Grocery Challenge - February 2012

scotmumof3

Hi everyone hope you are all well:) Couple of spends to add £18.48 at Tesc@ for bread milk etc and £8.33 at asd@ for fruit and veg. DH has told me that on his way home from work he passes a Lid! an Ald! and a Tesc@ all right next to each other and it's only about 4miles from home so I'm off to plan next months menu and shopping list. I'm on the homeward stretch for this month only 4 more days to go and I think I should come in under budget:j. Now that I know I can do it I am going to cut next months budget a little because I feel this month I still had quite a few unnecessary spends (cola,ice cream, too many biscuits:oetc).
Been over to have a look at cleggies diary it's great :)x

Spiggle

Hi lovely ladies,

Advice please! A friend kindly gave us a butternut squash last night. We don't know what to do with it but I thought roasted would be good to go with our cottage pie later. Any advice please on how best to roast it? Alternatively, any other suggestions for using it other than soup please?

Thanks,
Spigs

Ninno820

Spiggle wrote: »

Hi lovely ladies,

Advice please! A friend kindly gave us a butternut squash last night. We don't know what to do with it but I thought roasted would be good to go with our cottage pie later. Any advice please on how best to roast it? Alternatively, any other suggestions for using it other than soup please?

Thanks,
Spigs

mmm butterut squash - my favourite!

Two ideas - use it as the main part of a risotto - you can also add a little bacon if you miss the meat but the chunks work really well.
Secondly cut it length ways - without peeling - and remove the seeds. Roast it and then fill the end with chilli. To roast i just put in the oven on a hot oven and sprinkle with oil - and then leave for 45 mins ish - its done when its gone soft and sweet.

Enjoy:j

Fiasco55

I will be having a NSD today. I am off to the cinema with best friend then instead of grabbing a bite while we are out, it is back to mine for dinner. Thinking about using the beef in the freezer. I am off to stare into the freezer!

scotmumof3

ninno -the chilli in the squash sounds lovely I love butternut squash but DH won't eat it just as a veg so I will try that next time I find a YS one thanks:T
I have been looking in the cupboard in the kitchen and have just found 5 bags of lentils :eek: can't really imagine why I have 5 bags but looking for recipes now with lentils in them. I found one for lentil burgers but I'm not really sure if these are any good any comments will be gratefully received and will help rid me of the lentil mountain:D

Herbyme

Spiggle, Jamie Oliver has a lovely recipe where you roast it with chilli, coriander seeds and thyme, then add cream, white wine, nutmeg and parmesan and roast it some more, it's gorgeous, it's in Cook with Jamie, can photo the page if not illegal (?!)
Enjoy, whatever you decide to do with it!

123budget, I can really relate to that situation. As you say, he has to want to change, sounds like he may not be there yet. Wonder what's the benefit to him in staying as he is, or what the real barrier is to cutting back? Only he knows, I guess.

Disdisbiff, I'm gobsmacked! A fairly new T here too, I'm going to try it and see if it's the newness that means their stock control isn't up to scratch yet (hoping...)

cleggie

Spiggle wrote: »

Hi lovely ladies,

Advice please! A friend kindly gave us a butternut squash last night. We don't know what to do with it but I thought roasted would be good to go with our cottage pie later. Any advice please on how best to roast it? Alternatively, any other suggestions for using it other than soup please?

Thanks,
Spigs

How about a risotto Spigs?
http://britishfood.about.com/od/psrecipes/r/Spicy-Butternut-Squash-Risotto-Recipe.htm

cleggie

scotmumof3 wrote: »

ninno -the chilli in the squash sounds lovely I love butternut squash but DH won't eat it just as a veg so I will try that next time I find a YS one thanks:T
I have been looking in the cupboard in the kitchen and have just found 5 bags of lentils :eek: can't really imagine why I have 5 bags but looking for recipes now with lentils in them. I found one for lentil burgers but I'm not really sure if these are any good any comments will be gratefully received and will help rid me of the lentil mountain:D

Wow Scotmum, thats a LOT of lentils!:eek:
Are you a veggie, or do you just like lentils?

I found this link quite good for using upp my lentils:
http://www.lentilrecipes.co.uk/

Hope that helps!

Catwoman103

Did a bigger shop this week for £36.56 but that included £6.38 on a Castin g hair colour which I will try to claim back using their 100% satisfaction guarantee. Off to update my signature now.

EverTheOptimist

Reporting more spends today, however went to Morr1sons for f&v, first time in ages. Thanks to whoever posted about the offers. Spent £16 ish, have stocked up on fruit for the week, i really need to start snacking on fruit rather than chocolate. And got bunny some veg and treats.

And... i actually stuck to the list, well apart from the 3 easter eggs, £1 each. Am feeling quite smug and organised.

Looking forward to payday now, i dont particularly want to spend i just feel naked without money in my purse, even if it all pretty much accounted for.

I am hoping in the next few months to cook more from scratch so will be utilising the recipes on the first page, i'm not very good at knowing what works together etc.

Well done to everyone who is under budget.

Keep focussed, stay out of the SM's.