Anyone got a nice spaghetti and meatballs recipe?

carolt2

Janeryan wrote: »

We must definately be related as great minds are obviously thinking alike! I too have used an A5 notebook for years and take all the bill payments out off at the start of the month then deduct everything else as I go along-have been using the credit card for all purchases this month but am still deducting them form the running balance so will have enough to pay cc bill when it comes in!

I do this as well... I use one page for each month. Write in all the direct debits and my payday. Then I know how much money there is left for shopping/ CC bill etc.
Have got OH on to this system.He was not very good at keeping track of financial things but now he's a changed man;)

Girl_least_likely_to

Hello :hello:

Please can I join up for Feb? I've never pulled my finger out and tried a Grocery Challenge properly yet. I keep track of what I spend on an excel spreadsheet but it can vary from £180 to £280. So I think I'll start with £200 and see how I get on with that. There's me, OH and 2.5yo DD who I'll be trying to get out of nappies in a couple of weeks so I'll be £20 or so better off then. I have a big freezer in which I've stashed 4 x HM chilli and 4 x HM spag bol, the ingredients were bought with my first shop of the month last Friday which was £36.34. I think I'll manage to achieve the £200 limit this month as I'll be relying on what I've already got in, it'll be next month I'll have problems with, but lets get Feb over with first :rotfl: . Good Luck everyone :beer:

TheBees

Went to butchers and greengrocers armed with cash and spent exactly £30. Then went to MrT with cash again but had forgotten my calculator. However, I used the calculator on my mobile phone and actually felt a lot less conspicuous! It definitely made me concentrate on what I was spending and total spend in T was £78. With the meat, fruit, veg and groceries from T's I have spent £108 but I have enough food for a fortnight (I think!).

Had a "Smashing Time" in the kitchen yesterday when I was cleaning the oven. Asked OH to take the front of the glass door off so I could clean in behind it but ended up with it smashed into a million pieces on the floor when he took out the screws!:eek: Going to cost £55 for a new glass door! Good job we've been selling a few things on ebay lately.

If anyone is looking for a bread maker they are on offer in Lidl soon for £24.99. (Advert in Saturdays Mail). I have one but the trouble I have is slicing the bread properly. Does anyone know where you can get a device to help you slice in a straight line?

Are there any simple recipes for leftover chicken anywhere please?

Off to see to the roast now.

Good luck everyone.

Frugaldom

Good afternoon all, I haven't had time to catch up with the threads yet, so this is just a quick update of grocery spending. Did a 'main' shop today and it came in at £56.48. It includes all my staples for baking plus basic ingredients for most of the month's main meals. Will just be doing top-up shops for the rest of the month and hope to stay within my £100 budget.

Keiss_21

TheBees wrote: »

I Does anyone know where you can get a device to help you slice in a straight line?

I use the EvenSlice from Lakeland, http://www.lakeland.co.uk/product.aspx/!1951 it costs £16.50 (I paid £14 a few years ago). It seems a lot of money, but you do get even slices and get the most out of your home made bread. You may think it doesn't look up to much, but I find it brilliant. I have had mine for a few years now and it still works well...it guides your bread knife to cut even slices, though it can take a bit of time to get it right. You can do thin, medium or thick slices. Using the medium thickness setting, I get ten slices and two heels from my Morphy Richards bread maker.

Feeling a bit sad, as Scotland has just lost to France (Rugby)...sniff!

Hope this helps.
M

purplevamp

I have a question about breadmakers - do you not get a hole in the middle of it from the mixing blade? Sorry if this seems like a dollydumb question.

Bobbykins

Afternoon everyone....just a quick update from me.

In the last few days I've been to Aldi, Tesco and Sainsbury and done my "big" stock up shop for the month. Spend total £112-ish so will update my siggie in a mo'.

Menu plan is done for the month . I have already started on some of the batch cooking, although got a bit sidetracked yesterday/today because DD came over for the weekend with the grandbabies unexpectedly (but delightfully!) So, I am quite well organised so far and quite pleased with myself....(wonder how long before it all goes to pot!)

Keep up the good work everyone, and thanks for your support!

lainz

sashanut wrote: »

Hi all

Please put me down for £200 this month - thats for 2 adults & DD who likes to have expensive soya milk & various other items that fit in with her diet regime - no cheap pasta meals as she doesn't eat carbs! ...

Hi Sashanut

I don't have cow's milk products, I can recommend Aldis unsweeted soya milk (in the chilled cabinet) its 59p a litre (bargain!),:D don't get the Lidl sweetened stuff it's vile!:eek:

Hope that helps!

rosieben

purplevamp wrote: »

I have a question about breadmakers - do you not get a hole in the middle of it from the mixing blade? Sorry if this seems like a dollydumb question.

there's no such thing as a dumb question pv! Yes you do get a hole in the bottom of the loaf from the paddle if you cook your bread in the bm. I do the dough in my bm and then bake in the oven, its a much nicer loaf.

funkyfunkymonkey

Keiss_21 wrote: »

I use the EvenSlice from Lakeland, http://www.lakeland.co.uk/product.aspx/!1951 it costs £16.50 (I paid £14 a few years ago). It seems a lot of money, but you do get even slices and get the most out of your home made bread. You may think it doesn't look up to much, but I find it brilliant. I have had mine for a few years now and it still works well...it guides your bread knife to cut even slices, though it can take a bit of time to get it right. You can do thin, medium or thick slices. Using the medium thickness setting, I get ten slices and two heels from my Morphy Richards bread maker.

Feeling a bit sad, as Scotland has just lost to France (Rugby)...sniff!

Hope this helps.
M

I've got one of these too, it does work well but I hate the cleaning of it after I've used it. So, I tend to struggle on cutting by hand. I must have had mine years, I don't remember paying so much - or is that just my memory going :rotfl:

FFM