January 2011 Grocery Challenge

freedom2011

martafdz wrote: »

What's AP? Do they have instant coffee? I spend quite a lot in decaff instant coffee and I would like to have a look!

Hi it's Approved Foods, I read about it on the frugal challenge & thought I would give it a try. I have only ordered packet & tinned to limit damage in transit but 2 orders have supplied up with tons of food plus my beloved coffee beans and also some extras for lunch boxes. The coffee beans ended up being Asda deli beans & the use by date is end of this year so that is fine. Plus the kitchen smells yummy fresh bread & coffee aroma.:rotfl:

adelight

freedom2011 wrote: »

martafdz wrote: »

What's AP? Do they have instant coffee? I spend quite a lot in decaff instant coffee and I would like to have a look!

Hi it's Approved Foods, I read about it on the frugal challenge & thought I would give it a try. I have only ordered packet & tinned to limit damage in transit but 2 orders have supplied up with tons of food plus my beloved coffee beans and also some extras for lunch boxes. The coffee beans ended up being Asda deli beans & the use by date is end of this year so that is fine. Plus the kitchen smells yummy fresh bread & coffee aroma.:rotfl:

Ooooh are they good beans? I do love coffee! I live opposite a shop that sells coffee machines and dozens of varieties of coffee beans, they will make up and grind blends in front of you so I have to keep myself well stocked with Lidl coffee to avoid temptation!
Amazingly AP have coke/diet coke atm, I will have to point my flatmates in that direction as they regularly spend £1 on a 500ml bottle when they could get a 2l for 60p!!


Must update my sig with all my NSDs! I would like a few apples and a cabbage, and maybe a whoopsie hunt at some point but will wait until I can get to market for something cheap.

martafdz

Oh! Thanks! I miss the fresh coffee. I do not have a coffee machine now though, so I will wait until I have paid my debt to go and buy one lol. I will have a look at that, I am trying to find new places with cheaper prices!!

scotsaver

Happy Birthday wssla00.:beer:
Updated my total with yesterdays spends in MrM on ICBIN, got 4 of them and then had to go to Turkish shop to stock up on bags of herbs/spices - at 59p for 100g bag it's a lot cheaper than buying from the Supermarkets.;)

Last nights Dinner of Chicken Adobo from the Recipe index was a bit of a let down - the liquid measurements didn't seem right so I adjusted that and then there wasn't much substance to the meal so I added some sliced red and green peppers from the Freezer to give it a bit of a colour but it still seemed too "liquid" so I thickened it a bit with some Cornflour so managed to rescue the meal to make it edible. We did enjoy it but I won't be making it again - don't know if I maybe went wrong but we all live and learn.:o

Had a result in a Charity shop the other day, managed to get a copy of HFW "The River Cottage Family Cookbook", it's a fantastic read and I got all motivated and decided today to finally try to make Bread by Hand instead of using my Breadmaker, I must say it was great fun, good exercise for the arms and Loaf is now in a tin for 30 mins before I pop it in the Oven - can't wait to taste it.:j

Dinner tonight will be HM Cheese and Onion Pasties, thanks angelatgraceland, will serve them with some HM wedges and baked beans.

Will definitely be trying to incorporate more "meat free" meals each week and after watching HFW on Channel 4 last night I will also be trying to use more fish of different varities - fingers crossed the family support me.

Off now to pop my Bread in the Oven - have a good afternoon everyone.:D

MONEYMAKINGMUM

Hi all can I sign up please?
I plan on £400 monthly grocery shop for 6 of us! That's breakfast, packed lunches and dinners, oh and fruit and snacks. Milk is our big buy and bread as I don't always put bread maker on. Already cut back on spending, not sure how much more I can eek out of tuppence but I'll give it a go. Slow cooker on now with reduced sticker lamb and veg, pasta tonight for the non stew eater.

triticale

Hi all,

I've put my name down for the last few GCs but disappointingly I have gone slightly over every time.

So for January I'm not actually putting my name down, but I am quietly 'challenging' myself to stick to my lowest budget ever which I have out in cash.

I will still read this thread as I love the anecdotes, kindness and of course the meal ideas and supermarket offers. All in one thread - bargain! :beer:
Also, someone mentioned making pineapple upside-down pudding using 17p tinned chunks - I was wondering if doing pineapple buns in paper cake cases would work? Couple of chunks in each case with standard cake mix on top, maybe a drop of the juice added? Does anyone think this would work?

happycrafter_2

sounds delish with coconut icing on top ok now need to stop starting to drool.

MRSMCAWBER

Good afternoon all

Happy birthday wssla :T

Well Im on 14nsds out of 18 now as I DID need more water -so hubby was despatched on his way home from work last night with a list.. he has the memory of a gnat (although he can quote shot by shot every hole of golf he has played in any one day -strange that ehh ) -the plus point is I have a hubby who simply won't buy anything unless its on the list - its great but I have to be carefull what I put on the list as if they don't have specifically what I say -I get nowt :rotfl:....

Anyhoo he picked up :-

• 36lts sparkling water
• 6lt fresh milk
• 4kg potatoes
• 2kg onions

so thats €14 to add to my total...
The Irish beef stew was lovely and hubby took the leftovers for his lunch today with some more fresh baked bread...
Tonight Im doing the lemon+5 spice chicken -it should be thighs (but we don't like them) -so I sliced up the 2 chicken breasts and put it in to marinade last night -so I will stir-fry it later with onions. carrots, peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, peas and corn. So as that won't re-heat for his lunch tomorrow I need to get a calzone out of the freezer!

Next time I shop I know I need fresh ginger, soy sauce, fresh chilis and white wine vinegar -I seem to get through an alarming amount of all of these - although this time I will pick up a 1lt bottle of soy -will save in money in the long run..

Anyhoo -I had better get off... have a good afternoon all...

kippers

Yesterday I went to Asda and spent £18 and today i spent £12 on my onion sets and shallots for my 3 allotments. I have updated my signature. I did want to buy some asparagus crowns for my allotment out of this months GC but it will have to wait until next month (i incl all my allotment expences in my GC). This year i have decided to weigh everything i harvest and write down the price i would have actually paid if i had bought the produce and take away how much i actually spend on my allotment to see if my 3 allotments do actually pay for themselves. Last year i was very good and used everything from my allotment that i possibly could.

Things are getting tight now...£18.66 left for 12 days. I will need fruit and milk still but hopefully i'll manage it as i've lots in the fridge and freezer.

Tonight is a funny night as i did one too many cornish pasties last night (dumb moment i know) so my DH is going to have it reheated tonight with a pack of potato wedges i picked up yesterday that were whoopsied to 17p (couldn't resist as i know he will love them).
My DD1 will be having a lasange for one with a large salad and my DD2 & i will be having whoopsied chicken in bread crumbs, salad and pots.

Not sure how i'll be cooking them all at the same time, i'll think about that later.

I've been feeling a bit down the last few days-i'm sure it's just that it's wet and gloomy and i'm desparate to get back to my allotment as i haven't worked on it for ages due to the weather. I'm still waiting for my fruit trees, blue berry bushes to be delivered so i can plant them, so i know it will cheer me up when they do come. Dreaming of the fruit i have to come in the future cheers me up as it will be more to save on groceries as fruit is so so expensive. I opened some yellow plum jam today that i made in the summer from my allotment neighbours tree ...it tasted of summer...i can't wait till the warmer spring days.

Anyway, hope everyone is having a good day and enjoying the challenge.

happycrafter_2

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

Next time I shop I know I need fresh ginger, soy sauce, fresh chilis and white wine vinegar -I seem to get through an alarming amount of all of these - although this time I will pick up a 1lt bottle of soy -will save in money in the long run..

Anyhoo -I had better get off... have a good afternoon all...

I am really lucky as OH works with lots of international people who have to visit the UK, and I have some well trained!! Just before they come over here they email OH to ask if I need any shopping I get large bottles of Japanese soy sauce, wasabi paste, sake etc and I always get given it as a gift.

we always get ornages/grapefruit as a goodluck gift in Jan though OH says he thinks the bloke he works with has lemon trees so is going to be cheeky and ask for lemons to be sent over.