June 2012 Grocery Challenge

Mrs_Addicted_to_Spending

jumblejack wrote: »

My eyes always feel gritty. I didn't realise that it could lead to something serious so just got on with it.

Now I know better, I will make sure I use artificial tears ALL the time as I was told it will reoccur if the condition of the eyes doesn't significantly improve.

Which artificial tears do you use JumbleJack as I have dry eyes too but am put off the artificial tears by the cost - the ones I was recommended were £12 and only lasted about 6 weeks.

cleggie wrote: »

Hi guys.
Today will be a very low spend day, as i am too terrified of leaving the house after being burgled this morning

So sorry to hear this, how scary for you. Like you say, hopefully if you get a dog that will help.

fozziebeartoo wrote: »

Thank you again for your good wishes for DD, very much appreciated

No news about the breast lump biopsy, but hopefully no news is good news.

Further complication, a mole she needed checked at hospital is not to their liking and that has to be removed

As you can imagine, the 2 things happening at once is making it a bit of a struggle to just carry on regardless, but fingers crossed that all will be well.

Just trying to keep calm and carry on, as the mug says!

Good luck with both of these things Fozzie - hope everything goes OK.

Mrs_Addicted_to_Spending

Well I've had a good couple of days cooking. Managed to get half price sausages (posh ones reduced to 99p) and we had sausage pasta one night and then the next night I tried Florenceem's sausage and bean pie recipe (without bacon as I didn't have any and without celery as clan don't like it) and that went down very well - my youngest DS said it's the best pie he'd ever tasted (and he is fussy!). Thanks Florenceem :T.

The only problem I had is that my pastry came away from the side of the dish by about 1 inch all round. I also made jam tarts with leftover pastry and all the jam melted and came out. So I think my pastry skills are very lacking and I need some practice, but at least I tried! I used ready made pastry from A$da which had to be used up from freezer but next time I'm going to try making my own :eek:.

Possession

To stop pastry shrinking, first keep it as cold as poss, and don't 'stretch' it - when you roll it, make a couple of little rolls, then turn it round, make a couple more little rolls etc rather than rolling it out all at once. If making pastry by hand run your fingertips under cold water to make them colder - don't need to do this if making it in a mixer of course, which is much the easiest way of making pastry. If you have time, rest the rolled out pastry in the fridge for half an hour or so before baking.

Mrs_Addicted_to_Spending wrote: »

Well I've had a good couple of days cooking. Managed to get half price sausages (posh ones reduced to 99p) and we had sausage pasta one night and then the next night I tried Florenceem's sausage and bean pie recipe (without bacon as I didn't have any and without celery as clan don't like it) and that went down very well - my youngest DS said it's the best pie he'd ever tasted (and he is fussy!). Thanks Florenceem :T.

The only problem I had is that my pastry came away from the side of the dish by about 1 inch all round. I also made jam tarts with leftover pastry and all the jam melted and came out. So I think my pastry skills are very lacking and I need some practice, but at least I tried! I used ready made pastry from A$da which had to be used up from freezer but next time I'm going to try making my own :eek:.

Suffolk_lass

Mrs_Addicted_to_Spending wrote: »

Well I've had a good couple of days cooking. Managed to get half price sausages (posh ones reduced to 99p) and we had sausage pasta one night and then the next night I tried Florenceem's sausage and bean pie recipe (without bacon as I didn't have any and without celery as clan don't like it) and that went down very well - my youngest DS said it's the best pie he'd ever tasted (and he is fussy!). Thanks Florenceem :T.

The only problem I had is that my pastry came away from the side of the dish by about 1 inch all round. I also made jam tarts with leftover pastry and all the jam melted and came out. So I think my pastry skills are very lacking and I need some practice, but at least I tried! I used ready made pastry from A$da which had to be used up from freezer but next time I'm going to try making my own :eek:.

Pastry tips - If the pastry comes away from the sides you should use the trimmings from the pie plate (dish) to stick to the lip with water on your finger, then wet the pastry "frame" and stick your lid to that. You can make sure they're stuck together by using a fork prongs or your finger and thumb to make a pattern that pushes them together

Jam tarts - Miss Armstrong (my cookery teacher when I was at school) really shouted at me that I had left air between the pastry and the patty tin and that was why the jam was under the pastry. I'm not shouting but her advice was usually right (I was 11 and I still remember - too many years later! :eek:)

SL

savesummore

Hi everyone

I had abit of a frustrating episode in Mr T's last night

OH want to stock up on some beer (not part of the GC) and I had a £6 off £40 spend so we went Mr T's and brought 2 cases of beer £15 each 2x small packs of beer £5.64 each or 2 for £8 and to make to money to over £40 a box of cat food

The total bill came to £42 with the moc and OH paid, well in the car on the way home I was adding up the shopping in my head and it just didnt balance so when we got home and looked at recepit (it was in the car boot!) they had charged us for 3 x small packs of beer ie the bill was £5.64 more than it should be :mad:

We drove back to Tesco and they did give us a refund for the £5.64 but im still miffed about the wasted time/petrol :mad:

The thing is before GC i wouldnt have even gave the bill a second thougt!! :eek: I wonder how many 'mistakes' by the sm I have missed and how much money it has cost me :mad:

I dont like MR T's and this just cements that feeling

meg72

Well have finally defrosted my freezer, unintentionally, I left in a hurry yesterday to see my Mum in hospital, she died yesterday afternoon, so got back late last night and didnt go in the kitchen. I went in this morning to find I hadnt shut the door properly and food rapidly defrosting. most is salvagable, but to be honest I felt like throwing the lot out. The thought of what my Mum would have had to say regarding such waste inspired me to sort it out and I am pleased that I have, it has given me something to do today and has kind of comforted me.

cleggie

I'm so sorry for the loss of your Mum, Meg. Sending you and your family lots of love.

Possession

I'm so sorry for your loss Meg.

Mrs_Addicted_to_Spending

Possession wrote: »

To stop pastry shrinking, first keep it as cold as poss, and don't 'stretch' it - when you roll it, make a couple of little rolls, then turn it round, make a couple more little rolls etc rather than rolling it out all at once. If making pastry by hand run your fingertips under cold water to make them colder - don't need to do this if making it in a mixer of course, which is much the easiest way of making pastry. If you have time, rest the rolled out pastry in the fridge for half an hour or so before baking.

Thanks very much Possession :T I will try these tips.

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

Pastry tips - If the pastry comes away from the sides you should use the trimmings from the pie plate (dish) to stick to the lip with water on your finger, then wet the pastry "frame" and stick your lid to that. You can make sure they're stuck together by using a fork prongs or your finger and thumb to make a pattern that pushes them together

Jam tarts - Miss Armstrong (my cookery teacher when I was at school) really shouted at me that I had left air between the pastry and the patty tin and that was why the jam was under the pastry. I'm not shouting but her advice was usually right (I was 11 and I still remember - too many years later! :eek:)

SL

Thanks very much for this :T Suffolk Lass. Your cookery teacher sounds really scary - I didn't have a scary cookery teacher so maybe that's why I can't remember anything and also because it's a long time ago!

Mrs_Addicted_to_Spending

So sorry to hear about your Mum Meg72 *hugs*.