October 2010 Grocery Challenge

LannyLee

Hippeechiq wrote: »

Bit of a cheek asking you to provide particular wines :eek: but I think slbhill's idea is a very good one

Nothing to do with booze, but, as an alternative to the usual buffet.

When I was married to my ex, the biggest our family ever got to for Christmas parties was 17 people including children, and I used to find doing a buffet and desserts, all from scratch, very daunting year in year out, especially wondering what to do for a change. I remember going to my youngest SILs one year, and she had done two huge pots full of Curry & Chilli an oven full of baked potatoes and Cheese, Beans & Coleslaw to cater for those who didn't like/want Curry or Chilli. It was absolutely fab, and a resounding success with everyone, and such a nice change from the usual Christmas fayre too

This is what I usually do also, we have a big family & so a typical party is around 25 & there is no way I am making sandiwches for my greedy lot, so I generally do a big pot of chilli & leave it in the SC on the warm function & do hot dogs for the children along with a big pot of rice & some tortilla chips with salsa, sour cream etc & we usually do a big batch of potato wedges & onion rings as finger food.

Also if we're doing all the food we always tell everyone, bring whatever you want to drink as we'll do soft drinks but alcohol is up to you, it's get's far too expensive to do both.

Chloris

Hippeechiq wrote: »

When I was married to my ex, the biggest our family ever got to for Christmas parties was 17 people including children, and I used to find doing a buffet and desserts, all from scratch, very daunting year in year out, especially wondering what to do for a change. I remember going to my youngest SILs one year, and she had done two huge pots full of Curry & Chilli an oven full of baked potatoes and Cheese, Beans & Coleslaw to cater for those who didn't like/want Curry or Chilli. It was absolutely fab, and a resounding success with everyone, and such a nice change from the usual Christmas fayre too

I do this for family dos. Make a big chilli or curry. You can make it in advance and just defrost or cook the day before and reheat, whats left you can freeze, you look generous but you know your not going to waste anything (I hate to waste food!). It works out quite cheap too.

Hippeechiq

Winchelsea wrote: »

Hello all, hope you are all doing OK.

I was away on holiday in France for 6 days, so the Challenge money has not gone down too fast - still have £25.37 left in my housekeeping purse, and as it's only for the cat and me it will definitely last until the 31st!

Welcome back hun - hope you had a lovely time

Could anyone offer advice on this please.

It's a recipe I found this afternoon that I'd like to try called SPICY JAMBALAYA
but am puzzled by this part of the method

add a little water if required onions will soak up remaining spices in bottom of pan. Cook until softened and return thighs back to pan. Simmer for 25 min uncovered.

It's the little and if I'm having trouble with.....how can you simmer something for 25 mins with little or no liquid? and uncovered at that?

freakyogre

A whole 14p spent today on an onion! I did get a few odd looks as my lonely onion went along the conveyor belt, but it's all I needed.


I'm going to go for £50.00 again for November please. I am going to make a real effort with my freezer contents and will probably make a list this weekend and do a plan from there.

I'm due to do jury service at the start of November, so need to have a think about what to take for lunch each day as well.

sharronej

Hippeechiq wrote: »

Bit of a cheek asking you to provide particular wines :eek: but I think slbhill's idea is a very good one

ha ha that's my brothers for you :rotfl: I sent an invitation out to my family on facebook so that makes it easy to send a note saying don't forget to bring a drink - I know nobody will even give it a second thought it's just that we have always supplied the alcohol (apart of course when my brother's bring their superior wine lol)

Laneylee and hippeechiq that's the type of thing I have done for a couple of years although it's usually a Chilli and a Meat and Potato pie (being a Northerner ) I was just finding it too expensive and too much hard work to do a traditional buffet...and I could never get the quantities right so we lived on leftovers and threw tons of food away. It's just that each year I think I'll do a traditional buffet but then as time gets nearer and the purse gets emptier I revert back to my slow cookers! Our New Year's day is just us five and MIL and FIL and over the years has morphed into a h/m Cheese and Onion pie alongside Bubble and Squeak that MIL has frozen from left over christmas dinner. I know it sounds strange but it's really tasty with such a good mix of veg, roasts and even stuffing - a real Old Style dinner! :T

BlimusOreilly

The last weekly main shop for this month. £27.46 at Mr M's - with £6.24 multisave and £3 PC vouchers. Off to update sig.

schrodie

My first attempt at a challenge turned out to be a disaster, £64 with not exactly a lot to show for it :mad:.

I've managed to make a £6 M&S chicken that was previously in the freezer make 3 evening meals.

Hopefully I'll get the hang of it soon.

rosieben

schrodie, don't be disheartened, most of us take a few months to get into the GC properly, anything you're doing is a step in the right direction

philsmum

Hi.

Mrs. Mac please will you put me down for £150.00 for November. Thanks.

sistercas

will update later DH went to co$tco yesterday and he cant find the receipt but he thinks he spent about £50 :eek: if he cant find it i will just add the £50 on
going away for a few days , so will use the remainder of the budget to buy meals while we are away ( going thurs to sun staying in £9 travel lodge room so have all meals to pay for except tea on friday as going to my dsisters for that