Day Seven - Olympic Nibbles, Kyivs and Toilet Rolls

 

I forgot to add this photo to yesterday's post, the nibbles I got together for us to have while we watched the Olympic Opening Ceremony on the television on Friday night.  It's surprising what you can rustle up at the last minute when you stand in front of the cupboard and fridge with a blank look on your face.  😶

Just the spread and the little silver-skin pickled onions were from the fridge, the ever so slightly soft Ritz crackers and the sardine and tomato spread were from the cupboard, and three little bags of Harvest Snaps were from the snack basket.

It was good to make a little 'party' out of nothing ... and Alan supplied us with a glass of wine each.  🍷

After all that stodgy nibbling the night before I fancied a light breakfast so my one and only apple was called into service.  Along with a slice of toast and my usual black coffee, it was a nice simple breakfast.

Lunch needed to be a bit more filling, so I used another two eggs and a bread roll from the freezer.  Served with a little trio of my 'now going wrinkly' plum tomatoes and a couple of lettuce leaves it made for a nice lunch ... and yes more black coffee.  My world would not turn without it.  😄

Tea was nice and simple, just a Garlic Kyiv and rice and peas.  

I just throw the peas into my rice-maker along with the uncooked rice and leave it to do it's own thing.  As you can see I have the same sized portion now chilled in the fridge, so I might just replicate this meal for tomorrow nights tea.  I don't like to leave cooked rice sitting around for more than one or two days.

While this Challenge is all about using up the fresh foods, I am also mindful that my longer term  challenge of Eating and Living Well on a Small Budget is ongoing, and by monitoring my shopping I have been able to find out how long some things last me.  Back in early January I bought two packs of 12 'longer lasting' toilet rolls, supposedly meant to be the equivalent of 18 normal rolls.  I started on the last of these at the beginning of last week, so I needed some more.  I have been watching out for them coming back on a reduced offer for the last few weeks, but no such luck!!  However, those rolls lasted me for 28 weeks, just over a roll a week, so I think they were pretty good value really.

Now my remaining £2.71 of this weeks budget would not have cut the mustard in buying any more toilet rolls, and then Angie (Pensive Pensioner) gave me an idea.  I could use some of my Nectar points alongside a bit of cash to buy some more.

So I found these in Sainsbury's for me to try, and at just £6.50 a pack affordable for me if I used £1.50 in cash and £5 of my Nectar points.  I'll have to wait a while to see how long these last me, they do seem to be almost as good a quality as the others.

So I have now spent a total of £98.79 this month ... under budget and no more spending needed, yay.  😃

Back tomorrow with more meals ... and less talk of toilet rolls!  

Sue xx