October 2012 Grocery Challenge

Billie-jo

valerie57 wrote: »

variation I do try to change things around and try something new at least a couple of times a month. I have a fair few cook books and am going to try a new experiment of "featuring" a different cook book each month and reading it and trying out some new recipes from it. Anyone care to join me? I thought I might start with either Delia'a collection or Nigella's how to eat. If there are a few of us interested I will start another thread.

Would probably join as well at least some of the time. I try and do a new recipe a week and use cookery books, food blogs and internet. This week its a caramelised onion tart, eaten before but never made.
No spends today although was tempted to have a mooch around Morri$ons.:A Found some frozen apple in the freezer so did a lovely crumble and there is enough for tomorrow and possibly the next morning with some cold custard. I dont like most cereals and those I do like I get fed up of them before the packet is empty so unless DH will eat them as well they dont get brought, but I do like banana and also apple crumble with cold custard on! :rotfl:

PennyGrabber

I'd be interested in joining a recipe book thread. I have over 200 cookbooks, and very rarely use any of them...:o

Spend days over the weekend, will add it up when I'm not so tired as some bits were not from gc budget.

PG x

pinkypig

I love the sound of a recipe thread as I am so set in my ways and need a kick up the pants to try something new!

PP x

MaddyWaddy

Managed a £19.12/£75.00 spend this weekend ... did include DH beer though - doubt we'll need much more until next week although I need to start eating more healthier so will do a shop for myself

MrsCD

valerie57 wrote: »

The things that have made the most difference for me, all learned on this thread, are;
know what you have in/control stock
menu planning
check stocks before shopping
check prices
know what you have spent
waste nothing
make it myself
portion control
variation
cheap standbys
C*stc*?
I hope this isn't too long and helps someone. I have had so much help and support from this thread I would love to think I could return at least part of the favour.

Fantastic post valerie57 :T Thanks for all the info. It helps to see it all written down properly.

(Sorry for shortening your post)

Bluegreen143

valerie57 wrote: »

variation I do try to change things around and try something new at least a couple of times a month. I have a fair few cook books and am going to try a new experiment of "featuring" a different cook book each month and reading it and trying out some new recipes from it. Anyone care to join me? I thought I might start with either Delia'a collection or Nigella's how to eat. If there are a few of us interested I will start another thread.

I would be so interested in this, I am really guilty of buying loads of cookbooks then not cooking anything out of them :rotfl:

My Mr A shop came today and it was £64.05 including £4 delivery charge. Ordered the following:

• Fruit & veg (salad leaves x2, spring onions, asparagus, peppers x3, bananas, apples, lemons, limes, apples, potatoes, garlic, green beans, carrots, chillies, leeks, onions, radishes) have bought too much as there were still courgettes, carrots, swede, garlic, 1/2 pepper and a couple of onions left from last week
• Meat & fish (small beef joint, 20 rashers of bacon for freezer, frozen salmon fillets)
• Dairy & eggs (milk 4 pints, SP butter, soft goats cheese, eggs x6)
• Misc (SP bran flakes, SP pasta, SP spaghetti, SP kidney beans, SP passata, SP chopped toms x4, basmati rice, sugar, tuna x4, red lentils 2kg, discos crisps x6, pepsi x4)
• Household (SP cat litter x2, kitchen towel, loo rolls 9 pack)
• Toiletries (bubble bath and toothpaste on offer)

Had a really productive day today - had to go to work for a couple of hours, then cleaned the flat and made lentil & veg soup for lunches, spanish veg stew for tomorrow's dinner and roast beef & all the trimmings for tonight as my sister came over. Also made a peach upside down cake for dessert which was delicious

[Deleted User]

Bluegreen143 - would you mind giving me your recipe for the peach upside down cake? We have about 5-6 tins of peaches in the house and would love to use some of them up!

Nicki_Sue

Really quick update. We move on Friday (argh!). Still trying to keep in the challenge. Not logging everything to be honest but instead taking out £100 a week to last and so far so good. I'm internet-less from Friday for 8-10 days but will keep reading on my phone if I can and try and stay on the straight and narrow.
Roll on November which I'll be hitting big style grocery savings!

(You all seem to be doing really well, I don't always post but I do read x).

xx_Jo_xx

I like the idea of a cookbook thread, but being a full time student, single mum and working, there isnt a lot of time left to try out exciting recipes... Its something Id nosey into from time to time though to see if there was something quick easy and within my skill level I could try

Went to @sda yest for some much needed bread and stocked up on Dried Herbs. Also bought Washing Liquid and Fabric Softener.

I did however meander slightly from my list and bought two packs of tortilla wraps which were 50p each and a pack of snickers (£1)... I grudge buying a bar of chocolate for nearly a pound when Im at uni, when you know you can buy a whole pack for that

Spend: £10.44
Total Spend: £60.97

xxlouisexx56

I'm £70 into the budget already and even though I went into tesco thurs/fri/sat AND Sunday I still don't have everything!!!

But I did buy big tray of chicken breasts from the meat lady and picked up lots of whoopsied pork plus a big pack of mince for 49p

We have plenty of nappies and cleaning products. Cupboards are full of cereal, packed lunch stuff, soup, supernoodles etc

Meal plan for the week:
Mon - pasta bake for kids and minty turkey salad for me
Tues - lamb quorn, new pots and veg
Weds - spag Bol
Thurs - raviloi for the kids and takeaway for DP and I
Fri - quesadilla's
Sat - DP is away for the weekend taking the car so we promised to treat the girls to a takeaway pizza and have a girls night
Sun - undecided.