I made two dishes this morning just using what I had on hand. Easy quiche and tomato, bean and bacon soup. These are for meals during the week.

My Easy Quiche

4 eggs (because that’s how many I had)
sweet corn
green beans
diced bacon
grated tasty cheese
self raising flour

Spray a casserole dish with oil. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. The mixture needs to hold together but not be too runny or too stiff. I put in 1/2 cup flour which made it a bit stiff so I added a little milk, no more than a tablespoon or two. Cook at 200C for about 1/2 an hour. If you stick a knife in and it comes out clean it’s cooked.

Tomato, Bean and Bacon Soup
This is even easier.

1 lrg tin diced tomatoes
1 sml tin 3 bean mix (can be any beans you like)
diced bacon
1 bacon stock cube
2 heaped teaspoons sugar

Put all ingredients in a microwave safe bowl, cook on high for 5 minutes. Serve with crusty bread or as an entree before the quiche.

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This is from my friend Ruth on Facebook.

May you be blessed with — Peace when you are troubled. Grace when you are needy. Courage when you are afraid. Strength when you are weary. Faith when you are doubting. Hope when you are uncertain. Tenderness when you need to be assured. Wisdom when you need to know the way. Endurance when you need to continue on.

Surname Database: Wigley Surname History

This interesting surname is of English locational origin from any of three places named with the Old English pre 7th Century “wicga”, an insect, plus “leah”, a wood or clearing. The first element written as “wigge” in Medieval English translated as “beetle” or “bug”, and in some instances appeared as a personal byname meaning “Beetle”. The places referred to are Wigley in Derbyshire, recorded as “Wiggelay” circa 1100; Wigley in Hampshire, appearing as Wiggeleia in the 1198 Fine Court Rolls of that County, and Wigley in the Ludlow district of Shropshire. On November 23rd 1573, Richard Wigley and Elizabeth Garner were married in Ludlow, Shropshire, and on May 4th 1588, Elizabeth Wigley married a Thomas Houlden in Onibury, Shropshire. The christening of one, Marie Wigley took place in Bramley, Hampshire, on March 25th 1599, and in 1601 Edmund Wigley of Derbyshire was entered in the “Oxford University Register”. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John de Wyggeley, which was dated 1292, The Pipe Rolls of Derbyshire, during the reign of King Edward 1, “The Hammer of the Scots”, 1272 – 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to “develop” often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

I’m descended from the Derbyshire Wigleys.

Surname Database: Willison Surname History

This interesting surname is of Germanic origin, and is a patronymic (son of Will), or pet form of the personal name William, composed of the Germanic elements “wil” meaning will or desire, and “helm”, a helmet or protection. The name was popular with the Normans who introduced it into England at the time of the 1066 Conquest. One Robertus Filius (son of) Willelmi appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086, and the surname was first recorded in the early 14th Century (see below), while Richard Willam was recorded in the 1279 Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire. The patronymic forms first appeared in the 14th Century; Johannes Willeson and Adam Wylis were recorded in the 1379 Poll Tax Records of Yorkshire. Recordings from London Church Registers include: William Willes, a christening witness at Christchurch, Greyfriars, Newgate, on April 6th 1565, and the marriage of Alexander Willis and Jane Smalwood on October 1st 1598, at St. Dunstan’s, Stepney. An interesting namebearer, recorded in the “Dictionary of National Biography”, was Francis Willis (1718 – 1807), a physician who attended George 111 in his first attack of madness (1788), and who became popular at court. The Coat of Arms most associated with the name is described thus: “Per fess red and silver three lions rampant counterchanged, a border ermine”. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter Wilys, which was dated 1327, in the “Poll Tax Rolls of Staffordshire”, during the reign of King Edward 111, known as “The Father of the Navy”, 1327 – 1377. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to “develop” often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

When the kids were still living at home I used to make a lovely tuna mornay from scratch. This is a very quick microwave recipe for one person. Could be eaten for lunch or tea. I made it for my lunch today. I just used up what I had in the fridge and cupboards.

1 small tin tuna ( I chose plain but it could be flavoured)
sliced frozen potato
small amount of tinned sweet corn kernels
2 heaped teaspoons Kraft cheese spread

Drain tuna and place all the ingredients in a microwave safe bowl and cook on high for approx 4 minutes. I cooked mine in 2 minute bursts just so that I could check it in between.

Cash is in short supply at the moment so I’m cooking lots and using up all sorts of things I’ve found in the back of the cupboard and in the bottom of the freezer. I cleaned the freezer out today and am disappointed with the amount I have to throw out. I need to check the freezer more often and use up the things right at the bottom.

Yesterday I made cup cakes from a packet cake mix I found in the cupboard, 5 serves of pasta to freeze for during the week, I’m making a sausage casserole in the crock pot today which I’ll put in bowls and freeze and making a meat, rice and veggie stew for my dog Ezri.

I’m really enjoying the cooking and using my ingenuity to come up with new ways to use ingredients. I’ve been getting the Simple Savings newsletter for some time but now am putting the tips into practice!!