January 2008 Grocery Challenge

Frugaldom · 7 January 2008 at 9:16PM

singlemum wrote: »

Now - anyone know what I can do with the other half of my homemade spaghetti Bolognese sauce? Tacos, chilli and lasagne are all out as someone in this household doesn't like any of the aforementioned. :mad: Spag Bol is 'tolerated'. I can't freeze it because it was made from mince I had in the freezer.

Could you use it for a cottage pie base?[/quote]

Got no potatoes left :rotfl: Learning to grow my own for this year after eating all the veggies from the new garden - they were planted before we moved in here - runner beans, brussells sprouts, courgettes, carrots, potatoes, onions, parsnips and corn on the cob. I need to learn how to blanch for freezing now - never previously mastered that art. I still have stewed apples in the freezer, though, picked from the tree in the garden. Showing off now as I only had a postage stamp yard at last house, but this one could be really productive if I make the most of it.

MRSMCAWBER · 7 January 2008 at 9:32PM

Hi Nykmedia

Im overweight but the car wasn't :rotfl: hubby could just see out of the rear window

still it will save us a fortune so it was worth it

I have just planted some potatoes in tubs and have some more to do, and have some onion sets going (my 1st attempt) and have started some peas off in peat pots ready for when the weather warms up a little.... have loads of seeds to go at, even just salad stuff saves you a fortune doesn't it.. and i have had some lovely plum tomatoes today from the supermarket -so i am going to take the seeds out of one and grow my own

- i have allready hijacked the seeds from my peppers :rotfl:

with blanching i just slice the veggies as i would normally, drop them into a big pan of boiling salted water, cook for about 2mins and then fish out with a sieve and drop into a sink of ice cold water until cold and then drop onto a towel and leave to dry off and then I bag up into 2 portion servings -so at the moment i can just grab enough for 1 meal at a time...

CanadaBound · 7 January 2008 at 9:50PM

Thanks to rosieben, sunnyday and irishwexford for your nice welcome and helpful answers. I aim, I think to reduce things just by a tenner this month and see how we go. In the spirit of things, I used the Sunday roast carcass to make stock for the first time ever and that went into a fantastic stew for tonights tea. In the past I have always popped leftovers in the fridge where they would sit until they were thrown out so that is the first thing to really concentrate on, but I am not much of a cook so we will see.

In answer to rosieben, we applied to emigrate to Canada this summer, but it is another 3 years (!) before we expect to get a reply. I have decided to try to pay off the last the debts (accumulated when the dot com crash put us both out of work for almost 2 years) and as much of the mortgage as possible by that time so that we will move with plenty of capital behind us. Hopefully, the housing market won't completely collapse between now and then though, as that would put a kybosh on things! My other half is reluctantly going along with the budgeting, only because I keep reminding him of snow and wide open spaces.

StressedSteph · 7 January 2008 at 9:58PM

I am really getting into this cheap shopping lark...I can't quite beleive how much money I used to spend:eek: . I used to spend WELL over £100 per week easily, and I have just done my weekly shop for £27

. Admittedly, I did'nt have to buy much meat or toiletries which tend to bump the cost up but I am still shocked.

I am buying alot of Tesco Value stuff and surprised at how nice it is

. I have braved Tesco Value baked beans this week. Not holding out much hope for them, but worth a try.

How is everyone else getting on?

Next week will be interesting as I will have used up all my meat and so it will be a full shop :rolleyes:

Before I started this I could never beleive how cheaply I could feed 4 of us.

xxxx

NEgirl · 7 January 2008 at 10:13PM

whilst getting the little one in bed our 4 year old has viciously attacked the freshly baked carrot cake!! :eek: He turned his nose up at the banana loaf but leave him alone 2 minutes and hes hollowed out and stuffed himself with the 2lb carrot cake!! :rotfl:

Sunnyday · 7 January 2008 at 10:20PM

Hi all,
i thought i`d been really bad with the shopping but looking at how much i`ve now got in it`s a huge saving for later in the month so i don`t mind as much.
Been to Iceland today and bought tuna, veg and lots of other bits and bats for £9 so i`ll hopefully update my sig tomorrow.

KBL you made perfect sense

only just seen your post!

I`m off now early start tomorrow :eek:
Night all!
SD

rosieben · 7 January 2008 at 10:22PM

CanadaBound wrote: »

...
we applied to emigrate to Canada this summer, but it is another 3 years (!) before we expect to get a reply. I have decided to try to pay off the last the debts (accumulated when the dot com crash put us both out of work for almost 2 years) and as much of the mortgage as possible by that time so that we will move with plenty of capital behind us. Hopefully, the housing market won't completely collapse between now and then though, as that would put a kybosh on things! My other half is reluctantly going along with the budgeting, only because I keep reminding him of snow and wide open spaces..

Good for you! My dd and family have just gone off to Oz to live. I would prefer the snow!

scotrae · 7 January 2008 at 10:34PM

Chardonnay - are you ready for the meatballs recipe? It's not a formal recipe as such but here's what DH says he does.

Take 2 lgish onions, one for sauce, one for the balls...

Finely chop one of the onions and put it into a mixing bowl. And roughly equal amounts of sausagemeat and mince, depending how many meals and people you're cooking for. Make crumbs from two slices of bread and season them with salt, pepper and Italian herbs and add those into the meat. Crack an egg into this main mixing bowl and mix this in too. Make the balls by rolling the mixture in hands - DH's top tip is to use an ice cream scoop to get consistent portions apparently!

Roll these balls in plain flour, seal in hot oil in the pan to brown them on the outside.

Make sauce by softening second finely chopped onion in oil in a large saucepan. Add a tin or two of chopped tomatoes and simmer. Season with salt and dried basil. Top Tip number 2 ... sneak leftover finely chopped celery/courgette and grated carrots into the sauce.

Put the lightly browned meatballs (still uncooked inside) into the sauce and simmer for about 30 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through (dependant on the size of your ice cream scoop or hands!)

DH is very chuffed that someone asked for his recipe. Let us know how you get on.

rosieben · 7 January 2008 at 10:39PM

I like the sound of that recipe too Scotrae so I'm second in your oh's fan club!

mumzyof2 · 7 January 2008 at 11:25PM

i have spent £75.73 in asda :P

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January 2008 Grocery Challenge

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