August 2008 Grocery Challenge

perrywinkle

Morning,

Planning a NSD for today - famous last words - said this yesterday and ended up spending £45! - still lots of future meals in that. Defrosted some chicken thighs and will make creamy masala chicken http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1884/creamy-masala-chicken although the recipe says chicken breast, which I'm sure would also be lovely, I always use thighs as I think they are tastier (cheaper!) and stay moister even though I have to skin and debone them first which is a bit of a faff. Will then split it into meal size portions and freeze for future use as it freezes and reheats well and all the family enjoy it. Also plan to make some more custard cookies and courgette tea bread along with some other bits and pieces - will just see how the day goes.

Hope you are okay Kaat_Lady and Archie.

Happy money saving
Perrywinkle

andrinaperry

well i may have got my dates a little wrong because I am just waiting on Mr T with my grocery shop which I hope will last a month, think the total was £169.74 before the offers are taken off but will confirm this later.

A

ifonlyitwaseasier

morning all

KAAT LADY - i hope archies ok this morning :grouphug:


well our toaaster died this morning, but as we'd had it for 2 years and it only cost about £8 i think we've had our moneys worth (OH is a toast monster 4-8 slice for breakfast!!!! i buy value bread for him now)
am going to wait til after honeymoon to replace it as he can use the grill, in fact i'll see how long i can leave it before he complains :rolleyes:

am planning nsd today, have to go get suitcases from my mums, and take the music cd down to the reg office!!!

MRSMCAWBER

Morning all

Most deffinitely NOT a NSD for me today ... went round the golf course with hubby -which you all know leads to a check in the NAFFI (still no bread flour in :mad: ).... but i did get some bargains... again, most of which are not for this month....

• 2 kilo little bananas -@ 50c -saving €2.39
• 4x1lb soya spread (suitable for baking;) ) @ 75c -saving €2.56
• organic butter €1 -saving €1.29
• 3 red leicester @ 50c (had been whoopsed to €1,50 each but the lad did his own thing again :rotfl: -no wonder i pick his checkout every time)-saving €13.50
• and 6 x 1lb blocks extra mature cheddar @ €2 -saving €31.78 :eek: :T

Everything apart from the bananas has been frozen -managed to make room by taking out a milk and re-jigging
So i spent €18.50 but "saved" €51.34 ...think thats my best so far :j
Hubby pondered "how much cheese do we need ?" -as i have 12 x 400g blocks of mature cheddar in the fridge (got on half price promotion;) ) plus other cheshire, lancashire etc in the freezer -now i have added that lot .... but hubby likes his cheese and it saves a small fortune..i mean -nearly €8 a block on normal price :eek: ... so we now have enough cheeses, butter and spreads to last to about the end of the year

On the way back -after much chuntering from me that there were NO blackberries on the golf course... hubby spotted a patch.. *note to self* -"don't get over excited and go venturing through nettles in 3/4 trousers and sandals" :eek: -so hopefully we are going back on Saturday..dressed for a blackberry forage :T hubby thinks im losing the plot.. but just smiles and nods at me :rotfl: ...then when we were turning into the NAFFI ther was a whole host of brambles along the fence :j -but they aren't ready yet -so i will have those too hopefully -well no-one else seems bothered

Lunch today is pizza -taken out of frezer to make room for the cheese and dinner tonight is jackets, tuna mayo and salad.... have to fetch more tomatoes from outside in a moment... have extras that im going to roast with a couple of my own chillies -thinking of using some extra potatoes to do "patatas bravas" (sp?).... roasties in a chilli tomato sauce :rotfl: -

Right i had better get off and get the bread dough mixed.... have a great day everyone... off to update my signature and then my freezer list

princess_leia_3

Ok so Mr T has just delivered and it cost £65.01 :eek: I only needed a few things:rolleyes:
Anyway, that includes loads of veg (some of which I thought I had removed from basket :rolleyes: but also got a 68p marrow, 50p cabbage, frozen rhubarb (which I have just about managed to squeeze in the freezer :rotfl:)

So hopefully thats me done apart from milk and bit more f&v

Herewegoagain

Hiya guys,
Hoping for another NSD today, eating out of stores/freezer:j :j :beer:

But must KEEP remembering to up date list when I use something Doh:eek: :eek:

HWGA x

EagerLearner

I think it will be an NSD for us still and we will be getting bits from the market on Saturday.

Tonight will be pasta, green pesto, parmesan and salad with the lovely cherry tomatoes we got reduced from the Co-Op.

It's mid month and we still have £192 in the joint account and all bills are paid. So our £120 budget for August for 2 people on just shopping should be achievable.

I want to get some good quality linen soon - any advice? I am reading a book called 'Home Comforts' which has inspired me!

WelshWoofer

Morning/Afternoon!
A NSD yesterday and should be one food wise today too. Its OHs birthday tomorrow and all of the pressies are bought but just realised that I don't have a card or wrapping paper - doh!

Have brought fruit, ryvita and cheese to work for lunch to try to use up some fresh stuff and will make a veggie curry thing tonight for tea.
Does anyone know if potato, chickpea and spinach curry will freeze OK?
I think it probably will but its best check with my culinary record!

Another question - I'm full of them today sorry! - I have a pear tree overhanging my garden and the neighbour doesn't mind if I pick the ones that would just drop off into my side. I don't like fresh pears but can eat them in things IYKWIM!
Can you stew pears? Do you treat them like apples? I'm thinking of pear and blackberry crumble/pie but as I've never done it before I'm hesitating.
Any advice would be gratefully received!

I'm determimned to keep the spends to an absolute minimum for the coming week due to my moment of madness last week and am aiming for just bread and a few fresh bits.

Sorry for all of the daft questions!
Thanks
R
x

searching_me

morning o er actually afternoon :rotfl: well i can declare august as i got paid 5 days early (i think with the mess up last month and nobody getting paid they just paid it early just incase but anyhooo) well as i say august was £115 which is over but after a big cut back from £200 to £100 thats not bad (even though it was only for 3 weeks) so for september is going to be £150 please and lets see how i go on that ..

kat lady hope your ok love to archie xxx

EagerLearner

rachelmk wrote: »

Does anyone know if potato, chickpea and spinach curry will freeze OK?
I think it probably will but its best check with my culinary record!

I make Sag Aloo alot too and it freezes fine - lovely with a dollop of fresh homemade yoghurt :T x