August 2009 Grocery Challenge

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  • elf06
    elf06 Posts: 1,547
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    shell_542 wrote: »
    Thanks! That makes sense :D I'll see how long I go before losing count :rotfl:

    Hope you get on better than me - this is only my second month smiley-ashamed005.gif
    Emma :dance:

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  • Fire_Fox
    Fire_Fox Posts: 26,026
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    Flat_Eric wrote: »
    Only trouble is, when I bought the spuds on saturday, i went for the cheapest option and to be honest they are horrible so now I dont want my jacket chips because I normally use maris piper spuds and the basic white spud is not the same!

    So with rather a lot of potatoes sitting on my kitchen side, i am after ideas on how to use them all up !! Many thanks.

    Why don't you flavour them with a spice mix - garam masala, crumbled stock cube, Mexican fajita and a squeeze of lime juice ... :confused:
    Declutterbug-in-progress.⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️
  • lollyfin
    lollyfin Posts: 299 Forumite
    Hi all
    hope you are all having a good day
    haven't been on for a couple of days as we have been sorting out the garden, it's looking lovely but I ache all over lol.
    We had MrsMs corned beef hash and dumplings last night and are having the leftovers tonight with cheesy pastry pinwheels and I made the stock and some of the hash into soup (added a bag of instant mash for 38p) and that is enough for 3 meals for all of us so am really chuffed that 2 tins of corned beef some veg and potatoes will have fed us 2 main meals and 3 lunches thank you MrsM!!!
    Oh and could you post your recipe for blackberry cake as I know of some good patches that should be ready in the next couple of weeks
    Thanks
    Lollyfin
    budget is now at 24.47
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  • taka
    taka Posts: 3,483
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    shell_542 wrote: »
    Can I just ask a possibly very daft question, how do people show their NSD's in their signatures? I've seen a few different figures like "2/13" or "5/20" What do the numbers correspond to? Thanks in advance x
    I go for 1st number= no of days I've managed it / 2nd number = aim for the month...

    eg 1/12 means I've only managed 1 NSD out of the 12 I am hoping to do this month... I'm not doing too well... :o

    Its your sig... whatever way works for you is best! :D

    lollyfin - what are cheese pastry pinwheels? I've never heard of pinwheels before... what are they? (Its going to be something really obvious isn't it... :o)

    Flat eric - I love chinese 5 spice on my wedges... Yummy!
    Mortgage free as of 12/08/20!
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  • XSpender
    XSpender Posts: 3,811
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    A couple of small spends to add to my annual total today. I keep forgetting stuff and have to go back to Mr S and always end up coming out with a couple of little extras.

    Tried to just do a weekly shop this month instead of a big shop at the beginning of the month and top up shops each week but I don't think it has worked. I seem to have spent less on groceries but more on take aways and extras as I am nipping to the shop for bits I have forgotten or there is not much 'quick' food in for when we are late in and tired.

    My stores and freezer are running low so planning to do a big stock up shop when I am on holiday next week and then small top ups after that, I will see if I get on better this way.

    Moniker - I get logged out every so many minutes and I use my work laptop and high speed broadband and I am not sure why it happens either:confused:
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  • MRSMCAWBER
    MRSMCAWBER Posts: 5,442 Forumite
    Morning all
    How spooky lollyfin -I was just chatting with mum on the phone and said I was desperate for a pan of cornedbeef hash and lumpadings -which is usually saved for the colder months -glad you liked it -its one of our faves ;)

    Well this morning I have made the carrot cake -but into 24 buns and done the blackberry grater cake bakes -but made it into 2 tray bakes -so I have [STRIKE]24[/STRIKE] 22 (well we had to test it) pieces for the freezer :p - and as a bonus when I had done the fruit and strained it -I reduced the liquid down and it has turned into almost jam -I have 500ml -so Im going to pour into 5 empty yoghurt pots and freeze and then it will make nice steamed jam sponge puddings come winter :T
    Here is the original recipe/method
    GRATED BLACKBERRY BAKE
    makes 8.5" cake
    preheat oven to -200c/400f/gas6
    1. 350g blackberries
    2. 175g granulated sugar
    3. 275g plain flour
    4. pinch salt
    5. grated zest 1 lemon
    6. 175g block marge or butter
    7. 100g golden caster sugar
    8. 1 medium egg beaten
    • pick over the blacberries and rinse and drain well
    • place in a pan with 2tbs water and simmer for 8 mins
    • stir in the granulated sugar, bring to the boil and cook for 4-5 mins -stirring regularly -You need to get the syrup to thicken -so if you don't want the fruit to mush, remove with a slotted spoon and reduce the liquid on its own ;)
    • leave it to cool
    • sift the flour and salt into a bowl, add the lemon zest
    • cut in the fat then rub in to form breadcrumbs
    • stir in the sugar and beaten egg and mix to form a firm dough
    • wrap in plastic and chill for 1hr until firm
    • grease an 8.5" spring release cake tin and base line with greaseproof
    • cut the pastry in half and coarsely grate one half over the base of the tin and press down
    • spread cooled topping over the top
    • grate the other half of the dough over the top -taking right to the edges so the filling doesn't bubble uo
    • bake for 35-40 mins until golden
    • cool for 5 mins before removing from the tin
    And here are my adjustments :p;-
    I got some tubs of flora (suitable for baking) whoopsed to 25c a tub -so I used that -the mix was much softer
    so the bottom half of the dough I dropped into the tin and pressed down (a bit like making shortbread) -I raised the sides slightly to keep the fruit in ;) then instead of grating the top(it was NEVER going to work) I just broke bits off and dropped it on the top -it covered just the same and saved washing up :T oh and I replaced the golden caster sugar with normal granulated too,
    Here is the 1st one I made last year -so you can see what it should come out like -to me it reminds me of the base of those vienese whirl biccies you can buy.... its lovely
    blackberry2eg1.th.jpg
    As I said -this time I have made 2 trays as squares are much easier to freeze :D oh and when I priced it up I made 3 times the recipe and the total cost was €1.79 making it just 7.5c a :j
    Give me a yell If you can't make sense of the ramblings :p
    I had had enough by the time I was done -so the courgette cakes will have to wait... if I have freezer space after I have wedged todays goodies in :eek:
    Dinner tonight is pasta bake -have odds n sods want using up -plus I took a tub of HM tomato n marscapone out of the freezer to make it -so I have a wee bit more space in there :rotfl:
    right -off for a cuppa and some x-stitching:D
    -6 -8 -3 -1.5 -2.5 -3 -1.5-3.5
  • Herewegoagain
    Herewegoagain Posts: 2,370
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    Hiya guys,
    Still managing to use stores and freezer at the moment so another nsd:money: Hoping to do this for as many days as possible :D and keep well within budget this month, which will make a change.

    I haven't been making a meal plan for the month(and prob should:o), but bulk cook meals and freeze so it's like having my own supermarket in the house:T

    When making fish pie, which sauce goes in? cheese/white? don't know how to make white one:o:o:o must do better:o:o

    Hugs to those that need them,
    ( including me:o:eek:)

    HWGA xx
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  • Natty68
    Natty68 Posts: 3,328
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    Ooops forgot to pop on here for my monthly challenge..

    MrsM can you put me down for £320.00 please, thanks :)

    I have spent £56.00 of this already..so will update my signature now..
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  • kippers
    kippers Posts: 2,053
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    Hiya guys,
    Still managing to use stores and freezer at the moment so another nsd:money: Hoping to do this for as many days as possible :D and keep well within budget this month, which will make a change.

    I haven't been making a meal plan for the month(and prob should:o), but bulk cook meals and freeze so it's like having my own supermarket in the house:T

    When making fish pie, which sauce goes in? cheese/white? don't know how to make white one:o:o:o must do better:o:o

    Hugs to those that need them,
    ( including me:o:eek:)

    HWGA xx

    White sauce

    40g butter/marg
    40g plain flour
    600ml milk

    Melt butter in a non stick saucepan (i use my milk pan)

    Take off heat and add the flour and beat until smooth paste

    Add milk a little at a time and beat until no lumps.

    Bring to boil and cook gently for 2-3 mins, stir all the time.




    White sauce is dead easy, and you can half the quantity if req'd.

    I use parsley sauce in my fish pie which is the above white sauce with 1 tablespoon of chopped parsley add when it begins to boil.

    Hope this helps you.
  • Afternoon All!

    Did my food shop for this week and it came in at an amazing.......£18.84

    I am SO impressed with myself! Woohooo!

    So, my total for this month so far, with 2 weeks to go is £50.80

    Which means an entire £29.20 remaining!
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