I'm eating out of the freezer and cupboards challenge

recovering_spendaholic

Hi all - haven't been on the computer for a week or more as daughter has taken the laptop to univeristy with her and I had to wait to get mine back from ex-oh who had borrowed it!

finances are dire - getting daughter off to university cost me an absolute fortune!! She needed all kinds of stuff and wouldn't make do with stuff from the house - she wanted all new stuff from ikea.

Anyway now there is just me and younger daughter at home my food bills should go down. Plus younger daughter is much easier to cook for as she is less fussy and will have a go at most things.

My cupboards are quite full and the freezer isn't bad, and if I really tried I could probably get to the end of the month without having to buy anything at all, except perhaps for a bottle of Cravendale milk. I am trying to reduce my cholesterol as it was 6.8 at my blood test last week and has given me a right scare, so I will be trying to make more low fat and low sugar stuff.

Today I made chilli with the five beans and some leftover bolognaise sauce made with extra lean mince from the freezer - I did it with a corn on the cob and green salad and it was really nice. I also peeled and stewed about 15 apples out of the fruit bowl which were starting to go wrinkly. I cooked them with sultanas, a little bit of sugar and then thickenend it with a little cornflour - It was really nice and will do for a few days afters with yoghurt or ice cream (for DD).

Haven't read through the thread yet to see what you've all been up to so will go and do that now.

Lynsey

Morning all.

Jane - great to see you posting again ................. kids do cost a fortune, even when they are no longer kids!!

Nothing much of great value in Sainsbury's last night, but was passing and bought:

2 x Heinz 5 beans @ 85p = £1.70
TTD clementines (reduced from £1.49) to 25p = 25p
Sub total = £1.95
Used 2 x Heinz 85p coupons (minus £1.70)
Total = 25p lol (I love their s/scan till).

Yesterdays spends were £1.30 and an amazing amount for that. That's the total of this weeks spends so far as NSD on Sunday.

Breakfast will be toasted tea-cakes and stir fry with garlic prawns for lunch. I'll also start on the 2nd M&S sponge roll!!
Tomorrow we've been invited out for a carvery. My Brother takes us out now and again for helping him with shopping, washing, ironing etc.
Friday will be a Groupon, my favourite Italian. Not much to plan this week food-wise, just ticking over.

I need bread or need to bake bread by tomorrow. 1/2 dozen eggs also needed.

Lynsey

ma-ri-ella

"6.8 at my blood test last week and has given me a right scare, so I will be trying to make more low fat and low sugar stuff." is that ur suger levels? well done for keeping it at that! i have problems getting mine under 10 and thats with tablets!. yesterday i spent £1 on a jar of homepride pasta sauce as i have about 5 packets of pasta and no sauce.also noticed i have loads of tuna from tesco dtd time(and red salmon) not quite sure how to put the 2 together just tuna mayo and pasta? not sure what the suger levels would be like in that. anyway going shopping with friend today so might talk her into letting me go into £land look at the ww stuff but will try resist

uksavergirl

Some of my best meals have been spontaneously created out of cupboard and fridge left overs. Shame they just can't be recreated.

Just stumbled across http://mysupermarket.co.uk/. Am liking the fact that you can put ingredients from bbc good food straight to your shopping list.

Lynsey

I've just made a half packet up of Wright's Ciabatta bread mix and it was very nice. Eating some hot now with Lurpak. lol

Jane - I know you've made this before and did you find the dough sloppy??
I added 175ml of water and 2tbsp of oil.
I prefer this to the Wright's Premium White, so I'll print off more 30p coupons.
Only 50p until 23rd September.
BTW - Green's Carmelle, Custard and Pie Filling are 2 for 75p at Morries - so you get paid 5p to take them away when using 2 x 40p Green's coupons.

Lynsey

recovering_spendaholic

Lynsey wrote: »

I've just made a half packet up of Wright's Ciabatta bread mix and it was very nice. Eating some hot now with Lurpak. lol

Jane - I know you've made this before and did you find the dough sloppy??
I added 175ml of water and 2tbsp of oil.
I prefer this to the Wright's Premium White, so I'll print off more 30p coupons.
Only 50p until 23rd September.
BTW - Green's Carmelle, Custard and Pie Filling are 2 for 75p at Morries - so you get paid 5p to take them away when using 2 x 40p Green's coupons.

Lynsey

I made the ciabatta in my breadmaker and I am not sure if the dough was sloppy or not - I used the amount of water stated on the pack.

I did toast for breakfast and have just had a packet of Aldi hot and sour noodles, tarted up with some chopped chicken and spring onions and a dash of light soy sauce. It was really nice!

Tonight I am going to do chicken thighs with jacket potato and salad.

Ma-ri-ella - 6.8 was my cholesterol level:eek: Blood sugar is fine - was 5.8 fasting so that's okay I think. I probably need to start on a statin, but am seeing the cardiologist tomorrow about my paroxysmal AF so I'll ask him about it.

I am going to go through my cupboard in the next couple of days and sort out stuff to go to the foodbank - I got loads of stuff in Asda when they had that clearance stuff a couple of months ago, and some of it is stuff that we don't like and won't eat - They have a collection point in Tescos on Saturdays.

Have any of you started preparing for Christmas food yet? This year I am determined not to leave food shopping until the last minute and am going to start a Christmas food box - I'll try and get a few items each week, but I also don't want to have the usual gorge fest which it usually turns out to be.

Lynsey

recovering_spendaholic wrote: »

Have any of you started preparing for Christmas food yet? This year I am determined not to leave food shopping until the last minute and am going to start a Christmas food box - I'll try and get a few items each week, but I also don't want to have the usual gorge fest which it usually turns out to be.

Yes, I've got a few packs (4) of shortbread and some pickled onions. lol
I'm adding bits each week and looking for chutney's on offer now.
We don't overdo it and just want a nice small selection.
Cheeses, pates etc I'll get late on.

Soworried has started a Xmas on the cheap thread HERE.

I did my Ciabatta to the dough stage in bread-maker and formed 4 buns. Tasted nice though.

Lynsey

ma-ri-ella

"BTW - Green's Carmelle, Custard and Pie Filling are 2 for 75p at Morries - so you get paid 5p to take them away when using 2 x 40p Green's coupons." was going to say the same thing lol spent 1.30 in morries today got
2x green egg custard
2x green carmelle- not sure what to cook this in
m savers jaffa cakes
1x twinnings green teabags
noticed that farmfoods have weight watchers soup 3 for £1- cheapest i have seen it was 63p in asdas.going to see if i can find one of those farmfood vouchers i normally have in a drawer but if not happy to pay that price.defo think i could stick to my 12.50 a week budget if i have that for lunch and its something i reallly like x

Soworried

Hi
I am just catching up. RL has got in the way now I am back to work.

Edwardia, I have not read any of your posts. I hope you are well and the decorating is going well. x

I am using up lots at the moment as I am too tired to shop. I will get used to it again soon.
I did get 4x cheese french sticks for 9p each tonight and a 30p salad that was £3.:eek:

I hope everyone is well. x

katskorner

Hello!

I did a freezer dive today and dug out some fish pie mix bags from Mr T that I got reduced but they didn't defrost in time so boys got fish fingers, smileys and peas with b&b and we are having similar - breaded plaice, chips and peas with b&b and then I shall make a fish pie tomorrow. nom. love fish. got fresh mince left in fridge - used half yesterday on bolognese so probably make something with that on Thursday. A touch of space emerging in freezer.... whoa...