Could any "OS Experts" have a peek at my shopping list???

Sarahlou_2

Hi guys

I've spent a while lurking on this board picking up some fab tips! I was wondering if anyone could take a quick look at my shopping list I have just spent hours putting together :rolleyes: and tell me where I can make cutbacks?? I would expect this to last approx 2 weeks.....(except the bread and milk)

Thank you!

(P.s: - there are a lot of crisps as I thought it seemed a good deal - 52 packs for £5, we probably eat 1 pack a day as a family of 2 adults and one 4 year old...)


Classic pack crisps (2 for £5)1£3.68
Meaty pack crisps (2 for £5)1£3.68
Pasta sauce - original bolognese1£0.98
Penne pasta (2 x 3kg for £3) £3.00
Basmati rice £0.84
Spaghetti loops x2 £0.28
Corned beef x2 £2.00
Tuna chunks in brine (4 for £3) £3.52
Chopped tomatoes x6 £1.98
Simmer soup - French onion (3 for £1)2£0.96
Simmer soup - leek and potato 1£0.48
Soup - cream of tomato2£0.88
Soup - spicy tomato and lentil2£0.88
Organic dried kidney beans - red £0.67
Meat gravy granules1£0.32
Sauce granules - white1£1.28
Whole black peppercorns1£1.41
Sauce granules - cheese1£0.81
Apple & blackcurrant squash (no added sugar)1£0.26
Orange squash (no added sugar)1£0.24
Choco snaps (2 for £2)1£1.57
Golden balls 1£1.47
Eggs - minimum net weight1£0.88
Semi skimmed fresh milk1£1.53
Hero Complete Chicken, Tripe & Vegetables1£2.71
Dog spot ons large dog1£1.97
Gel boat - cottonflower and waterlily1£0.70
Toilet cleaner pine1£0.24
Sponge scourers1£0.15
Resealable Freezer Bags - Medium £1.45
Washing up liquid - lemon fresh x 2 £0.86
Fabric conditioner - orginal1£0.44
Sandwich baps - white (24 freezable)1£1.00
Pepper - Red1£0.50
Cucumber portions1£0.35
Round lettuce1£0.50
Salad tomatoes1£0.88
Bananas £1.25
Satsumas - easy peel1£1.47
Apples bag of £0.69
White potatoes 1£1.38
Kids pizza - cheese and tomato (3 for £1.20)3£1.29
Pizza - cheese x 2 £0.88
Mince - beef x 3 £2.91 for 1.5kg
Beef sizzle steak (3 pack beef, chicken, lamb for £10) £4.00
Lamb leg steaks - boneless (as above)£4.00
British chicken breast fillets (as above)£4.00
Whole chicken - small x 2 £3.58
Smartprice mild coloured cheddar £2.01
Thin sliced ham - cooked £1.64
Lard £0.28
Yogurt - strawberry and raspberry (x 12) £0.86
Deli wraps - roasted red pepper £0.80
White loaf - medium £0.382
Hot and spicy chicken grills £2.00
Mini kievs £1.00
Breaded chicken nuggets £0.70
20 Thick pork sausages £1.34
Straight Cut Oven Chips £1.16
Broccoli x1 £0.84
Peas x 1 £0.85
Freshly Frozen Baby Carrots x 1 £0.98
Freshly frozen Diced Onions x 1 £1.38
Southern Fried Potato Wedges x 2 £1.04
Casserole mix frozenx1 £1.00
Mushrooms - sliced x 1 £0.96
Yorkshire puddings - large light and crispy x 1 £1.00
Red seedless grapes.5 kg £1.24
Stewing steak (price displayed is price per kg).4 kg £1.

estimated total £93.30

nimbo

the diced onions seem really exspensive, i get a big bag from morrisons, for about 70p, which would work out cheaper.... they last forever in the fridge. (sorry haven't been to asda in a while, but would it be cheaper to buy fresh?)

it would work out at oence each to make yourkshire puddigs... and dead easy too...
one mug milk, one mug flour, and 2 eggs wizz them with a hand whisk, and stick them into a tin in the oven with a small amount of very hot fat... (mine alwasys used to flop until my sister gave me this recipie... i never leave the batter to sit, and they work. also good for pancakes )

alot of the prepackaegd chicken seems to be pricey would it work out cheaper to buy some chicken breasts, and a load of different herbs and spices to flaovour it with? the spices would last for ages too...

i'm not a guru, but there just a few thoughts...

4Moneysaver

Hi Sarahlou, I'm no expert but I thought I'd take a peek anyhow. There are some bargains on your list but also some areas where you could certainly cut back. I bought peppercorns in Mr A this week for about 80p and I'm sure if you checked in your local Asian/continental food shop you'd find them for even cheaper. Also you're buying frozen onions, why? If you don't want the fuss (hardly any actually) of peeling and chopping them each time you want chopped onion then chop a batch yourself and freeze in portions for when you need them.
I'm sure there will be many more suggestions to come.
Hope this helps.

Sarahlou_2

Thanks Nimbo - what type of tin do I need to buy for Yorkshire Puds? (or is it obvious?!)

I've bought the two whole chickens to chop up and make curries etc....Do you think I ditch the chicken breasts?

I like the frozen diced onions as I can just grab a handful and whizz them in - a bag lasts me a month normally.

Sarahlou_2

4Moneysaver wrote: »

Hi Sarahlou, I'm no expert but I thought I'd take a peek anyhow. There are some bargains on your list but also some areas where you could certainly cut back. I bought peppercorns in Mr A this week for about 80p and I'm sure if you checked in your local Asian/continental food shop you'd find them for even cheaper. Also you're buying frozen onions, why? If you don't want the fuss (hardly any actually) of peeling and chopping them each time you want chopped onion then chop a batch yourself and freeze in portions for when you need them.
I'm sure there will be many more suggestions to come.
Hope this helps.

I never thought of that! Thank you x

Penelope_Penguin

Sarahlou wrote: »

Classic pack crisps (2 for £5)1£3.68
Meaty pack crisps (2 for £5)1£3.68
Pasta sauce - original bolognese1£0.98 have you tried making pasta sauce?
Penne pasta (2 x 3kg for £3) £3.00
Basmati rice £0.84
Spaghetti loops x2 £0.28
Corned beef x2 £2.00
Tuna chunks in brine (4 for £3) £3.52
Chopped tomatoes x6 £1.98
Simmer soup - French onion (3 for £1)2£0.96
Simmer soup - leek and potato 1£0.48
Soup - cream of tomato2£0.88
Soup - spicy tomato and lentil2£0.88 you can make soup from scratch cheaply; much healthier, too
Organic dried kidney beans - red £0.67
Meat gravy granules1£0.32
Sauce granules - white1£1.28 don't know what this is, but cornflour is cheaper
Whole black peppercorns1£1.41
Sauce granules - cheese1£0.81 as above - use strong cheddar and you don't need much
Apple & blackcurrant squash (no added sugar)1£0.26
Orange squash (no added sugar)1£0.24
Choco snaps (2 for £2)1£1.57
Golden balls 1£1.47
Eggs - minimum net weight1£0.88
Semi skimmed fresh milk1£1.53
Hero Complete Chicken, Tripe & Vegetables1£2.71
Dog spot ons large dog1£1.97
Gel boat - cottonflower and waterlily1£0.70
Toilet cleaner pine1£0.24
Sponge scourers1£0.15
Resealable Freezer Bags - Medium £1.45
Washing up liquid - lemon fresh x 2 £0.86
Fabric conditioner - orginal1£0.44 I've never used conditioner
Sandwich baps - white (24 freezable)1£1.00
Pepper - Red1£0.50
Cucumber portions1£0.35
Round lettuce1£0.50
Salad tomatoes1£0.88
Bananas £1.25
Satsumas - easy peel1£1.47
Apples bag of £0.69
White potatoes 1£1.38 Fruit and veg from the market or farm shop usually works out cheaper
Kids pizza - cheese and tomato (3 for £1.20)3£1.29 That's really expensive compared to HM :eek:
Pizza - cheese x 2 £0.88
Mince - beef x 3 £2.91 for 1.5kg Butchers are usually cheaper
Beef sizzle steak (3 pack beef, chicken, lamb for £10) £4.00
Lamb leg steaks - boneless (as above)£4.00
British chicken breast fillets (as above)£4.00 Breast is really expensive (and tasteless, IMHO). Try buying a whole chicken - 2 meals and stock for soup
Whole chicken - small x 2 £3.58
Smartprice mild coloured cheddar £2.01 Buy strong and you need less
Thin sliced ham - cooked £1.64
Lard £0.28
Yogurt - strawberry and raspberry (x 12) £0.86
Deli wraps - roasted red pepper £0.80
White loaf - medium £0.382
Hot and spicy chicken grills £2.00
Mini kievs £1.00
Breaded chicken nuggets £0.70 These manufactured foods are really expensive - can you try cooking from scratch
20 Thick pork sausages £1.34
Straight Cut Oven Chips £1.16
Broccoli x1 £0.84
Peas x 1 £0.85
Freshly Frozen Baby Carrots x 1 £0.98
Freshly frozen Diced Onions x 1 £1.38 As others have said, why
Southern Fried Potato Wedges x 2 £1.04
Casserole mix frozenx1 £1.00
Mushrooms - sliced x 1 £0.96
Yorkshire puddings - large light and crispy x 1 £1.00 You can make Yorkshire puddings cheaply
Red seedless grapes.5 kg £1.24
Stewing steak (price displayed is price per kg).4 kg £1.

estimated total £93.30

HTH, Penny. x

Sarahlou_2

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

HTH, Penny. x

Thanks Penny, just a few questions:

1. Have you a recipe for pasta sauce and homemade pizza?
2. Have you a recipe for chicken nuggets?
3. Every time I attempt white sauce I balls it up, hence granuals any tips?
4. I've got two whole chickens to chop up - thought the breasts where a bargain? - Maybe not?

SunnyGirl

Hi Sarahlou & good on you for reducing your shopping budget :T The grocery challenge threads are brilliant for recipes, the first few posts have a mega list of everything. I find it invaluble if I'm unsure how to make something. There is a great pizza recipe there that I've used & can definitely reccommend

For a pasta sauce I usually fry some chopped onion & garlic gently until it's soft, then add either a jar of pasatta (sieved tomatoes) or a couple of tins of tomatoes, herbs, salt & pepper and a pinch of sugar to counteract any acidity from the tomatoes. Simmer gently until it has thickened and taste for seasoning. This can be used in sauces for things like bolognese, chilli, pasta bakes and on pizza too.

For a white sauce melt 1oz of butter and add 1oz of flour. Stir constantly for a couple of minutes to 'cook' the flour then slowly add a pint of milk whilst stirring all the time. It's usually easier to use a whisk at this stage. The sauce will thicken up as it's cooking. Add salt & pepper to taste. For cheese sauce add grated cheese. Some people put a little grated nutmeg into white sauces but I'm not personally keen on the flavour. It's a very adaptable recipe as you can add all sorts to it.

Whole chickens tend to work out cheaper as you can roast them for a roast dinner, strip the remaining meat off for a pie, pasta dish, sandwiches, rissotto etc and then make soup from the carcass with water, a couple of carrots, an onion, some mixed herbs or a bouquet garni & salt & pepper. I always used to buy chicken breasts but I can now feed the 6 of us 3 meals from a large chicken. Nuggets I would try Jamie Oliver's site as he made them in his dinner ladies programme linky here. hth

Gingham_Ribbon

Hiya Sarahlou,

Pasta sauce - heat a large glug of olive oil in a pan, turn down the heat and add some crushed garlic then add a box of cheap passata and a heaped teaspoon of mixed Italian dried herbs. Let it simmer for a while until it reduces and thickens. You can add tomato puree too. Great in bolognaise or on its own with some veg over pasta. Tinned tomatoes are great in this instead of passata but more expensive.

Instead of chicken nuggets, some thigh or leg meat with some gravy or sauce would probably tempt the little one and be easier than making them.

White sauce is worth another go. Try to add the same amount of butter and flour, let the butter just melt then stir in the flour and slowly add the milk and keep stirring. Don't let it burn and if it goes lumpy just use a balloon whisk and it will sort itself out. I add a bay leaf and if I'm adding cheese I'll add a touch of mustard too.

Edit: I have trouble with white sauce if I cook the flour/butter mixture before adding milk. I add the milk straight away or I find I burn it and I get brown lumps. (Don't know what I do wrong!) But I cook it for about 10 minutes on a low heat, stirring often.

Also, a heavy based pan is good for this and a wide saucepan is good for the pasta sauce.

Penelope_Penguin

Sarahlou wrote: »

Thanks Penny, just a few questions:

1. Have you a recipe for pasta sauce and homemade pizza?
2. Have you a recipe for chicken nuggets?
3. Every time I attempt white sauce I balls it up, hence granuals any tips?
4. I've got two whole chickens to chop up - thought the breasts where a bargain? - Maybe not?

Pasta Sauce recipes

Pizza base recipes

Pizza sauce

Chicken nuggets

Friends coming round - I'll get you the rest later

Penny. x

Kippaxmum

Quick tip for your white sauce - warm your milk before adding it to the flour/butter mix - it should help stop it going lumpy :-)

I know what you mean about using the frozen bits but the stuff you can pick up at a local market it so much better! I've ditched the supermarket for all my fresh veg, meat, fish & fruit. Anything else I can get in other shops. The only real reason I go to Mr A (apart from to please dh!) is to get youghurts and thats because i can't be doing with making them too!

Looks like you have a good selection on there

Donna
x