Hello Dear Reader,
Thank goodness for the Internet! So far, I've organised double glazers, chimney sweep and wood burner fitter, tree surgeons and now electricians to bring the electrics 'up to code'. As I've said before, I like to get things I don't want to do, 'over and done with'. I can't re-wire, chop down trees or fit a working wood burner or windows. It's a 'trademark' of ours when we buy a house to eradicate draughts so fit double glazing, keep the house warm on a budget with a 'smokeless' wood burner with clean burn instead of the puffing and smoky burner that's there and ensure the place is safe so it can be rented to neutralise costs. We won't be able to double glaze the front until we've got planning consent even though we're replacing like with like. The back doors are inside porches and considered inside and we don't need consent for anything inside.
The pound euro exchange is in our favour and gives us a money saving advantage and we've been given figures of 'worse case scenario' which will be much lower when we get the written quotes when we visit in late October. Even with those quotes, we're within budget. So, as you can imagine there's not a lot of splashing out. It's not quite beans and a jacket spud but not far off.
Dinner was: mashed sweet potato, steamed salmon, broccoli and leeks with a tomato sauce and sprinkle of finely grated cheddar.
Sweet potatoes - just microwave and scoop out the flesh and mash.
The leeks, went into the steamer first, ten minutes later add the broccoli, five minutes later add the salmon.
Tomato sauce - finely chop two shallots and gently sauté in a teaspoon of sunflower oil, add a tin of tomatoes and cook for five minutes. Add one teaspoon of sugar and some basil, two tablespoons of vinegar, I used cider vinegar, then blend smooth.
To serve arrange the leeks and broccoli and cover with the tomato sauce and pop the salmon on top. Sprinkle with a tiny amount of finely grated cheese and serve with about half a cup of mashed sweet potato. When we're watching the cash and sticking to a budget we need to eat something lovely once in a while and push the boat out, even if it's just to the mouth of the harbour!
Until tomorrow,
Lve Froogs xxxx