March 2012 Grocery Challenge

Winchelsea

First shop of the month today - bought 4 pints of milk, which I've diluted 50:50 (like you 2ndtimearound - this means it lasts me a week) - also a net of oranges and 8 bananas, and a savoy cabbage, plus two packets of paracetamol for the poor old creaky knees. All for the grand sum of £4.06.

Made a really lovely sourdough loaf today. Started it last night, left it to rise overnight, gave it a quick fold over this morning and left it for another 6 hrs. Then shaped it, slashed the top, and sprinkled sunflower seeds on top, then baked it for 50 mins at 200 degrees C. Lovely taste and texture, with a lovely chewy crust.
My sourdough starter is 14 months old now, and it gets better all the time. (I did have a bit of a failure the other week - I cooked it in the BM as I was in a rush to get a meal on the table. Usually the recipe I use comes out OK, but this time it really did taste SOUR! I served it with a huge pan of HM veg soup, so I don't think people noticed too much - I did though!)

Actually it was on the day of my DH's funeral - did lunch for 22, and had other bread that I'd made - a ciabatta, also a batch of soft floury loaves. People brought cakes, so did not have to think about dessert. Was glad not to have to cater for the wake later though, as there were about 50!

For lunch today I had leftovers from yesterday - the rest of a HM pizza with roasted vegs on the side. Tonight I had a lovely stir fry with some of the new loaf, followed by an orange. The stir fry had half my latest batch of sprouted beans mixed in with all the other vegs - gave a nice crunch.

scotmumof3

Evening everyone. Got the sad news last night that my FIL passed away yesterday quite suddenly.Been quite a bit of to-ing and fro-ing today and the monthly menu has pretty much gone out the window we will get back on track asap but as you can imagine priorities at the moment have changed. Will try to keep track of spends and update when I can. Hope you are all well

prepareathome

Please put me down for £150 this month. Its more than I can really afford but stocks are low, cupboards are almost bare and I need to refill so will not be buying for the future just for the month on the whole, but bigger sizes if I can afford them so they will last or take up special offers on things we use.

Did a good big shop today -
B&M £38 - that is all my tin stuff, teabags,household bits and bobs - cleaning, toiletries etc
Cool Trader £34 - a few more tins that were cheaper than B&M and all my Meat, Mince, Chicken, Lamb, Sausages, Fish - Haddock and Cod, plus Vegetables and couldn't resist some quarter pounder burgers ( not had a bought burger in must be a couple of years and I had some tonight and totally enjoyed them, hubby had what was left from last nights concoction as a full portion was left and he enjoyed it, was going to be frozen for another night). So that is all the basics for meals for the month in.
HomeBargain £8 - they are cheapest place at moment for sugar, soap powder and dishwasher tablets, so enough sugar in now but might need more of the others later in month depending how often both machines go on. I prefer dishwasher powder but it seems no where bar MR S sells it, and was trying to avoid supermarkets today.

I only ever go to MR S never the others and will have to go next week as my youngest dog will only eat their Beef and Veg pate and have enough to do for a few more days, so will buy more milk while in there, but have enough to do for now. So that is £80 gone but cannot see why £70 should not do me for rest of month as all the basics are now in.

Allypops

On-line shop with Mr T for stocking up on a household stuff and toileteries as well as groceries. It means a big spend early in the month which is a bit worrying but hopefully it will mean not a lot of other shopping needed for the next couple of weeks. Well, that's the plan anyway! Made bread pudding with unwanted bread and felt quite virtuous for not wasting it - not feeling so virtuous once I'd eaten nearly all of it though!

Sig updated with totals.

Allypops

tigerfeet2006

Dinner tonight was SC Chilli Con Carne (in the Recipe Collection) with rice and nachos and creme fraiche. Clean plates as per normal

I baked a Bread Pudding today. Hopefully have some tomorrow, if it is any good I will pop the recipe up, it is from an old one that my Mum has written out on a scrap of paper and we used to have as kids.

ETA: Snap!! Allypop

Winchelsea

Sorry to hear your news scotmumof3 - hugs

tigerfeet2006

scotmumof3 wrote: »

Evening everyone. Got the sad news last night that my FIL passed away yesterday quite suddenly.Been quite a bit of to-ing and fro-ing today and the monthly menu has pretty much gone out the window we will get back on track asap but as you can imagine priorities at the moment have changed. Will try to keep track of spends and update when I can. Hope you are all well

(((hugs))) Scotmum. I am so sorry for your loss. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

DundeeDoll

Thinking of you Scotmum

tigerfeet2006

mummyyof5 wrote: »

More spends today..£2.40 on market but got cauliflower and broccoli for tomorrows dinner and a cabbage for in the week..maybe Monday if i make shepherds pie.

£2.00 in Mrws..Tresemme shampoo on offer..too good to miss..may pick some more up at this price.
and £9.00 in MrTs..cream crackers..Icecream for the LOs..a pack of chicken thighs..milk.

Want to use chicken thighs for a pie later this week...either with leeks or mushrooms...anyone have a decent recipe please ????....mine are ok but could be better.:)

Going to MrMs to drop some old videos in the recycling tomorrow so will pick up any bits needed while Im there...Sausage sarnis for tea...I had a cheese sandwich instead.

Roast pork for dinner tomorrow:T:T

Check out the Recipe Collection at the begining of the thread there are a couple of good recipes including one of mine, chicken, leek and philly. I use GF pastry but ordinary pastry is fine

tigerfeet2006

Florenceem wrote: »

I got a large size trolley - had no problems with it so far - I do tend to load it up! Yes I paid about £50 for it but if it lasts a year - £1 week - worth it for my back - can't remember how long I have had it. I have looked at other makes - seem flimsy to mine.

Thanks for that Florence, it's much appreciated and I think it is definatly an item for my wish list.