July 2010 Grocery Challenge

Kitchenbunny

Morning, everyone - NSD again yesterday and looking for another NSD today. While we did need mushrooms, they kindly came from DH's budget so I didn't have to shell out for those. I have everything I need in the fridge/freezer for tonight's tea (a change to the mealplan but the ingredients have only been shifted around) to make a nice selection of salady bits. I'll make a small bacon and tomato pasta salad with some of the mushrooms and leftover veggies and the passata I have left over from last night's HM pizza. I shall also take out a chicken breast, cover it with some seasoning and shallow fry it for a meat content (for DH rather than myself). We've the remainder of a lettuce from Mum's garden (bless her) to use up and a bit of red pepper for colour.

Katholicos - lovely pantry/storecupboard. Mine's all done into old ice cream tubs but that looks lovely!

KB xx

franby64

Morning all

Just signing in to update sig...I'm now about halfway through my budget but I've decided I don't need an A*da delivery this week so that will help slow things down.

DD1 is going to Germany this week (we have to take her to school at 4.00am tomorrow morning :eek:) so I need to buy her some picnic stuff today. On the plus side that's one less moth (moth! I mean mouth!) to feed next week.

Not sure which way this month is going to go but I've a sneaky feeling it could run away with me at the end if I'm not careful.

Hope everybody's having a good weekend.
Your pantry look lovely Katholicos - mine is full of stuff in jam jars and half-used packets with clips on them - I need to smarten it up!

fedupandskint

I've just written down the recipes for the chickpea curry and falaels (which sound yummy) and the lentil loaf too. I really enjoy not eating meat for at leat half the week otherwise feel a bit 'meated out'

When I sorted out the pantry as I'm concentrating on using up what I have (lots) I came across 2 bags of dried kidney beans and a pack of pinto beans

Does anyone have any ideas what I can use these for?

I'm sick of the site of them in the cupboard - funnily enough I'm not that keen on beans (don't ask why I have them then!). I like chickpeas now and am hoping I like these too

highland_fling_2

Good morning everyone,

cold, very wet and the wind is whistling(yes whistling) around the side of the house. More like November than July.:(

Doing quite well with using up what I already have. Using up bits and bobs out of freezer today, mince with carrot and onion, luxury sausages, onion gravy, and odds and ends of vegetables. I know it is a poor man's Sunday dinner but it wont kill me for once and it will make a little room in my freezer.
Need a couple of things tomorrow, milk, breakfast cereal possibly bread. So will have to visit shop tomorrow but plan to be disciplined and only buy what I go in for.

Have a good day everyone,

Cathalicos: loved your store cupboard

ellemm

Katholocos love your cupboard:T I recently organised mine a bit but like franby64 it's odd jars, plastic boxes etc.......but all labelled at least

Highland Fling yes the weather here in the Glasgow area is awful too, think I'll wander round the shops and research the new fridge freezer I am planning to buy before the VAT goes up in January. The one we have is really on it's last legs.

Other plans today is to cook gammon in cola in the slowcooker and make sausage rolls for the freezer.

doelani

katholicos wrote: »

Here are a few pics of my pantry and wall cupboard shelves i tidied up yesterday....when you have a good sort out it really is enlightening how many things you find that you forgot you had. I have lots of new ideas for meal plans now!

I want one like that lol I am only starting to get orginised and putting stuff in jars and containers and I am 46 !!!!

freakyogre

katholicos wrote: »

Here are a few pics of my pantry and wall cupboard shelves i tidied up yesterday....when you have a good sort out it really is enlightening how many things you find that you forgot you had. I have lots of new ideas for meal plans now!

Your cupboards look great, I try and do that with some things, but just don't have the space!! I am intrigued though, what kind of potato is in the jar labelled 'potatoes' and is that dried broccoli?!

fedupandskint wrote: »

I've just written down the recipes for the chickpea curry and falaels (which sound yummy) and the lentil loaf too. I really enjoy not eating meat for at leat half the week otherwise feel a bit 'meated out'

When I sorted out the pantry as I'm concentrating on using up what I have (lots) I came across 2 bags of dried kidney beans and a pack of pinto beans

Does anyone have any ideas what I can use these for?

I'm sick of the site of them in the cupboard - funnily enough I'm not that keen on beans (don't ask why I have them then!). I like chickpeas now and am hoping I like these too

For the kidney beans i've made these before and they're really nice. I plan to make some more when, yep, you guessed it, when I have freezer space! They're nice as burgers and as the other suggestion as a veggie meatballs (and also cold in a pitta/wrap with salad). Mmm!

Rowan9

Katholicos - fab pic of your pantry. How organised!
Seem to be a bit spendy now that we're on a health kick but that's always the way. We've decided to have more meals like arrabiatta which are cheap and then have a meal out as a treat more often. We have reigned in the spending quite a bit lately but are feeling a bit....hhmm.....like we have cabin fever as we haven't been out much. So, we're out for Sunday lunch today and then I have a week of low cost meals planned. Sometimes you just need a treat! Do I sound convincing?
Yesterday I made a big pot of spicy veg soup so we had some last night before the arrabiatta and then I'll put the rest in the fridge and we can have it tomorrow. Veg soup is the way to go re being frugal and also helps fill you up before a main course. I used to always have soup on the go but haven't lately due to the hot weather. Now that it has turned cold in Scotland, the soup pan is back on and that should help my wallet.
Need a trip to sains soon as their Basics tinned pineapple at 13p is very good. Need to stock pile those I think. It's in juice too!

Good luck this month everyone.
w

KITTY_2-2

Happy Sunday everyone.

Not posted yet this month as been extremely busy but managed to catch up on reading all the posts over the last couple of days.

Spent £145.90 out of my £250 budget so far and still over 2 weeks to go :eek:. Freezer and fridge quite full, have a fair bit of fruit and veg and planning on doing a soup and stew to use up some of the slightly wrinkly stuff. Should make it through this week without spending too much more.

Best of luck all, K

becky170

I have not managed to use any will power this weekend whilst food shopping I've spent £37.77 between Lidl, Mr T and the butchers. Part of my excuse for spending so much was that I just 'needed' the wine and chocolate, and I've got people coming over tonight for dinner and the world cup so I need nibbles and yummy food to feed them. Might have to be a lean rest of the month now.

Not enjoying the wet weather in scotland, wish is was the high 20s like the south of england as it's a crummy 17 degrees here