August 2008 Grocery Challenge

AlwaysHappy

Yikes, I've spent another £26.14 today and my month really only starts today (payday), so I've almost spent half the months budget and another 31 days to go - I think I must have psychological problems- I don't like missing an offer and I can't bear a space in my cupboard but I need to get over this and eat what I have in, its my first ever grocery challenge and its not looking promising - though I am determined to make it (by hook or by crook).

*BigBird*

I'm so not going to make it this month 11 days to go, and only £5.97 left - despite me upping the budget by £50 to stretch it out another week! :eek: Shouldn't need a great deal next week tho, and will be having 2 meals out for my birthday (which won't be part of GC) so I'm hoping it won't be too bad

So after 2 failures in a row, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for "third time lucky" in September.

Should finally get the insurance payment from my cancelled holiday next week. Not sure why it's taken so long, I'd have thought being banned from flying by your doctor because you have a blood clot in your leg is a fairly cut and dried reason for cancelling Anyway, once that cash comes through, we'll be able to afford to get the shower in the en-suite replaced (it blew up a couple of months ago) and still have a nice little chunk of dosh to go in the wedding fund.

Must get my butt into gear on losing weight so I can order my wedding frock tho - after losing nearly 2 stone in 6 months, I have managed to put half a stone back on in the last 8 weeks:o. I blame you guys for posting so many delicious recipes that I just can't resist trying :rotfl:

But seriously, I might have to have a little wander over to the weight loss thread and see if that'll help me get back on track. Why doesn't celery taste as nice as Twinks? I'm sure it would solve all my problems if it did!!

Moniker

Hi everyone - have had a quick zip through to try and keep up with the posts- phew! ther were quite a few that I wanted to reply to, but didn't have the time. So here are a few comments which I hope aren't too late to be useful:

Using electricity at night

I have a 'white meter' aka 'Economy 7' tarrif even though I don't use electric heating. This means I run the dishwasher, washing machine, BM and yogourt maker at night to save money whenever I can. I have even been known to get up in the middle of the night when I can't sleep to do the ironing! As my DH works from home we use a lot of elec and gas during the day too - so every little helps.

Washing soda

I use soap nuts and washing soda and haven't bought any detergent or fabric conditioner for months now. All the non-white stuff is fine, but I have had to use bleach on some of the whites to brighten them up from time to time, and I use a few drops of lavendar oil in the wm drawer to make it smell nice!

Chicken Lasagne

I made this yesterday and it was delish. My recipe is based on one my auntie gave me and I think that was an aga recipe originally (though I don't have one!) The original recipe started with an uncooked chicken and had white wine in but I always use cooked chicken.

4 Sheets of lasagne (mine were large squarish ones, so if you have the normal rectangular ones you may need more )
About 10oz of cooked chicken, chopped (you can get away with less)
3 large leeks washed and sliced
1pt white sauce (I used ss milk but you could use full fat for a creamier sauce or I added a bit of cream leftover from Sunday)
3-4 oz cheese (I used a fairly strong cheddar - if you use a milder one you may like to add a bit more)
salt and pepper

Grease a square ceramic dish (or a rectangular one depending on what you have). Make the sauce as usual adding half the cheese and season to taste (I find that a good pinch of nutmeg gives it more flavour). Meanwhile 'sweat' the sliced leeks in a frying pan with a little olive oil - cook until they just begin to colour. Put a lasgane sheet in the dish and sprinkle over about 1/3 of the leeks and then the same of chicken. Spoon about 5 tablspoons of the sauce over and then put another lasgane sheet on and start again. Finish with the last lasagne sheet. Pour the rest of the sauce over the dish and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. At this stage you can freeze this dish uncooked if you like. You can cook straightaway if you are usuing pre-cooked lasagne sheets, but I like to let it settle for about an hour to let the sauce soak in. Sometimes I leave it in the fridge overnight to cook the next day. Cook in a moderately hot oven (200C, gas 5-6) for about 30-40 minutes till golden and bubbling on top. This quantity made two big servings - could have easily stretched to 3 and could have done 4 with lots of additional veg.

I have updated my sig as I went into town to take my DH's suit to the cleaners and went into our local pound shop where they had my favourite body cream for £1 and I bought it as it isn't always in stock. Still on target to last to next week (28th). I have done a proper inventory of the freezer and made a spreadsheet on the computer so I have no excuse for not using the stuff in there. I was pleased to find that the oldest item in there was only 6 months old - though it was a couple of hot cross buns! I feel a bread and butter pudding coming on! It's been so cold and dreary here that I feel like comfort food. I hope that it picks up by the weekend as we have a family wedding on Saturday - will be thinking of you IOIWE -hope the sun shines on you too - and congrats for the job!

Sorry for the long post!

Love Moniker

Flylady_Flower

Moniker wrote: »

Washing soda

I use soap nuts and washing soda and haven't bought any detergent or fabric conditioner for months now. All the non-white stuff is fine, but I have had to use bleach on some of the whites to brighten them up from time to time, and I use a few drops of lavendar oil in the wm drawer to make it smell nice!
Love Moniker

Hi Moniker,

glad you said about the whites going a bit grey - have been using much less than I used to of cheap soap powder mixed with washing soda - the cleaning is great but I have noticed the whites are not 'shining' as they once were - no added carp I suppose coz you're not paying for it...
When you say you add bleach, do you mean general household bleach??? surely not as wouldn't it rot the clothes? I know I am totally getting this wrong so advice would be greatly appreciated ...

Sian_the_Green

Nice to be home at the 'rents again.
Car will cost £180 for MOT and repairs, could be worse I guess.
Does anyone else live near a Boyes store? They are great shops, department stores but cheap ones, you can buy sweets, toiletries, clothes, mugs, craft stuff, seeds...
I got a couple of Le Parfait kilner jars to put my marrow chutney in (when I finally make it) for 99p each, they are really cute though. Made bolognaise for tea and some cornbread, pretty easy, tastes alright too.

ShelBell

just been to Mr M and got lots of whoopsied meat for in the freezer

almar_2

Moniker wrote: »

Chicken Lasagne & Soapnuts

Thanks Moniker thats another one for my freezer recipes. I put them all in clear plastic wallets inside a ring binder to keep them clean as I dont half get the place in a mess when I'm baking.

Today me and hubby made -

Iced Buns filled with low fat double cream - gorgeous.

Custard Biscuits - fantastic creamy taste.

Pizza - one to eat and four quarters in the freezer - best pizza ever.

Florentines - lovely but they stayed soft and chewy should have been hard.

Lime shortbread - from this weeks you magazine - a bit sickly, but maybe thats because I was eating all the other stuff we made too. :rotfl:

The bulk of the months shop has been done now. We just need bread, milk, fresh ham and salad and something for Sunday's.

We shop twice a month on-line at Tescos. So my sig looks quite high but we have got almost all that we need. A full freezer and a baking cupboard(s) with enough to feed an army for 3 months.

We have been using Tesco vouchers on-line and this month have saved over £40 with voucher codes and bogofs. So we definately know we are going to meet the GC in this our first attempt. I know the £450 target is very high compared to most but compared to our usual of £600 per month its fantastic. :beer:

We (me & OH) are going to the Southport flower show on Friday as a treat with some of our savings and a free meal out with our Tesco Deals. Yeah.

Can't believe the difference you have all made (I am in a wheelchair and OH had to give up employment to care for me) We have never had any treats for years so I have to say -

A big big thanks to all. :T :T


love almar (Alan & Marianne)

Herewegoagain

angelnikki wrote: »

There's nothing special about MrM's 4 eggs for 50p (12.5p/egg) IMO as you can get 15 yummy Free Range eggs at MrT for £2 :money: (13.3p/egg) or even 15 value eggs for £1.50 _pale_ (10p/egg)

Nikki x

I know the other eggs youv'e mentioned Nikki are better value, but as mr has high colestrol he's not allowed many eggs and to find a box of 4 are great for us, larger boxes just wouldn't be used before they went off.

HWGA xx

Flylady_Flower

almar wrote: »

Can't believe the difference you have all made (I am in a wheelchair and OH had to give up employment to care for me) We have never had any treats for years
love almar (Alan & Marianne)

I love this thread, it just makes a difference to so many people in so many different ways, that's soooo nice to hear, thanks for sharing and cheering me up...:lovethoug
Denise x

perrywinkle

NSD for me today - spent some time trying recipes in the remoska I got a couple of days ago - tried bread and scones today - both good. Also made honey-mustard chicken pasta http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/7027/honeymustard-chicken-pasta
to use up some of the leftover roast chicken from yesterday - a nice change but needed to make more sauce than in the recipe or would have been a little dry.

May need to get a few bits tomorrow - will just see how it goes.

Night, night
Perrywinkle