March 2010 Grocery Challenge

Waay over this month, and still 4 more days left of March!!

Will declare on April 1st, but Mrs M please put me down for £400 for April. DS1 will be home all month (well, when he isn't at GF's!), though DS2 will be away for a week at a rugby tournament. I will still have to send him off with enough food to keep his sugar levels sensible though (he's diabetic).

Not sure if we will make it as most of this year has been pretty dismal...reaching target-wise..but I will keep trying!

Hoping to not spend any money this weekend...so far...so good!!!

An extra shop last night at Mr M's as we suddenly ran out of tea bags, milk and kitchen roll. I ended up spending £12.47 but came out with three carrier bags which were mostly full of whoopsies. My best buy - a mini roast beef at 35p and diced topside of Beef at 25p :T
I have one last weekly shop for this month and a total of exactly £35 left in the budget - I should be fine (famous last words!).

Have come under budget this month, but will carry on with the
£400 for April please MrsM as easter hols are coming up and the kids will be eating for england, again!.

H everyone,

Declaring now at £107.52 which is way under but having financialy strapped for the last month am well pleased.

DD2 has now moved back in to our house so will have to increase the budget for next month.

MrsM - please put me down for £160 for April

See you all on the new thread

Here is the fish recipe I promised to post yesterday:

Grilled haddock on lemon leek and pea rice

Ingredients: serves 2

15ml (1tbsp) butter
15ml (1 tbsp) vegetable oil
2 leeks, trimmed and sliced thinly
1 lemon, grated zest and juice
Salt and pepper
300 gm (10 oz) haddock fillet
350ml (1/2 pint) vegetable stock
100gms (4 oz) white rice
60gms (2 oz) peas
Parsley to garnish (optional)

Method

Melt the butter and add the oil in a big pot or frying pan. When oil starts to sizzle add the leeks and fry gently for about 3 minutes, until they have softened. Add the rice, lemon zest and half the lemon juice to the leeks and stir thoroughly. Pour over the vegetable stock, place a lid on the pan and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and cook gently for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed. Meanwhile arrange the fish fillets on a grill rack skin side down. Sprinkle over the remaining lemon juice and cook under a hot grill for about 6 minutes (depending on the thickness this can take up to 15 mins) – it’s done when the fish is opaque and flakes easily. Stir the peas through the rice and heat for a few minutes (up to 5 mins if using frozen peas). Spoon the rice mixture onto warmed plates and serve immediately with the fillets laid on top.


It is basically a rissotto - but I didn't call it that as my DH doesn't like rissotto - but he enjoyed this. You don't have to use special rissotto rice - I used ordinary long grain rice.

I have used the rest of the leeks to make soup today and I did a batch of rolls which turned out well too. The rolls needed an egg wash to glaze them, and there was quite a lot of egg left so I decide to use this making individual pineapple upside down puds. I used a 2-2-2-mix all-in-one with the egg and a tin of Sainsbury's basics pineapple pieces in juice. I greased 4 little ramekin dishes and shared the pineapple between them and then spooned the sponge mix on top. Two have gone in the freezer and two will be for pudding tomorrow. I let you know how they taste!

Off to cook supper - hm beef burgers and chips and salad. We usually swim on Saturdays evenings but DH is suffering with a really heavy cold and I don't want to go on my own. We are supposed to be doing a sponsored walk tomorrow - so I hope he is ok for that and that it stays dry!

Have a good evening folks.

love Moniker

forgot to say that i think you missed me off the list for March Mrs M. I was down for £270 - will post final total on Wednesday evening - but feeling good about it! Fingers crossed!