Shoestring Cottage

Money Environment Home & Health

  • Home
  • New to Shoestring Cottage? Start here
  • About Me: My best life on a shoestring
  • Fifty Ways to Save Money Now
  • Favourite Frugal & Healthy Recipes
  • My Frugal Bookshelf
  • Work with Me: Shoestring Cottage Media Pack
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Vegetable bake and a good day’s work

12th February 2015 by ChickenladyJane 6 Comments

Share on Facebook Share
0
Share on TwitterTweet
Share on Pinterest Share
0
Before...dirty and rather tatty
Before…dirty and rather tatty

I had the day off today to start the refurbishment of an old dresser. My parents had it made in the seventies and gave it to me when I bought my first house. Back then honey-coloured pine was all the rage – I remember this dresser in the family kitchen with its matching table and benches. At some point I painted it blue, but for the past 3 years it has been at the back of Mr Shoestring’s workshop gathering dust.

 

It is a cute little dresser and is the first part of our planned redecoration (on a shoestring, of course) of our kitchen – Mr S is going to remove the ugly breakfast bar to make space. We chose a chalk finish pale green. Today I sanded it, washed it thoroughly and applied the first coat. It is looking very encouraging so far! Hopefully I will get the final coat on tomorrow and will wax it over the weekend.

Mid transformation!
Mid transformation!

Because I knew I probably wouldn’t fancy cooking when I got in, I prepared the dinner before I went, a very simple veggie bake based on Delia’s  Leek, Carrot and Potato Pie which features in my original copy of Frugal Food. It was perfect after my day freezing in the workshop – warming and comforting. I used tinned potatoes to save time – they are 15p in Aldi and I couldn’t buy fresh for less – and also a packet of bechamel sauce that cost 10p from Approved Food. Half of the leeks were from the garden – the last of them – and the other half came from Aldi this morning from their Super Six range and cost 59p.

200g carrots, chopped ( I don’t bother peeling them)
2 x 420g tins of potatoes
50g butter
100g mushrooms
500g leeks, washed and chopped
1 small onion
1/2 pint white sauce
150g cheddar, grated
2 tbsp breadcrumbs, made by whizzing up half a crust of bread with my hand blender
2 pinches cayenne pepper

veggie bakeCook the carrots in boiling water until cooked but still al dente. Sweat the leeks, onion and mushrooms in some butter until soft. Season well to taste. Drain the carrots, reserving 1/4 pint of water to make up the sauce, then follow the instructions on the packet but replace half the suggested milk with this water (or make a bechamel from scratch so that it can be gluten free if necessary). Slice the potatoes. Arrange the vegetables in layers in a deep casserole dish, finishing with a layer of potatoes, seasoning as you go. Combine the breadcrumbs with the cheese and cayenne and sprinkle on the top. Bake in a medium oven (180C) for about 40 minutes until the topping is golden brown. Serve with a green vegetable and enjoy!tinned spuds

The girls complained at the lack of meat, but since they both presented me with clean plates I don’t think they suffered too much 🙂

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: FRUGAL FOOD, FRUGAL HOME Tagged With: DIY, vegetarian

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
« Leftovers risotto: waste not want not!
Cheesy potato bake with parsley, rosemary and thyme »

Comments

  1. Amanda A says

    12th February 2015 at 22:15

    Love the dresser! Wish I had room for one.
    I’ve re-vamped a tatty old writing bureau that I bought from a second hand warehouse shop from maghony wood to a dip-dye green effect – It looks stunning especially with its new flower knobs 🙂
    I just need to wax it and get it to my new house from my parents 🙂

    Reply
    • ChickenladyJane says

      12th February 2015 at 22:26

      Ooh, let’s have a pic!

      Reply
      • Amanda A says

        13th February 2015 at 19:46

        No probs – how do I send one to you? (sorry Im not very technical!)

        Reply
        • ChickenladyJane says

          13th February 2015 at 19:54

          Me neither! Try chickenlady_jane@live.com and I will publish it if you don’t mind?

          Reply
  2. janey says

    13th February 2015 at 22:33

    Love this blog. Have been reading for ages but have come out of the shadows to comment as I too have just renovated my mum and dads old dresser which was in my dad’s garage. Great minds think alike : ) . I think your blog is the most realistic and best written frugal blog out there.

    Reply
    • ChickenladyJane says

      13th February 2015 at 22:48

      Thanks so much Janey 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories

  • ECO FRIENDLY LIFESTYLE
  • FRUGAL CHRISTMAS
  • FRUGAL FOOD
  • FRUGAL GARDEN
  • FRUGAL HOME
  • FRUGAL LIFESTYLE
  • FUN AND TRAVEL
  • General
  • GENERAL POSTS
  • HEALTH AND WELL BEING
  • MAKING MONEY FROM HOME
  • MONEY
  • SLIMMING WORLD

About Me

Would you like to take control of your finances, pay off your debts and save for the future? At Shoestring Cottage we aim to show you that you can live a good and happy life on less than you think, you can get off the consumer treadmill and you can live more simply and healthily and not feel deprived.
We are also moving toward a less wasteful, more sustainable lifestyle and believe frugality and sustainability go hand in hand. Read More…

Copyright © 2021 · Delightful theme by Restored 316

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
This site uses cookies: Find out more.