March 2010 Grocery Challenge

mrssnowy_2

Just caught up with posts

((hugs)) to those that need them

Spend so far £159,my month ends on last day of month,so still plodding on.

Stew and dumplings for lunch tomorrow,stew in S/C,smells good already-dumples will get put in at last half hour.
Fruit soaking to make Barabrith tomorrow,might also make lemon curd(DH has discovered that he likes it -huh)
MrsM £180 for April please-will be hard as both DDs and offspring will be home(3 extra adults and 3 littlies)
Lots of juggling with non GC money,registration paid on 1st March-£76:eek:
dolls house for GD1,she's 3 tomorrow aah,£50 deposit for w/e in Denman later in year,W/M needed new brushes £89.70:mad:,£42 for a theatre trip in July.
Cancelled my magazines,at long last and mobile phone is now pay-as-you-go.

Take care all
mrss

MoneyQueen

Hi,

I am declaring March at £80. More than my £50 budget but there is quite a lot of stuff that would be used in April and we have entertained guests twice so I am not much bothered

I have decided to budget yearly now. so Mrs M. can you put me down for £1200 for the next 12 months please. This would include Groceries, Gas and electricity for the two of us

I think this is how it would be divided

Energy £420.00
Fruit £208.00
Juice £100.60
Milk £101.40
Snacks/Drinks/Cereal £48.00
Cooked Food £322.00
Total £1,200.00

This would only include home cooked food. Takeaways and Eats outs would come from Entertainment Budget

MQ

MoneyQueen

Have spent £1.09 from the April Budget today..

MQ

jintyb

Spiggle wrote: »

:wave: Good afternoon all, hope you're having a good weekend. I've updated my sig to take account of the lovely piece of brisket and veggies that we just bought so we're well under budget at £233.66 and hope we don't have to buy anything else before Thursday when my new month begins. We have got a little flexibility though so I won't declare until then.

By the way, what do you do with any 'excess' in the budget that doesn't get spent? It would be interesting to get some ideas from you if you don't mind sharing. :think:

Spigs

Hi Spigs,

I'm putting any (!) excess onto my A*da Xmas Savings card. Im determined to have a bit put by this year so I can enjoy Christmas without dipping into the "main" savings!

Well done on your first month, you're really doing well, hope this helps!
Jints

WelshWoofer

Monring all!
Just popping on to ask Mrs M to put me down for £220 for April please!
My month started yesterday and I've already spent £42 but that should last until at least next weekend. I'm trying to be very frugal this month - I have to be, things are getting very tight due to me being a bit flippant about money lately - must try harder.
At least this week's shopping was half the price of last weeks - left OH at home - much better idea!

Thank you!

Fi27

I'm declaring March at £206.31 which is a few quid over my budget but i'm not bothered. I checked back to my records for the same month last last year and i spent £307 so thats a £100 saving not that i have the £100 to save now, it's a case of less money coming in so less money going out!

April is a 5 week month for me so i'm budgeting £225 which is quite optimistic but doable. Last april i blew the budget completely and spent nearly £400 so anything around the £225 mark will be amazing. I've already spent £12.31 but i'm not planning a proper shop till thursday, i think we can make do untill then.

Keep up the good work everyone, i love reading all your posts.

Fi
x

rosieben

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Complete Cooking Collection

Main Meals & Side Dishes (Soups now listed separately, below)
Bacon and Cheese Fritatta with Tomato Salsa
Bacon and potato salad -Warm
Baked potato pizza
Baked Beans (home made)
Baked Bean Tart
Bean Curry (Slow Cooker)
Beef - Brisket
Beef Casserole
Beef Curry Dopiaza (Delia recipe)
Beef Stifado (Jamie Olive recipe)
Beef Stroganoff
Beef and Root Veg Curry
Belly Pork
Bolognaise (Remoska)
Brie Burgers
Broad Bean Burgers
Burgers
Cheese and Onion Flan
Cheese Pie - School days recipes tread
Chicken Cannelloni
Chicken - Cheat's Chicken Cassoulet
Chicken and broccoli bake
Chicken - Cheat's Chicken Lasagne in the SC - Here and Here
Chicken Fried Rice
Chicken, leek and bacon pie / pasties
Chicken - Monker's Honey and Orange Chicken
Chicken - Parmesan Chicken
Chicken - Sticky Chicken
Chicken with Cannellini Beans
Chicken with Garlic, Cider & Cream
Chicken and Potato Curry
Chicken and Vegetable Slice
Chilli
Chilli (Remoska)
Chilli Bean Tortillas
Chilli Cheese Crostini
Chilli chicken with jasmine rice (BBC food)
Chinese Pork Balls & Sweet & Sour Sauce
Chinese style cabbage
Cobbler (topping) see below for Minced Beef with Cobbler Topping
Coconut Rice
Coleslaw
Corned Beef Hash - MrsMCawber's recipe
Corned Beef Pasties
Courgette Fritters (1) Courgette Fritters (2)
Courgette Pie
Courgette and Tomato Layer Bake
Cranberry & Soy glazed cocktail sausages
Creamy Chicken and Potato casserole
Creamy Lentil and Rice Dish (Khircheri) (BBC website)
Curry Sauce
Diet Coke Chicken
Duchesse potatoes
Easy cheese biscuits
Faggoty Pea Stew
Fajita Seasoning
Falafel burgers
Fishcakes
Fish Pie and Fish Pie
Fusilli with Broccoli
Haddock - Grilled haddock on lemon leek and pea rice
Ham Hock (slow cooker)
Ham Salad (sandwich filling) external link
Hummus and Garlic Pitta Breads
Individual chicken pies
Keema and spinach pilau
Lamb curry and paratha
Lamb Hotpot
Lamb Tikka
Lasagne
Lemon Chicken
Lemon chicken with basil and tagliatelle
Lemon potatoes
Liver and onions stir fry
Macaroni Cheese
Marrow - Veggie stuffed marrow
Meatballs
Meatloaf (1) Meatloaf (2) Meatloaf (3)
Mediterranean Mince and Potato 'Pie'
Mediterranean Vegetable Pasta
Mince & onion pie
Minced Beef Curry
Mince - Mexican Style Mince
Minced Beef with Cobbler Topping
Mini Goat's Cheese, Pear & Walnut Quiche
Monday Pie
Moussaka
Naan bread - see 'Bread' below
Onion Bhaji
Open top 'pizza' pie
Pasta with Tomato Sauce
Pasta Cheese and Onion Bake
Pease pudding
Pizza / Pizza Base Recipe
Pork Burgers with Salad
Pork and Beef Meatballs
Pork Steaks in Mustard and Cider Sauce
Potatoes - Slow Cooker Jacket Potatoes
Potato bake
Potato Kebabs
Potato layer bake - with cheese, leeks and stock
Potato layer bake - with cheese, onion and white sauce
Potato layer bake - with chorizo and bacon
Potato layer bake (Teisen datws)
Potatoes - Lemon Potatoes
Potatoes - Twice Baked Potatoes
Potato Wedges, Home Made
Quiche Lorraine
Refried Beans
Risotto - Easy Risotto with Bacon and Peas
Russian Salad and Russian Salad
Salmon and Dill Fishcakes
Salmon - Thai steamed salmon
Sausage and Rice bake
Sausage and Stuffing Plait
Sausage and Tomato Spaghetti
Sausage Bean Stew
Sausage Casserole or Sausage Casserole
Sausage Meat Patties
Savoury tarts - pastry-less
Smoked salmon soda breads
Smoked Salmon - Tagliatelle with Smoked Salmon
Spaghetti Bolognaise
Spaghetti with courgettes, tomato and brie
Spicy Bacon and Tomato Pasta
Spicy Bean and Lentil Loaf
Spicy Bean & Sweet Potato Stew
Spinach pancakes
Steak and Kidney stew/pie filling
Steamed Oriental Buns
Stifado - Beef Stew With Tiny Onions Recipe
Stuffing - MrsMcawber's recipe
Suet crust pie with quorn
Super Tasty Bacon, Bean and Sausage
Sweet & Sour Chicken/Pork
TexMex Skillett
Thai green curry
Toad in the Hole
Tofu burgers
Tomato paste (external link)
Tomato sauce for pasta - batch cook recipe
Tuna Fish Mousse
Tuna Fishcakes
Tuna Lasagne
Turkey and Bubble and Squeak Pie
Turkey Pasta
Turkey Pasta Cacciatore
Vegetable Casserole
Veggie Chilli and some variations
Veggie Haggis
Yorkshire puddings

Soups
Bacon and Carrot Soup
Broccoli and Cheese Soup
Carrot, parsnip and lentil soup
Celery Soup
Cheats Minestrone
Chicken & Sweetcorn Soup
Cream of Tomato Soup
Curried Parsnip Soup
Gammon and lentil soup
Ham and Lentil Soup
Iced cucumber soup
Leek and Lentil Soup
Leek and Potato Soup
Moniker’s Leek and Potato Soup
Leek and sweet potato soup
Moroccan Chickpea and Broad Bean Soup
Onion Soup
Oxtail Stew + Oxtail Soup
Parsnip & Apple Soup
Pea & Ham Soup
Real Tomato Soup
Slow Cooker French Onion Soup
Soup - Red pepper, carrot & lentil soup
Spicy Carrot and Tomato Soup
Spinach Soup
Split Pea and Courgette Soup
Vegetable Soup

Bread
Bagels
Baguettes
Bara Brith (Welsh Tea Bread) Bara brith teabread
Basic white bread recipe (makes a 2lb loaf)
Bread - Mrs McC's recipe for Remoska
Breadsticks MrsM's / angelnikki's (No Salt Recipe)
Chapatis
Cheese & Potato Bread
Cheesy Bread Rolls
Chewy Soft Flour Tortilla
Chocolate Bread
Courgette Flatbread
Focaccia
Garlic Dough Balls
Herb Quick bread
HM Bread
Irish Soda Bread
Lahmachun
Malt Bread
Naan Bread .. see also .. Curry Queen's ...... Mrs McCawber's ...... OrkneyStar's
Oatmeal bread
soft bread rolls
Super Seedy Bread

rosieben

Dips, Jams & Chutneys and Drinks
Alioli / Traditional allioli
Bean Pickle
Beetroot and Apple Chutney
Chilli Jam
Elderberry cordial
Feisty Rhubarb Relish
Jams & Preserves
Lemon Squash
Miser's Marmalade
Onion - Caramelised Onion chutney
Onion Marmalade
Pineapple Salsa
Riata - Mint, yoghurt and Cucumber Dip
Tomato/Chili Salsa
Red Tomato Chutney
Tomato Chutney
Mango Chutney
Xmas Chutney

Cakes, Biscuits, Sweets, Snacks & Desserts
Apple Braid
Apple delight
Apple Charlotte
Apple - Microwave Autumn Apple Cake
Apricot Flapjack bars
Baileys Chocolate Truffles
Bakewell Tart
Banana and Honey bread pudding
Banana Cake (bread)
Banana and lemon drizzle cake
Banana Muffins (wholemeal)
Banana Muffins
Banana and Walnut cake
Banana Ginger Parkin
Blackberries - Grated Blackberry Bake
Branflake cake
Brownies
Bounty Balls
Bran Fruit Loaf
Bread & Butter Pudding
Bulk pancake mix
Buttercream topping
Butterscotch squares
Caramel Shortbread (Millionaire's Shortbread)
Caramel Shortbread (2)
Cheese n marmite twists
Chocolate Biscuit Thins
Cheesy Biscuits
Chocolate Concrete
Chocolate Coookies - Cheap and Easy
Chocolate fudge
Chocolate Fudge Cake
Chocolate Krackolates
Chocolate Log - gluten free
Chocolate pudding (microwave)
Chocolate pudding - self-saucing
Chocolate Trifle
Chocolate yoghurt cake
Coconut Cake
Coconut Flapjacks
Coffee Fudge Frosting
Cookie Dough
Cornflake Tart
Courgette Tea Bread/Muffins
Cranberry And Chocolate Brownies
Currant Loaf
Custard Cookies
D&DD’s Apple Braid
Date, Nut and Oat biscuits
Easy Syrup Sponge Pudding
Eggless Chocolate Cake
Fifteens
Flaky Bars
Flapjacks and Flapjacks and Microwave Flapjacks
Fudge Tart
Fruit and Mascarpone dessert
Gingerbread Men
Ginger Raisin Crunches
Golden Syrup Tart
Gluten-free Chocolate Log
Healthy Snack Bars
Honey Frosted Buns
Ice Cream - slimmers world
Iced Buns
Impossible Coconut Pie
Jam Buns
Jammy Buns Jammy Buns
Key lime pie
Krispie marshmallow bars
Lemon cakes
Lemon Curd Cake
Lemon Curd Ice-Cream JeniD's / MoneySavingDiva's
Magic Lemon Pudding
Malt Bread
Marshmallow Squares
Mascarpone and Lime Torte
Mascarpone Ice-cream
Millies Cookies
Mince Squares
Miini Krispie Christmas Puddings
Muffins: Basic Recipe / Chocolate Orange Muffins (1) / Chocolate Orange Muffins (2) / Gingerbread Muffins / Kiwi Muffins / Sticky Date Muffins / Strawberry Muffins / Toffee Apple Muffins
No fat sponge
Oaty Pancakes
Oaty Shortbread Biscuits
Orange and Poppy Seed Cake
Peanut Butter Cookies
Pineapple, Fried
Pineapple Sponge Cake (using tinned pineapple)
Rhubarb and Orange Jelly
Rock Buns
Scones
Scotch pancakes
Spiced Apple Bars
St Peter's Mud Pie (no cooking required)
Sticky gingerbread
Sticky toffee apple crumble
Teacakes
Twink’s Hobnobs
Weetabix Brownies
Weetabix Cake
Weetabix Fruit Loaf
Wonderbites
Yoghurt: Homemade yoghurt, Slow Cooker Yoghurt
Yoghurt Cake (the easy way)

Pastry
The best mince pie pastry ever
Pastry economics
Making pastry
Basic pastry
Flaky Pastry (BBC Food)

Home Made Dog Biscuits
Home Made Dog Biscuits (2)


Top Tips (OS threads)
Batch cooking ideas
Cheapest recipes? links to various OS threads, thanks Pink!
Complete Menu Plans Collection
Cooking for the Freezer
Frozen food safety - misconceptions
Grocery Challenge Top Tips
Laundry Washing Gel/ Gloop, Fab conditioner, vinegar.....
Meal building blocks for the freezer
Microwave Recipes
Mr Badexamples Cooking Index



External links
Batch Bake Minced Beef Recipe
Easy and Cheap Biscuits (DowntoEarth forum)
How to feed your whole family a healthy, balanced diet... (Webook)
List of conversions
Love Food Hate Waste website
Show Jamie How To Cook On A Budget Champagne Contest

Homemade Play Dough

highland_fling_2

Morning everyone,
well didn't make gingerbread yesterday as I didn't have any treaclewhen I went to look it was syrup. Anyway had the notion for baking so went ahead and made a huge sponge and filled it with raspberries and cream. Went down a treat, everyone said it was delicious.
Have lamb steaks for dinner today which we will have with fresh veg. Very simple but very tasty. Also some gateaux left from yesterday for dessert.
Of now to check cupboards and freezer and write my shopping list for the first week of April. Will try to keep it to what I really need.
Hope you are all having a good weekend.

rosieben

:hello:Welcome to the GC gin, shell73, charlyze2 and anyone else I might have missed; Pink Winged will start the April thread later today, she'll post on here when its done, Good luck!

Moniker - your Grilled haddock on lemon leek and pea rice recipe is added to the index, thanks

I still havent got around to the shopping trip I planned the other day but I'm managing fine without everything on the list so that's £5 unspent :T

I forgot the clocks went forward last night - I think I'll have a cuppa and try to gather my little grey cells! Glorious sunshine here, have a great day everyone