March 2011 Grocery Challenge

never_too_old

Has anyone made tomato soup in the slow cooker, i have searched for a recipe and posted on the os forum but havent heard anything yet. So thought i would try you lovely lot:j

rosieben

we have a small thread here with links to slow cooker tomato soup

fedupandskint

No plans to buy any more food yet. Used up some pasta and brocoli in a lovely tea with onion, garlic, anchovies (had for ages in oil in the fridge) and parmesan.

Thanks for the ideas for the purple brocoli - used a third of the pack tonight in the pasta - even though I thought it was quite expensive to buy, dividing the pack up into 3 meals and probably 3 more from leftovers too it was quite economical really. Think some will pop into a stir fry tomorrow then see what I can use the rest for, maybe pasta again!

NSD here today too so quite a good day all round, especially now I'm back from work

elfen

Need to add a 12.80 spend in Mr A to mine....still less than a third.

PennyGrabber

Well, I've failed my March challenge. I went to a sm yesterday. In my defense, it was my mum's fault! She wanted to go to Tesc@ to see if they had any horseriding boots. They didn't, although they have had in the past, but I ended up buying some cottage cheese (mum wanted to try it as never had it before, and I could hardly refuse as a, she's just given up smoking, and b, she'd driven for 90 mins to come and visit!!). Also bought a loaf of bread, so that the frozen one will last longer -less need to visit local shop, and some cheapo jam as I'd run out. That never happens to me! I don't run out of stuff! It was actually quite a nice feeling! Anyway, a grand total of £1.73 spent. This means that I have 5 NSDs under my belt so far, and a total spend of £54.95 out of £150. That's possibly the best position I've ever been in at this point in the month, so I'm really chuffed with myself.

I have used up a few bits from the pantry and the freezer today, which will last for tomorrow as well. I also made a bottom-of-the-fridge soup with a couple of leeks, some onions, some spuds, some carrots, lentils, ham stock cubes, bouquet garni and some bacon. Did it in the slow cooker. Smells quite nice, but won't have any til tom now. Think it'll do about 8 portions!! This will mean that I'll be eating it all week, and won't be able to use up anything else! Although it also means I haven't thrown away the stuff from the fridge. I MUST BUY LESS, I MUST BUY LESS!!

Night all,
PG x

PS - Well done TheBees, you beat me! I'll try not to go in a sm again now!

janie-h

Hi all :wave:

A**a - £18.55
and found another receipt from last week A**i - £11.12

Will update sig.

Ooooh, just found another! C**p - £4.92 TOTAL = £34.59

Bit disorganised at the mo - but had a good clear out at work so perhaps it will inspire me to sort myself out :A

Going back to SWorld tomorrow night, so will need to get more f&v on Wed and get the recipe books/files out.

Hippeechiq

jumblejack Well done on your terrific achievement :T
I'm totally rubbish at stretching food, but am always impressed by those who can

cutiepieabf Your Sausage, leek and apple pie sounds lovely

mummyjane wrote: »

just wondering if dh will grumble too much if I give him half a naan bread with it :rotfl:we never finish a whole one each and it seems such a waste.

Mummyjane I used to find that I could never finish a normal sized naan, so I now buy the packs of mini naans from A$da, 4 to a pack for 72p. OH likes two small ones, but one is just enough for me. I'm sure there are plenty of OSers that can make their own, but I can't/don't so this suits me fine. They freeze well too, so I just take 3 out at a time.

Another NSD here - not that that alters the fact that I've already spent too much and have got s0d all left in my purse for the week :-(

CupOfChai

Well I've been shopping, spent £22.52 in total so far. Not so good! I've been getting distracted from my list and buying other things, and even went and spent a fiver on chocolatey treats :eek: although most of them were to take into work.

Must do better from now on if I am to come in under budget, which I really want to do by as much as possible. Can't keep going off my list, or buying expensive things!

angelatgraceland

Done lots of shopping this week and the freezer is bursting with homemade things and purchases. Had a family friend to dinner on sun and really treated him to 2 homecooked dinners! Ckicken roast at lunchtime and beef in red wine sauce for tea.
I wanted to make it a really enjoyable day as my dh hasnt seen this guy for a while and I thought Id make the most of socialising while we can as dh goes to hospital on Thursday for the ultimatum on whether or not he can be treated for the cancer in his liver and lymph nodes.Either way we have a tough road ahead but I do dread that appointment as it is the ultimate decider on life. It puts all moneysaving in perspective regarding importance but I continue to moneysave cos its such a habit! I guess I will be giving up work whatever the ultimatum as the least dh deserves is to have my time and care but I will miss the social thing of working(but not the work)
2 of my grown kids are taking driving lessons and that means aaaagh £40 per week each! Ok I knew it was going to happen. DS thinks he is paying for his but I will give it back to him when he passes(he will work harder that way). DD only had her second 2 hours yesterday. It will free up my time in the future and maybe they can run me around for a change!

Hippeechiq

Oh Angel....I haven't the words hun, but with every ounce of my being, I wish you some positive news on Thursday :grouphug: