December 2009 Grocery Challenge

rowsew

Flat Eric the reason you need to soak the beans is to make them more digestible and less *farty* - there's not really a polite way to say that is there?! I found a link here which explains a bit about soaking, and having read it, it seems you will not kill yourself by eating unsoaked beans, but you might be a bit gassy. http://www.squawkfox.com/2008/02/19/how-to-soak-and-cook-dried-beans/
Hope this helps!

WendysWorld

Another £60.77 spent! I think I'll just pay my wages directly to Sainsburys at this rate....

WendysWorld

Flat_Eric wrote: »

HELP !!

I found a nice recipe for falafel but I fear that I have missed a vital step and thus need to bin the mixture.

The recipe just said to boil the dried chickpeas for 45 mins. Now this I did. I cooked them for longer than the 45 mins although I did have to turn down the hob in the end to avoid my kitchen becoming the next best thing to a steam room.

I drained the chick peas (can't remember if rinsed?) and left overnight sat on the kitchen side.

This morning I added the spices, eggs etc and blended and have stuck in the fridge. BUT having spoken to a work colleague this morning, I understand, I should have soaked the chick peas overnight before the boiling for 45 mins step to to get rid of the nasty toxins ??? Now I don't know what to do. Should I just bin the mixture or will it be ok to make my little falfel cakes/cook/eat.

Incidentally, If I wanted to make this recipe again, could I use tinned chick peas ? presumably I wouldn't have to boil these ???

In money news, its gone a bit pear shaped. I haven't been very well so have not been keeping proper track of my spends and nothing everything down as I have been doing.

Flat Eric, it's not the soaking that breaks down the toxins, it's the boiling. As long as you had a good brisk boil for at least 10 mins then you'll be fine. Also, soaking isn't necessary but it softens the skins ready for expanding and boiling so you don't get so many breakages.

Frugaldom

Hi guys, I've spent just over £15 this month, so far, and have about £54 left of my budget to get everything I need for Christmas plus enough milk etc to see us through to New Year. I have all I need for the festive meals apart from a turkey, as I have no space in the freezer at the moment. I should manage comfortably on the £1300 for the full year but will be dropping that back down to £1200 for 2010 and we'll just adjust our eating habits to suit fluctuations in prices and local trading. (Don't know why it took me so long to join LETS :rolleyes:)

Hope everyone is well/recovering and that the budgets are all staying under control despite more price increases. I've noticed quite a few things creeping up again, like bread. I couldn't believe how much a savers loaf was in C0-0p yesterday, glad I bake my own and long may my breadmaker continue to function, even when it needs hit with a hammer wrapped in a tea towel to get the blade turning. :rotfl:

Long_tall_sally

Well another day, so inevitably another spend for me! Well that's how it feels, anyway at the moment. I am now officially over my budget. I now have my xmas pudding, passat, toilet rolls etc but still have the turkey & veg to get! I am a bit annoyed with myself tbh. I do use a shopping list Rosieben but I also get sucked into buying other things that aren't on the list if they are on offer or if I have my kids with me which I did last nite. Got to think limit damagation mode now. Normally get a fresh turkey every year but wondering now whether to get a frozen one from aldi which would be cheaper.
Also on the positive side, I am hoping that January will be a much better month considering how well stocked the freezer and cupboards actually are.

poppy-glos

have now finished work (except for 23rd) and dd on holiday, so MERRY CHRISTMAS all, i am tired, short-tempered and have an overexcited child.. deep breaths!!

Been to mr t today and bought nice bits for tomorrow and saturday when entertaining. They were out of bottled mincemeat and not the oomph to make my own so premade it is, but have got nice sausagemeat and will make some pastry to make sausage rolls, and have a tub of doublecream that will become a treat of some kind over the weekend, either sponge gateau, or profiteroles, or even poured on the mentioned mince pies. also sides of smoked salmon in mr t half price at £5 so treat for us and our guests this weekend.



dd leaning on my arm as i type! argh! and wants to put a face, so here it is;
:easter_ba, now gone off and happy! simple pleasures...


tea tonight made the frugal way, and now a regular at our house, egg fried rice, half an onion, two eggs, salt and pepper, peas and some leftover rice from tuesday, mine drenched in soy sauce and dd's without.

Getting close on the budget but i have counted meals out and also am counting my entertaining foods (and drinks!) for up to 9 guests at a time so given i aimed to spend less than last month (when we were virtual hermits!) maybe i'm being a bit optimistic!

The benefit is i am now 'building a picture' and will be informed for next month/year when i can compare

ellemm

Hi all, not been on the threads all week as been pig-sick at the thought of my Christmas holiday plans being ruined by BA strike :mad:...so thanks to the Court ruling today, all's well and can start to get excited again :jbut it's been a terrible few days of uncertainty after having planned this break since May.

Just spent over £16 on bits for the weekend, mostly treats for my 2 GDs who are coming to stay for 2 nights and GS visiting with his parents on Saturday.

Probably won't need much else before we leave on Wednesday hopefully.

Will update signature and read back through threads see how everyone else has been this week.

Flat_Eric

SunnyGirl wrote: »

Flat Eric I use tinned chickpeas and this recipe. It's brilliant and very quick to make with a food processor. I'm unsure about the chickpeas you have cooked as I only use tinned but I remember something about having to soak them overnight. Hopefully someone with a lot more knowledge than me will come along soon

Thank you ALL very much for your replies :D:D:D:T :T:T:T:T:T:T :D:D:D what would I do without you ????

I made far too much mixture !! but I used some and made some little falafel cakes and cooked them in my oven this evening and they were YUMMY :j:j:j. There is plenty left to keep me going all weekend !! Will definitely try them again and will also try the recipe link posted above. very pleased :j THANK YOU

franby64

Spent £7.66 today on milk, bread, cheese, onions and fruit.

Looking out the window I reckon we could be battening down the hatches tomorrow - wish I'd bought more food today! I really hope the schools aren't closed - I had a lovely Christmas shop planned!

Anyway, hope the weather is not causing too many problems for anybody.

Ansoff

Hi guys

I have been really poor at keeping within budget. I had DS birthday yesterday so lots of extra treats, cakes etc.:j He is having a party on Saturday so bought everything but bread. Will get that tomorrow.

I have now spent £349.50 so only have £50.50 left for the rest of the month. This will be a challenge. I have bought the turkey and a duck crown, stuffing, pigs in blankets, christmas pudding, mince pies and brandy sauce. I have everything for the trifle but the cream. So I could manage it except I have 6 people for a meal on New Years Eve.:eek:

Will have to search the freezer for what I can feed lots everyone. Thanks for making me really think about things.

Will up date signature later.

Ansoff