November 2011 - Grocery Challenge

prepareathome

Well went rather mad today, and we had lunch out - only in Asda but still not something normally done, I blame the injections at the dentist for my fillings ( that cost not included in GC) it made me light headed and reckless, hubby of course was quite happy to have lunch out, for me its about the 3rd time this year. Actually GS spends comes to £33 but I actually spent £109 altogether in Asda yikes, but hubby desperately needed new shoes - the ones he is wearing let in, yes he could have bought new ones weeks ago, but unless I take him shoe shopping that will not happen so he walks around in shoes that sole has worn through and gets wet feet. We got him 2 pairs £17 each - we did try him on nice expensive ones once that could be soled and heeled and he went through those in week, and even when resoled heeled again another week, cobbler suggested putting metal on them but hubby did not like that idea at all, so now just kept for best as was costing us more than buying cheap ones - the way he drives he wears down the sole and heel on one side in about 4 months in cheap shoes. So hopefully these should see him through the winter as no doubt there will be times ahead when he wears his wellington boots, which he has had years and sole and heel never seem to wear down. Also some new undies for me and him - asked him how many he has and he said 5 only, and he complained when I popped more in basket, but as told him, what if power cut and I cannot wash things for over a week he must have at least a weeks supply clean at all time. He knows when I get onto winter preps its no use arguing. LOL. Also picked up a couple of runner carpets, machine washable whoopsied to £5 for hall - floor is quarry tiles and I adore them, in summer they are bliss as stay cool but in winter as sooooo cold. As one of my girls ( doggie) has a bit of a weak bladder she sometimes goes on the tiles, thankfully no where else, so anything not washable no use, but I can have one down and one in the wash, very handy and just what I have been looking for, for about 2 years. Bought a few other bits like storage containers so happy with my spends just more than I planned on spending when we went in. So all in all spent nearly £200 and more fillings to pay for next week - teeth suddenly falling to bits urg.

I decided at beginning of month I would not only keep a record of GS but of total spends, so am keeping a journal of everything I buy - at front just a day by day list of where and amounts and at back a proper breakdown. This way I hope to be able to see what I am buying that I need, one offs and extras and maybe what shops I should avoid if broke, as I know me to well. So will update sig to include new total - hopefully till sat there should be only NSDs - fingers crossed.

ms_night_ryder

Another 91p spent in mr S today, got a homebakes wholewheat bloomer, comfort pure conditioner, a bottle of sparkling water and a bar of cadburys toffee truffle, thanks to the wholewheat voucheer, he put it through at full price which was on sel for 1.65, but it went through at 1.20, then had another moc for 75p for conditioner, so good little shop! well pleased.

medsdemon

Well had our first shop of the new month yesterday- A*di £21.83, A*da £29.20. I am trying to cutback on the amount I eat and it's working well since I started my new job I don't have enough time to eat as much...or shop for food. Hopefully my mealplanning will mean I still provide us with a healthy meal without constantly visiting the SM every night.
Today was a NSD:j.

The family enjoyed the Lentil soup I'd cooked and left in the fridge. Tomorrow I am cooking Chilli Con Carne in the slow cooker so must go and take the mince out the freezer!!!

MissOrganised1972

SallyHat wrote: »

I love to cook but I only ever follow recipes. I am currently making a Chilli con Carne from Jamie Oliver's Happy Days book. I have doubled the recipe & so have the following bubbling away on my stove:

900g minced beef
4 onions
2 garlic cloves
4 tins of tomatoes
1 large red chilli
a few spices
2 jars of sun dried tomatoes (blitzed in food processor) with the 1/2 the oil from one of the jars
2 wine glasses of water

Towards the end I will be adding 4 cans of drained red kidney beans.

I want the recipe to stretch further and so have (very bravely) added 6oz of 'no soak' red lentils. I just wanted to know if a) I could add any more lentils than that and b) do I need to add some extra liquid (perhaps a mixture of red wine & water) to compensate for the lentils and any liquid they may absorb!

Thanking you all in anticipation

In case anyone was interested (feel free to drop off to sleep here :rotfl:) I added, to the original recipe:

8oz of 'no soak' red split lentils (that's the original 6oz plus another 2oz)
a very good 'splosh' of red wine
1 cup of beef stock

As usual, it turned out too spicy for the kids but it has fed DH & I for dinner with rice & fromage frais tonight. In addition, I have portioned it up for 6 more generous meals for the 2 of us. So, 14 portions in all. The original recipe was to feed 8. We don't eat massive meals or anything but often find a 'serves 4' meal does not feed the 2 of us twice. Therefore I think that the addition of the lentils has been great for stretching it a lot further.

angelatgraceland

Ive been watching HFW River cottage veg tonight on youtube and feel very inspired veggy wise. we are not great meat eaters anyway and I do know that when we were very skint and living mainly on grains pulses and soya we were a lot healthier(low cholesterol and low BP). Expensive western diets are indeed bad! So I like to go back in time somewhat and introduce those old favourites again and certainly cholesterol wise they are paying off. Also going to make some pizza dough ready for Thursday.
Ive cooked a bean curry tonight for tomorrow and made the dough for naan bread. i've also got some youghurt "on the go".

Yoghurt Recipe

For anyone interested in making youghurt you just need
some live yoghurt(smartprice plain yoghurt)and
a litre of long life full cream(well thats what I like) milk.
a flask

Work out how much liquid the flask holds. Mine holds 750 ml.

Warm the flask with boiling water

Measure out the milk to 50 ml less than the flask holds

Put the milk in a jug and warm to blood temperature in the microwave(think baby bath)

Empty the water out of the flask(its not needed)

Add 2 tablespoons(4 desertspoons)of live yoghurt to the warmed milk and mix.

Add the warmed milk/yoghurt to the flask

Wrap this up in a towel keeping the lid well insulated as well as the sides.

It will be ready overnight or in about 6 hours. If you have a nice warm place to put it then do so.

When its done it will pour from the flask easily into a container. Give it a stir and put into a tub with a lid to chill and keep in the fridge like any other yoghurt.

debbiedeejay

Had to attended a meting in town last night and after had half hour spare before picking DD3 up so visited locacl big Mr T's - I just needed some crisps for lunches.

Was very good as near to door was offer on various snacks(3 for 1)so choose 3 and wandered off to whoospie aisle and purchased
8 paninis -60p
2 salmon fillets in a chilli dressing -£1

and 1 pack of their finest range large pack of smoked salmon (half price at mo at £7.50 per pack:eek:) down to £1.88. Now I could have hung around to see if it could have been reduced more but I had to go and it was either grab now or watch someone else get it.
So now am quiet happy as I have bought something in prep for Christmas !

Anyway I had to take it out of its sleeve and fold it in half to get in freezer!:rotfl:I even wrote on it all details how much I saved so I can be super happy when I serve it!

In total £5.97

Wasn't intending to spend anymore this week but I forgave myself pretty quickly.

rosieben

angelatgraceland, I've added your Yoghurt Recipe to the recipe index :beer:

meanmarie

Spent another €49 to-day....mainly meat which means we should have nearly enough now for the rest of the month, will need dog and cat food but might manage to squeak out!

Marie

recovering_spendaholic

Sallyhat - thanks for the link to the washing powder - it does seem like a great bargain, but I was wondering how you stop it from getting all clogged up in the bag? Where and how do you store it? Glad that the chilli worked out - sounded lovely!

I was making meatballs and spaghetti for tea tonight but both kids said they wouldn't eat it as they had only had it last week:mad: In the end I gave in and went to the local chippie and got them something - paid £4 for a cheese and onion pie and chips and a chop suey roll and chips. I also bought a battered sausage as I have seen them and wondered what they were like and they were only 60p so I got one. It was perhaps the most revolting thing I have ever tasted in my life - I had to spit out my bite but DD2 ate it as she likes them! I must try and give them something healthier tomorrow - as soon as she had eaten her pie and chips DD1 started banging on about how unhealthy it was and how she needed to lose weight etc etc. I give up!! I had heated up chicken soup from the freezer and it was lovely!!

I need to go shopping tomorrow for dog food, milk, eggs and bread, but don't actually need anything else as I have stuff in for meals until the end of the week and beyond.

angelatgraceland - I have been HFW too - some of the things he makes look fab - I would love to grow my own stuff and might try it one of these days!! Is he eating totally vegan or is he having cheese and eggs and milk?

sproggi

recovering_spendaholic wrote: »

Sallyhat - thanks for the link to the washing powder - it does seem like a great bargain, but I was wondering how you stop it from getting all clogged up in the bag? Where and how do you store it?

I put mine into empty sweet tins to keep it dry and easy to store.
One bag nearly filled 4 tins


Sproggi