May 2012 Grocery Challenge

tessie_bear

hi...we are having chicken thighs for tea with a spicy marinade and cous cous ...i also got some bananas for bananas and custard for pudding....i have filled up the freezer with ys bread from the coop....i dont think there is much in the way of food underneath that but at least we can have toast
i have done a bit of meal planning so that will help over the holiday week....havent decidied what we are doing for the bank holiday weekend...maybe a bbq but will have to see what the weather is like

take care tess

meg72

tessie_bear wrote: »

hi...we are having chicken thighs for tea with a spicy marinade and cous cous ...i also got some bananas for bananas and custard for pudding....i have filled up the freezer with ys bread from the coop....i dont think there is much in the way of food underneath that but at least we can have toast
i have done a bit of meal planning so that will help over the holiday week....havent decidied what we are doing for the bank holiday weekend...maybe a bbq but will have to see what the weather is like

take care tess

This made me smile as I have just had a late breakfast/early lunch of two slices of toast and a banana. YS bread at 20p so 2p for the toast and YS banana 5p, 7p for breakfast and lunch cant be bad.

ladymay

Hello!

I haven't done a grocery budget in aaaaaaaages so this is definitely the thread for me!

I only buy shopping for me, so going to aim for a fairly safe £80. This will include all my food, toiletries, booze, cleaning stuff and any corner shop buys.

fozziebeartoo

My baby DD has her 20th birthday today :j

Took her and DGS out for breakfast as a treat - £13.15 in Wetherspoons.

Spent £3.18 in Tesco Express on Pepsi Max and then £8.15 in Lidl on 2 kilos of greek yog (one for DD), flowers, granola.

Signature updated.

So had breakfast out, have LO HM pizza for lunch or tea, depending on when I am hungry.

My other DD will have her 22nd birthday in 2 days, so more spendy days to come for me before I get to the end of the month

ModestyB

Happy birthday to both young fozziebears. Hope you have a great day.

I am determined not to spend today. Got loads in that needs using. Just have to keep DH busy in the garden so he can't go shopping. :rotfl:

System

I'm having apple and cinnamon bread with coronation chicken filling for lunch, it sounds strange but it's yummy! My June budget (and therefore my challenge) starts on thursday when I get paid, but I'm well stocked up and raring to go and I've already had lots of tips from you lovely people so thanks

CRANKY40

£34.31 this week, so declaring a total of £189.94/£200 for May. Omwards and upwards to June.

OS_QS

Shocking splurge at tesco on sunday - I think the sun has addled my senses. declaring a total of £257.18/£120 for May. :mad: Really need to get back in gear.

Aiming for £40/week, so June's GC amount will be £160.

iQueen

Florenceem wrote: »

So you made bread using ordinary plain flour not the strong flour? Did you make the bread by hand or in a BM?

I was taught to bake bread at school, erm, in the late 50s. We used bog-standard plain flour. I've never used Strong flour. I always make it by hand - don't believe in unnecessary, electricity-guzzling gadgets!

The wholemeal turned out to be the best ever too! Mr M's bog-standard wholemeal flour. Made 2 Farmhouse batch loaves, and just finished the first, for lunch. (Must get a grip, or I'll be putting on weight! :eek:)

Proper breadmaking certainly stops bloating/heartburn. :T


Recipe: 1lb flour, 1/2 teaspn salt, 1 1/2 oz butter/lard, 1 teaspn of sugar, 1/2 oz of fresh (Mr M's) yeast, about 1/2pt+ of tepid milk and water, mixed.

Crumble the yeast into a small bowl, add the sugar and mix with a teaspoon until liquid. Mix in half the tepid milk and water. Leave in a warm place until frothy.

Oil and lightly flour (tapping off the excess) a large baking tray.

In a large mixing bowl, rub the fat into the flour and salt. Make a well in the centre, and pour in the frothy yeast mixture. Cover the liquid by sprinkling flour from edges. Leave for 15 mins to sponge.

Mix the yeast and flour together (with your hand or a wooden spoon), adding more tepid liquid, as needed, to make a soft, not too sticky, dough.

Turn out onto a well-floured surface and knead well for 10 minutes, producing a soft, elastic consistency.

Lightly oil the inside of the bowl and the outside of the dough and place the dough back in the bowl. Cover top of bowl with cling-film. Leave in a warm place until the the dough has doubled in size.

Knock back the dough by tipping onto the well-floured surface again and kneading for 4 mins, Shape into 2 loaves and make light diagonal cuts across the tops. Place on the baking tray. Drape cling-film lightly over the loaves and leave in a warm place to prove for 45-ish mins, until double in size.

Place tray in the cold oven! Turn on oven and set at 230 deg C/450 deg F/ Mark 8. When temp is reached, cook for 10 mins, then turn down to 200 deg C/400 deg F/ Mark 6. Check done-ness after 20 mins or so, by tapping the bottom of each loaf - if it sounds hollow, it is done. Place on a rack to cool.

Try to wait 10 mins before slicing and buttering!

Florenceem

iQueen wrote: »

I was taught to bake bread at school, erm, in the late 50s. We used bog-standard plain flour. I've never used Strong flour. I always make it by hand - don't believe in unnecessary, electricity-guzzling gadgets!

The wholemeal turned out to be the best ever too! Mr M's bog-standard wholemeal flour. Made 2 Farmhouse batch loaves, and just finished the first, for lunch. (Must get a grip, or I'll be putting on weight! :eek:)

Proper breadmaking certainly stops bloating/heartburn. :T

Thanks for the reply. Must have a go.