April 2013 Grocery Challenge

Afternoon All

Been to Mr T to do a stock up with my £5 off £40 coupon and to get another such coupon for next week as that promotion ends tomorrow I think. Spend after coupons of £37.75.

I had been online last night and done myself a list. Also remembered to actually take the list with me this time, so I knew what I would spend and what deals I wanted. This really works for me with Mr T shop as I don't get tempted by anything else. Did shop and scan again, I am converted, much easier than using my calculator.

Best deal was 2 packets of Weetos for DS and DD, price drop anyway to £2 a packet then had Clubcard bonus coupon for 90p off two packets, so £1.55 a pack. Also bought bits I didn't have to make Apple and Berry Oaty Crumble for family dinner tomorrow and a few flowers for Mum who is hosting.

On way home, called at local pet food store, stocked up on 6 bags of hay for Guineas and big bag of sunflower hearts for garden birds, total £11.19. These are included in my grocery budget.

Will update signature. Right, I can avoid my ironing basket no longer . Guineapigsqueaks x

I spent £20 in Aldi yesterday. All their xmas biscuits were reduced. Foxes favorite tins and boxes to less than £1. I bought six as I am taking my cubs away in 4 weeks and we always get biccies for camp. Also Panatone for 29p. I luurve toasted panatone!

I've added £4.00 spent on Quorn products today that are cheaper in FF. I would have bought these from SM anyway, so will amend online basket.

Also split AF and Cloud 9 order between last month and this month as hardly anything has been used. Really want to crack this, this month! Will not be including pet food this time, so i am hoping to come well under, although not sure if this is doable as DD is eating me out of house and home so far and she only broke up on Weds.

Happy Easter all

I've just done the weeks shop in sainsburys for 2 adults + cat. £42 for the week inc breakfast lunch & dinners although caved and got a takeaway for tonight & wine then a treat dinner for easte sunday ( chicken sweet & sour in the morrisons takeaway section) total £ 32! This is how my budget gets blown! It was all going so well too. Will be better as of next week...no more unecessary spending! I promise myself!

CherryPie wrote: »

Thanks for this, but you know what I'm gonna ask! Any chance of a recipe? You are making my new veggie status very easy and very very tasty!!

No problem CherryPie. Though I'm not a veggie now, I was for four and a half years and still eat veggie food most of the time! It's easy once you start getting into the habit

Lentil, mushroom and spinach lasagne (Serves four)

½ pack lasagne sheets
20-30g parmesan or similar (can use cheddar instead for a different flavour), grated

For the tomato layer:

2 tins chopped tomatoes
2 small onions or 1 medium one, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
125g green-brown lentils
½ bag spinach, washed if necessary
250g mushrooms, sliced thinly
1 tbsp dried oregano (can also add thyme or basil, or substitute for fresh herbs if you have any, the more the better really)
1 glass red wine (optional; add some sugar to taste if you use this)

For the white layer:

20g butter
20g cornflour (I don’t usually weigh these but measure by eye as doesn’t need to be exact)
225-250ml milk (again, just do this by eye)
1 tsp wholegrain mustard



Pop the lentils on to boil (don’t salt the water) in a small saucepan, cooking according to packet directions (I think mine say 25 minutes or so). Meanwhile, heat a little vegetable oil in a large high-sided frying pan and gently fry the onions for a few minutes. Add the mushrooms and continue cooking until mostly wilted down. For the last 30 seconds, add the garlic and mix round.

Add the red wine and sugar, if using, and the chopped tomatoes and oregano. Allow to simmer away for 20 minutes or so to reduce down. Season and taste – you might need to add more sugar or salt here. Once the lentils are cooked, drain and add to the sauce, and then add the spinach and cook until wilted.

As the red layer simmers, make the white layer by melting the butter in a small pan, taking off the heat and mixing in the flour to a smooth paste, and adding the milk and whisking in. Put back on to a medium heat and cook, whisking well, for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened. Add the mustard and take off the heat. Preheat the oven to 200C.

Layer the sauces and lasagne sheets in a baking dish – you might need more or less sheets depending on the size and shape of the dish and how you layer it. I put half the red sauce in the bottom, follow by a layer of sheets, then a layer of white sauce, then another layer of sheets, then the rest of the red sauce, then sheets, then the rest of the white sauce. Top with cheese and oven cook for around 35 minutes.