Alan gave me a lift to the opticians yesterday morning, I had to sign an NHS form to allow them to claim for all the emergency tests they did on my eyes last month. The were brilliant considering I hadn't even been signed up with them yet since we moved into town. I got a same day emergency appointment and had every test possible run on my eyes and temporary glasses prescribed.
Anyway I digress, while he was waiting for me Alan picked up a pie for his lunch and a ham hock for his tea from the pie shop a few doors down, and then we both called into Sainsbury's as we have to pass it on the one way system to get home. Three birds with one stone ... it just had to be done while the rain poured and we were out anyway.
I bought a few things that I had run out of and then I spotted the Meatless Farm Mince, I've not had that since I did This Challenge in June of last year. I remember it being very good and as it was on offer I decided to buy myself some and make a few meaty dishes,
I was also tempted by my favourite bagels being on special offer and bought a bag. When we got back I gave one to Alan for his elevenses ... well you have to pay the ferryman and all that 😀😄
I popped one for me into the toaster and while the kettle boiled I sliced the others to pop into the freezer.
Sliced first and then frozen you can then take out as many halves as you want for a snack and you don't run the risk of slicing through your finger while trying to halve a full frozen bagel. And if you stack them this way they don't stick together while they freeze.
This is one money saving tip I have given a few times over the years, but I was recently asked by a new reader to repeat some frugal tips ... so here's the first one, I'm happy to oblige.
Well the goods just had to be sampled didn't they, so it was time for a second breakfast 😄
Something to watch over a nice cup of coffee and a bagel, that might help you understand why I don't eat meat. I love Those Vegan Guys, it must be the accents reminding me of my roots. 💚
Sue xx
I hadn't realised or read you'd had emergency eye treatment, Sue, sorry to hear that. Hope everything is ok now? Cinnamon & raisin bagels are my favourites too, haven't had them for ages, thanks for reminding me. x
ReplyDeleteNot treatment, just thorough checks. One of the prescribed high blood pressure tablets had a scary overnight affect on my eyesight. The world was a blurry place for well over a week. Rather weirdly I needed mild reading glasses to correct my distance vision for three weeks after, but my normal reading glasses to read. Things are almost back to normal now.
DeleteCrikey, how thoroughly unpleasant and difficult. I hope you made good use of radio programmes and audio books, also.
ReplyDeleteThanks for mentioning meatless farm mince. I'm fairly recent vegan of almost two years. I had a trip to an IKEA store a couple of days ago and found meatless meatballs and vegan mince which I've popped in the freezer. It's too far to go on a regular basis (in fact my first visit in 10 years!). So it's great to get a recommendation for another similar product.
I hope you're making steady progress towards recovery. Morag xx
It was scary but the the mild reading glasses made television watching possible, as long as I didn't try and watch anything with subtitles 🤣
DeleteYes I do recommend this mince, I cook it with onion, tinned tomatoes or passata, tomato puree and garlic and it makes a lovely base for shepherdess pie or Bolognese type sauces. I would just leave out the tinned tomatoes or passata if I was making meatballs and perhaps add some breadcrumbs to help bind them together.
I have never tried the IKEA vegan foods, I believe they have a great choice AND they have vegan Mr Whippy ice-cream don't they. That makes me want to visit for sure 😃
Your eyesight problem sounds horrendous...they really have been throwing it all at you! Great tip for the frozen bagels. Do you have a cunning way to keep slices of bread separate in the freezer?
ReplyDeleteOf course ... open the bag of sliced bread, smoosh all the slices so they seperate slightly then refasten the bag (I use a peg). Put in the freezer, check after an hour or so, if you remember, if the slices are already freezing you can now reopen the bag let them all slip closer together again and then reseal bag excluding all air. You can now take out slices one at a time. I do this every time I buy a loaf as one sliced loaf lasts me at least two weeks.
DeleteThank you! I shall go and try it now!
DeleteI didn't realise you had a scare with your sight either, how absolutely terrifying. Hats off to brilliant opticians...
ReplyDeleteA good tip there for bagels :)
It was a rare side effect of one of the high blood pressure tablets the doctor was trying me on.
DeleteI also get the mayo but have you tried their vegan baconnaise , it is so yummy.There are so many vegan " meat " choices now, I find some pretty awful but I do like the "little willies" and "what the cluck" chicken style pieces, I must admit the child in me made me try them ,but both tasty. Thank you for the bagel tip, how clever, I have seen some of Those Vegan Guys on you tube, they do make me smile, it is so much easier to be vegan these days, it would be good if more people could start by tipping their toes in a couple of days a week
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried it yet but I've heard lots of good reviews so I'll buy some when I see it in the shop for sure 🙂
DeleteOhhh, I love the idea with the bagels, must try it next time.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
It was me being lazy that turned it into a 'thing' ... I only have to wash the sticky knife once if I slice them all at the same time 😃🤣
DeleteI am so sorry that your blood pressure meds caused such problems and happy to know they are not permanent. Those bagels look delicious!
ReplyDeleteI seem to have a bad reaction to most tablets ☹️. A good reason to try and stay healthy I guess.
DeleteAbsolutely love Those Vegan Guys!
ReplyDeleteThey are brilliant aren't they. I love their shopping vlogs 😃
DeleteGenius! Why have I never thought of freezing bagels before popping in the freezer?!
ReplyDelete