December 2010 Grocery Challenge

jintyb

wssla00 wrote: »

Hello all slowly coming back into the land of nod so will start the challenge again from Jan. Mum has kindly said she will get me a new big freezer and fridge for my pantry to replace one that has given up the ghost. So I'm going to order some fish from cornwall and some meat from wales online and get them delivered ready for the new freezer. The two companies are much better than anywhere here and really taste amazing!

Really want to have some nice food in ready for the new year....

Sounds lovely, what will you order?

BlimusOreilly

losingpatience wrote: »

Arghhh I'm so angry with myself! Went to Mr S tonight and spent £63.58. Just had a look through my receipt and I thought I had bought cheese that was on offer BOGOF but I've checked my receipt and I've been charged for both so they were £3.65 EACH! I only bought it as I thought it was on offer, the label was right below this cheese saying the taste the difference cheese was BOGOF. I bought TTD west country cheddar but when I've checked their website it's the TTD west country farmhouse extra mature cheddar that was on offer. I can't believe I've spent £7.30 on two blocks of cheese :mad:

Poor you - that's very annoying. I only ever buy BOGOF cheese any more, either that or I don't go past £2 for 400g.

I spent £76 this week which has been my biggest weekly spend all year. But it was for the regular weekly shop plus all the christmas food (for christmas eve, christmas day, a couple of parties and also ingredients to make some edible gifts). I think I'll need a couple more bits but will try and keep it low spend for the rest of the month.

wssla00

[/QUOTE=jintyb;39420050]

wssla00 wrote: »

Hello all slowly coming back into the land of nod so will start the challenge again from Jan. Mum has kindly said she will get me a new big freezer and fridge for my pantry to replace one that has given up the ghost. So I'm going to order some fish from cornwall and some meat from wales online and get them delivered ready for the new freezer. The two companies are much better than anywhere here and really taste amazing!

Really want to have some nice food in ready for the new year....

[/QUOTE]Sounds lovely, what will you order?[/QUOTE]

So far I have ordered my meat and my flour.I got A big joint of silverside, two organic chickens a big piece of gammon, two packs of mince, a pack of diced steak shin a pack of burgers and a couple of packs of sausages which come to £54.00 including delivery.

I then ordered the following flours from Shipton mill: Wholemeal soda, malted wheat flakes, organic wholemeal flour, cut malted rye grains, chopped rye for pumpernickel and light rye flour. Looking forward to getting these for some really lovely loaves. I want to make a good wheaten loaf and a nice brown soda.

I was going to get the fish but wont do it until tomorrow as I am highly allergic to salmon (swollen eyes and everything) so need to make sure the multi packs don't have any in them (or for that matter hasn't been sitting next to the salmon in the shop) so will have a think about it tomorrow......

I think that my stores will then be restocked and ready for the new year before the price rises come into effect.

sharronej

Hi all,

I've lost touch with the thread because I've been in bed with flu for a few days. I placed an online order with as*a which arrived today, I'm doing a hot buffet on Boxing Day so was looking for the best deal on steak (stewing/braising etc) anyway they had a deal on joints of beef which worked out a lot cheaper so I ordered two and they look lovely. Here's the bit I need advice on they are Silverside cuts - is this joint suitable for dicing and cooking in a casserole type meal? Originally I planned to cook it in the slow cooker but I've heard that the better quality meats get tough if you cook them for too long - so what would you do? I can roast the joints, slice them and freeze them for future meals and would rather do that than risk serving tough meat on Boxing Day or do you think they would be ok? I'm fine with cheaper cuts but probably because we don't buy them that often tend to worry more with the dearer cuts! :rotfl:

wssla00

With my silverside, I am going to roast it a lovely medium rare and then use it like that. You could make a wonderful hot buffet with it by thinly slicing some of it (freezing the rest sliced for roast dinners later in next year) adding the thin slices to small yorkshire puds (home made or the value ones in Asda or Tesco) and adding some horseradish sauce on top- Lovely!!!

JayJay14

I roast and slice these, (I've bought four so far) The rump I have frozen one as steaks and roasted another - it was really beautiful, so tender - and there are quite a few meals worth in the freezer. I did the same last year when they did this offer and my stash only ran out a couple of weeks ago so was really please to see it was running again.

Good lean meat does tend to be 'dry' in texture when you casserole it - it is not the best for that job really.

Updating sig - not doing too badly - but still have to go to M&S (have £12 of vouchers) and Morries (£30 vouchers from OH's work) so think I should be OK - those vouchers will buy a lot of treats and goodies that I hadn't got yet.

Hope you are all warm - the threatened snow has not turned up yet, but no doubt it will. Roll on next week - OH and I both have Xmas and New Year off this year, can't remember when that last happened, in fact I don't think it has in about 25 years:eek:

kippers

Went to Asda last night to buy a small selection box (forgot to buy a present for the boy across the road), Jac pots, cream to make a boxing day cheese cake and milk. I hope that i have everything now for over the christmas week. I also got 8 croissants, 4 hotcross buns (to be frozen) 4 stew packs and a lettuce and two cucumbers...all whoopsied. My dd wanted icecream so i let her...she chose the 'value' one so she is obviously taking after me with moneysaving.

My shopping came to £12 so i have updated my signature. Hopefully this will take me to the 24th Dec which is payday and the end of this months challenge for me. I have done well this month but i need to keep it up and not slip back to our old ways.

XSpender

Hello All

I have been MIA for a while due to problems with my internet connection/phone line which will mean a nasty bill in Jan:(

I am over my budget and I still have 2kg of casserole beef and all the wine and beer for Christmas still to buy as well as some baby milk and dog food, fresh fruit, scotch eggs, milk and bread. I am going to be well over by the time 31st Jan arrives:o

I have stuck to my menu plan for the festive period and have not bought any extras (except some snowman loo roll DH wanted:rotfl:) it just seems that I have underestimated how much we would need to spend and that prices are so much higher. I also bought the stuff to make a 12" and a 8" cake for DH Christening which took 20 eggs which I had not budgeted for:eek:

Our spend on 'normal' food is a bit less and alcohol is a lot less as DH has decided to cut down. We have probably spent about £20 extra on a chinese and a chippy tea.:o

I have also managed to feed my DM and DSD who came to stay for DS Christening weekend from the freezer which I was really chuffed about.

I may have an extra mouth to feed on Christmas Day as DBIL may come to us now instead of going to his mates. I hope he makes up his mind soon. We don't need to buy any extra food but he messed us about last year saying he would come to us for a meal Christmas Eve and changed his mind, then Boxing Day but he was too hung over:mad: Actually if he does come I will need to get another back of Parma Ham for the starter as there is only just enough for the 3 meat eaters.

I have £30 of Mr T vouchers but I want to use these towards a ferry to France next year but will have the £25 Mr M voucher to use next week. They have half price cases of Chateau Neuf de Pape on sale in Mr M which I am tempted to get as the red wine for Christmas as it is DH favourite but it is still £7.49/bottle:eek: Might just get a couple.

Off to defrost some sausages for an easy bangers, chips and beans tea tonight as we are off to a carol service at church tonight. I am really looking forward to it and I am hoping it will make me feel Christmassy as I don't at all at the moment:(

NickJW

Another £1 spent in Mr S this morning.

Today is my works Christmas lunch so I don't need to bother with buying anything else today since it's paid for. I'm feeling a bit run down though so I won't be going to the pub in town for drinks after the meal.

Tomorrow I'm going to my friends for lunch - she is cooking a 'French Lamb' recipe. No idea what that is, but it sounds yummy!

Hope everyone is doing well - it's pretty much guaranteed that I'll be over budget (again), this month!

Spiggle

Hi All,

It seems ages since I last posted, it's been hugely busy in work.

Anyway, I got a couple of bits in MrT yesterday and OH has just come home via town (school he works in is closed) and he went to the butchers and grocers on the way. I spent £11.83 yesterday and he spent £14.15 today. We didn't spend anything between Saturday and yesterday so four NSD added to the total in the sig which is fully updated.

We've got real snow today something we rarely have. Woke up to a full four inches of the stuff! And more is forecast tonight and in the morning. I know it's been hellish for many of you but it's something of a novelty for us at the moment. If it lasts more than a couple of days mind it won't be quite as good!

I'm feeling very unprepared for Christmas though I know I've been getting the odd thing here and there so I just need to put it all together I think so I can see what's got and what's not.

Mind you as I said that my hibernation gene just made me yawn like mad so I might just curl up and pretend it's not next week. :eek:

See you later and take care,
Spigs