September 2008 Grocery Challenge. Please read first two posts.

smetf

Morning all
Popped in and caught up and updated sig before school run. Back from PTA meeting so thought I would post while munching twinks and a cuppa :coffee:

Had big mr T shop delivered last night (£57.15) so doesn't feel like budget is going too well but my menu plan is up to date and I don't need that much for it so fingers crossed. Had forgotten to order more butter and will need more fruit towards end of week and poss milk, likely to treat ourselves to a bottle of wine or two over the weekend too :rolleyes:

Planning a Mr T shop each week of around £50 plus £10 for fruit and milk top ups in the week should keep me on target for the rest of September.

Jediteacher know what you mean about that proud feeling- Sun night OH suggested takeaway and bottle of wine was sooooo tempted but between us talked ourselves out of it rustled up a chilli and courgette pasta dish and decided to save the wine for the weekend when he is actually off work!!

Greent we like quesedillas too- cheese and cold meats that need eating up, dd2 likes beans and cheese, ds likes tuna cheese melt concotion and I quite like cheese with spring onions (from the garden) mmmmm v.tasty will have to try the mince idea though- thanks!

See you later

Smetf

BigMummaF

Look what I've found! http://www.be-ro.com/f_insp.htm with loads of recipe ideas!

Also http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=256155 for school lunch-box ideas. HTH.

leebarton

I have just researched making tortillas. DD doesn't like bread, but will eat wraps. Here is the recipe:

Tortilla Style Flatbreads

Ingredients
6oz plain flour
7tbsp water
1tsp salt
1tbsp olive oil

Mix and then knead for five minutes until it's soft and springy.
Cover with a clean damp cloth to stop it drying out and leave it for half an hour (or more - you can make it the day before you want to eat it if you like and put it in the fridge).
Divide in to six, roll each piece in to a ball, then flatten out and roll in to a circle about 6 inches wide.
Heat a frying pan (with a little oil if you like) and when it's quite hot cook the flatbreads, about a minute each side until lightly coloured.
They'll puff and bubble just like the ones in the shops.
Once cooked you can eat them warm, grill them quickly before you eat them, or freeze for use later.
They freeze so well I tend to make double every time so I can have some ready to use in minutes (they're so thin you can put them straight from the freezer in to a warm oven or under the grill).

The total cost for this mix is 12p or 2p a wrap. I am amazed!

PurpleSkies

Where is everyone finding Hovis bread mix for 27p?!?!
The hovis stuff in Mr A is 77p! And even Mr T's own is 55p!
I feel like I'm missing out.

leebarton

PurpleSkies wrote: »

Where is everyone finding Hovis bread mix for 27p?!?!
The hovis stuff in Mr A is 77p! And even Mr T's own is 55p!
I feel like I'm missing out.

I have found it in two different Mr T's - both times on the top shelf, near the other mixes. Good luck with finding some!

SavvyStudent_2

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Good, good, I was concerned because you said 'She has given them to me. I am 39 and declaring my first case of chicken pox:eek: . How embarressing, I will have to take DS3 to nursery and stay outside with DD, whilst nursery staff take him in and collect him:o .. '

which means that you will also be infectious and they could easily be carrying the infection from the lovely blisters from your giving them a kiss, etc.

I'm not having a go at you at all, it's just that, since my dose of the chickenpops (as DD2 calls it - I have images of rice crispies stuck all over my body and growing feathers!), I have realised that very few people know that it can be so serious.

Hope you feel better soon.

I know this is non-grocery challenge related, and thats an issue at the mo, but can everybody with chickenpox just remember to stay away from pregnant women! L xx

PurpleSkies

leebarton wrote: »

I have found it in two different Mr T's - both times on the top shelf, near the other mixes. Good luck with finding some!

The Mr T near me is a bit rubbish for most things so they don't have any hovis mix. They have Wright's which is 75p and the own brand stuff.

Has anyone actually tried Mr T's own bread mix? Is it any good?

curly_cabbage

Hi all
Today is my 2nd NSD, which dosn't too great but, for me at the moment its really good.
Not too sure what to do for tea yet as OH is away tonight and Ds1 & DS2 are picky, might just use up the frozen chips and pizza's, washed down with a couple of glasses of wine.

CC

FairyElephant_2

Just popping in with an update on how I'm doing so far.......

EEEK! - it's only 9th Sept and I've spent over half my budget - £75.88 to be precise, leaving me only £54.12 to go.......

Actually - it's not as bad as it seems:

I've stocked up on rice & pasta (in the expectation that prices are gonna rise due to the bad harvests, so bulk-bought when on offer) - probably got enough to last 3 months at the moment! If things get tight later in the month I'll adjust the budget and take out 2/3 of the cost of this, but if I can manage not to I guess I'll be doing really really well this month!

We're away on hols from 20th to 27th, so this month is a week less than normal (taken into account in my challenge total of £130).

Managed to keep religiously to my meal-plan so far this month - apart from SK's eating all the roast meat & potatoes on Sunday that I had planned as cold meat and bubble&squeak for yesterday! Resorted to my 'emergency' supplies shelf and used tin of stewed steak & packet of instant mash with the leftover veg

On the downside, we've got several of people coming tomorrow nite to watch the footie, and I've got to feed them! (not that I am not pleased to have them - you know what I mean! and it is our 'turn'). Will pick up some of Mr A's £1.00 frozen pizzas on the way home I hope - if they have any left - got a £2 voucher card from them last week as I had been overcharged on something the week before, so that'll help towards.

Hope everyone doing OK.

FE

greent

OOPS - have messed up somewhat :-( We have lots of food in, even milk & f&V! I thought I had a Waitrose (save15) delivery booked for Fri - but I checked earlier (wanting to move it to next week) and it's today, between 4 & 6pm! I really hope it arrives before DH comes home, cos I'm not sure what he'll say. It's an offer shop, so the total will be under £30, although the trolley is over £50. Thankfully I have created enough space in freezer to put the meat in, the milk is Cravendale so should be ok and the other items are bogof pullups and special offer loo rolls. Argh! I must resist the temptation to take advantage of special offers (last week I had about 4 things on my list but decided I'd spend over £50 to get the petrol voucher at tesco)

Although I've spent a fortune so far (is it really only the 9th??!!) it does include some supemarket clothes, 2 tins of the bogof sweets for Xmas and a heap of stocking filler and goody bag pressies picked up in Messrs T & A sales. Still not good though!

Ah well, it's too late to change anything. We still should make it (fingers crossed!)

greent x
........actually off to Mr T to buy bread (and ONLY bread!!!) as DD won't eat homemade, so she gets Mr T...