Thrifty Soups And A Bridal Bouquet ..

Hello there .. just a quick catch up

 ... hope you are all well..

 Well its blowing a gale here .. and blimey its cold! 

No snow .. yet.

Buts its the 'Land of The Thrifty Soup' here at Anglesey Allsorts ...

I swear its what keeps me ticking.

I must eat gallons of the stuff... 

Hubby P's .. 

well .. not just that keen .. 

But he knows ....'ITS GOOD FOR HIM' !

Currently .. in the pan .. 

we have a Thrifty Soup made from the veggie leftovers from last nights tea (carrots, parsnips and cauliflower) ...  a sprinkle of dried onion flakes, the water the veg was cooked in (veg stock) and the last bit of gravy. 

All was mixed up with a bit more water... 

and a couple of handfuls of lentils added .. 

twas simmered for a good while

 (whilst I washed up)

 .. I had a taste .. it was a bit insipid ... 

so I added a good two tablespoonfuls of powdered Oxtail soup.

Gave it a bit of a wiz with the stick blender .. 

and there we have it .. a tasty warming soup.

 At the moment I am working my way through this huge tub of Oxtail soup mix .. 

its a catering size tub.

Bought from Approved Foods last winter ... 

a great buy .. I just use it as above to thicken and add a bit of oomph to my rather random soups.

I've just finished a catering pack of 

'Vegetable Vending Soup'

 .. that was great for .. well .. obviously .. veggie soups.

Approved Foods are great for this sort of thing .. I've just spent an hour or so perusing their site to replenish my cupboards. 

I haven't been there for a while .. and when I checked .. I had a free delivery code (on the side bar/basket bit) ... maybe  its because I hadn't ordered for a bit .. don't know .. but I'm not complaining.

I put an order in for soups, gravies etc ..
 and Basmati rice ..99p for 5kgs .. !

There are some real bargains there if you look carefully.. and buy wisely .. 
I am careful not to be led astray into the sweets and biscuits!

Now .. just look at this lovely lot of glitzy .. glittery stuff...

 A young woman approached me a while ago ..  and whilst admiring the vintage brooches I was selling .. she asked me if I could make her a Brooch Bouquet for her Wedding.

Now I can honestly say I hadn't heard of them until she mentioned it.

But I thought it would be an interesting project ..
 so we worked together on sourcing the jewels, ribbons and flowers .. all the colours of her themed wedding.

 I think this idea may have come from America ... tradition being that the Bride asks her friends and family to give her a piece of jewelry .. brooches .. odd earrings .. odd beads .. broken necklaces even... to make up the bouquet.

Some may be expensive items (she will have some financial security/she could sell them if need be) ..or some may be old family pieces .. passed through the family ..

you get the idea.

Of course the bouquet will not wilt ..it can be kept .. treasured .. and when the Bride looks at it down the years ..  she sees the love and support of her friends and family.

 A nice idea ..

Anyway I got my trusty glue gun out and made a start .. I just hope she likes it.

I wont show you pics of the bouquet until after the wedding .. it all has to be under wraps until the big day ... but of course .. that's how it should be.

A nice little project .. for someones special day.

And this made my day today ... 

Three eggs ... the days must be lengthening ... three out of the four Girls are laying.

I must say George is keeping them very happy !

Anyway enough of me .. do take care .. 
the wind and rain is just dreadful here .. 
I think I will go hide under the bedclothes.

Bye for now.