September 2010 Grocery Challenge

angelatgraceland

I got a refund at Co-op for a case of Stella as the last case didn't taste right at all-like it had no alcohol! Got 6 loaves of Hovis for about 40p per loaf reduced.
So that brought down this weeks shop somewhat. Will check receipt later-I thik its about £20. Did some cheap recipes today-lots of cooking. Had some pork chops baked in cider for tea with peas(soaked last night for pea soup)and mash. Made some butternut squash tarts-used 130g of sugar instead of 150g in that. Prepared the rest of the butternut squash and some onions and peppers and some dying carrots in the fridge(had a clearout)chopped it all up, bagged it and popped it in the freezer for another day. Made Spanish ommelette using above foods and had a slice of that each for a light lunch.
Breakfast was toast and marmite or toast and peanut butter(homemade).
Still got a few peas left but rather than pea soup it will end up as spicy vegetable soup I think now as Ive not got a large quantity anymore.
Pastry wasnt wanting to work again(but it just did)so Im putting it down to the value tesco flour as it was perfect with the last lot of flour which I think was Asdas. Went in the poundshop the other day and got some wheat biscuits-36 for £1(like weetabix) so do look out for those!
Must top up on oats as my dd has a craze for them lately-another dieting fad! She bought the proper brand of course-she will learn the "difference"-just the price! Mind you-I think she was looking at the man in a kilt on the box!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
Hoping to make HM pizza tomorrow as I bought some reduced mushrooms.

mumker

Morning all

Just popping on to update my spends...on Thursday night I popped into Co-op and spent £12.85 on some great whoopsies - inc hovis at 31p a loaf!

Yesterday I spent £3.40 in the local market on some free range eggs, veg and humous.

Have done a check of storecupboards, freezer etc and garden for veg - it's looking good, so hopefully will not be tempted to spend apart from essentials!:)

mongmoney

I'm getting into this. Began my freezer stock up, gona make a big bolognese this pm. I'm strugging to get the portion size right though, how many ml do any of you lot store for one person?
Off to Iceland for frozen veg.
Good luck this month everyone.

Mongy
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September GC £33.92/£200 NSD's=3

laloopi

Our organic boxes came yesterday so we're £40 further down. £15 for fruit and veg and £25 for meat but we only have meat every other week, it's been a good exercise in making it stretch!

greent

mongmoney wrote: »

I'm getting into this. Began my freezer stock up, gona make a big bolognese this pm. I'm strugging to get the portion size right though, how many ml do any of you lot store for one person?
Off to Iceland for frozen veg.
Good luck this month everyone.

Mongy
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September GC £33.92/£200 NSD's=3

I use a ladle to dish up things like chilli - so do the same when portioning it up for the freezer - 1 slightly heaped ladleful = 1 portion in this house. Can't help you on the volume in measurement though - sorry

cw18

greent wrote: »

I use a ladle to dish up things like chilli - so do the same when portioning it up for the freezer - 1 slightly heaped ladleful = 1 portion in this house. Can't help you on the volume in measurement though - sorry

Same here.....

By the time I've added sauce and extra veg to the meat, I normally expect to get 1 portion for at least each 60g of mince that went into the pan - and if I've padded out beef mince with rehydrated soya mince, then it's at least 1 per 60g of the combined weight. So a 500g pack of mince (without any added soya mince) will hopefully make up 9 portions of something if I'm careful

Doesn't always work that way though - I'm cooking 500g of turkey mince up today, but into something that doesn't have a lot of extras added. So I don't expect to get more than 6 portions out of this.

CRANKY40

Good morning.

£39.80 spent in Asda this week. A touch over the £35 budget I have set, but we had two of the house elf's friends round yesterday, with their mums (and one small brother). They all stayed for lunch, so I had to get some nice things in for them. Back to school next week, so I'm hoping I will be able to recoup my overspend when the elf and friends are not hanging round eating me out of house and home.

We had a lot of takeaways while the kitchen was being rebuilt, but I think we've broken the habit now. I made sausage pie last night and shared it with my neighbours (the ones we usually have the takeaways with - their kitchen was in bits at the same time). I did the pie, they did the home made chips, and the beans came from Heinz, lol.

I'm back to making a shopping list as I go along, and meal planning too. Chicken dinner tonight - it's the elf's favourite. He likes chicken, mashed potatoes and carrots.

Take care all of you.

adelight

cw18 wrote: »

Same here.....

By the time I've added sauce and extra veg to the meat, I normally expect to get 1 portion for at least each 60g of mince that went into the pan - and if I've padded out beef mince with rehydrated soya mince, then it's at least 1 per 60g of the combined weight. So a 500g pack of mince (without any added soya mince) will hopefully make up 9 portions of something if I'm careful

Doesn't always work that way though - I'm cooking 500g of turkey mince up today, but into something that doesn't have a lot of extras added. So I don't expect to get more than 6 portions out of this.

Where do you get your soya mince and how much is it generally? I've been looking for it recently but have only found frozen soya mince which cost a little more than frozen lamb and beef!

I generally guess my portions when freezing and I probably do portions too big... at least a big heaped ladel for chilli/curry, two ladels for stew and more for soup.
I cook 2-3 portions, eat one, freeze or refridgerate the rest. Depends how much tupperware I have knocking around

cw18

adelight wrote: »

Where do you get your soya mince and how much is it generally? I've been looking for it recently but have only found frozen soya mince which cost a little more than frozen lamb and beef!

I get mine from Mr T- currently £1.63 for 375g (was £1.48 in Aug '09, which is when I last bought any!). I know OH's DS recently bought a larger bag, which looks like it came from a health food shop or asian store his GF frequents, but I've no idea what he paid.

Spiggle

Hippeechiq wrote: »

... How's yourself & hubby Spiggle? ...

Hi Hippeechiq,

Thanks for asking. We're more or less over the shell shock now - hit us both for six how close he came. I'm getting on fine with injecting him which will only continue until his numbers are ok. They reckon he'll be on warfarin for 6-12 months. Mind you, if he doesn't do everything they say then he is well aware he could be on it for life. We're both still dog tired but thats probably a hangover from emotional stress and the like. We're getting there and that's what is important. Along with the support we've had from family, friends and you lovely people on the thread! :A

angelatgraceland wrote: »

... Must top up on oats as my dd has a craze for them lately-another dieting fad! She bought the proper brand of course ... Mind you-I think she was looking at the man in a kilt on the box!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:... QUOTE]

Who can resist a man in a kilt angelatgraceland?!?!? :rotfl:

I may manage another NSD today but the milk is getting a bit low so we'll see later on.

There seem to be some fantastic successes, tips and recipes about at the moment, well done all! :T

And I notice a couple more newbies, so welcome to you. :hello:

See you all later and have a great day,
Spigs