June 2012 Grocery Challenge

happy_chick_3

hi everyone got up early today after being woken up by my noisy neighbour playing music at 4 in the morning - arrgh! anyway, had a relatively early night so feeling rested. The second load of washing is on, I've started ebaying (free lsiting wkd) and off to pilates in about an hour.

Thanks for the pea soup recipe MrsCD its yum! The blueberries weren't so lucky though. They must have been a bit old when i froze them as the compot was gritty and inedible

Off to whole foods this afternoon for some gluten free shopping. my nutritionist friend also thinks i might have to go dairy free to solve the allergy problems I'm having so will be eating an exceptionally healthy diet very soon!

Have a good day everyone

Possession

Made pancakes for fathers day brekkie but I'm afraid I've yet to shower and dress - horrific! By this time yesterday I was already half way through my triffid fight in the front garden. NSD yesterday and today (apart from fathers day pressies) and when I eventually get round to it we'll be having roast chicken with all the trimmings and lashings of bread sauce for lunch/dinner. I need to make some cakes and make a start on a long list of jobs to be done so had better drag myself away from the laptop.

fozziebeartoo

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

OK so was digging around in the freezer to find a block of mince for dinner and found one that is a bit errrr ancient :rotfl:

It's been in there a year - would you use it or not?

I would

rising_from_the_ashes

Thanks all - it's part defrosted and is looking nice and red (and not that horrible brown colour mince can go if it's errrr unwell:rotfl:) - will do the sniff test once it's fully defrosted & if OK .... it'll be Chilli by dinner time!:D

Florenceem

PennyGrabber wrote: »

What no picture?!! We've all come to expect one, Flo. I feel it my duty to inform you of your mishap! After all, you're watching all of us; who's watching you?!!

Well - I used the cold rice that was overcooked on Friday so my egg fried rice didn't look as appetising as it should. I didn't want anyone to see it - I thought it looked like something - the cat brought up! :rotfl: Tasted lovely though.

Eyebright

Toad in the hole with onion gravy for dinner tonight. Yum yum, and so easy to make!

Today will hopefully be a NSD!

fozziebeartoo

Is Florenceem around today? I want to try your muffin recipe, but just wondering how you add the fat?

Rub in? Beat with the sugar? Or melt?

I usually make a muffin that you prepare and then leave overnight, but I fancy trying something different today.

Thanks Flo!!

Florenceem

fozziebeartoo wrote: »

Is Florenceem around today? I want to try your muffin recipe, but just wondering how you add the fat?

Rub in? Beat with the sugar? Or melt?

I usually make a muffin that you prepare and then leave overnight, but I fancy trying something different today.

Thanks Flo!!

I am here - back from Church. I melt my marge - I use the block stuff. I nuke it in the MW.

Suffolk_lass

XSpender wrote: »

I decided on Wednesday to try and start eating some white meat after being vegetarian for over 25 years. It is going to be a struggle as I don't like meat very much but I need to do this for the sake of my health.:( I feel like I have broken a secret code of veggies:( I also don't know how to buy and cook meat having being a veggie all my adult life. Today I am going to try having a slice of bacon for the first time since about 1986!

In some ways I think it will make my life so much easier being able to chuck stuff in the slow cooker and make 1 meal for the 3 of us instead of 1 for a meat eater and 1 for a vegetarian coeliac!

I only want to eat FR and/or organic meat but the veg box company I used to use delivers it and the prices are not that much to the FR TTD stuff I was looking at in Mr S last night. I looked and looked at the supermarket meat last night but came away without any as I just didn't have a clue what to buy and there wasnt much FR.

I have realised that this month I have only shopped at the big supermarkets and not Aldi where I normally shop and this has had a huge impact on my food bills. My month ends on Thursday and as we have our holiday, college fees and a debt to repay at the end of June I seriously need to get a grip on the GC or we won't be going on holiday at all!

Sorry for the big post but I just had to get off my chest about no longer being a veggie.:o

XSpender - You sound a bit nervous around meat. I thought it might help if I suggest a starting point for you.

If you buy meat that has already been removed from the bone it is easier to work with - turkey breast slices or steaks or breast of chicken are good to start with. You can buy the chicken fillets in packs (these come from the inside of the chicken breast (next to the bone)) and they come in handy strips but are slightly more expensive than buying a breast and slicing it into strips yourself.

An easy way to start would be to cut the meat into long 1cm strips (if this is too revolting you could ask the butcher (or butchery counter in the sm) to prepare it for you (no charge) and then use tongs to "handle") then sprinkle with oil, salt and pepper and then dry fry - they only take a couple of minutes on three-four sides and are delish with salad and a spicy sauce. We often have them with minted buttery new potatoes (or pitta bread which is no good for coeliacs).

The same strips cut into 1cm cubes and you've got the basis of a stir-fry. I generally start with meat and garlic, then chuck in the veg and then the sauce and finally a bag of egg noodles (I generally get the bags of noodles, veg and sauce on an offer) - you would need to check for gluten or make your own sauce.

Best of luck
SL

fozziebeartoo

Florenceem wrote: »

I am here - back from Church. I melt my marge - I use the block stuff. I nuke it in the MW.

Thank you Flo! I must have known subconsciously because I have just been cleaning the inside of the microwave with baking soda.....

A LONG overdue task!