August 2008 Grocery Challenge

helenm2008

4Moneysaver wrote: »

Do other people tell friends and colleagues about this challenge? I've mentioned it to a few people at work and it's really got some folks interested in how I do so I'd better not fail now.:D

I haven't so far, but only because food shopping hasn't come up in convo. I do have one friend who I guessed correctly would be at least reading these forums and she and I quite often chat about ways to be more cost-efficient My OH is being supportive though, aside from his love of Mr T's Finest range, so I'm not taking him shopping again!!

Naomim

Hi All,

I went to Mr. T's today, a day late as we were at a party Friday night and I couldn't face it yesterday :rolleyes: Thank God for meal plans and emergency meals :T

I spent £59.94 today but it did include £7.98 for a box of pull-ups. DS is potty training so only wearing them at night so they will last 2 months as I have enough to see me through to the end of this month.

I'm disappointed I didn't get any till spits again. That's the last two weeks I've not had anything. It's a conspiracy! :mad: I wonder if it's because I have quite high points atm. I'm on 7000 ish as I had some vouchers I didn't use refunded.

I bought some raspberries and jam sugar to make my friend some raspberry jam for her birthday but I've now found out I've only got 200g of raspberries instead of the 800g it says you need on the packet. If I reduce the amount of sugar by 3/4 in relation to the fruit how jam will I get?

Naomi x

helenm2008

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

On the veggie front.. im fighting the urge to treat myself to this :-

http://www.grogardenproducts.co.uk/patiogro-agreene.html

It would make it near imposible for the sluggies to get to my salad leaves :T

Ooh, am seriously tempted. I could put them in my little plastic greenhouse, which needs more shelving - and the copper piping on the legs idea is genius! One for my Christmas list I think :-)

Flylady_Flower

savingfortravel wrote: »

So proud of our MS efforts and being able to share them with you guys... looking at the dreadful weather glad we spent our time in the kitchen using up bits and bobs before our holiday.
Lovely time with my lovely OB

SFT

You know SFT, I just know you and OB are going to have a fantastic wedding and life together - you both sound so happy and supportive of each other, it really is quite lovely (sorry if that sounds mushy, but it really is...:o ) I wish you both the best of luck with everything...

Nikki, would you be able to put those links for crisps on the first page please (oh, should check, you probably already have, you're so good at that) - I fancy trying them but haven't got any parnsips at the moment (I LOOOOVE parsnip and black pepper crisps so this will save me a fortune...)

See you all later, Den x

Blairweech

SFT and MrsMc - Have you thought about posting a whole new thread about your meal plans etc? I know Black Saturn did it and it caused a lot of controversy, but I think it would be really helpful to all us GC-ers (although I understand it would be more difficult for you MrsMc, as a lot of your meals depend upon your fantastic NAFFI bargains )

savingfortravel

Denise. Thank you. Yes we are meant to be..1 row in 5years...even think the same thoughts at the same time..but we are different in lots of ways..he's more 2 toed sloth (vvvvvvvvvvv laid back) and I'm more Meerkat but he's perfect for me....and he can cook!!!
Our MS dinner was delicious.. I can recommend the Blueberry Crumble Cake.
SFT

turbo5019

Well nearly a NSD but I need eggs and I like the free range ones from carboot £1.60 doz. Then I went rushing out late this afternoon to get NOW for the tesco money off voucher. Managed to get 2 cause I though might sister might want one as she is on holiday but she doesn't so I will be spending £50 at Mr T next week. Not that I need much I finally sorted out freezer I knew I was trying to be orginized for the baby but I have-:

49 HM ready meals
64 Rolls
5 Loaves of bread
71 sausages
10pks MrM Chicken
36 burgers
4kg mince beef
16 pieces of fish
31 fish cakes
4 chicken breasts
8 Chicken thighs

Thats just what I have in my freezer my parents have loads more 50p chicken, beef burgers and sausages.

I Need to stay away from MrM next week if they are doing 50p items no space.

I will use the MrT vouches on nappies, toilet rolls, washing liquid etc at the rate I am fill the house I will not need much more this month or next month. I have enough HG veg to see me through till xmas. I got some potaoes from my nan this week that have gone to seed so will plant them tomorrow hopfully they'll be ready for xmas.


Mrs M you say about roasting tomatoes sorry if I soung thick are they normal tomatoes or cherry? Do you cook then then blitz them down for sauce or leave them whole?

I'm off to bed DD2 had me up at 5am and I'm shattered. Have a good evening everyone

punkrock06

ive spend €95 so far:( but ive got some meals frozen so hopefully ill make de buget..

angelatgraceland

Well here is what I did with the mince.
I got some extra inspiration from Jamies Italy for the sauce and I adapted it as follows:
Chilli suce recipe
1 tin toms
2 small toms from fridge
2 dried chillis (our garden ones)
one onion chopped(well it was 2 halves left in the fridge)
3 cloves garlic(on their last)
A handfull of oregano from the garden
half a green pepper(our garden one)
A jar of asda casserole sauce(the 29p one)

Put all in a pan. Leaving to cool a little then to liquidize.

Meatball recipe
500g lean mince
2 handfulls of porrige oats
some fresh oregano
some dried oregano
some of the chopped onion

rolled into a big sausage and portioned into 4
then rerolled in sausages and portioned each into 2,then again until I had 32 meatballs.

Couldnt decide whether to fry meatballs or just drop into the sauce and simmer. Fried may be too crisp on outer/raw at cenre. Just dropped into sauce could be greasy so Im baking them in the oven while my rhubarb/fig crumble is cooking.
DD23 tasted the sauce and says its so good she could eat a bowl of it on its own. Thats good enough for me.

Now shall I have them with pasta or rice. Either will suffice. Oh dear-spoiled for choice!

angelatgraceland

Blairweech wrote: »

SFT and MrsMc - Have you thought about posting a whole new thread about your meal plans etc? I know Black Saturn did it and it caused a lot of controversy, but I think it would be really helpful to all us GC-ers (although I understand it would be more difficult for you MrsMc, as a lot of your meals depend upon your fantastic NAFFI bargains )

Yes Black Saturn did and she had some excellent posts. The costs however were rather questionable. Something like feed a family of four for £12 per week.The other problem was that when challenged about this-all went rather silent. I won't judge because as a poster I liked her-but I did rather question a few things.I think we are much more realistic on this board which is why personally I joined GC rather than the other ones I used to take part in. There were too many arguments on some of them. This is a happy realistic board which is very honest-long may it stay that way!
I don't think angelnikki woud experience any of the problems that blacksaturn did though.