August 2009 Grocery Challenge

redmel1621

Morning:)

I have just totalled up my spends so far and am already up to £108.66, I still have an Asda spend to add to that, but DH went and I have no idea where he has put the receipt, so I am waiting for it to show on the online banking statement(prob tom)

I have a couple of questions please

1 - What is the best way of cooking a big gammon joint, to prevent it shrinking too much and which way makes it easiest to carve up....Boiling/slow cooking/roasting???

2 - Someone (sorry can't remember who it was) mentioned that they made a pizza with BBQ sauce and put veg on it from the freezer.....was the veg bought frozen or veg that you chopped and froze yourself, also did you defrost it first or put it on the pizza frozen?

Thanks
Mel x

cw18

redmel1621 wrote:

1 - What is the best way of cooking a big gammon joint, to prevent it shrinking too much and which way makes it easiest to carve up....Boiling/slow cooking/roasting???

Slow cooking for me (carve? falls apart ), with boiling a second choice. Roasting is last choice as it always shrinks due to not having the water to keep it fully hydrated.

genkijen

I woud like to be added to the august monthly challenge

I am going to put down for £200 and that is just two of us , but this is my first proper go!!:money::money:

kezlou

Honey39 wrote: »

Well, I had my first internet/online shop of the month yesterday, which came to £53.43. It wasn't great, but it *does* include a lot of extra stuff like moisturiser, conditioner, washing powder etc. My full list is as follows:

• 1 Burgen Soya And Linseed Bread 800g £1.11
• 1 Punnet Apricots Each£1.49
• Green Seedless Grapes 500g Pack Each £1.00
• Tesco Sweet Celery Hearts Each £0.64 Aldi super 6 will on offer from today
• 1Red Peppers Loose Each Class 1 Each£0.60
• Courgettes Loose Class 1 £0.35
• 1Loose Red Onions Class 2£0.211
• Tesco Jalapeno & Red Pepper Houmous 200g £1.14
• 1Tesco Celery Fruit Nutsalad 300g £1.09
• 1Tesco Black & Green Olives With Feta 100g 1.19
• 1Tesco Finest Potato Salad 275g Each £1.09
• 1Tesco Salad Selection 400g X£1.00
• Unwashed Rocket Salad 60g £0.69
• 1Tesco Chicken & Sweetcorn Sandwich Filler 250g £1.31
• Grated Parmesan Cheese 50g £0.85
• Rowan Glen Biological Low Fat Scottish Natural Yoghurt £0.20
• 1Finest Chicken Chasseur 400g £4.00
• Tesco Finest Red Cabbage And Apple 300g £2.69
• Tesco Finest Red Thai Chicken Curry 375g £3.75
• 2Batchelors Cup A Soup Special Mushroom Granules 4s £2.52
• 1Tesco Uht Skim Milk 500ml 0.44
• 1Encona Thai Sweet Chili Sauce 142ml£0.85
• 1Innocent P / Apple Banana & Coconutsmoothie 1 Litre £2.96
• 1Marques De Leon White Wine 75cl £2.83
• Ibuprofen 200mg 16 Caplets £0.32
• Paracetamol 500mg 16 Caplets £0.20
• Tea Tree Conditioner 500ml £0.99
• Large Cotton Wool Padsdouble Faced 50 £0.60
• L'oreal Dermo Exgentle Eye Make Up Remover 125ml £2.19
• Dove Body Silk 300ml £4.63
• Silk & Delicateshandwash £1.03
• Tesco Value Food Bags 50's £0.30
• Tesco Value Batteries Aaa 4pk £0.70
• Cream Napkins 33cm 50pk £0.74
• Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream 125g £2.49

I know that seems high, but there is a lot of non-food stuff in there as well. I have a rule that I try not to do any other shopping during the week, although I might do a little light shopping at the weekend for something nice for tea. I try to buy all my toiletries and cleaning supplies and booze online as well in this shop. This will also provide all my lunches for the week as well.

Happy for any tips - there is a lot of expensive food in there, but I am trying to eat healthily as well, and lose weight. Yikes!

Great thread, am really enjoying this challenge.

I would make my own hummus by whizzing up some chickpeas, salt pepper garlic and chilli. would also be a lot cheaper if you made your own salads, make own potato salad, sandwich fillers etc

barneydee wrote: »

cat food(5 cats plus a few strays) we have got this down to £32.00 a month how much do you spend on cat food, can i do it cheaper? well must dash got to go to work Dee

Have you tried you local pet store? I bought about 25kg of cat biscuits for £12, its a breeders pack. I only have two cats but its saved me a small fortune so far.

didnt buy the stuff toothpaste yesterday so may have today, if i have time. Made DS1's cushion so he's very happy.
Also going to Aldi to get some avocado's as they in the super six offer, will update when i get back.

MRSMCAWBER

Hi redmel

When I do pizza I use frozen mushrooms (bought ones) -I defrost them and squeeze as much of the liquid out as I can -I also defost frozen sweetcorn too. I use fresh peppers as I always have them -but I use ready frozen mushrooms for allsorts of other things -but I always deforst and squezze before using...hope that ramble helps

poohbear59

I am getting excited, my first ever home delivery from a supermarket. He is about 15 miles away at present.
I am hoping this will mean I spend less on groceries and petrol. It costs a lot more to drive there and back.

Virtually everything I have ordered is from the value range or whatever Mr A calls it. I hope it is okay as I haven't shopped there in 15 years, usually use Mr T and Aldi.

Honey39. Try using Mysupermarket as there you can find cheaper versions of things and not always value either.

redmel1621

cw18 wrote: »

Slow cooking for me (carve? falls apart ), with boiling a second choice. Roasting is last choice as it always shrinks due to not having the water to keep it fully hydrated.

Thank You - I wonder if I have enough time to slow cook it for today then?

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

Hi redmel

When I do pizza I use frozen mushrooms (bought ones) -I defrost them and squeeze as much of the liquid out as I can -I also defost frozen sweetcorn too. I use fresh peppers as I always have them -but I use ready frozen mushrooms for allsorts of other things -but I always deforst and squezze before using...hope that ramble helps

Thank You Mrs M - I buy mainly frozen veg so was hoping I could use this as when I last made a pizza I bought all fresh and it didn't really work out very cheap!
I have some tomatoes growing;)(although they are still green) as I planted them in tubs on the fence...unfortunately the lettuces and cucumber I planted got destroyed by the dog:mad: Luckily I didn't plant them all, so am planning on arranging a fence around the decking for next summer and will try again:D

Mel x

tinkerbellsmum_2

procrastinator wrote: »

Smoothie - blend with banana and milk. yum.

hmm yummy my dd will love that and a way to get fruit in her thanks

kezlou

Hi everyone
Just looked on the site and thought i'd post it up.

Aldi super 6 all 29p each.

mango
avacado
littlegem lettuce (2 in a pack)
cucumber
celery
tomatoes

Going they today for the super six yumm now need some prawns

spendaholic

OMG! :eek: How did this stretch to 15 pages so quickly?!

My weekend's budget was £40 again, and this time I spent £37. This brings in the £3 overspend from last week, so I'm back on track. :T

I didn't draw out my "spends" this week as I was given petrol money on Wednesday and used less than a 3rd of it to replenish what I used. My spends for possibly the whole month will come out of the rest, so saving me £40 (£10 per week, already 1 week used). That gives me £40.50 in the slush fund so far for August (or the pin money pot). :j