April 2012 Grocery Challenge

russetred

S-I_am wrote: »

Thanks. The recipe is completely adaptable, the sultanas could be substituted for dried apricots or dried cranberries, whatever dried fruit you have in the cupboard. And the same goes for the nuts.
Enjoy.

We haven't been paid yet, and have no funds left, so we've been living out of cupboards since Mon. Things are now getting interesting. I went to make some bread today only to realise that we've ran out of white bread flour. So, I'm making an Empty the cupboards bread So far my dough is comprised of strong white flour, rye flour, wholemeal bread flour and spelt . Haven't a clue what it's going to taste like. But here's hoping.

Has anyone else come up with strange but successful combinations as the store cupboard, fridge etc gets low?

Sx

Oh this brought back memories of many years ago a flatmate spent all the food money on a bedside lamp! We used everything up till the final meal all I had left was 3 fish fingers, 1 leek, a packet cheese sauce and a batter mix. Anyone for fish finger toad in the hole with leeks gratin?:rotfl:

Living_proof

EEk! A really big amount of my April budget has been blown before it has even started. The big item is almost £40 petrol which personally I keep in this budget as it controls my urge to shop if I am paying attention to my fuel spend. However, instead of spending £20 for the month I had to fill up to the brim in case of a strike (I live very rurally) so the £18 on food and £3 on cleaning stuff has been put in the shade. I still have a few things to get on Saturday when I have finished work. This will be a rather meagre April at this rate!

daisy_butterfly

I have just spent £6.40 at the local Chinese supermarket - mainly on noodles and beancurd!

Cool_Nanna

Only just found Aprils thread. I am going to aim for £300 this month but it may be a struggle as we are going away in a caravan and to keep the costs down we are going to eat in as much as possible and I want to use my grocery money for all food and any meals out while we are on holiday, that is if we can get any petrol.:eek:

Florenceem

Hi, Mr F is at the dentist today :eek: so I would guess - dinner needs to be on the soft side. Planning HM cheese/onion pastie with HM spicy wedges plus - not quite decided about the veggies. We could have carrots/peas/onions or tinned tomatoes - laced with garlic. Another possibility is grated carrot/tomato & onion salad. Definitely not going to shop today!

daisy_butterfly

I now need to add £36.88 from the supermarket (Hopefully includes enough meat to last for the next 2 weeks!)

Mrs_Addicted_to_Spending

VickyVees - if you do take your grocery money out all in 1 go you could separate it into weeks so you know where you stand.


With reference to the 'using cold rice conversation' - the danger is from the toxins that the Bacillus Cereus bacteria produce, rather than the bacteria themselves so you have to be really careful (it's a gamble!). That's why re-heating it doesn't get rid of the problem because the toxins are still there when it's heated.

bodmin789

Well declaring £226.41 for March so quite pleased with that. Have decided to opt for the same amount again per week so £200 for April, but going to try to not spend it all, we only spent 90.6% of the March budget, so going to try to beat that. If we keep beating the target may reduce it a bit more, but don't want to get carried away as this is only the second month.

Really enjoyed it and it really helps you focus, also helps that DH is also taking part!

nicknack

Hi,

Lost track a bit towards the end of March but spent about £38 in the last week of the challenge to take me to a total of £213 ish, which is better than last month! :T I'm going to go for £200 again this month which I'll keep track of on my signature. Am on my hols for the 1st 2 weeks of April so will need to plan really well to keep me on track. Good Luck to everyone for April!!

MrsCD

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Totally agree with the Rice advice ... it's apparently something to do with how quickly it's cooled down as the bacteria breeds in the warm rice (or so I've been told!).

When I make Risotto (2 portions), I plate up both, put one plate in the sink with very cold water in and by the time I've eaten the other plate, it's cold & goes straight in the fridge (in a sealed tub). Touch wood, never had any problems by doing it this way.:)

Question .... how do you stop the pasta from going hard again?

I've tried to do this for various pasta salads and it always goes rock hard:(

I've always used some oil after the pasta was drained, or a sauce of some sort, then it doesn't dry out as quickly.