just completed this weeks menu plan:

saturday  lunch:  hm curried parsnip soup with wholemeal roll

Saturday tea:  hm chilli, brown rice/tesco wedges & garlic bread

Sunday  lunch : roast beef,  hm yorkies, roasties, carrots and broccoli

sunday tea: hm chicken curry with chips and rice

Monday: tesco’s chicken supreme (working late)

Tuesday: breaded plaice,   pasta & veg

Wednesday: Jamie’s hm meatballs with wholemeal spaghetti

Thursday: lemon fish fingers, mash and peas!! (lemon fish fingers are on offer, 1/2 price in tesco this week, 99p for 12)

Friday: Tana Ramsey’s butter bean chicken casserole in slow cook with tescos’ wedges (on offer 50p)

Just waiting for Mr. T to deliver this weeks order. All housework done for week! I have to collect ds2 this afternoon, as he has been away with school all week!!

July 11, 2008 Posted by pennypincher | cookery, food, lunch ideas, menu planning | | No Comments

Recession!!!

According to the news this morning, we are on the brink of an recession!!!  So I am as determinded as ever save money where we can! I have just found these Tesco money off codes on Hot Deals uk and I thought I would share them! 

I have just used the £6 off £40, so very pleased. You can bank the codes about two weeks before they become active, so  I have banked aload!

Discount:
£4 - £6
Minimum Spend:
£40.00
Expiry: varied dates over the next month
Applies to:
Groceries
Instructions:
XXDH8J - until 13/07 - £4 off £40
XXYR8H - 14/07 - 20/07 - £6 off £40
XXF43L- 21/07 - 27/07 - £4 off £40
XX9Q98- 28/07 - 03/08 - £4 off £40
XXFKDT- 04/08 - 10/08 - £4 off £40
XX8DPH- 11/08 - 17/08 - £4 off £40
Discount:
Money £6- £9
Minimum Spend:
£60.00
Expiry: varies over the next month
Applies to:
Groceries And Tesco Direct
Instructions:
XXQ86H - until 13/07 - £6 off £60
XXPFT4 - 14/07 - 20/07 - £9 off £60
XX2TXD- 21/07 - 27/07 - £6 off £60
XX94KY- 28/07 - 03/08 - £6 off £60
XXJMLH- 04/08 - 10/08 - £6 off £60
XXB44P- 11/08 - 17/08 - £6 off £60
Discount:
£7 - £10
Minimum Spend:
£70.00
Promotional Code:
VARIOUS
Expiry:
17/08/2008
Applies to:
TESCO GROCERIES AND ALSO WORKS FOR TESCO DIRECT
Instructions:
XXG8PB £7.00 OFF £70.00 VALID UNTIL 13/07/08
XXHGBL £10.00 OFF £70.00 VALID FROM 14/07/08 TILL 20/07/08
XX6WGR £7.00 OFF £70.00 VALID FROM 21/07/08 TILL 27/07/08
XXJTPN £7.00 OFF £70.00 VALID FROM 28/07/08 TILL 03/08/08
XXY7L6 £7.00 OFF £70.00 VALID FROM 04/08/08 TILL 10/08/08
XXMXZH £7.00 OFF £70.00 VALID FROM 11/08/08 TILL 17/08/08
Discount:
£12.00
Minimum Spend:
£80.00
Promotional Code:
XXB47M
Expiry: various over the next month
Applies to:
Groceries & Direct
Instructions:
£8 off £80 shop valid until 13.7.08 XX8R3M
£12 off £80 shop - 14.7.08-20.7.08 XXB47M
£8 off £80 shop - 21.7.08-27.7.08 XXP6D2
£8 off £80 shop - 28.7.-3.8.08 XXLR8J
£8 off £80 shop - 4.8.08-10.8.08 XXKXGV
£8 off £80 shop - 11.8-17.8.08 XXKPBN

July 9, 2008 Posted by pennypincher | money saving tips, tesco codes | | No Comments

Sunday Sheperds pie!!

Morning ;)

had a little sleep in this morning, so now I am having to rush round to catch up with my chores!

I have put on the dish washer and prepared today’s Sunday lunch, which is Shepperd’s pie:

just boilng the carrots and pots:

 the finished pie:

July 6, 2008 Posted by pennypincher | cookery, food, lunch ideas, retro collection | | No Comments

Menu plan w/c 5th July, 2008

Morning,

I ordered food shopping from Mr. T last night. I used this code: XX-KMYX to get £4 off £40 spend, so pleased! Some of the Tesco codes seem quite scare again??

Just completed next weeks menu plan: It will be a little different next week, as ds2 is going away with the school for 5 days, Monday to Friday, so I have adjusted normal shopping a little!

Saturday: Roast chicken and chips.  (ds2 has his final football tournament of the season on sat, so packed lunch needed for him)

Sunday: Shepperds pie with carrots

Monday: nigella’s green thai curry with brown rice

Tuesday:  breaded plaice, pasta and mixed veg

wednesday: Meal out!! just me and oh!! :)  

Thursday: Nursery fish pie and veg

Friday: order pizza for ds2 coming home!!!!

 

 

July 3, 2008 Posted by pennypincher | cookery, food, menu planning, tesco codes | | No Comments

retro cookery

 

Just back from the hairdressers, which is another job done, however next door to my hairdressers is a charity shop, I always pop in and have a mouch. Here are today finds:

two retro pyrex steak plates for a £1!!!

and a retro cookbook, the complete farmhouse kitchen cookbook published in 1975 by Yorkshire Television! I am just having a quick look through and hope to post some retro recipes on here later!

 

June 28, 2008 Posted by pennypincher | cookery, food, recipes, retro collection, retro cookery | | 7 Comments

Menu plan w/c: 27/6/08

Morning :)

Up with the larks this morning and feeling very bright and breezy! I have just scoffed down breakie, free range egg from the farm next door with soliders!

 Mr. T is delivering food shopping this afternoon and I have just finished completing next weeks menu plan:

Friday : Nigella’s nursery fish pie

Saturday: curried parsnip soup (oh favourite)

Saturday tea:  slow cooked Beef Bourguignon with boiled rice

Sunday: roast chicken dinner

sunday tea: chicken omlette with chips and curry

monday: lasanga, wedges and salad

tuesday: plaice, pasta and veg

wednesday: slow cook pork casserole, mash and veg

thursday: pizza, wedges and salad

friday: home made shepperds pie with carrots

 

June 27, 2008 Posted by pennypincher | menu planning | | No Comments