July 2009 Grocery Challenge

elantan

i can see me doing a whole load of learning here...thanks


so say i made two soups a week (one to do me 3 days one 4 days) that could be lunch sorted then ...and if i go buy dolmio etc and cook the steak mince i can make spag bog for when i am on night shift for hubby ...

can you freeze the wraps that you use for fajitas? i buy a pack of 8 but we only use about 4 and i land up chucking the other 4 away

eckythump

elantan wrote: »

without taking the car it would be somerfield and the co-op with the car tesco (30 mins each way roughly) asda (15 mins each way roughly) aldi(30 mins each way roughly ...in the other direction from tesco though) liddl (45 mins away roughly ) could all be less or more though

Good,
I find Asda is good for a tight budget.

do you have cupboard staples like rice,pasta,cous cous?
If not work on buying one of these a week in a larger size(check prices first as Asda has smaller bags of pasta on offer at the moment that work out cheaper than buying their huge bags)
Is your somerfield or co op good for reduced for a quick sale items ?
you can sometimes pick up fruit and veg for a few pence.

eckythump

elantan wrote: »

i can see me doing a whole load of learning here...thanks


so say i made two soups a week (one to do me 3 days one 4 days) that could be lunch sorted then ...and if i go buy dolmio etc and cook the steak mince i can make spag bog for when i am on night shift for hubby ...

can you freeze the wraps that you use for fajitas? i buy a pack of 8 but we only use about 4 and i land up chucking the other 4 away

yes the wraps freeze well.
you can also prefill them with left over bolognaise and fold them burrito style and freeze them so your hubbie can pop some cheese on them and put them in the oven.
speaking of mexican style,do you like nachos?
the value nachos from most supermarkets are o.k to use in topped nachos.
if you take a tin of value baked beans,rinse the sauce off and then mash them up you can fry these in a little garlic butter they make great refried beans.

elantan

well i got the peppers at reduced today it was £1.23 for 4 peppers they had corn on the cob for £1.59 for two reduced (eh no) the co-op had corn on the cob for £1 for two but they were black ...asda was the cheapes so i went with them ....i dont see any other bargains but i probably go at the wrong time tbh ...right cupboard gonna have a look at that next ...you know i am actually enjoying this (i was dreading it cause i havnt got a clue)

elantan

right one of the cupboards ( i have a chinese one and a spice one with tea and coffee etc to go)

white rice (approx 10kg)
old el paso taco shells (2 packs)
shepherds pie mix (2)
chilli con carne mix (2)
taco mix (2)
fajita mix (2)
cous cous (1)
tube garlic puree
dried seaweed strips (plenty)
ruskoline crumb dressing
jar pesto (2)
jar olives (250g)
pasta (300g approx)
pea and ham soup (tin)
thick country veg soup (tin)
spring veg soup (tin)
tinned tomatoes (8)
tinned tuna (1)
beans (1)
super noodles (2)
brown rice miso
mexican salsa dip ?
sweet piquant peppers (375g)
manzan chillis (215g)
jalepenos (215g)
mixed herbs (approx 170g)
basil (100g)
oregano(100g)


a wee mix there then

scotsaver

helen_jelly wrote: »

Right - here goes


Scotsaver - was the chesse mild or full flavor as we are big cheese eaters aswell

Helen

Hi Helen - the Cheese is Medium Mature. HTH

elf06 wrote: »

. Wont be able to spend for the next few days as I have just found out that my DS has swine flu (wish it was a joke but its not).
Not a great start to the day

elf06 - hope your Son is better soon.;)

Little_Muvva wrote: »

I'm impressed - how do you keep your shopping bill so low if you're eating organic? I'm a newbie and love to cook so am interested in saving without compromising on good food

Hi Little Muvva - Sorry you must have misread my Post, we don't eat Organic but do eat Free Range Chicken and eggs and try to buy most meat from Butchers or if from the Supermarket then I try to make sure it's British. Free Range Chicken in Lidl is £3.98 a Kilo or I buy when whoopsied in Asda, Sainsbury's, M&S depending in where I am. Iceland do 6 Large Free Range eggs for £1. HTH.:D

Off to serve up Dinner now, Beef Casserole in the Slow Cooker with Carrots and Courgettes on the side and plenty of Mash.:D

Have a good evening everyone.;)

eckythump

dry goods not so bad then.

right start at the top,what would you and your OH normally eat for breakfast?

JayneC

Hi everyone,

Elf, hope your little one is better soon xx

Well I'm over budget already!!! And got to 25th to go. Think I can manage meals until end of month but will need bread milk and F&V so just got to try and limit the damage now.

Just re the free range eggs I get mine from local greengrocer at 75p for 6 or 90p for 6 large. Well cheaper than the supermarkets. It might be worth having a look if you've got a local market or grocers nearby.

I'm getting a few things out of garden now. Eating strawberries at mo:D
Will get a few more spuds and have lots of tomato plants flowering. I have one courgete plant but has 4 courgettes on it at mo, be ready soon....My peas seem to have stppoed in their tracks not sure what happened there. I have sprouting broccoli that's already sprouting. Is this normal? - I didn't expect anything til autumn

Think I'll have to do lots of baking at weekend as DS1 breaks up on Friday and so he'll no doubt be raiding the cupboards next week.
Anyone got ideas for cheap snacks for growing boys?

Any hoo....I'm off to have a mooch around some other threads

Be back soon xx

1HANNAH

hello, just a quickie but I wouldn't bother buying a dolmio sauce for your spag bol, we just use a tin of chopped tomatoes, some tom puree, some chopped peppers & onions, grated carrot (pads it out and increase the veg portions) and then I usually stick of couple of lamb oxo cubes as well. I usually then half the mixture and stick some sweetcorn in one half and in the other a can of kidney beans & some chilli. Hubby loves spicy so he has the chilli & I have the spag bol. HTH

Gigervamp

elantan wrote: »

if i go buy dolmio etc and cook the steak mince i can make spag bog for when i am on night shift for hubby ...

Don't buy dolmio. Use one of the tins of tomatoes instead. Chop an onion and fry gently until softened, add the mince and brown then bung in the tomatoes, add a squirt of your garlic puree, a teaspoon of sugar, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Cook for 20-30 mins.