August 2008 Grocery Challenge

princess_leia_3

I made my first batch of porridge this morning :T but I made way too much, the packet said 50g per person and 300ml milk\water so I added 100g and 600ml (as my boys generally eat the same amount of brekkie as I do) Well I thought I was going to have the magic porridge pot on my hands as I started to dish it up :rotfl:
Anyway, I had a little bit (but I had made it with whole milk and I am on a diet ) and DS1 (who is 4) had a huge bowl and Ds2 (2.5) had his normal amount. But as its so hot I had to keep adding cold milk and they had loads bless them :rotfl:
Ds1 liked it but Ds2 was a bit more fussy so I might whizz up what I have got left and try him on that, but make half the amount next time

So thanks guys, I don't think I would ever would have tried to make it, and its actually quite nice

Had Roast chicken last nite so gotta decide what to have tonite to use up some of the chicken, it should last us a few nites, I might have a go at the lasagne mentioned on here the other day and then do a value curry :T as I love them with cooked chicken, mushrooms and sultanas
Got Mr A delivery later but I forgot to add milk :mad: and you can't change the order on the day of delivery like Mr T which is why I usually use Mr T But I didn't want loads of bread mix subs which cost loads more (at least Asda will price match :T)

Sorry for the early morning essay

BigMummaF

OK...I'm hopng I'm on a roll here so apologies if things come out a bit 'clinical'

There is a relatively new thread started up with ideas for sandwich fillings-good timing with peeps having school & returning to work after holidays. Give u a holla if you don't see it & I'll end a map

Blessings & Best of All Things to Mr & Mrs IOIWE ...Good Health & Every Happiness to You Both.x

Someone was asking about the soft cheese sauce thingie I was thinking of making...we-ll..I kinda 'invented' summat else instead, but here's the recipe....

CAULI BROC SUPREEZE.
1. Cauliflower, prepared & in decent sized florets if using fresh
2. Broccolli ditto cauli
3. Sweetcorn
4. 250g soft cheese with garlic & herbs
5. 250g plain soft cheese
6. Black pepper
7. Ground nutmeg
8. Cornflour
Method.
a) Put 1,2 &3 in a saucepan with enough water to prevent burning & cook to taste. We like our veg to have a bit of crunch so probably 10 mins for us.
b) Stir in 4 & 5 to melt. Taste it.
c) Add 6 & 7 till it reaches your desired palate.

I mixed 3 tsp of no8 with water to make a paste & stirred that in after seasoning, just to thicken till I liked the look of it & kept the pot simmering for a few minutes to cook it through. It was served as was--lumps n all --with the very last bit of chicken shredded up as a garnish...verrrrrry nom-nom-nom:T We had three good portions for dinner & two lunch-types have gone in the freezer for the offspring's work boxes a-la-MrsMc;)
I reckon it could be blitzed if you prefer smooth, but we liked the rustic this particular time around.

For those with weening bubs &/or pets.....I NEVER add salt to my cooking unless absolutely neccessary so 98% of what I make is suitable for the Pup too SIZE=1]he had the ^^ soup![/SIZEas the offspring add a veritable mine to their plates regardless:mad: ..a trait inherited from their dad I hasten to add. It means that I'm only cooking one meal, any leftovers can be frozen & used for another day & I'm saving on fuel & washing up too:j The only time Pup doesn't have 'ours' is if I add onion or leek, so then I make the same for him & just leave those out.

Did MrT yesterday & spent £30:41 but had my fiver coupon, which paid for the 3 tins of deo on offer @ 3-4-£5 & are secreted away in readiness for crimbo :shhh: Other spends too so will update siggy when I've added it all up.

princess_leia_3

Ok, I think I need a map please BigMumma
DS starts school in sept and DH is just useless at doing his lunch for work so sounds like a good thread for me to read

BigMummaF

Sorry Princess..I was writing my own book & missed your post
A tip I use for porridge [& rice] is to grab a dry cup or mug & fill it with the oats [or rice] then use the same cup/mug & measure out TWO cups of liquid. I make my porridge with all water, but you could use all mik or half milk to half water. HTH.

BigMummaF

Here's one...
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=327342

And another....
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=23424

And no pubs or phone boxes involved :j

LearningToSave.

im getting really excited about joining in next month now!!!
i'll have an extra £20 or so a month to go into one budget too as DD1 has just come out of nappies at nighttimes and DD2 has just come out of them in the day but has also been dry for last week at night too so thinking of ditching them there too!! lovely to not have to buy nappies anymore :-)

MRSMCAWBER

Morning all

Hope you have a lovely day IfOnlyItWasEasier :T

Tonights dinner is chilli n rice for hubby and soya bean casserole n rice for me... both individual portions retrieved from the freezer;) .
I have a bowl of bread dough proving -we seem to be getting through quite a bit this week..mind hubby has taken soup to work and i have developed a marmite on toast addiction
My 5th NSD in a row this week :T .... the refusing to go to the shops seems to be the way to go :rotfl: I WILL be shopping on Saturday as i need a couple of bits... mainly milk -hoping the NAAFI have it whoopsed again-i will find room in the freezer-I WILL:o :rotfl: . I will check out an other whoopsies of course -not that i can think of a lot i need...
loo rolls, milk, washing-up liquid, potatoes and onions are all i can think of :T.
Hubby will get paid on Monday -so thats the start of a new month for us... When I said i might pick a few bits up on saturday -he asked if i had any money left (with it being that close to pay day;) ).. so he obviously isn't noticing a change in the shopping/meals :j .... I still have €300 of this months housekeeping in the savings account -plus €35 in my purse and €30 in my current account- and hubby owes me €50 :rotfl: :T .. I think that he isn't noticing because before i used to pop for a wander to the shops a couple of times a week whilst hubby was at work... well i have cut that right down/out, and i think that is what is making the difference:D -just having tomatoes etc outside really helps -no getting caught thinking "hmm need a bit of salad stuff" then getting to the supermarket and ending up with extras.... I have 4 aubergines... 2 nearly ready... courgettes some peppers -just starting to show signs of ripening, red chillies ...loads of tomatoes that are ripening and quite regular intervals -about 12oz-1lb a day...
I also have more carrots, salad leave, spring onions and pak choi under way -ooh and my beans seem to be getting their second wind as they have started flowering some more :j

right enough ramble -im off to catch up on the other threads then settling down to x stitch
have a great day everyone:D

MRSMCAWBER

Just a quick one

Woo hooo BigmummaF , I do a cheese sauce like that too... but im tighter than a ducks "ddodaa" -i only use a good dollop of cream cheese -the black pepper one is stunning...
oooh and if you are just doing a quicky meal for 1 or 2 (not that you will often get to do that with your brood )-you can put the cream cheese in a bowl..beat in a drop of milk and nuke in the micro or in a pan over a medium heat -and a low fat, quick light cheese sauce..taadaa ... very nice on salmon etc

princess_leia_3

I have got loads of HM yoghurt, can I make a sauce out of this for my lasgane? Everytime I cook with yog or put it in a curry it splits Any suggestions to stop this?

gunsandbanjos

Hope you have a wonderful day IfOnlyItWasEasier :A

Was hoping for my 4th NSD today but i've been foiled by hubby and his milk drinking antics:rolleyes: Also need to buy batteried for my scales, there's only so many times you can take the cover off and give them a rub to eek that last little bit of power out of them:o