September 2008 Grocery Challenge. Please read first two posts.

scotsaver

Evening everyone - just popped on to report another NSD.

Dinner tonight was HM Spag Bol, bulked out with oats, mushrooms, peppers etc and everyone loved it.:D Also served Garlic Bread with it. No pudding tonight as I hadn't had time to make anything today but everyone said they were full anyway.;)

OH said that he read in a paper today that Delia Smith is going to republish her "Frugal Food" book - I've got all her other books but not this one so will make interesting reading. I have managed to get "How to Feed your Whole family.........." by Gill Holcombe from my Library so shall have a read of that tonight. Also picked up "The Students Sausage Egg & Beans" Cookbook from a local Charity Shop so should also make interesting reading.

I've been really swamped with Cooking Apples from our tree this year, the biggest crop we've ever had. So far I have made Crumbles, Eve's Pudding and made some into sauce to freeze, peeled, cored and sliced some to freeze but still have loads on the tree so was wondering if anyone has any suggestions.

Found a recipe in one of my books for Spiced Apple Bars, going to try those tomorrow, will post the recipe tomorrow if they turn out ok.;)

Have a good evening everyone.

*BigBird*

BigMummaF wrote: »

Our nearest MrT is growing to--what looks like--double in size. In some ways I fear it will do more harm to the little local shops I try so hard to support but my pennies are no more made of elastic than anyone else's Damnation to these big, faceless corporates who deem to tell me where I can or cannot spend my money :mad:

I was wondering tho, if anyone whose had similar experience of their supermarket being upgraded, had noticed if they spent more than before. I'm assuming there's more choice :j but will the prices be going up too, to cover the cost?

The Mr T I shop at mutated into something twice the original size last year. I'm not sure if I spend more money now as I wasn't keeping track of spends before (and it's terrifying now that I am :eek:), however it is no more expensive than the smaller Mr T that is in the opposite direction from where I live (which is closer to home, but the big one is 2 mins from work so I shop there on my way home during the week ) BUT, whilst there are some things that the big Mr T stocks but the smaller one in the other direction doesn't, there are also things that the smaller one stocks but the big one doesn't (Like the packs of 15 free range eggs for £2 - I have to make a special trip to the smaller one for those as the big one doesn't stock them :mad:) No idea how they work out what to stock at each store. Maybe it's just a ploy to make you drive to each, use more petrol and then buy that from them too! :rotfl:

dark_666_angel

Although I am new to this GC, I must say that I have noticed considerable savings already by using the meal plan, switching some premium brands to supermarket own brands, reduced items etc. It was something I never dreamed of doing until I found MSE. I must say I am quite impressed with the basics items that I have tried so far.

Thanks for showing me the light.

I picked up some reduced fruit last night which was berries for 15p, and plan to make a crumble concoction of sorts over the weekend. Have also started making my own stocks and soups, I was amazed at how easy they are and they freeze well too.

Hoping for a few more NSD now to keep me on target.

annelouise_2

Evening all,

Collected OH from golf and left his car at club so I ran/jogged/walked to collect it 35mins and at 7.40pm thought I'd go to Mr T for the whoopsie.

Picked up -

2 packets 6 rolls 8p each
4 baguettes 8p each

Looked in other peoples trollies reduced pastries and veggies so note to self go at 7.30pm.

2 x NSD this week.On track for budget.Sticking to menu plan well.Night out with friends Friday so looking forward to that.Pasta Pesto tomorrow,turkey casserole Saturday and roast Sunday.

Still have a freezer,cupboard and 1/2 fridge full.Mr A did us proud.

annelouise :rotfl:

TheBees

Things are going well so far this month and have been very organised with meals. Yesterday I made a mild chicken curry in the slow cooker from "The Dinner Lady" cookbook and we ate it tonight. I put two handfuls of oats in to bulk it out and there's enough for an individual extra meal which has gone in the freezer. I made a double batch of moussaka filling (also in the slow cooker with some oats) and we'll have one tom for tea and freeze the spare.

Will have to buy some fruit, veg and milk on Friday.

Good luck everyone

Pitlanepiglet

huxley wrote: »

Things going a bit higldy pigldy here:rolleyes: not gone over budget but may very well do:mad: costco have been having some multibuy deals that are actually worth me getting, so I am building stock but there is nowhere for the money to come from except grocery budget,but if I dont use it for the deals I cant justify paying the membership each year!I know it will even out eventually but we are getting to our extra skint time of year so need to stock

You've got three large Gammon hams as well then? :rotfl: It's ruined my planning for this month. I bought three lumps of Pork a couple of weeks ago as well! They are lovely though and incredibly good value - I bought big pork legs and cut them into two, one of the halves did three of us two good meals last weekend with some left over.

carolt2

Evening everyone, just logged on to update spends.

Spent £14.21 in Mr T on monday and £15.34 in Mr A last night.
Got quite a few whoopsies as well.

For anyone thats interested Mr A are selling 18 cans of pepsi (3 packs, 6 cans per pack)for £4. Includes all varieties

helenm2008

Groan not doing too well this month - we've had friends over for dinner twice. Although I did better than I would have done in the past, by keeping it simple and not throwing money at it in desperation to make something really nice. We did a roast with a free range chicken, plus trimmings, a blue cheese and walnut salad to start and HM chocolate mousses, and I reckon that came in well under £20 for 4

Just got to stay on track this last week and a bit.

Julimk

Thanks to angelatgraceland & kindlesgirl.

I don’t think DD dislikes bread per se; it’s just that the filling is more interesting. So she nibbles the sandwich & then scoffs the filling & I am left with slightly chewed, soggy from spilled yoghurt etc bread. I hate the waste so I have stopped sending sandwiches & I think anything like pitta, wraps etc would be the same problem.

Tomorrow we are going to go out after school & look for some sort of chef’s/cook’s outfit for her. She has said she would try cold pizza in her lunch & I have everything in for that, so I will cook it for tea (with her) & then put some leftovers in her lunch for Friday.

Time is a bit of a problem; I am able to work at home two days a week but three days I have to go into the office in London (so we are out 7.15am to 7.15pm, though the childminder gives her breakfast & dinner). On the other two she often wants to go to a friend’s after school & she is with her Dad alternate weekends.

I started batch cooking & freezing individual portions because I didn’t want to start cooking after had been in the office & I started cooking proper Indian food from scratch as had an Indian BF that cooked for me & is nicer than the packets/jars etc.

http://www.theasiancookshop.co.uk/ has a high street store here & I can pick up packets of spices that our fairly conservative Mr T doesn’t do but I had a problem with what to do once open & couldn’t find any cheap jars. Mum suggested keeping & washing out jars from regular herbs & spices. Obvious really! But I didn’t think of it until someone suggested it.

This thread (& others on here) have been rather like that! Lots of really common sense ideas that hadn’t occurred to me in my manic state! Still well within budget & I am sure it is due to the advice & support on here.

BigBird – we have 3 Mr Ts here & they all stock slightly different things! I figured that they thought that if the stores were so close together they didn’t need to stock the full range at all of them & could split it among the stores? I do the main shop at the one nearest me (edge of town) & pick up a few bits at the town centre one, as I walk passed it anyway when I am coming home from the station. I hardly go to the out of town one unless I really haven’t been able to get something more conveniently.

Juli

Optimisticpair

nickynoo08 wrote: »

Just a quick question on the subject of lentils. I've never tried them but thinking of using them to bulk out my bolognaise. Can u taste or notice them? My OH aint too fussy but believes that spag bol sholud be basic, he has never noticed grated carrot before tho.

Lentils are brilliant, makes a wonderful filling thick curry. If your OH notices I would tell him it isn't boring old Italian Spag Bol it's Balinese Farmers Sauce and you have just done it with Spag as a trial run. (nose>>>>>>>> oops).

Reporting things are going fine. The end of this month will be tight though to manage it to £60. Thank goodness for lentils really. Grabbed a few Moggisons bargains and essential perishable supplies.