Sunday Shopping

Check out the gorgeous tops I got a Salvos for a grand total of $5!

Fantastic colours and perfect for the upcoming warm weather.  Goes to show you can by stylish and cahs savvy at the same time.  Next time you pass by a thrift shop - pop in!

Always enjoy,
Kat

Easiest pickles EVER

Yes, you can make yummy cucumber bread and butter pickles in your freezer!!

You'll need:

2 large cucumbers
1-2 tsp sea salt
A couple of shallots
1/2 cup or 120 ml Cider vinegar
About 2 tbsp sugar (you can adjust this to your liking)
Mustard or Celery seeds

Slice the cucumbers and shallots thinly and place in a bowl.

Sprinkle sea salt over the veggies, mix well, and leave on the counter for 2 hours to draw out the moisture in the cucumbers.

Rinse the veggies in a colander with cold water and press firmly to squeeze out all moisture.

 Mix the vinegar and sugar to your tastes to fully dissolve sugar and then add the spices.  Pour over the veggies, cover and leave overnight in the fridge.  

Put your pickles into plastic freezer containers or glass jars leaving a space at the top (approx. 1cm) and put in your freezer.

When you want pickles - pull one out and thaw!  Use thawed pickles within about a week - as if they'll last that long!!

There you go - an easy (and very cheap) way to make your own pickles.  And soooooo yum.

Always enjoy,
Kat

Good times and in bad

My partner owns this fabulous little book called "The Hard Times Handbook"

It's chalk full of practical advice on how to survive in hard times by growing your own food, making your own clothes, doing odd jobs, preserving cheap food etc etc.

Although this book offers great advice for truly hard times, it is a bit extreme for the majority of folks.  However, why not take the essence of this book and apply it during the 'good' times as well?  Why live 'frugally' when the money is good and the economy is humming?  Well, several reasons that I came up with:

1.  It's always good to have savings...and making your own saves you money.  With the recent volatility in the global stock markets, having a good savings cushion is always a good idea.  Plus, peace of mind is priceless.

2.  You learn  new skills.  Learning how to cook, bake, preserve, sew is fun and fulfilling.  When you get reasonably proficient you can easily make things to suit YOUR taste and preference and those of your family.

3.  Home grown anything is just tastier!  Hands down, a home grown tomato, carrot, pea is always going to be tastier than those that have been trucked thousands of kilometres.

4.  You know what went into what you made.

5.  Its just better for the planet.  I think we're now recognizing the consequences of the disposable society.  It feels good to do your bit and recycle that pair of jeans into some shorts or refashion that dress into a top.

'Loving what you have' is an art form - and will teach you to love yourself.

There you have it - 5 reasons to live within your means (or even slightly below!).  Do you have any more reasons why you think it's good to live frugally?  Do you disagree totally?  Feel free to answer in the comments!

Always Enjoy,
Kat

Sunday Shopping

I am a thriftaholic.  I love the thrill of shopping and not knowing what wonderful (and cheap!) things I'll find.  I also love to sew, which makes what I can buy almost limitless.  Too big?  Make it smaller!  Dress would look better as a top?  Cut it off!  This time I had pretty extraordinary luck, though.  Picked up a gorgeous silk blouse, genuine leather high boots and some fab jewellery...no alteration required.  Nice.  Check it out!

Well, apart from the jewellery pic being upsidedown...I had a pretty good trip, don't you think?  And all for under $50.  Why don't you set aside some time and browse your local thrift shop...you never know what you're going to find!

Always Enjoy,
Kat

Bag O' Apples

Our local fruit and veg shop has this section called "reduced produce", which I frequent, of course.  Here you can get a bag of delicious assorted pommes for cheap

Was that $2.99 for like 10 apples?  Cheap as!

What you do with said apples is your business, but may I suggest a delectable apple "strudel", which I put in quotes not to offend my German friends.  This "strudel" is as easy as 1,2,3...all you need besides your cheap as bag of apples is a box of filo pastry...like this!

Also a lemon you may or may not have 'stolen' from a neighbouring tree, some brown sugar, cinnamon and sultanas (if you like), oh and some butter (of course)

Preheat oven to 175 C

1.  Peel, core and chop 3 apples.  Sprinkle with a bit of lemon juice to avoid browning.  Throw in 2 tbsp of brown sugar, 1 tsp of cinnamon and a handful of sultanas.  Now, I don't like my desserts too sweet, so feel free to add more sugar...just taste and adjust to how you like it!  That's the beauty of doing it yourself...you get what YOU like!

2.  Unwrap your filo and remove about 6 paper thin sheets.  Lay these down on a cookie sheet.  Melt some butter in the microwave and drizzle over the filo.  Place the mixture on the filo like so.

Fold over the edges and roll up into a filo package filled with apply goodness. Make 4 or so slits on the top with a sharp knife - these help the steam escape and also help you to cut it without making a messy mess.

3.  Put in the oven for about 25 minutes, or until you can smell the apples cooking and the top is browned.  Ready for some food porn...oh yeah, I know you want it...

See, three steps (or so)...Remove from the oven and let cool for a bit...then tuck in!  Yum!  Great for breakfast too, if I do say so myself.

Always enjoy,
Kat

What's in season in Perth?

Ever wonder that?  Check this out!

http://seasonalfoodguide.com/perth-wa-seasonal-fresh-produce-guide-fruits-vegetables-in-season-availability-australia.html

Enjoy!
Kat

Buy a whole chook

I used to be a breast girl...you know, I used to buy 2 chicken breasts from the supermarket to throw in my curry/stir fry/etc etc that night and pay $15 for the privilege.  No longer!  We now buy a whole chicken...which costs me just as much and gives me 2 breasts, 2 legs, 2 wings and STOCK!  How's that for 14 bucks.  Deboning a chook is pretty easy...deboning a chook *properly* is probably more difficult.  Just take a sharp knife, pull each leg away from the body and cut it off...same with the wing.  The breasts come off remarkably easy if you just follow the contours of the bones with your knife.  After  removing the legs, wings and breasts, huck the remainder of the bird into a freezer bag or use right away for stock.

Stock (like everything else) takes infinitely better when home made.  And it's ridiculously easy.  Just throw the remaining bones (with some meat attached for flavour - I remove the fat too) into a large pot and almost cover with water.  Throw in a roughly sliced up carrot, onion and some celery tops if you have them.  I like to put in a couple of bay leaves and a sprinkle of salt and pepper.  If you have fresh herbs...toss them in!  If not, you can use the dried italian herb mix just as well.

Bring it to a boil and let simmer for 4 hours.  Skim the fat off the top, pour it into some recycled jars (almost full but not quite), cap and put in the freezer.  Now you've got fresh home made stock on demand...Alternatively you can freeze in ice cube trays and just pop one or two in your rice to give it that extra burst of flavour.

I hope you see how buying a whole chook can save you money and make your cooking a whole lot tastier.  It takes a bit of extra time...but just a bit.  But, it's totally worth it :)

Enjoy,
Kat