I'm no angel, and I won't pretend that a Pot Noodle never passes my lips, that a yellow stickered microwaveable ready-meal never enters the house. But like many, I do my best to eat good food most of the time. An 80/20 rule is a good one to follow in my humble opinion.
So this blog is going to be all about the food I buy, the food I cook and the food I eat and share. For the first time in years I have set myself no Challenges, I can spend exactly what I want to each time I go to the shops. But I will, as usual, be mindful of cost and try to keep the money I am handing over as small an amount as possible. Each week I will try to remember to photograph the shopping as it is brought into the house and tell you how much it cost ... and if I remember to menu plan I will share that too.
I am not striving to empty cupboards in a rush, I am instead menu planning from them and the fridge/freezer and just buying any additional things I need to turn what I already own into tasty nutritious meals. As always as I tumble into January and a brand new year, the cupboard is full, the freezer almost full ... but unusually for me the fridge is quite bare, well except for a plethora of dairy-free cheeses and spread that should keep me going for a few months.
As for the reading part of this brand new blog ... well I have a new bookcase to fill so as the Christmas decorations come down I will be re-organising my shelves and reacquainting myself with some old favourites. If I go missing for longer than you expect I will most likely be found in a corner, surrounded by books reading ... and perhaps snacking on something tasty.
Thank you for joining me on this new adventure.
Sue xx
Happy new year Sue. You're so right about good food being good ingredients, in season and cooked simply. The excesses and stodge of Christmas, and the amount of ready meals I've bought and consumed whilst I was busy packing have given me a craving for fresh and simple real food, for which I'm thankful! I look forward to reading your posts. xx
ReplyDeleteOh Christmas was far too stodgy for me, all my own doing of course, but stodgy nevertheless. Back to nice simple fair from now on ... and no more alcohol !!
DeleteHappy New Year!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading your new blog and I'm glad you couldn't stay away!
And the same to you Sue. I'm like the proverbial bad penny, I keep rolling back.
DeleteI'm so glad you've found a comfortable spot to blog from. If a blog becomes a chore to produce, then it shouldn't continue - but whilst it remains a happy space to chat with friends and share ideas then long may it last. And food & books are both important. Somebody (apologies if it was you) recently posted a great picture with the caption "A balanced diet is a cup of tea in one hand and a book in the other"
ReplyDeleteThe only chore was how much I could and should share, I do love blogging, but the sector that my company is in is not very social media friendly with current world events. That quote is brilliant, not one of mine, but perhaps I've used something similar in the past. For me it would be 'a book in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other'. :-)
DeleteHappy New Year Sue! I try to stick to the 80/20 rule too and cook from scratch. A blog about about food and books sounds perfect to me :-) xxx
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you too Ali. xx
DeleteYou can't go wrong with food and books can you ... well unless it's some sort of spillage of one on the other. ;-)
Happy New Year to you Sue and all you love.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with your sentiment about buying the correct amount of food so nothing is wasted. Gone are the days of tossing half of what you bought ‘cheaply or at a good price’ because it had spoiled for the simple reason it hadn’t been consumed quickly enough.
Exactly, I've always been quite on the ball with no food wastage, but mistakes can and do happen. That's why my shopping habits are changing this year. A very Happy New Year to you too. xx
DeleteHappy New Year and it's good to have you back at a place that suits you.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Carol, it's nice to be back. xx
DeleteHappy New Year and I look forward to following what you are getting up to. I need to eat more healthy this year.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you too Yvonne. xx
DeleteI definintely need to eat more vegetables this year, it's something I've always been notoriously bad at.
Happy New Year looking forward to reading. Heather
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Heather. xx
DeleteWhatever you choose to share is always hugely welcomed. Over the years I have learned so much from you, about so many different things.
ReplyDeleteMay the future bring you health, happiness, love and laughter.
big hugs, x
That's lovely thank you. All the very best for the New Year to you, hubby and of course Blue Bus too ... there are many adventures ahead for you all I hope. xx
DeleteYou have put it all in a nutshell, Sue, and may you relish the new blog and calm way of life. Personally, I feel that 2023 was horrendous in more ways than one and I'm glad to see the back of it. I intend only to worry about things I can change and not about EVERYTHING !
ReplyDeleteA book and a cuppa, and a read of your blog will be enough for me!
Happy new year to you, Alan and the family. May it be healthy, happy and full of fun. Angie xx
Wishing you, hubby and family a healthy and happy New Year ahead. It can only be better than last year can't it. My cousin lost her Dad in 2022, her Mum in 2023, but she is starting 2024 with her first grandchild being born on 29th December, so our whole family is seeing it as a fresh new start.
DeleteTo be honest I have never seen the point in worrying about things, as they say worrying is like a rocking chair ... it gives you something to do but it doesn't actually get you anywhere. But to my mind at least a rocking chair is fun, worry is just draining.
If I may add crafting to my list, you are talking about two of my favourite topics in life too! Catriona
ReplyDeleteI used to quite enjoy crafting when I had my shop and sold what I made, then I fell out with it and sold off all my supplies, it was very liberating. :-)
DeleteHappy New Year, and I am glad you are back and posting once again. Food, books and like Catriona add in crafting for me.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Crafting is a very popular hobby isn't it, I'm glad you both enjoy it. Happy New Year Jackie. xx
DeleteHelpful topics, Sue, and I hope you find it fun to blog about! Hope there will be recipes, too,. We're seeking to drop some pounds in the coming year to be kind to oour knees and other joints.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
If I find any good recipes that work well for me I will share them. Oh yes, I need to drop a few pounds too, at least 19 by the end of the year ... fingers crossed.
DeleteI'm looking forward to your new year new blog........and even though I'm into my sixties and consider myself to be a good plain cook , I often feel stuck in a foodie rut so find your food planning and prepping posts very interesting x Happy New Year x
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
Yes, I get stuck in a rut too ... especially being lazy if I have fresh bread in the house, I could live off sandwiches. We're a similar age but it's nice to find new things to try isn't it.
DeleteHappy New Year Alison. xx
Happy New Year♥ It's lovely to see you back blogging. Food and books are right up my alley although I have too many books and indulge in too much food!!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you too. xx
DeleteI have had a lot more food than usual over Christmas, well it feels like a lot, but maybe it was just more stodgy than I'm used too ... is there such a thing as too many books!! :-)
Happy New Year to you both and welcome back. I look forward to reading your new jottings, as I have missed popping in. What could be better than good, simple food and a good book.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you too Janice, nice to have you here. xx
DeleteHappy New Year to you all!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you too Debby. xx
DeleteVery happy to be here with you. Happy new year!!
ReplyDeleteThank you and a very Happy New Year to you too. Nice to have you here. xx
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