January 2011 Grocery Challenge

XSpender

4 eggs, beaten
2 heaped tsps instant coffee
8oz soft margerine
8oz SR flour
8oz caster sugar
2 tsps baking powder

For the filling & topping:

2oz margerine
6oz icing sugar
1tbsp coffee essence or 1 heaped tsp instant coffee disolved in 1 tblsp hot water
1 tbsp milk

Pre heat oven to 180/350/Gas 4. Grease and base line 2 x 8 inch sandwich tins.

Place the eggs in a bowl and stir in the coffee until dissolved. Add the remaining ingredients and beat well until thoroughly blended.

Divide between the 2 tins and level out.

Bake for about 25 mins until well risen and the top of the cake is springy. Leave to cool for a minute or 2 then turn onto a rack to cool completely.

To make the butter cream, blend together marg, icing sugar and coffee/water or essence until smooth. Add the milk if necessary.

Sandwich the 2 cakes together with half the buttercream and spread the rest on the top. Decorate with walnut halves, chocolate curls, choc drops or whatever you have to hand.

I tend to make double this amount of buttercream to sandwich and cover the top of the cake and pipe rossettes on.

Pernicious

Hiya,

I've only just seen this thread & would like to join in please?

Due to a bit of an overspend at the sales (for much needed items I should add) we weren't left with much in the joint account for food, so for the first time ever I made a meal plan for the rest of the month & so far so good - luckily we had a lot in the freezer already so I'm left with about £30 for fresh bits for the rest of the month for the two of us, I'm hoping my calculations are correct & it can be done!

Good luck everyone!

helen_jelly

XSpender - thanks for the recipe - much easier than the 1 I had!!

Helen x

lou1981

Hello Ladies, OMG this thread is fast moving!!! I have had another NSD today so I am doing well normally I have spent loads popping to the corner shop for stuff we dont really need!!!I am well on my way to being at least on budget this month.
I have stretched some mince out and we had lasagne last night and beef cobbler tonight and what is lovely is its all cooked and ready to go, Apart from the cobbles. I have also made a butternut squash soup for luches today, just waiting for it to cool and then I will blend.
Thanks for the motivation and inspiration ladies.
louise x

scotsaver

Tracey2609 wrote: »

I've been reading through the threads, and found alot of comments about people splitting their shopping between different stores... Certainly in my area I have to drive to any of the main supermarkets and occasionally send my son to the local shop for the odd pint of milk. In the main I try to be "good" and only go food shopping once a week and on a full stomach! - I really overspend if I shop when I'm hungry! But my question is, is it worth splitting the shopping like this? Does the amount of money saved outweigh the extra cost in fuel? Thanks!

Tracey2609 - I'm lucky as I have a Morrisons, Tesco and Lidl's within walking distance and at a stretch an Asda within walking distance although I usually take the Car if I'm going there as it's in a Town Centre with other shops.

Hippeechiq wrote: »

:wave: HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone

Hippeechiq - so good to see you back - Happy New Year to you too.;)

JayJay14 wrote: »

I usually use this -

http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/main-ingredient/lemon/lemon-curd.html

Cos it uses whole eggs it means you wouldn't have loads of whites to use up. I have my lemons in the freezer, all juiced and zested in little pots of four ready to use (go loads last year of Asda unwaxed ones at silly prices)

JayJay14 - this is the Recipe that I always use and in fact made a batch yesterday - love Delia Smith recipes as they are so easy to follow.

Mothership - made the Xmas pud scones today, had to Product test one and they are delicious - thanks for Recipe.;)

Dinner tonight is HM Cottage Pie, peas, sweetcorn and cabbage. No need for pudding as we will be eating the Xmas Pud scones.:D

Have a good evening everyone.;)

sazzledazzle

ok another 14.97 today but I was so different in Mr S. I kept looking at things and then thinking no as that will add another £2 on your target, so this is definately working. I also got a few of next weeks bits as quite a few good haf price offers so got meat for pack lunch and crisps which I would have had to buy on sunday. Put the £1 that it said I had saved from a multi buy in my sealed pot.

jammy_dodger

updated sig

spent 12.68 today

bought some fresh haddock from the harbour for tea Mmmmm looks fine

i went to mr T but didnt get some of the items off my list the prices on fruit juice were shocking:eek: exploiting the healthy option shoppers at this time of year me thinks ...


i was buying the large tropicana before xmas 2 for £4 now its advertised on "offer" 2 for £6 refuse to pay it:mad:
also had no value natural yoghurt to make my naan breads with again refused to buy there more expensive option so left without

bought gokat and stuck to my list
has anyone tried lidl dry cat food well i mean have they given it to there cat not tried it themselves :rotfl:

though someone might of ha ha

i saw it was much cheaper than gokat just moved my cat on to dried stuff so much cheaper than sachets now have dog on dried and it suits him fine

always looking for a better alternative

rant over

keep up with the good work , its such an incenative to save rather than shoving items willy nilly into the trolley like i used to

jd xx

minnie2

well another NSD today!! thats 6days so far!!

not sure if i should dare ask this question or not but is it better to do one big shop and see how long it last or specifiically buy as you go?

rosieben

XSpender, I've added your Coffee cake recipe to the index :T

I think I'll be trying that one myself with walnuts on top <<insert drooling smiley here>>

wssla00

ooh! walnuts! good idea