October 2008 Grocery Challenge. Please read first two posts.

I made corned beef hash tonight but I seem to do it differently to Mrs M. Anyhow-it works well and all got eaten up. I had half a pan(about 2lb) of cooked spuds from yesterday to use up so I mashed it up, added cubed corned beef,a tin of carrots,a tin of marrowfat peas,a good squirt of worcs sauce,an onion and 4 med mushrooms. Cooked it until it was a real mush and setved with gravy. No complaints here! I was in a hurry tonight as I have been running people around all day for one thing and another so tea had to be quick.
I did pop into Waitrose as they always take my vouchers so I used £4 worth on my shopping. Got a nice bag of english veg on offer for £4. Its king edwards,carrots,parsnips,cauliflower and a cabbage. Comes complete with a leaflet with 22 recipe ideas.
Nouvelle toilet rolls are £3.29 for a 12 pack. Cheap bread is 45p per loaf. Bananas are 45p per pound Pepperami stick thingys on bogof. Brunswick ham on bogof. Apples and pears on offer-2 bags for £2.50
Then I popped into Somerfield and got reduced cherry bakewells for 44p Warburtons large toastie sliced for 35p and digestive biscs 33p and choc digestive for 37p. Last of the big spenders I think! Ive ordered an Asda delivery for Saturday evening(thats next weeks budget) but so far this week I have only spent £29.88 on food. Another good week I think.
Stocking up on frozen readymeals and stuff as Im leaving half the family at home next week while I take dd14 to Blackpool alone. My son wont boil an egg but he's good with the micro. DHD will cook a little if she isnt too tired after work and DH will do eggs and beans. Me and DD will enjoy a few pub meals tho next week-they are all big enough to fend for themselves at home. I can see myself leaving written instructions! Boiled up lots of rice and froze it yesterday so I may do a batch of curry for the freezer also which can be heated up in individual portions. I may do a cauliflower cheese for tomorrow night using pasta with it-so a cauliflower and pasta chesse to be precise. I plan to cut and freeze the cabbage as I won't use it otherwise. King eds are always a treat so maybe a cheese and onion pie. Parsnips and carrots for soup I hope so thats now all spoken for. Now Ive said it I "have" to do it!

Erosgirl wrote: »

Would someone post a link to the homemade baked beans recipe please? It would be much appreciated.

Eros girl - I posted recently about the baked beans I made (hubby thought they were magic!!) and I thought the recipe had come from this thread, but it was actually posted by memorygirl on her make do and mend thread. Here's her recipe - hope she won't mind me posting it here!!!!

BAKED BEANS – about £1 for a huge pot – or 12 portions ( and we’re greedy here)

I bag of haricot beans ( the little white ones that look like – well baked beans:rotfl: )
1 clove of garlic
2 tins tomatoes
I small onion – peeled and chopped
1 tsp sugar
Salt and pepper

Soak the beans in cold water overnight. Tip I was given once is that to prevent the skins splitting you start these off in cold water rather than pour boiling water over them so that they can slowly swell.

Next morning I drain them and boil them in water (don’t add any salt as that will make the skin tough) for about 40 minutes until cooked but still a bit “al dente” – that’s firm but not crunchy.

I then turn the heat off and add about 1 tablespoon of salt and put the lid on firmly. I know this sounds like a lot of salt – but the beans only pick up a little of it and the rest drains off with the water.

I leave the beans for as long as I can to cool down (usually whilst everyone is fed breakfast and dressed for school) I find that if I drain the beans whilst they are piping hot the skins start to peel off and the insides pop out.

I liquidise the tinned tomatoes, onion and garlic together and pour into my slow cooker with some pepper and the teaspoon of sugar (for some reason a little sugar makes stuff cooked in tinned tomatoes really yummy)

Just before heading out the door I drain the beans and stir them into the tomato sauce in the slow-cooker, pop the lid on and leave for the day.

When I get home the beans are tender and “baked” – but much cheaper than tinned ones and less sweet/salty too.

This makes loads – so I freeze the leftovers in Chinese takeaway containers (the plastic ones with lids) One box is like a tin of beans – feeds four as a side dish or two as a topping for baked potato or toast. Or one very hungry grandfather babysitting after a day of golf – LOL.

Hope you enjoy them.

Sue

Morning everyone - just a real quicky, FREE RANGE EGGS are only £2 for 15 in Asda at the moment.

MRSMC - am I correct in thinking that you make your own Stuffing, I'm getting swamped with crusts of bread, been making Apple Charlotte and Bread pudding but trying to think of new ways to use them up - could you please post the recipe or any other ideas you have for using up.;)

Have a good day everyone.:D

Just seen the post, not sure what I did wrong with the colour bits, my total for last month was £238.87/£240- ah, that looks better - sorry about that. Have a great day everyone - lets hope for lots of NSD's!