May 2010 Grocery Challenge

Lindy_-_Loo

Hiya, spent £2 in farmfood on milk and bread so over budget by 47p :j, new month stars tomorrow though!

first month doing this and Im amazed that we spend that much for the four of us. Gutted we went over

tessie_bear

hi...small spend today in asda...got some chicken and fruit £6 with a few other bits...made some nice cakes for the tin earlier...not sure how long they will last

might have a bbq for the bank holiday...need to get the bits in for that...ds said he fancied fish and chips so need to get some nice fish as have chips.....dont make own as im scared of burning the house down with a chip pan

take care
tessa

Spiggle

Good evening all and welcome to newbies and returners alike. :wave:

Well, I went to MrT to get my bits and pieces bearing in mind I had just over a tenner left in the budget. I got three of my fave milk to see me through the weekend, bananas, painkillers, a toothbrush and salad cream. And it all came to £9.87! :j:j:j

Just in case anyone is interested, MrT has H***z ketchup and salad cream (only the 460 gram size) at two for £2 which meant a saving for me of £2.12. So if you're having salad ... They also had 450 gram of H***m*ns Salad cream for 75p but we're a bit picky and favour the H***z so I didn't mind spending 50p extra to get two of those instead. I did take ages standing there deliberating though. :think::o:think:

So we're declaring at £239.58 a whole 42p under budget. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

We've had a long chat about the budget and OH does not want to increase it and so we have agreed to stick with the £240. Please put me down for £240 for June MrsM, thank you. :A:T:A

Oh by the way knitwit67, OH = Other Half. He's only sometimes an 'orrible husband!!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

It's fantatstic to see the results coming in this month, everyone is doing so very well. :T:T:T

Have a lovely evening and a cracking bank holiday weekend.

See you tomorrow,
Spigs

JayJay14

Hi Everyone,

Declaring at £145.90 which I am amazed at as at the beginning I looked to be going well over. But I have had 14 NSD's - 4 of them this week cos I just didn't get any more money out of the bank and used what we had in.

Next month we will need to be particularly careful, OH is still out of work and the savings are depleted so there is no room for excesses.

Good luck for those still to finish and will see you all on the June thread.

OrangeFairy

Can i declare £217.58 for May please! Under budget!! But only just!!!!!!!

Please can i be put down for £200 for June please! This was always my ultimate goal for a family of 4 to spend £200 a month!!! So fingers crossed!

Though i do have a lot of meals in the freezer to help me on my way!!!!:D

greent

mama67 wrote: »

Just do the basic sponge mix, weigh your 2 eggs, then have equivalent weights of butter, sugar and sr flour mix all together put on top of jam in microwavable bowl cook on high for 3 mins (1 egg) 5 mins (2 eggs) check for doneness with sharp knife.

I do the 2 egg mix for the 4 of us for a pudding and we have this with cheap tinned custard.

hth

Thanks for this - shall try it out tomorrow - I shall get DS1 to make it, methinks

kirsty822001

Hi, I would like to join, have had a trial run,,oh my what an eyeopener!!!
We are a family of 5: myself,dh,ds (teenager/bottomless pit) dd (veggie) ds (8 biscuitaholic)
I kept receipts for april and it came to £467.00:eek: so i decided to write it all down for may and was doing really well(with this threads motivation),,i aimed to take it to not more than £400 but i had a few impulse buys and buying stuff on offer that i will use,,so for may i am up to £442.00 i dont need much else between now and monday but its disappointing.
I made my own biscuits and cakes all this month,,meal planned and bought reduced price items,,like i said I started off brill,,,i really think i got caught up in the popping in with a list but seeing offers i would use in coming months and buying them,,i was going for flour and icing sugar and buying the said offer, also shopping with the kids is a big no no!!.
Anyhow on a positive i wont need washing powder,jam or squash next month!!!
I will need freezer stuff as mealplanned my freezer down and not many bits left in there.

So i would really really like to stay motivated (love this thread) and try to stay at £400 for June

thanks, it wont be easy off to cornwall next week for half term hols. :-)

OlipopsMummy

Hi I would love to join please! I have been lurking a while and I see this thread is such an inspiration and eye opener! I have been trying myself for a few months and I am spending between £200 and £300 monthly but losing my way towards the end and overspending so hopefully being on this challenge will help that!
I want to be put down for £250 for June please! My month starts on the 8th and runs four weekly so will be in to declare any spends from then. This is to cover food/drink/toiletries/household item/baby items, for Me, OH and DS who is 20 months.

rosieben

Recipe Index Part 1 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 Adobo
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 Chicken Ramen
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
Onion Bhaji
Open top 'pizza' pie
Pasta with Tomato Sauce ....... Pasta and 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 - Roast Potato Rosti
Potatoes - Twice Baked Potatoes
Potato Wedges, Home Made
Quiche Lorraine
Refried Beans
Rice - Summer Rice Salad
Risotto - Easy Risotto with Bacon and Peas Risotto - oven baked
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, leek and butterbean 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

rosieben

Recipe Index part 2

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, Onion and Herb Bread
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
Malt Loaf
Naan Bread .. see also .. Curry Queen's ...... Mrs McCawber's ...... OrkneyStar's
Oatmeal bread
soft bread rolls
Super Seedy Bread

Dips, Jams & Chutneys and Drinks
Alioli / Traditional allioli
Bean Pickle
Beetroot and Apple Chutney
Brown Sauce
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)
Cheese n marmite twists
Chocolate Biscuit Thins
Cheesy Biscuits
Chocolate and Pear Upside Down Pudding
Chocolate Brownies
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
Petits Pots au Citron (Little pots of lemon)
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