Thinking

I have just been reading some interesting posts over at Green Twins Mummy .
It got me thinking about just how much money we spend on foods and other stuff at the supermarket and how much of that money and food we actually waste every week, You only need to look in the press for an article on what the latest figure if for family waste.
6.2 millions tonnes of food is thrown away in the UK every year, this averages about £420 per family for the year. I dont know about you but I dont want nor can I afford to throw this kind of money away, you may as well put the pound notes through the shredder.

Anyway it got me thinking about how much we could actually spend per week and still have lovely home made food on the table every night, nice meals that were nutricious and lovingly made but perhaps they were costing that little bit less. How much can our food bills be reduced and less food be thrown away whilst still filling little tummies with something good at the end of the day. I dont want to compromise on the quality of our foods but just be a little bit more "savvy" with what we have to spend.

It is a challenge..........
how much can my family of four survive on per week, with ZERO food waste and packed lunches every day for me and Hubby to take to work? Can we meal plan for the week so that we know what we are having for dinner and not rushing out to buy something last minute? Can we be that organised? Ha !!! I think we will have to wait and see.

I have done my food shopping for this week but will be starting from the weekend..
I have tonnes of cookery books, including a couple with war time recipes and one beloved book which is an Amish cook book. They are full of ideas of how to make your meals stretch further and to make the most of what you have got.

This post has gone on for far too long and when read back will probably make po sense at all but I just had to get my thoughts down so they didnt get oushed to the back of my mind.


I also need to make up two packed lunches every day for my Hubby and I.

The Dales

During the school holidays I was lucky enough to go and stay with one of my older sisters for a week in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. It was so nice to kick back and relax as much as you can do with five children between us This is not her house in the picture below but is one that brought back many happy childhood memories of visits to stay with our "Nannie" as we used to call her. I remember the bus drive with my Gran like it was yesterday.

It couldnt be anywhere but England.
I was holding my nephew up to look over the bridge at the water .
"You wont drop me will you?" he asks
"Of course not, silly"
Now when I was little I can vividly remember my Dad doing the same thing and I was convinced that he would drop me even though he was sure he wouldnt.

Autumn Days.

Do you remember singing this when you were at school ? I do and I used to love it, I enjoy it more now hearing the sweet voices of my children as they sing and hum the familiar childhood verses.. I am loving Autumn, I love the smells and taste of the damp air and the sound of crisp dried leaves beneath my feet. I think that along with winter and its promise of Christmas, Autum must be one of my favourite seasons of the year. Which is yours?

Autumn days, when the grass is jewelled
And the silk inside a chestnut shell
Jet planes meeting in the air to be refuelled
All these things I love so well

So I mustn’t forget
No, I mustn’t forget
To say a great big thank you
I mustn’t forget.

Clouds that look like familiar faces
And a winter’s moon with frosted rings
Smell of bacon as I fasten up my laces
And the song the milkman sings.

So I mustn’t forget
No, I mustn’t forget
To say a great big thank you
I mustn’t forget.

Whipped-up spray that is rainbow-scattered
And a swallow curving in the sky
Shoes so comfy though they’re worn out and they’re battered
And the taste of apple pie.

So I mustn’t forget
No, I mustn’t forget
To say a great big thank you
I mustn’t forget.

Scent of gardens when the rain’s been falling
And a minnow darting down a stream
Picked-up engine that’s been stuttering and stalling
And a win for my home team.

So I mustn’t forget
No, I mustn’t forget
To say a great big thank you
I mustn’t forget.

Autumn Days by Estelle White