July 2009 Grocery Challenge

rosekitten

southernscouser wrote: »

Seriously hun, Dolmio is well expensive. £2 odd I think. And once you've made your own you won't go back. I used up an old jar and it's so sweet it's horrible. _pale_

2 tins of chopped tomatoes (25p a tin odd), bit of basil out of the jar, salt, pepper, juice of a lemon, splash of tomatoe puree and (I'll probably get slated for this) I like to put Bisto beef granules in. Tastes pukka for probably a quid tops. :T

we put an oxo cube in ours so dont worry about Bisto
just do what suits we do it so the kids will like it so
leave out the likes of garlic etc,tastes lovely and is really
cheap.

We have in the past when we have seen mince reduced
if its a large size cooked the lot and frozen half for
another day,we use the fussilli pasta instead of spagetti
its easier to eat.

Another thing we do is every time we shop we put all
our 2p and 1p coins in a tin we keep in the kitchen
when its full we cash it in at the bank and use the
money to eat out as a treat.

TotallyBroke

elantan wrote: »

dinner will be two corn on the cobs on a bed of rocket lettuce/spinach/watercress (need to go shopping for that)and tomatoes cucumber etc

and a kiwi fruit and some figs for snacks ....

not sure what hubby is having yet will ask him

He could have the same but have one of the surprise breaded things as well.

Can I make a suggestion with the salad, cut up the salad into small cubes and put into a bowl in the fridge. If I did a normal salad I would use lots of tomatoes for each person. Now I only use 1 or 2 cut up along with the chopped other salad items, lettuce etc and I spoon it out onto the plate.

I had never eaten cous cous before (and still have not as a main meal) but now I will use it to bulk out meals like a shepherds pie, you only need half a cup and that is plenty.

I see from your shopping list that you have lots of sauce mixes, I'm guessing they are in packets. I too buy them when they are on offer, but as it is only me and a 2yo at home I use a 3rd of the packet. Maybe for you & OH half the packet would be enough.
Another thing I add into my spag bol is frozen veg stock cubes. I was forever having veg go soft and so I blitzed it all up together and froze it in an ice cube tray. A hell of a lot cheaper then Knorr etc. If I have left over veg on a plate I will do it also. For meat versions you could blitz any left over dinner or boil up the stock from the bones.

I'll try to post those freezing guidelines over the next few days for you.

elantan

Wow I can't get over all the helpful advice thanks guys I trylly appreciate it .... Can't really reply properly just now as I am on the iPhone in work ... Won't get finished till 10pm tonight either ... But I deff think there will be no more dolmio sauce ( hubby also uses it for fajitas????) I think ss you hit the nail on the head it is much sweeter and I think he likes that .... Also I know this sounds crazy but I never for one second ever thought about making stock cubes from vegetables and meat .... For theses tips .... As I say I am a total amature (sp) in this field and I have alot to learn .... The thing is the veg cubes etc will ( in theory anyway) be easy .... Thankyou all very much ... Will try and sneak on if the boss is out

moneytree1

Hi all just a quick spend update spent £38.77 1st week £23.34 2nd week £23.99 this week making a total of £86.10 so 63.90 left for rest of month all is good.

karenccs67

I've just received a £10 off voucher from Nails Inc, so I've booked myself in for a manicure a few days before we go on holiday. I've never had a professional manicure before so I'm really looking forward to it.

The freezer is looking pretty full still so I won't need to buy too much this week apart from fruit, veg & milk. I'm going to save a bit the week were on hols, mums coming to look after animals but she doesn't cook so she will be eating out each day. (mum can't be bothered to cook since dad passed away) she doesn't eat much and would rather eat out.

I hope the weather improves soon. :):) xxx

elf06

Quick question - but can omelette (sp) be frozen???

scotsaver

Another NSD for me today, made easier by the fact that the sun has decided to shine again so I've been keeping busy in the Garden.;)

For those who have a glut of Courgettes growing (myself included) I found this Courgette Pie Recipe, on another thread by npsmama, I'm going to try this at the weekend as I have some more that I know will be ready by then and I hate wasting anything.:cool:

Dinner tonight is a Leek & Bacon Pasta dish with a nice big bowl of salad leaves from the Garden and tomatoes from Aldi's super 6.:D

elf06 - not sure about freezing omelette but I'm sure someone with more knowledge will be along soon to let you know.

Have a good day everyone.;)

SunnyGirl

Elf06 Sorry to hear your son has swine flu hope he's on the mend now. I suppose an omlette could be frozen but it wouldn't be at all puffy or slightly runny in the middle IYSWIM? I like omlettes to be a bit runny in the middle & puffy so I wouldn't but if it doesn't bother you go for it If its eggs you want to freeze they freeze well in a tub just slightly beaten with a pinch of salt. I have to label how many are in there as I forget as soon as I close the freezer door :rotfl:

I'm doing ok on the challenge so far. I'll be going to Aldi tomorrow for double amounts of the Super Six, some salad and two lots of their thick Bratwurst sausages which are seriously yummy :j

beasygirl

Again, I have been awful at keeping up with this thread and updating my spends - must try harder!!

Had a shop at Mr T's and spent £61.66 and then £24.66 on milk bread and a reduced bit of beef!

Don't plan on spending anything until Tuesday and PROMISE to update then

Julimk

Thursday is my normal shopping day, as I work at home on Thursdays, and I normally do a top-up shop for the next week, so today should have been the weekly top-up shop for next week (week 5 of 6).

All I need for DD is tomorrow’s pack-up & Saturday’s breakfast, as she is eating at a friend’s today and will get breakfast & dinner at the childminder’s tomorrow, then she will be off to her Dad’s for the next two weeks!

So, all that was actually on my list was milk & chicken livers! Had to go to MrS as MrT doesn’t do chicken livers (& they are my only options locally). Picked up a pack of fish pie mix (40% salmon, 30% smoked haddock & 30% pollock) whoopsied to half price (damn those whoopsies!:o)

Also got a four pack of Prince’s tinned tuna, as on offer at half price & always useful; and a few cans of beans (not baked) as MrS has some varieties that MrT doesn’t offer. Still over £25 in the budget, there’s masses in & only me for the rest of the month. So should be OK!:D