April 2009 Grocery Challenge

sistercas

:easter_os everyone

MrsM you seem to get alot for your money, you must be a very wise shopper indeed, I could do with taking a leaf out of your book

just hidden the kids easter eggs (they are teenagers now but still want me to hide them lol) they have far fewer this year thank goodness
they have gone for the money option from most of the relatives this year

roast beef and all the trimmings for lunch,
I am hoping to get in the garden and check my little veggies ,not such a nice day here MrsM not sure if it will stay dry

hope you all have a lovely easter :EasterBun

moonflower_2

Well,I have to confess that I have spent too much this month,not overspent but !! My daughter who lives in Canada has been here to stay for 3 weeks.

We had eaten well and have had several family dinners upto 9 people at a time.

Friday -I spent £9.50 - Milk ,Wine and horse radish sauce.
Saturday - £7.50 - on Milk and wine!!!

Well,I better pull the horns in until the end of the month.

Spent nearly all allowence for April £230 - £68 left.

I have also bought a new carpet £88 and new glasses £50 does this count as I have spent far more this month overall.

fletch3163

Good morning everyone and a Happy and Peaceful Easter to you all

I bought myself an Easter egg yesterday:D Not had one of those for years and years. Am more the person hoovering up the splinters in the background:o

I decided to treat the three of us and got DS a big Green & Black's milk chocolate one that weights a ton. Thick shelled it says. DH and I got wee 70% dark Green & Black's. Oh what a treat:T

Yesterday was our last day together (DH back nightshift tonight) so we went to New Lanark for the day. Am HUGELY impressed. It was insightful, peaceful and not too expensive. The day for four was £22, ice cream for four cost a fiver and carry out food later £20. A £50 fab day out and it was well worth it.

Right now, decisions, decisions, roll the egg or eat the egg, roll the egg or eat the egg, roll the egg or .....................

Toonie

Happy Easter to all. I'm about to head into the kitchen and get some baking done before BF wakes up (letting him lie in). Have done an inventory of the freezers and larder and all I should need to the end of the month is flour, butter, milk, bread and eggs. Next weekend is BFs birthday so will be making three cakes as he has 30 people coming over. Also going to pop to local Greek bakery and stock up on daktila and village bread. Far tastier and cheaper than what we get round here, plus great for dipping in bowls of bolognese (for the party).

highland_fling_2

Hi everyone
visited Somerfield on Friday and picked up some bargains. Worked from their "promotions" leaflet and was not tempted by extras I don't need. Feeling quite proud of myself, not known for my self restraint in supermarkets.
It is a beautiful Easter morning here, making me feel happy just looking out at the garden and watching the birds.
Will be serving lunch later, leg of lamb in the oven. Feeling blessed to be sharing it with other members of my family. "Special Easter Wishes" to those of you who are on your own.

prudence41

Hi Everyone

It's been a while since I posted (no broadband from Tiscali for a whole week! but that's another thread) and I hve decided to translate my Grocery challenge to £1400 per annum.

I've updated my signature to reflect my spending £3.96 yesterday on vegetables to make up a lovely meal of Scottish Salmon, Parmentier potatoes (M&S dine for £10 from the freezer) and a bottle of Sancerre (from my existing stash of wine).

:easter:

Rowan9

This has to be my lowest cost week - still just the 88p for 2 pints milk at the local shop. I've amazed myself at adapting meals to what is in the fridge/ cupboards. I am missing bananas but am sure there are some brown ones in the freezer if I rummage. They are delicious nuked - very sweet.
have made my shopping list for Tuesday as DH will be back by then. Hoping to stay in target this month as we have a few extras which we hadn't expected.
Good luck with the challenge everyone
w

shell_542

I have discovered a fool proof way of having a NSD ... forget your purse, which I did yesterday

So far have spent £2.55 on bread, rolls and a packet of crisps for my son :T

Today will also be a NSD but only because the shops are shut Shopping day tomorrow. Uh oh.

Happy Easter Grocery Challengees :EasterBun

(meant to add on my first post that my month runs 10th to the 10th.)

kezlou

Mrs M thanks for changing my GC limit, really appreciate it

Well two NSD's in a row, spent the day playing with the boys, having easter egg hunts so tired now though think all that running around has tired me out

Now sure if i should post it here so if its need to be removed feel free to, or let me know and i will yes daft i know.

Okay here we go does anyone have a vegetarian recipe for savoury pie pastry? Thanks everyone.
I'm sick of buying flaky pastry from the shops, its becoming so expensive, the price has shot up again.

Well we had jackets + salad yesterday, bean and dumpling cassorole for lunch,yay slow cookers.scampi yesterday and sandwiches with HM cheese savoury.
Today left over bean casserole going to make my first left over plate pie in a pyrex dish.

Need to make some for bread in the bread machine, so far been going through a loaf a day, but so much cheaper than the corner shop.

Meal plan for main meals during the week, may not be in this order, but know i already have everything in for this.

Monday:- Mushroom Rissoto with chicken stock
Tuesday :- HM Pizza
Wednesday:- Liver & onions (already in freezer, just need to remember to take the meat out)
Thursday:- chilli (already cooked, in freezer)
Friday:- stew (already cooked in freezer)

Happy easter all!

Julimk

I like a suet crust on savoury pies. You can buy veggie suet. Follows the basic principle of half fat to flour but as the suet is already grated there is no rubbing in. Just mix the flour & suet together (say 8oz flour & 4oz suet). Add cold water slowly, mixing with a knife until it is nearly there & then put hands into the bowl to bring it together. I think it is more what would usually be used with a savoury pudding (like steak & kidney pudding) but does crisp up nicely on top in the oven.

For flaky pastry:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/flakypastry_1282.shtml

If memory serves, when we made this at school (it was a while ago!) we used all butter. Or could substitute the lard with something like Trex.

Or if you go to post 6 on the first page of this thread there are some links about making pastry. HTH.

I have had a couple of NSDs too & should be tomorrow as well. As I was going to my parents’ for dinner I wanted a fairly light lunch & made some khicheri – Indian rice & lentils:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/creamylentilandriced_86573.shtml

DD will be home tomorrow & I have taken a whole chicken out of the freezer to defrost for our dinner. Mind you, after the batch cooking yesterday there wasn’t room for it to stay in the freezer!

Will mix some of the left over chicken with some left over gammon I already have & a can of condensed mushroom soup from the storecupboard & add a suet crust for a chicken & ham pie. Use the last of the meat for chicken curry. And then use the carcass for stock/soup!