February 2011 Grocery Challenge

thriftyscotslass

Hi Mrs MCawber / Zippychick

Sorry I'm late....

Please could you put Thriftyscotslass down for £350. Many thanks.

martafdz

Can you freeze raw vegetables? I was thinking of freezing: peppers (washed and chopped for convenience), carrots, 1/2 parsnip and 1/2 swede. Can I just put them in a bag in the freezer or should I cook them first. What about onions? Can I chop them and put them in the freezer? My ex-MIL used to have jars of already fried onion but I wonder if you can freeze them just chopped raw.

Long_tall_sally

Missus_Aka wrote: »

No NSD today but none was spent on groceries as i just couldnt be bothered to stop...too tired, though my mum gave me my saffron for free as she didnt need it so at least one thing down.......

Have had a hell of a day, had a headache that made my eyes water, my leg was killing even though i was sitting down (hope physio works & STARTS SOON) and then i got told i was rude by customer because i told him tools were non returnable unless faulty (it was a soldering iron, solder and a solder station) he said that was unfair as he wanted to fix his motherboard and if soldering the connection didnt work he should be able to return it. Explained why we cannot returned used goods (would you buy used tools from a retail store?), was then told i was a woman and didnt know anything & to get the manager. He told the manager i was rude and that i said 'buy it or leave' (which i didnt) but couldnt repeat anything TRUE i said which was in anyway rude or impolite, proceeded to tell me he was a man and i should look at him when talking to him at all times......manager sided with me as there were many staff who heard the whole conversation and to be honest everyone said what a ****@er he was to me.....WHY ARE THERE PEOPLE LIKE THIS??????

*****Rant Over***** lol

No wonder you feel the need to rant- what an awful customer! At least your manager sided with you though but not nice nevertheless.

LondonDreamer

martafdz wrote: »

Can you freeze raw vegetables? I was thinking of freezing: peppers (washed and chopped for convenience), carrots, 1/2 parsnip and 1/2 swede. Can I just put them in a bag in the freezer or should I cook them first. What about onions? Can I chop them and put them in the freezer? My ex-MIL used to have jars of already fried onion but I wonder if you can freeze them just chopped raw.

Raw onions freeze fine. I always freeze the bags of ready chopped onions when I get them (whoopsied, of course). Great for throwing a handful in straight from frozen whenever you need them in a recipe. Peppers would probably be fine if you are planning to use them for cooking, not sure how they'd defrost for salad/other raw use. Root veg also freezes well, you might want to blanch them first but I probably wouldn't bother. Although I'd be tempted to make up a batch of swede and carrot mash and freeze that. :drool:

angelatgraceland

martafdz wrote: »

Can you freeze raw vegetables? I was thinking of freezing: peppers (washed and chopped for convenience), carrots, 1/2 parsnip and 1/2 swede. Can I just put them in a bag in the freezer or should I cook them first. What about onions? Can I chop them and put them in the freezer? My ex-MIL used to have jars of already fried onion but I wonder if you can freeze them just chopped raw.

Yes-that is exactly how I do it. Some will tell you to dip them in boiling water(blanche)but I don't bother and they are fine. I tend to chop them and spread them on a baking tray then when they have frozen I bag them up-saves them sticking together.

Mothership

My first loaf ended up like a frizbee, think I made a boo boo at the proving stage, the heating went off, it rose and then collapsed, I baked it anyway. Just wanted to see if it tasted ok. It did so I tried again this morning.
I proved it on top of the cooker with one ring on low, it only took an hour to rise, I had the bread in an oiled flat bottomed ovenproof bowl, inside a bigger bowl, it worked a treat, i baked it in the bowl. I only proved it once as the yeast packet said one raising was enough. Its all gone already, my family said If I can make bread like that I should stop buying it.
I tried a blend of plain and strong bread flour for the next loaf, I put the slow cooker on warm and the bread on an oven tray, to see how the proving went. This was better than on top of the stove, as I didn't have to keep turning it. The bread has a lovely texture, and nice and light so I'm well pleased. My OH sat and waited for it coming out of the oven and had a few slice with a cup of tea. he said "Thats what you call bread", so I'm very pleased with my efforts.

We had Spaghetti Bolognese for dinner, it was lovely. Fancy macaroni cheese for tomorrow with a nice crispy cheesy topping (with a little of my bread , breadcrumbed

Only been buying milk since my last spend ( will add it all together at the end of the month, its not much), I'm determined to use up every bit of fruit/veg in the fridge before I buy anymore. This thread keeps me good :A Thanks to all of you!

pixie1

Im late too as ive been out of town for a while.

$400 for Pixie1 please :j

Fingers crossed i can stick to it - i NEED to!!

Pix

rosieben

I've never put my bread to heat to prove, just left it in the kitchen, when I had a very draughty old kitchen I used the shower cap on the bowl but apart from that I've never had a problem; dough will actually rise in the fridge, albeit very slowly, and the artisan bread recipe instruction is (I think) to prove the dough slowly over a period of 12 hours or more

pixie1

pixie1 wrote: »

Im late too as ive been out of town for a while.

$400 for Pixie1 please :j

Fingers crossed i can stick to it - i NEED to!!

Pix

OK so i made a list and went to get the extras for this week and i have spent $30.12AUD. I will need to get some more fruit, another loaf and milk but i have a lovely menu planned for the week and i dont need to buy anymore cleaning products, toiletories or cat food :j

So today I brought -

1L semi skinned milk $1.44
Dolmio bol sauce 580g $3.24
Lamb Mince 500g $12.31
Chilli con carne packet seasoning $1.58
3 x jacket spuds ($2.89/kg) $2.86
5 x Onions ($2.69/kg) $2.54
Pitta bread 6 pack $2.59 (on offer normally $4.09)
White bread $2.04
3 x granny smith apples ($4.99/kg) $1.52

TOTAL $30.12 :beer:

Pix

never_too_old

Mothership wrote: »

My first loaf ended up like a frizbee, think I made a boo boo at the proving stage, the heating went off, it rose and then collapsed, I baked it anyway. Just wanted to see if it tasted ok. It did so I tried again this morning.
I proved it on top of the cooker with one ring on low, it only took an hour to rise, I had the bread in an oiled flat bottomed ovenproof bowl, inside a bigger bowl, it worked a treat, i baked it in the bowl. I only proved it once as the yeast packet said one raising was enough. Its all gone already, my family said If I can make bread like that I should stop buying it.
I tried a blend of plain and strong bread flour for the next loaf, I put the slow cooker on warm and the bread on an oven tray, to see how the proving went. This was better than on top of the stove, as I didn't have to keep turning it. The bread has a lovely texture, and nice and light so I'm well pleased. My OH sat and waited for it coming out of the oven and had a few slice with a cup of tea. he said "Thats what you call bread", so I'm very pleased with my efforts.

We had Spaghetti Bolognese for dinner, it was lovely. Fancy macaroni cheese for tomorrow with a nice crispy cheesy topping (with a little of my bread , breadcrumbed

Only been buying milk since my last spend ( will add it all together at the end of the month, its not much), I'm determined to use up every bit of fruit/veg in the fridge before I buy anymore. This thread keeps me good :A Thanks to all of you!

well done on the bread,most of the time mines ok but on the odd occasion its horrendous, ive just bought a silcone loaf tin as mine was some times sticking.