J-cloths and toilet rolls!

For the past week I've been trying to think up new ways to save money and I came up with a few ideas, such as taking my pack of j-cloths and cutting each one in half, lol! Two packs for the price of one! Seriously, they don't need to be as big as they are, half of one does the job just as well as a whole one. They can also be washed in the machine two or three times and re-used. Also I realised that I use a lot more washing-up liquid than I need, so I now put only a quick squirt of it into the water (I don't have a dishwasher - wouldn't want one).

After reading someone else's blog I decided to keep all the little nets from citrus fruit - I collected about seven or eight, rolled them all together and made a brilliant little pan scrubber, so that was one item I didn't need to buy this week.

I have rediscovered the humble pancake! During the week we had lemon pancakes and tonight we had caramelised apple pancakes and fresh whipped cream - yummy!

The weather has been terrible here today, it's rained non-stop so we haven't been able to do anything on the allotment, it's like a bog there at the minute, I hope we get some dry weather soon as we need to get cracking on it. Tomorrow I'm going to plant a few things up in the polytunnel in the garden - I've been collecting the cardboard tubes from toilet rolls and I've cut them down to make a load of little planting pots for seedlings.

Just the right size AND biodegradable! :o)

Saturday was my birthday, and I had a gift that was wrapped with paper which was so pretty that I couldn't just throw it away, so I decided to make something with it.

I gave it a bit of thought and then came up with the idea of making some envelopes and notelets. Here is the result. I think they're really pretty.

Tonight I made a lemon torte that I saw on 'superscrimpers' on TV. It's sitting in the fridge at the minute, we'll be having it tomorrow - if I can resist temptation during the night, lol! Here is the recipe...

Quick & Easy Lemon Torte

Serves 8
Cooking time: None (Chill in fridge for at least 3 hours)

100g (4oz) Digestive biscuits
50g (2oz) butter
Half large can condensed milk
2 lemons
250ml carton whipping cream

1. Crush the biscuits. Melt butter and stir in the biscuits. Press into the base of a loose-based 8" flan tin. Chill in fridge while you make the topping.

2. Grate rind from lemons and then squeeze out the juice.

3. Whip the cream until it forms soft peaks. Reserve 3-4 tablespoons for decoration. Fold the condensed milk into the remaining cream and then stir in the lemon juice and rind. Pour onto biscuit base and chill in fridge until firm (about 3 hours).

4. Decorate with the reserved cream and grated chocolate or sliced kiwi fruit if wished.