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Latest Tips & Recipes JulY 2021
Here you'll find the latest tips and recipes added to the Tip Store and Recipe File during
Delaney's Lentil Cottage Pie
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 onion (I use a large onion because I like onion)
1 large carrot finely diced**
1 cup of chopped or diced mushrooms (optional)
Garlic to taste – I use a tablespoon of minced garlic
1 tablespoon of dried herbs – I like rosemary and marjoram, but mixed or Italian herbs are fine, use your favourites
2 tablespoons arrowroot (or cornflour)
1 cup vegetable stock
1 cup chopped tomatoes - fresh or tinned
2 cups brown or green lentils cooked and drained (or one tin rinsed and drained)
1 cup frozen peas**
2-3 tablespoons soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce
6 Large potatoes – steamed and mashed and kept warm
Melted butter
Grated cheese (if desired)
Method:
1. Sauté the onion and carrot in the oil until onion is translucent. Add the garlic, herbs and mushrooms and cook for a few minutes.
2. Sprinkle arrowroot over the vegetables and stir through.
3. Slowly add stock, stirring to thicken the mix.
4. Add tomatoes, lentils and peas and soy sauce.
5. Simmer for 10 mins then transfer to a warm ovenproof dish or ramekins.
6. Top with mashed potatoes then brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with cheese.
7. Bake until nicely browned and vegetable mix is bubbling.
** You can use mixed frozen veg if preferred.
This stew is delicious on toast and would make a great jaffle or pie filling too
Contributed by Delaney Avenel
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 onion (I use a large onion because I like onion)
1 large carrot finely diced**
1 cup of chopped or diced mushrooms (optional)
Garlic to taste – I use a tablespoon of minced garlic
1 tablespoon of dried herbs – I like rosemary and marjoram, but mixed or Italian herbs are fine, use your favourites
2 tablespoons arrowroot (or cornflour)
1 cup vegetable stock
1 cup chopped tomatoes - fresh or tinned
2 cups brown or green lentils cooked and drained (or one tin rinsed and drained)
1 cup frozen peas**
2-3 tablespoons soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce
6 Large potatoes – steamed and mashed and kept warm
Melted butter
Grated cheese (if desired)
Method:
1. Sauté the onion and carrot in the oil until onion is translucent. Add the garlic, herbs and mushrooms and cook for a few minutes.
2. Sprinkle arrowroot over the vegetables and stir through.
3. Slowly add stock, stirring to thicken the mix.
4. Add tomatoes, lentils and peas and soy sauce.
5. Simmer for 10 mins then transfer to a warm ovenproof dish or ramekins.
6. Top with mashed potatoes then brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with cheese.
7. Bake until nicely browned and vegetable mix is bubbling.
** You can use mixed frozen veg if preferred.
This stew is delicious on toast and would make a great jaffle or pie filling too
Contributed by Delaney Avenel
Save on Insurance Premiums!
I have House & Contents Insurance due each February and my Car Insurance due each July. I always manage to save on the quoted premiums just by going on the Chat Line and requesting a better deal. I have been with my current Insurer for many years and I have never made a claim. This week I saved $62 on my car insurance just by asking for a better deal and in February I saved $93 on my House & Contents Insurance. If you are a loyal customer and haven’t made a claim give it a go. You can always compare with other insurance companies and let them know you can get a better deal elsewhere. Nothing to lose and maybe something to gain!
Contributed by Annie Ponton
Contributed by Annie Ponton
Stocking Stuffers from Decluttering
Some years ago I bought some lucky dip novels from a secondhand bookshop. They were wrapped in plain, brown paper and the only identifying mark on theme was the genre of book for example: Romance, Spy, Adventure, Crime, Fantasy etc. They were just $1 or $2 each so I bought one for everyone, including myself, for Christmas. I just selected a genre that I knew each person enjoyed and hoped for the best. It was lots of fun opening the parcels on Christmas Day. Some of the books were vintage, others quite current titles. Only one person received something they'd read before so a swap was quickly made.
Of course you could wrap your own books. Kraft paper is inexpensive or you could use Christmas paper if you'd prefer just make sure the genre is legible.
Op shops are a great source of books of all kinds. Of course they don't have to be novels, you might choose recipe or pattern books, coffee table books or a vintage road atlas. Don't forget the kids!
This could be a handy way to declutter your bookshelf - or someone else's - and make a bit of a game of distributing the books on Christmas day. You've still got plenty of time to find out everyone's preferences too.
Contributed by Delaney Avenel
Of course you could wrap your own books. Kraft paper is inexpensive or you could use Christmas paper if you'd prefer just make sure the genre is legible.
Op shops are a great source of books of all kinds. Of course they don't have to be novels, you might choose recipe or pattern books, coffee table books or a vintage road atlas. Don't forget the kids!
This could be a handy way to declutter your bookshelf - or someone else's - and make a bit of a game of distributing the books on Christmas day. You've still got plenty of time to find out everyone's preferences too.
Contributed by Delaney Avenel
Repairing Flexible Items
I use a product called Duramax Ultra Fix adhesive for shoe and shopping trolley repairs. It is non drip, waterproof, flexible and works on metal, wood glass, ceramic and fabric. Brilliant for shoes. Allow 24 hours for maximum strength.
Contributed by Aldith Graves
Contributed by Aldith Graves
Super Clean False Teeth
I always used tablets to clean false teeth. I now use half vinegar and half warm water to steep my teeth. It gets them much cleaner than the tablets. I save a fortune over a year. I only steep them for half an hour.
Contributed by Val Scrimshaw
Contributed by Val Scrimshaw
Easy Pasties and Apple Pies
I recently bought a Mistral Pastry Chef Maker. I bought it as it reminded me of the toasted sandwich maker my parents had when I was a teenager. We sometimes used it to make our 'Hot Apple Pies." I decided to share my tip as I just saw your recipe for Beef and Vegetable Pasties. We had left over chicken pie filling and I made pasties out of this using my new Pastry Chef Maker. To make four pasties, you need one sheet of frozen puff pastry. Once it has thawed, I fold it in half to make it easier for me to cut it in half. Once the Chef Pastry Maker is turned on, I use a silicon brush to lightly brush on olive oil (any cooking oil will do). When the green light comes on, I place half the pastry on the bottom half of the Pastry Chef Maker, place my filling onto the pastry, then place the other half of the pastry on top, close the lid, and secure the latch at the front. It cooks for about eight to twelve minutes. If the pastry is not golden brown, leave for a few extra minutes. There is no turning on the oven, the pastry is golden brown and crunchy, and there is no leftover puff pastry. I had stewed apples in the freezer. Once these were thawed, I made my ‘Hot Apple Pies’. The instructions do point out that the filling needs to be precooked and not too watery. When taking the pasties out, I used two silicon spatulas to lift the pasties out as they are stuck together. Once on a board, cut in between each pastie. To reheat left over pasties, I place them under the grill on a medium temperature for about five minutes.
Contributed by Eleanor Prouting
Contributed by Eleanor Prouting
Frozen Sweet Potato Balls
Fluffy and crunchy sweet potato balls are the perfect prep ahead side dish. Make them now, freeze, and easily heat for serving later.
Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Freezing Time: 8 hours
Ingredients:
250g (8 ounces) Pecans, finely chopped
3-1/2 cups cooked & mashed sweet potatoes
1/4 cup cooked & crumbled bacon
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup butter, melted
Method:
Line a cookie sheet with parchment or wax paper.
Have the melted butter ready in the pot or in a bowl.
Spread the chopped pecans onto a plate.
Mix together the mashed sweet potatoes, bacon, milk, pepper, salt, and half of the bread crumbs. Mix until thoroughly combined.
Try forming a ball with the mixture. If it doesn't hold it's shape, mix in the remaining bread crumbs.
Roll walnut size balls of the sweet potato mixture between your palms.
Dip the ball into the melted butter, coating completely.
Roll the ball in the chopped pecans to cover completely.
Place the ball onto the prepared baking sheet.
Repeat until all the sweet potato mixture is used.
Place the baking sheet into the freezer and freeze for at least 8 hours.
Remove the frozen balls from the cookie sheet and store in airtight containers. Keep frozen until ready to use.
Yield: 2 dozen large balls
To Cook & Serve
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius (400 degrees Fahrenheit).
Place the frozen balls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Cook for 20-30 minutes or until heated through.
Contributed by Rosanne
Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Freezing Time: 8 hours
Ingredients:
250g (8 ounces) Pecans, finely chopped
3-1/2 cups cooked & mashed sweet potatoes
1/4 cup cooked & crumbled bacon
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup butter, melted
Method:
Line a cookie sheet with parchment or wax paper.
Have the melted butter ready in the pot or in a bowl.
Spread the chopped pecans onto a plate.
Mix together the mashed sweet potatoes, bacon, milk, pepper, salt, and half of the bread crumbs. Mix until thoroughly combined.
Try forming a ball with the mixture. If it doesn't hold it's shape, mix in the remaining bread crumbs.
Roll walnut size balls of the sweet potato mixture between your palms.
Dip the ball into the melted butter, coating completely.
Roll the ball in the chopped pecans to cover completely.
Place the ball onto the prepared baking sheet.
Repeat until all the sweet potato mixture is used.
Place the baking sheet into the freezer and freeze for at least 8 hours.
Remove the frozen balls from the cookie sheet and store in airtight containers. Keep frozen until ready to use.
Yield: 2 dozen large balls
To Cook & Serve
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius (400 degrees Fahrenheit).
Place the frozen balls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Cook for 20-30 minutes or until heated through.
Contributed by Rosanne
Super Frugal Tasty Water
I don't like drinking tap water, it tastes and smells like chlorine, so to make sure I get in my water consumption I bought a bottle of the Sodastream Waters in Lemonade flavour. I was planning on using it as directions intended as sparkling water but I was so thirsty one night after doing grocery shop that I filled up my 500ml water bottle with cold filtered water from the fridge and added about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of the Sodastream Waters concentrate to my water and drank it with no bubbles. It was so thirst quenching and tasted so good that I have been drinking my water like that ever since. One 440ml bottle of syrup makes 9 Litres or 18 by 500ml normally but by using only 1/4 to 1/2 tsp, I can get either 352 drinks( 1/4 tsp to 500ml water) or 176 drinks using 1/2 tsp. I paid $4.40 for the bottle on special and it is normally around $6.85 to buy.
Contributed by Sian Carson
Contributed by Sian Carson
Plan the Move and the Delivery and Save Hundreds
Moving house is a lot of work and expensive. Those hours put in by the removalists add up. What I do is go over to the new house a day or two before everything gets moved. I take sheets of paper, some sticky tape and a thick black texta. I give each room a number and put a sign on each room’s door, with the number clearly shown. I then measure up and decide where each piece of furniture goes and use the paper and textas to make a sign. For example, if I am in the lounge room, I write ‘TV unit’ or ‘3 seater sofa’ then place each sign on the floor where I have decided that piece of furniture will go. When I have worked out a room I quickly note all the things that are going into each numbered room. On moving day I stand outside the front door and as the men carry things in, I tell them which number room it goes in. They go to the correct numbered room, look for the furniture signs on the floor and place the furniture on the sign. The furniture goes exactly where I want it. All the decisions were made well before moving in day. Last time we moved house we saved 2.5 hours of removal time. There was no extra shifting of furniture needed. With the saving of 2.5 hours of removal time, we saved about $240.
Contributed by Joanne Jennings
Contributed by Joanne Jennings
Saving Over $1,000 with Aldi Yearly Mobile Plans
A few times a year Aldi have their yearly mobile home packs. $99 for a year of unlimited texts and calls and 15 g of data. It is on the Telstra network and once you sign onto it you can have it carried on year after year for only $99 per year. I personally go over the 15 g of data but just take a $35 extra data when I’m out. My entire plan for the year is $ 134 and my husbands $99. Has saved us over $1000 each per year. They also do a yearly pack with heaps of data for the young ones for $159. Have had no problems with the network and well worth the value.
Contributed by Brenda Dawson
Contributed by Brenda Dawson
Seniors Card Holders Discount
My tip is shop at Not Quite Right (NQR) stores on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and show your Seniors card or pension card at the register and you will get 5% off if you spend $10.00 or more what a deal .
Contributed by Heather
Contributed by Heather
More Info on Slipper Socks
Ever since the instructions came out on how to make the socks I have been busy knitting. I make on average 5 pairs a week. So far I have donated 300 pairs of socks to charity. However being a pensioner I was finding buying the yarn was becoming expensive. Now I go to my local op shops and get my yarn/wool from there. I pay 0.50c for a small ball, $1.00 for a large and $2.00 for an extra large. My charities now see me coming and ask "more socks please". I'm one happy knitter.
Contributed by Cherie Meredith
More: Slippersox
Contributed by Cherie Meredith
More: Slippersox