OK, for a laugh - my shopping list(s)

kunekune

First: I am not posting this as a request for how I could spend less. I could spend less if I really wanted to. I'm fine with what I spend, as it is less than it used to be. I just thought that there are quite a few of us who cook OS, but aren't on such a tight budget, and I was curious to see where the money goes on these bigger budgets. Here is mine from earlier in July (I have removed the alcohol as it doesn't come from the food budget) and some comments on the purchases:



1 x Baxter's Luxury Soup, Beef Consomm! 415g - Total Price GBP 1.26 (I use this for my lunch, with added vegetables and noodles)

2 x Dr Karg Organic Emmental Crispbreads200g - Total Price GBP 3.58 (I am addicted to this)

1 x Sainsbury's Pink Lady Apple Bag - Total Price GBP 2.49 (DH won't eat cheap apples)

1 x Sainsbury's Raspberry Ripple Dairy, Organic 1L - Total Price GBP 2.99 (we still have more than half of this)

1 x Carte D'or Greek Yogurt & Honey 900ml - Total Price GBP 2.99 (not sure why, it's not been touched)

1 x Bounty Kitchen Towel White 6x50 Sheets - Total Price GBP 4.79 (lasts 3 weeks)

1 x Italfresco Polenta, Ready Made 500g - Total Price GBP 0.74 (impulse buy, not used yet, usually I make my own)

1 x Gallo Risotto Pronto, Funghi Porcini 250g - Total Price GBP 2.09 (will be a lunch for me, not used yet)

2 x Sainsbury's Peach Slices, in Fruit Juice 411g - Total Price GBP 0.88 (basic supplies, not used yet)

1 x Heinz Baked Beans 4x415g - Total Price GBP 1.99

2 x Baxter's Traditional Cream of Tomato Soup, 415 - Total Price GBP 1.38 (emergency tea/lunch for children)

1 x Baxter's Luxury Soup, Cullen Skink 415g - Total Price GBP 2.16 (lunch for me)

1 x North Staffordshire Oatcakes x6 - Total Price GBP 0.43 (these turned out to be pancakes, are sitting in freezer awaiting inspiration)

1 x Kellogg's Rice Krispies 600g - Total Price GBP 2.49

2 x Sainsbury's Butter Brioche Roll x8 - Total Price GBP 2.50 (children like these for lunch)

1 x Sainsbury's San Marzano Tomato Soup, Taste The Difference 600g - Total Price GBP 1.95 (we had a soup night - children had this and we had hm pea soup, followed by a pudding)

2 x Sainsbury's Fresh Milk, Skimmed 2.27L (4pint) - Total Price GBP 2.88

1 x Sainsbury's Pecorino Romano (approx. 150g) - Total Price GBP 1.94

1 x Sainsbury's Edam, Quarter (approx. 477g ) - Total Price GBP 2.01

1 x Sainsbury's Camembert de Normandie, Taste the Difference 250g - Total Price GBP 1.99 (what a waste - too ripe to eat)

2 x Sainsbury's Wild Alaskan Salmon Fillets, Taste the Difference 240g - Total Price GBP 4.99

1 x Sainsbury's Shii-Take Mushrooms, Taste the Difference 120g - Total Price GBP 1.78

1 x Sainsbury's Mixed Vegetable Stir Fry 400g - Total Price GBP 0.99

1 x Sainsbury's Carrots, Organic 750g - Total Price GBP 1.09

1 x Sainsbury's Asparagus Spears 350g - Total Price GBP 2.99

2 x Sainsbury's Vine Tomatoes, Taste the Difference 420g - Total Price GBP 1.79

2 x Sainsbury's Sweetcorn, Refrigerated x2 - Total Price GBP 1.99

2 x Sainsbury's Runner Beans 250g - Total Price GBP 2.00

1 x Sainsbury's Pomodorino Tomatoes, Taste the Difference 250g - Total Price GBP 1.49 (got too many tomatoes, still using them up)

1 x Sainsbury's Broccoli 300g - Total Price GBP 0.49

1 x Sainsbury's Strawberries, Taste the Difference 400g - Total Price GBP 1.99

1 x Sainsbury's Cherry Punnet 600g - Total Price GBP 3.49

1 x Sainsbury's Clementines x8 - Total Price GBP 1.24

3 x Sainsbury's Caribbean Bananas, Fairtrade x6 - Total Price GBP 3.57 (this lasted a grand total of THREE days!!!)

1 x Sainsbury's Free Range Chicken Thighs & Drums, Taste The Difference (approx.1kg) - Total Price GBP 4.73

1 x Sainsbury's Chicken Liver 400g - Total Price GBP 0.99

1 x Sainsbury's Ultimate Pork Sausages x6, Taste the Difference 400g - Total Price GBP 1.99

1 x Sainsbury's Lamb Mince 500g - Total Price GBP 2.15

1 x Sainsbury's Lamb Chops 577g - Total Price GBP 3.74

1 x Sainsbury's Butchers Choice Dry Cured Unsmokd Bacon 240g - Total Price GBP 2.79

1 x Sainsbury's Beef Mince, Lean 700g - Total Price GBP 3.39

What I am proud of is that there is very little processed stuff in there. Normally I get cold meat for OH's lunches (children have school dinner), but didn't that week because we'd got quite a bit stored up. Also missing that week was any rice/pasta, eggs, legumes, and cleaning stuff. But I got extra meat - it's a swings and roundabouts thing. This lot will have done more than 7 nights (so that's how come my freezer fills up - quite a bit is still in there): I can see 10 days worth of main meals. I over-stock because although I meal plan, it changes if I'm later than expected, work all weekend (too common), weather is not as expected, etc.

juliejim

kunekune wrote: »

1 x North Staffordshire Oatcakes x6 - Total Price GBP 0.43 (these turned out to be pancakes, are sitting in freezer awaiting inspiration)

Have you had these before? They're not pancakes - we normally have bacon, cheese, sausage, egg, etc. on them or any combination. My kids love cheese oatcakes - hubby always has bacon and cheese or bacon and egg on his. Or use instead of bread with a fry-up.

HTH

Jue

Penelope_Penguin

kunekune wrote: »

What I am proud of is that there is very little processed stuff in there. Normally I get cold meat for OH's lunches (children have school dinner), but didn't that week because we'd got quite a bit stored up. Also missing that week was any rice/pasta, eggs, legumes, and cleaning stuff. But I got extra meat - it's a swings and roundabouts thing. This lot will have done more than 7 nights (so that's how come my freezer fills up - quite a bit is still in there): I can see 10 days worth of main meals. I over-stock because although I meal plan, it changes if I'm later than expected, work all weekend (too common), weather is not as expected, etc.

Great thread :j You're so right - MSE isn't about being cheapest, it's doing what you want to do, and getting the best price

You do have a lot of tinned soup which I find doubly ineresting for this time of year

Can I ask what your total budget is? Do you buy other things through the week, or is your weekly shop the lot

Penny. x

floss2

kunekune wrote: »

1 x Sainsbury's Camembert de Normandie, Taste the Difference 250g - Total Price GBP 1.99 (what a waste - too ripe to eat)

This is lovely baked in it's box for about 15 minutes, then eaten as a sort of fondue with crusty bread to dunk into it......or alternatively, roast some veg like peppers, onions, courgettes, and put the camembert over the veg for an extra 10-15 minutes.....yummy!

xCharismax

Tell me how you make 6 Bounty kitchen rolls last 3 weeks. We go through about 12-16 a month lol. We buy a 16 pack for £7 at our local market every month.

BilberryCharlotte

Staffordshire or Derbyshire oatcakes are wonderful, as has already been mentioned here, with a fry up or toasted with various toppings on (honey, jam, marmite, cheese spread etc.) Those of us who love them also enjoy them just buttered without heating them up ...mmmm

You can make them yourself, not difficult


Derbyshire oatcakes
Categories: Breakfast British
Yield: 20 Pieces
1 pounds Fine oatmeal *
1 pounds Flour
1 ounce Yeast
1 teaspoon Sugar
1 teaspoon Salt
2 ½ pint Warm water to mix (aprox.)
2 tablespoon Flour
2 tablespoon Oatmeal
1 teaspoon Baking powder
Water to mix

FOR SMALL QUANTITY * If you can't get fine oatmeal, use Quaker oats and grind fine in a food processer. Mix oatmeal, flour and salt in a warm bowl. Cream yeast with sugar and add 1/2 pint of the warm water. Pour the yeast mixture into the dry ingredients and add the rest of the water, mixing slowly until a thin batter is formed. Set aside in a warm place until well risen, about 30 mins. Grease a large frying pan heat. Pour cupfuls of the batter onto the pan and cook like thick pancakes for 4 - 5 mins on each side. Serve warmed up in a frying pan with bacon and eggs or with lemon juice and sugar, or toasted with cheese or golden syrup. To make a small quantity mix the flour, oatmeal and salt with the water to form a thin batter, and add the baking powder just before cooking. The oatcakes will keep for 2 - 3 days, or for 3 months if frozen.

HTH, enjoy

I would put a credit for this recipe, but I have had it so long I can`t remember where I got it.

kunekune

Thanks for the oatcake ideas - sound nice for breakfast (I do sometimes make myself pancakes and bacon and maple syrup for breakfast if I'm working at home and not in a hurry).

PP, I spend around £100 a week on food. So long as I shop on line - if I go into Sainsburys, I spend more. I try not to buy other stuff during the week - we used to add another £20 a week with bits and bobs but that's stopped. The main non-supermarket item missing from this list is bread - I have a regular order at the deli for wholemeal bread, which then lasts us the week. I do get sliced for the children if it's the holidays and they are taking packed lunches to the holiday club.

The tinned soup is one of the things I like to have in stock, that looks like it was a stocking up week. I work at home quite often during non-teaching periods, and it is a useful lunch for me, and sometimes I use it for tea for the children if we're late and they don't like what we're having (ie, chilli). Keeping a good stock of tinned fish, soup, beans and fruit might also be a hang over from living in an earthquake-prone city, where we were always told to have emergency food supplies. I only use tinned soup when it's not for all of us - I make soup myself if it's a whole-family meal. And as I mentioned, I quite often pimp it, adding extra vegies.

One of the differences I can see between my list and the others that have been posted is that

(a) I don't do any baking normally (I will sometimes make pizza, or foccacia to have with soup) and I don't buy treats and puddings when I'm shopping online. However, that doesn't mean we never have them - they do end up in the trolley if we shop IRL, and I will sometimes get myself a treat at lunchtime. We're all overweight so I try not to, though.

(b) I deal with the lack of time by buying fast-cooking protein such as fish, chops, chicken pieces, rather than by using a slowcooker. I tend to get in at 5.40, start cooking at 5.45-6.00 and we eat sometime around 6.45. It's normally a one-course meal, but occasionally we'll have home made soup or nibbles & a dip as a first course.

Penelope_Penguin

xCharismax wrote: »

Tell me how you make 6 Bounty kitchen rolls last 3 weeks. We go through about 12-16 a month lol. We buy a 16 pack for £7 at our local market every month.

I get through about 1 a year, and that's mainly when I'm camping I use washable cloths (cut up old tea towels, microfibre, and knitted discloths :T ). They get chucked into the WM. Much cheaper and much "greener"

Penny. x

kunekune

xCharismax, we don't use the kitchen roll for very much. I use washable cloths for most stuff around the kitchen, the main thing with the roll is wrapping sandwiches when the children take packed lunches (easier to handle) and spills.

Though, when we ended up at a holiday cottage with no towels the night before a wedding, we did buy a very large pack of kitchen towels at Lidl and used them to dry the children after their bath .... That week we went through a lot.

I prefer to avoid kitchen towels because making them is a very wasteful and polluting process (both myself and DH worked in paper mills at one point in our careers).

THIRZAH

My family like camembert wrapped in puff pastry-rolled quite thinly-then baked in a hot oven-gas mark 7 for about 15 mins.

I can't remember where I got the recipe but it was served with a cranberry, port and orange sauce. I usually just heat up some cranberry sauce with a bit of orange juice.

It's a good recipe if you are having to cater for a couple of vegetarians at christmas as it can go in while the turkey is resting.

Gingernutmeg

Another idea for the oatcakes is to fill them with cheese and ham (or ham and tomato, or cheese and onion, or whatever ), roll them up and then top them with a white sauce (with cheese, or mustard, or again, whatever you fancy ) a bit more cheese and then bake them 'till they're all warm, gooey and crispy on the top. They're really good when you cook them like this, lovely as a light dinner with salad. I love oatcakes, I suffer from deprivation as you just can't get them down south!