November 2010 Grocery Challenge

Hippeechiq

wmf wrote: »

Hippeechiq- so glad you are feeling better today! I have a combi microwave and find that the oven doesn't cook things as quickly as recipes say. I've always assumed it's because it is small, with less room for the air to circulate around a high-ish sided casserole dish (as opposed to chicken breasts on a tray, eg). Glad your casserole was delicious!
W

Thank you wmf

I was wondering if you ever use the "combi" setting on your microwave? I had my previous one (which was also a combi) for 10 years, but I only ever used either the grill, or the microwave or the convection part to cook with, as I'm not the greatest at following new or complicated instructions I used it many times to cook casseroles using the convection setting (cheaper than putting my top oven on) and they were always cooked within the correct time frame, but they were sausage or chicken casseroles, which don't really take much cooking.

Anyway,with this new one, I was determined to get to grips with it and use the combi setting too - which is the setting I used to cook the casserole on.

Supposed to be done in 40 minutes using the combination of 250ºC convection and 50% microwave - both of which I thought were very high settings to be cooking anything on, but especially stewing steak. It was actually "boiling" the ingredients - everything was frantically bubbling away, but I stuck with it for the stated 40mins, after which time, the meat was very tough, and the whole thing tasted disgusting too. So I tried another 20 and then, as it was still as tough as old boots, I put it in my small top oven in my cooker for another hour - during which time, it tenderised and transformed itself into something tasting wonderful, which, although I'm grateful for (as I didn't have to bin it) I don't quite understand.

Have you ever used or do you ever used the "combi" setting to cook casseroles with? especially beef casseroles?

It's very wet and windy here today, so I'm possibly looking at a NSD today - 'bout time too, as I've only managed 3 so far, but I'll wait until the days end before updating siggy.

de1amo

my wife and i have an all singing and dancing micro-wave(bought for us by my mother)--the most advanced thing we use it for is cooking rice -all the other facilities are mysteries! My mother who is 80 can cook anything in a simular microwave--roasts etc etc --to perfection.
At my parents home they have had a microwave since about 1973 and touch wood no one has signs of any health problems that people sometimes caution about with them! my dad is 83

Winged_one

Thanks everyone. I am not neat enough to slice for sambos, but I will chop into chunks for a dinner tonight, and bag the rest for pasta dinners and some quiche lorraines as we want them from the freezer.

ecoelle

Hiya, just updating...i managed 3 nsd in a row but had to spend £1.20 yesterday on bread and potatoes. In my defence they were for that nights tea and they were both reduced. Still got about £7 left to keep on budget for the first two weeks!

adelight

Hey all, i've been pretty absent from here this month! Longgg story short, last week I coughed up £3827 in tuition fees and rent, I don't get paid until end of the year and have ~£250 until then, ~£50 of that for food and a heater!


Last night I got a whoopsie chicken for £1 so will be attempting rubber chicken: roast/sarnies/curry for 2 and a big pot of soup! Also got 8 tangerines for 39p.
There were some amazing whoopsies like 39p fillet steak, 39p activia and 19p lettuce but of no use to me! Even in quite an affluent part of london/surrey I see a lot of the same people in the shop who are always comparing the change in their pockets to the cost of their reduced basket or paying for their dinner in coppers. In comparison, i'm very fortunate

Long_tall_sally

I spent another £23 mostly on things that I needed but did also include 3 for the price of 2 on peanut butters & also Tesco value chocolate (which I mostly use for baking) but I still couldn't find the gluten free cereal that I normally get for my son so still need that. I'm getting so close to my budget but boy would it be nice if I could actually achieve it for once! I will definitely need milk & fruit & possibly cheese & bread though before the 26th which is OH's payday.

On another issue, I have just got a mini bank statement from the local cash point machine & it shows an odd debit for £17.33 with a comment of Int'l which I am assuming means international so I am suspecting that my card has been copied (Again!) & used abroad. We don't actually have a bank in our little town & I haven't got time or the inclination to go into nearest bigger town to investigate so am trying to get hold of OH to see if he can on his way home from work. We have a travelling fair once a year in our town & it was this last time last year that my card was copied & used. HSBC told me that in the week of the fair thousands of people had had their card copied at a cashpoint & to make sure that I used a cashpoint inside the bank not outside on the week of the fair, which I did but it looks as if it hasn't made any difference. Oh well, don't think they will be able to get much more because there isn't much more left in the account & won't be until the 26th! I know that I will get it refunded but it's a pain in the a**e!

meanmarie

Spent €25.84 on food over the last week, brings my total for November to €153.21, leaving me with €36.79 until the end of the month....will not be spending any more as have had soooo many other expenses this month that I am not going over on food, which I have some control over, unlike oil, car insurance and tv licence!

Marie

Diflower

Hi all, sorry been absent a fair bit. My dad's in hospital, I went up there for the weekend and stayed with a friend which was nice.
Have read when I can but will never catch up!

Been good and saved all receipts etc though, updated sig. We're definitely better stocked than last month, and would have spent less but have been getting baking stuff while it's 3for2 at MrT (plus we don't seem to have cut down on wine after all). Also came home very tired Sunday afternoon so got a M$S dine in deal, which was a lovely treat.
Only just over a week now till L!dl opens quite near which will be a help.

missfit_2

Hi all. I have spent around £8 so far this week on essentials. Will have to get some veg this evening to make some soup to take into work for the rest of the week but should come to less than a fiver. Away at a friends on Saturday night so she will take care of the food. I'm taking wine which I already have. Will go shopping again on Sunday to get food for next week but am hoping to stay within budget.

Hippeechiq

adelight wrote: »

Hey all, i've been pretty absent from here this month! Longgg story short, last week I coughed up £3827 in tuition fees and rent, I don't get paid until end of the year and have ~£250 until then, ~£50 of that for food and a heater!

:grouphug: Oh hun - that is a tall order! But I wish you the very best of luck with it

Long_tall_sally wrote: »

On another issue, I have just got a mini bank statement from the local cash point machine & it shows an odd debit for £17.33 with a comment of Int'l which I am assuming means international so I am suspecting that my card has been copied (Again!) & used abroad. We don't actually have a bank in our little town & I haven't got time or the inclination to go into nearest bigger town to investigate so am trying to get hold of OH to see if he can on his way home from work. We have a travelling fair once a year in our town & it was this last time last year that my card was copied & used. HSBC told me that in the week of the fair thousands of people had had their card copied at a cashpoint & to make sure that I used a cashpoint inside the bank not outside on the week of the fair, which I did but it looks as if it hasn't made any difference. Oh well, don't think they will be able to get much more because there isn't much more left in the account & won't be until the 26th! I know that I will get it refunded but it's a pain in the a**e!

I feel for you LTS - had the same thing happen to me last year at the beginning of December - got paid on the 1st and they'd cleared me out all bar £40 by the 4th (which I found out when I attempted to do some Christmas shopping) They'd booked a trip on a National Express Coach, bought a mans suit in Saville Row!! & booked a holiday with Ryan Air.
Since then, I've always checked my bank balance daily, even though it's only got the housekeeping in it.
I was refunded within 2 weeks, but it's not so much that, as to know someone has all your details Hope you get it sorted soon hun :grouphug:

Diflower wrote: »

Hi all, sorry been absent a fair bit. My dad's in hospital, I went up there for the weekend and stayed with a friend which was nice.Only just over a week now till L!dl opens quite near which will be a help.

:grouphug: Sorry to hear about your Dad Diflower, I hope he's making good progress.

You're right about £idls being a help in the GC, it's made a huge difference to me and how far I can make my money stretch. It's where I get all my meat from now (bar sausages) and I can't fault it, and, it's always on offer too.......offer being one of my two favourtie words - the other one being free