August 2009 Grocery Challenge

Moniker

Miss-spent wrote: »

Hi updating sig here.
Just returned from Tuscany which was more expensive than expected due to Euro rate.
I am having a family gathering on Sunday for about 10 adults, 3 children and need ideas for a cheap summer spread. Mum's making two cakes, I have blackberries and apples growing in the garden so I could probably do something with thoses but i'm not sure what. I am going to make a triffle and will get strawberries and cream so thats desserts covered.
Any cheap main course ideas? I have a pound of mince in the freezer.
(Don't want to do a BBQ)

I would use the mince bulked out with extra veg/oats/lentils etc to make a huge lasagne. It's filling and a little goes a long way. You can serve with a green salad - you won't need much if youv'e lots of veg in the lasagne. I always use celery, carrots, onion, and mushrooms as well as tinned tomatoes in my recipe and it goes a long way. Also you can prep it on Saturday and keep it in the fridge and just shove it in the oven on Sunday. Use the blackberries and apples to make a crumble which can also be prepped in advance. If you don't have a large enough container for one big serving split between two. HTH

Moniker

Moniker

Hi, just popped in to update my sig as we have been away for a few days. It looks bad as I am 2/3 of the way through my budget with 17 days to go and we have visitors next week. However, I have done my meal plans for the next two weeks and have most of the meat in the freezer. Also, my visitors will probably take us out for at least one meal so it's not all bad!

Will try an catch up on all the posts I've missed while I have been away - but in case I don't thanks to all of you for your encouragement and hugs to those who need them!

Moniker

Moniker

highland_fling wrote: »

By the way can I freeze double cream? Have some left from yesterday's lunch and know it will not be used up today.QUOTE]

Sorry if someone has already replied to this - am catching up after a weekend away - yes you can freeze double cream if you whip it first. A good idea is to whip it and pipe into little (or big!) rosettes - then when you want to pop them on the top of a trifle or something you can just take them straight from the freezer. Even better pop one into a cup of coffee- yum...

Moniker

Moniker

Right now I've caught up with all the posts and can ask a few questions!

My veg boxes have bolted after my weekend away and I was wondering what to do with the swiss chard - usually I like to pick the baby leaves for salad, but have never eaten the mature leaves - does anyone know what I do with them?

My auntie gave me a pepper plant when I visited yesterday - I hope I don't kill it - I'm not very good with indoor plants! There are already a couple of little peppers there so hope to harvest some soon. My runner beans are doing really well in their pots so am hoping to pick these at the weekend.

When I was away I popped into Aldi and found they had packets of 6 seeds for winter veg and healthy leaves for £1.99 each ( thats per pack of 6) so bought some. It may be a bit late to sow some of them but nothing ventured nothing gained!

Sorry, realise that this should probably be on the Greenfingers forum, but I know a lot of you GCers grow your own!

Thanks to Rosieben for the Bulk mince link - I am going to give it a try as I was planning to do cannelloni for my visitors next week. BTW, I find that you can make the mince mix go further using cannelloni tubes rather than lasagne sheets. It used to be difficult to find the tubes but now get them in Sainsbury's quite easily and find that 3-4 tubes is enough per serving. HTH someone.

Off to sort out my cooking for today - roast chicken, and doing some cakes in the oven whilst it's on to take advantage and not waste the leccy!


Moniker

Moniker

It's me again - does anyone know why although I have 4 posts here my total still says 397?

Also, does anyone else have the problem that while checking through the posts and clicking the thanks button you get to the top of the page and find that you have been logged out? Why does this happen ? Is it something to do with my pc set up?

Right I really am off to the kitchen now!

Moniker

Money_Fritter

Hi Folks,

I am a bit late putting my name down, but can you put my down for

£80.83 FOR August.

I was away at the begining of the month. However, I have still been keeping my food spend in check and under budget.

Money Fritter

WelshWoofer

Back from my trek to Mr T's with the doggie.
Spent £4.19 on 2 giant yorkshires, pint of milk, ham and toilet roll - not bad for me! It did help that I walked there and had to carry everything back (1 hr round trip to walk) and so it limited my purchases. Also leaving the dog with the security man keeping guard makes you whizz round just for the things you need! May be a plan for the future!

Off to peel the spuds ready for tea and put the washing on the line - the sun has come out!!

shell_542

Can I just ask a possibly very daft question, how do people show their NSD's in their signatures? I've seen a few different figures like "2/13" or "5/20" What do the numbers correspond to? Thanks in advance x

elf06

shell_542 wrote: »

Can I just ask a possibly very daft question, how do people show their NSD's in their signatures? I've seen a few different figures like "2/13" or "5/20" What do the numbers correspond to? Thanks in advance x

When I did it I hd the first number as how many no spend days and the second number as the date in the month (so 2/15 would be 2 no spend days out of 15 with 15 being the date) but I kept losing count so gave up :rotfl:

shell_542

elf06 wrote: »

When I did it I hd the first number as how many no spend days and the second number as the date in the month (so 2/15 would be 2 no spend days out of 15 with 15 being the date) but I kept losing count so gave up :rotfl:

Thanks! That makes sense I'll see how long I go before losing count :rotfl: