September 2008 Grocery Challenge. Please read first two posts.

angelatgraceland

Popped in to update sig which I will soon. Had Asda delivery today and only the kitchen rolls missing-that was good! Ordered some of the mini bottles fo wine for my birthday treat next week so that wont count as food. Food alone was approx £40. Spent some in Somerfield Yesterday so I think Im up to about £53 so have approx £22 for the week ending on Friday. Will need some milk and possibly fresh fruit but that should be all.

Re veggy meals-how about some savoury rice? If you eat eggs an omellette is nice with this and you can also add your fave veggies.

We had roast chicken with lots of different veg today and I made a steamed pudding in the micro(fruit cobbler) afterwards which was very filling.

6 oz SR flour
3 oz sugar
1 egg
sultanas as desired
1 cooking apple(from my tree) chopped up into slices'chunks
Mixed spice(I used about 2 teaspoons)
enough milk to mix until thick and not too stiff

mix the flour sugar and egg and spice,gradually add the liquid then the fruit.

Put in greased pyrex dish/casserole dish or anything suitable remembering it will rise quite a bit!
Cover in clingfilm and !!!!! 3 or 4 times
Put on for approx 6 mins. Keep checking after 4 mins. Let it rest if in doubt and test it to see if cooked in centre. If overcooked it would go rather hard!

Cheap and filling. Serve with custard. Serves 6

Ah for the ones who want to put on weight 2 helpings of this does it-I live to tell the tale ;+)

candygirl

Went to Tesco yesterday and spent £38 between us, so am hoping it will last till the end of the week.I'd almost forgotten how much DD ate until these past 2 weeks since she's moved back in:eek: :eek:

bullet_2

This turns out very much like bread. I never work out weights when I'm cooking, I tend to adopt a bung it all together and see what happens policy, but the main thing with this one is you are trying to make a dough. I mixed up two sorts of flour as I was getting to the end of both packets.
Some bread flour
Some plain flour
A packet of dried yeast
Some grated mature cheddar cheese
Half a small to medium sized onion.
Some warm water.
Bit of salt and sugar if you want.
Either some suet or some butter dependant on your choice.

Mix the flour with the suet or butter then add the salt and sugar if using and the dried yeast. Add enough water to form a dough and start kneading. Knead for between 5 to 10 minutes then out it back in the bowl and cover up, before placing somewhere warm. Once it has increased in size take it out and add some chopped raw onion and some grated cheese, kneading these two ingredients into the dough. Place in a preheated oven at about 200 deg (don't know the gas equivalent I'm afraid). It is very tasty and very much an odds and ends recipe.

scotsaver

Morning everyone - just logged on quickly to update my spends, only got £19.36 left to last until Thursday and need to go shopping tomorrow so will take a list as usual and definitely be sticking to it.;)

Had roast Pork yesterday so Dinner tonight will be Pork Curry so nice and easy to make and have everything in that I need for that.

mrssnowy - can you post the Dahl recipe that you mentioned from the "Frugal Food" book - I made a Yellow Split pea & Coconut dahl last week that was from this site and DD1 & I loved it. Have looked up the new "Frugal Food" that Delia is launching and it's going to be hardback and £17.99 - not a very Frugal price.:eek:

Got a busy day in the Kitchen today as we have almost run out of sweet things, planning to make Cherry Bakewells, Hobnobs and fairy cakes. Must also try and make some little sausage rolls for lunchboxes. Also going to pick the rest of my tomatoes and bring them in to ripen on the windowsills and then I can clear out the tubs from the Greenhouse.

Have a great day everyone.:D

PS. MRSMC - where are you?? Really missing your daily posts as I find them really inspirational and get me motivated, especially when you update us on what you are growing & cooking.;)

KAAT_LADY

Good Morning All

declaring £201.99 +
just did not do it again this month,,,maybe next,, but we may need a DW so that will make a hole in it ,,lol xx

Why does everyone apologise these days i am sure its not good for everyone to hear or do ,,its a disgrace that people have to say sorry everytime they post ..I am sure it should not be run like this ,,school finished years ago,,we should not be treated like bad kids

there are some people who are saying sorry all day to their family they do not need to say sorry here as well

see you later

KAAT

gunsandbanjos

Did the weekly shop yesterday, very pleased, only spent £30.61 and £8 was on pullups for LO! Might make budget this month after all:D

Dont know if anyone else has noticed(i'm sure you have) but i always used to buy tomato puree in the tubes because i 'thought' it would be cheaper than the little tins, erm no, its not actually. As i discovered in Mr S yesterday the tubes are nearly double the price per 100g:eek: Tubes are 23p per 100g and the little tins are 12.1p per 100g Hope that helps someone, i stocked up on the tins before they whack the price up.

Off to update sig.

helenm2008

Well just did my last shop of the month at Mr T online, and spent £29.36 (guide price), so as long as that doesn't change too much I've got £5.71 to last me until Sunday when my October starts.

I'm cautiously hopeful! We've had people round to dinner 3 times this month, and on Friday bought pizza from Mr T instead of ordering from Dominos, so I'm pretty chuffed about how we've managed!

I'm also really pleased that OH is getting on board with MS. Not there all the way, but the reality of our financial situation is starting to sink in with him and i think he will definitely get there He said he wanted to be more involved in doing the shopping and menu planning etc, which is fantastic. So we have our week's menu and the best thing is I don't feel so much like I'm in charge of all things household.

In order to come in on target with my shopping this week, I branched out and bought lots of value things, which I haven't before. I really hope they are good - don't care that they are value, just that they are tasty! Also have plans to make some bakery type food this afternoon, as I left them off the list!

Going to phone Orange now and see if they will lower my tariff to match that 3 one that is only £15 for all those minutes that has been advertised....

Anyone who is unsure about being in the challenge because they are so skint, try and stick with us! This thread has been totally invaluable for me in getting costs down, but even more in giving support and making it all feel like a challenge instead of a chore :j

Helen

princess_leia_3

I am going to make my meal planner today for the rest of the month and October and try and see how little I can get away with buying next month I have loads in so I am off to find the meal planner thread I happened across the other week and hope I get lots of inspiration
I am also doing weightwatchers so I have to point all my food too which is more easily done if I meal plan so that is my goal for the day!
I am hoping it will be a NSD today as they Gas board are due out to change my meter over so have to wait in for them and a delivery for DH
Hope everyone else is doing well, and if not just remember there is always next month!

Also agree with Kaat about all the apologising and please delete this post if not appropriate messages, it doesn't make it feel as warm and friendly as it used to be so please stop, I am sure if threads are not applicable they will be removed and we all understand this happens.

echelon101

Went to Mr Sains as I had no deo left, thought my work collegues could do without my BO

Basic Bananas (~2kg) = £1
1x Grapefruit = 28p
3x Sardines (35p) = £1.05
2x Tuna (35p) = 70p

= £3.03
I am not counting toiletteries (although fyi 2x250ml Right Guard = £2.36) or household goods.

(Will need to go back later to Mr T to get my oats and Mr Sains to get some Frozen Veg and maybe some fish)

I think the reason I am coming under quite so much is that normally my shopping is done Waitrose+Iceland+Grocer, at the moment on placement near Sains and Tescos. I might switch to Aldi+Iceland+Grocer when I get back, Aldi is now accessible since I bought a seat rack although I could make it to ASDA now. Unfortunately there is no Sains or Tescos near (Tescos Express soon though).

Baked my bread using Weezles 1p Loaf (ty) I didn't have any sugar so the yeast didn't activate fully so it's a pretty dense loaf but has a lovely crust

r.mac_2

Regarding the Tesco butter for 50p - I bought some on Friday. The packet was foil based, with the traditional value trademark blue stripes on a white background. It was unsalted and was for 250g. There was also tesco value butter on sale for 79p I caouldn't see a difference, except for the packaging - which is greaseproof paper based, and more see through with the blue stripes on a white background?????

I was speaking to a sales assistant who told me they are phasing in a new discount range in a bid to compete with rivals such as aldi and lidl - perhaps this is part of that. The price wasn't advertised as a special offer.

HTH