January 2011 Grocery Challenge

salski

Just popping on to update siggy. Had to go out and get a few emergency bots and I didnt stick to shopping list, but did get bits that we need and will use in the next few weeks. Mostly not food items.
Made fish cakes for tea for first time and they are so yummy!
Ham hock has cooked and is in the fridge for tomorrows tea and sarnies.
Happy Mondays!

skilly

Hi all , just updated my sig ,doing really well so far this month be using lots of things from My cupboards and I have been though both of my freezers so I know what's in there . Also I have just stopped this weeks veggie box as well so there's a saving of £12.00 .might be my best month since joining :-)

wssla00

bella121984 wrote: »

Morning everyone! Im trying to do my meal plan and shopping for the next 2 weeks and I have realised I spend a fortune on stuff for DS lunchbox. I have been buying those fruit bars which are one of your five a day, planet lunchbox I think they are called, they do smoothies and all sorts, but they are so expensive! He loves them, and I know he will eat them, where as if I put an apple in there he will have a bite and thatll be it. He usually has a sandwich and some cucumber/pepper/cheese or something, with maybe a mini breadsticks too, and a yogurt if I have any and one of those fruit bars or smoothies instead of fruit...what do your kids have in their lunchboxes?

If you have a few hours free at the weekend, why not make your own?

Fruit leathers

I only ever make lunch boxes for me and DP but sandwiches are boring and he is fussy so I make things like salad using pasta (pesto, tuna mayo, roasted pepper, arriabiata sauce cooled)

HM sushi (I have found it's actually really easy so long as you can get nori sheets and sushi rice)

Terriaki chicken or barbeque chicken with an oriental salad

potato salad, coleslaw, roasted chicken, salad bits and pieces, separate salad dressing, HM croutons

HM jelly and fruit, HM yoghurt and compote, HM flapjacks, HM cereal bars maybe a HM brownie desert with choccy mousse etc etc

A good book for interesting recipes is the pret a manger book- really interesting and has loads of recipes for lunches!

scotsaver

Just popped on to update my spends on Fruit today.

Dinner tonight is HM Chicken pie with leftover chicken from last nights roast. Pudding is a HM Trifle.:)

Only got 9 more days to go on my GC and determined to be strict with myself. Will need to get some Veg tomorrow but I think I'm doing ok.;)

Good luck everyone - off to serve up dinner.:D

PennyGrabber

We've just had our dinner - chicken goujons, frozen from about a month ago, potato waffles and peas. I love freezer meals! Both children eating well - they are normally very slow eaters, but today have made me laugh - dd wanted more goujon and ds wanted more waffle, so they swapped!! Now that's initiative! I had a ww frozen ready meal, so managed to make a bit more space in the freezer today. NSD too, which is good, as there is so much food in the house (full pantry, full cup under stairs, full fridge, full freezerS, two full cups of baking stuff, a box full of treats on top of fridge, PLUS stuff on the kitchen worktops as nowhere else to put it!) I've finally taken myself off and given myself a good beating over this - it's just ridiculous. I started stocking up when I became single with a 1 and 2 year old, and was petrified that I wouldn't be able to feed them by the end of the month, but it's been more than 3 years now and they've never gone hungry, so I MUST use this stuff up.

I'm PennyGrabber and I'm a stock-up-aholic!

PG x

tracey_h_2

Had a great week, Hardly spent anything at all. Had a use up day yesterday and made a big frittata to see me through the next couple of days for lunch, used the odd veggies and some old potatoes. Did buy some reduced bits in the local cooop. £7.57. Had 2 carrier bags full. Loads of veg and mushrooms and fruit so wont need anymore of that this week.

Did have to do a half decent shop this morning. Spent £57.78 which i thought seemed a lot but then realised that over £10 was dishwasher tablets and washing tables and comfort which i was desperate for. Also i have brought some bits for my daughters 6th Birthday party on Saturday. She is having a few friends round for lunch so that did also add a bit to the bill too - £11.62 worth. So the general grocery bit wasnt really that bad.
Definately noticed a hike in pices though as i havent really done a decent shop this year yet.

This challenge has really made me think about what i buy and if it will get used or not. I have thrown so much away in the past and i am determined this year to have as little waste as possible.

Updated sig.

Txx

esmer

No Spend day for me today, and I made Chilli and bolognese, I had some Chilli tonight, and will put the rest in tubs and freeze them. I have about 6 meals to go in the freezer now Still have a lot of tomatoes and passatta in there. Mum has a tomato soup recipe that I can use with those ingredients and all I need to buy is pesto.
:
I will have to buy eggs tomorrow, I promised the work cupcakes. I sell them in the office, so I will be money up with that. I plan to put it in my sealed tin.

CupOfChai

Hello again everyone, I can't keep up with you all! Have noticed lots of new names too, which is great.

Mine was an NSD today, I went and did the shop over the weekend while Boyfriend was round, but haven't had a chance to update till now. I nearly always get him to come and help do the shopping when he's here, then I stock up on heavy things like tins and meat, and make him carry it, teeheehee. He doesn't mind really, if he lets me get food in he gets fed .

So having resisted the bad influences of taking a man when doing shopping, I spent £13.43 in total. Need more bread in a couple of days though, how do some people manage to mysteriously just eat all the bread? Can't imagine what happened to it all!

minnie2

esmer wrote: »

No Spend day for me today, and I made Chilli and bolognese, I had some Chilli tonight, and will put the rest in tubs and freeze them. I have about 6 meals to go in the freezer now Still have a lot of tomatoes and passatta in there. Mum has a tomato soup recipe that I can use with those ingredients and all I need to buy is pesto.
:
I will have to buy eggs tomorrow, I promised the work cupcakes. I sell them in the office, so I will be money up with that. I plan to put it in my sealed tin.

do you sell cakes you make, at work then?

SilverCo

Change of plan on the meal front this evening. DH and I celebrated with a takeaway as I got a credit on my first assignment for the qualification I'm working towards :T Doesn't come out of GC funds though, so in the clear on that one

Still very good though, I stripped the chicken from last night and will use some for sandwiches tomorrow and freeze the rest for a curry or maybe chicken pie. Also froze the carcass so I can make a stock when I have a bit more time!

Didn't realise you could do so much with soda crystals - may have to investigate these more closely!

Silver x