January 2010 Grocery Challenge

CRANKY40

I have done some shopping at Asda, but not updated due to being full of cold. My total to add on is £65.46, so my total spend so far this month is £70.98. So far, so good.

Moniker

"The way to tell whether or not you can use buttery spreads to bake with depends on their fat content. If they are above approx 60% fat they will be fine. Lowfat spreads are not suitable."quote

Angelagraceland, I use lowfat spreads in cake making with no problem at all. For example, I use FloraLight (38% fat) to make all-in-one cakes and sponges and they never fail - also in scones with no problem. I wouldn't use it for pastry though.

Another NSD for me though we are now completely out of fruit. I picked up a few bits for MIL from the local Budgen on my way home from work, but decided I could wait another day for my own shopping. We have a dentist appointment in town first thing tomorrow so hope to do my usual Thursday trip to Sainsbury's on the way home - weather permitting!

We had a sausage casserole tonight from the freezer and the microwave sponge recipe posted here a couple of days ago ( I can't remember by whom, but thank you!) I put a couple of spoonfuls of my chocolate sauce at the bottom of the bowl and made a plain sponge (yes with Floralight) and it was lush!

Journey to work was a nightmare with the steep hill to the campus practically impassable so I have probably caned my clutch getting up it which will cost me when the MOT comes round! Still I got a big cheer from my colleagues when I turned up which was a morale boost! But I hope the snow stops soon!

Keep safe and warm everyone

Moniker

PS Congtatulations on your OH's job success greent!

poppy-glos

skaps wrote: »

Any ideas on how to use up some iceberg lettuce apart from a salad? Also cucumbers too?

finely shred the lettuce and add it to a pan with cooked peas and a bit of butter, and saute for a minute or two, and serve as a veg.

also shredd and use to top a chilli then put grated cheese on top, we used to serve it like this in a pub i worked at with no rice or potatoe or carbs..

cucumber, there is a chinese way of preparing them of cutting into thin slices and salting them to draw out the moisture, then using them in a hot sauce to go with a chinese meal.. i can do a little internet searching if you like if you'd like more details but can't remember more myself

good luck

p x

TheBees

Congratulations GREENT on your OH's job offer.

Thanks for the chicken/broccoli bake recipe. My new years challenge to myself is to eat my full 5 portions of F&V a day. I don't really enjoy fruit apart from bananas so it's a bit of a struggle!:rotfl:

NSD for me. I was really good and popped into the supermarket before DD's flute lesson as we had 20 minutes to waste. But I left my purse at home purposefully so couldn't buy a thing! :mad:

Menu plan will have to change tom evening as DS16 has a parents evening right over tea time. DD13 is going to Nanny and Grandads and will eat there and the rest of us can have a couple pizzas - one home made and another shop bought when we get back.

angelatgraceland

franby64 wrote: »

ol and finding it closed. I get all sorts of texts from the school but they didn't manage to tell me it was closed today. I was taking 3rd child to school so the other 2 were stuck outside for a while - not good. I am so fed up of snow!

We always check the school website on badweather days as the phonelines are generally clogged up. Otherwise if one of the kids friends get through on the phone they all text each other if there is NO school.
I walked to work today and Ive got to admit its just not as bad as Id imagined. Its the 2nd time Ive walked in now and I suppose the exercise is good for me. Also got to the docs and I seem to be getting sorted out healthwise at last.
Did go to Greggs for our rolls lunchtime but this is only about once or twice a week for me and DS. Im trying to cut that out totally but I really couldnt be bothered this morning. Popped in Iceland for a bottle of milk for £1-thats it for today.:j

Moniker-I will try using a lowfat spread as an experiment but I just quoted what I had read in cookbooks etc-bearing in mind that you would normally aim for the same fat content as butter. If it turns out good Im all for using a lowfat spread! Anyone else tried it? Id love to try it-just worried about it failing and wasting all those ingredients.

rosieben

welcome moonbabe and any other newbies :j Helen will add you to the front page list soon

greent, what great news :T

we've had more snow all night and this morning, but it seems to be thawing a little. I shall be really glad to see the back of it; we're promised temps at weekend of 6 or 8 degrees - positively tropical!!

stay safe and warm everyone

SilverCo

Hi everyone :hello:

Congratulations greent's DH on job offer!! Way to go!

Finally, a NSD for me, woohoo, just had to share this with you all as it's been bugging me all month!!!:j:j:j OK, so I have been travelling half the day to a training course in Southampton, so my spending scope was somewhat limited, but even so... DH even packed me HM sandwiches, biscuits and crisps so I didn't feel the need to spend anything on the journey (he's sooooo lovely!:kisses3:)

DH using up some of the bread mountain we currently have in the freezer for dinner, so a cheap meal for him too!

Hope the fresh snow fall hasn't disrupted everyone again too much. Stay safe and warm. :snow_laug

Silver x

sistercas

I have a day off tomorrow and it will definitely be a NSD, I am fed up of struggling to work in the snow and ice so its my chance to stay in :j

going to make a toad in the hole for tea tomorrow and lentil soup for lunch

CherryPie

A few spends to day. Went into MrM's before work as I thought I'd treat myself to a shop bought sandwich for lunch. Shouldn't have bothered, it wasn't worth the £1 I paid for it!! However the trip was worthwhile as I got a couple of the ICBINB for 55p, and they are now resting in my freezer!! :j

Went into MrT's on the way back from work tonight at about half 8 so stocked up on some whoopsied bread stuffs. Small wholemeal loaf, 12 warbies rolls & a tomato & cheese foccacia all for 20p each. Had half the fancy one for dinner with some pasta & philadelphia. So that prob worked out about 50p! Also got some Mr K's cakes for 20p which I wouldn't normally buy, but 20p, I couldn't not buy them. I guess all the supermarkets are selling off their xs christmas snacks, but I got one of the big bags of S&V sticks for 50p. Well actually, I got 2. Our vending machine at work is 50p for a std sized bag!!!

So even though it wasn't an NSD for me, I'm pretty chuffed with what I got. Spend for today was £15.47


Did I mention the 2 bottles of wine in there??? :rotfl:

skintbint_2

another NSD today and i didnt even realise until i logged on! well done everybody as january is such a long miserable month -