April 2013 Grocery Challenge

K9sandFelines

meg72 wrote: »

Kitchen roll is not really meant to go down the loo, could result in an expensive plummer bill,

Doesn't go in the loo, goes in the bin . I never flush anything other than loo roll down the loo, as i rent and have had problems before with a shared drainage system on a new build rental and so fully aware of the consequences. I meant not MSE as i wasn't using a washable cloth, which i do use for most other jobs.

liz-paul

Re the cubed prosciutto - I make a chick pea stew with fried onion & garlic, add chick peas to stock (home made or cubes), along with any other chopped, fried veg & seasoning & then I usually add fried chopped chorizo but you could add the prosciutto instead.

K9sandFelines

liz-paul wrote: »

K9s - the code is: SHIP5P6XA3 Not sure if it was personal to me though as it said in the email 'spend over £25 on your first order and get free shipping' (£5.25 being standard shipping in England).

Thanks liz-paul ... probably is for first time user, unless i have anything in my own inbox. Thanks anyway though

becsxxx

CupOfChai wrote: »

Durrr why didn't I think of carbonara? Might do that sometime soon as we haven't had it for ages. Any other ideas anyone?

All I could think of was pea and ham soup for some reason, and I've gone right off soup lately, I think I'm trying to make everything be summery and soup is wintery!

If you're after something summery why not a hot salad? I like new potatoes (either roast or boiled) and crispy bacon (lardons or prosciutto) with a spinach based salad, other veg (like tomatoes or green beans or broad beans - whatever you've got really) and a little French dressing and a poached egg on top - delicious. Crispy Black pudding is a great addition to this too if you've got any lurking around.

getting-sorted-sarah

Have made 4 portions of sweet potato and lentil soup which I calculate at 25p a portion, and a small loaf of bread which DD and I have almost finished so another 2 loaves rising at the moment ready to go in the oven!

Another NSD, will buy some mozzarella tomorrow for HM pizza. I feel like I am getting into the swing of things! :j

Does anyone have ideas for what to put in oven at the same time as bread? It is hot, so no good for cake... DD says 'More bread!!!'.

[Deleted User]

£91 spent in total so far. 13 days left to go for my £180 limit. I wonder if I can come under budget? It will take some good planning.

I am now working on a system of 'Week 1' and 'Week 2' of menus, which I am finding more useful than I thought in helping me steward our money better. During these two weeks, I make double helpings of meals to freeze. Then Week 3 is always a 'eat out of the freezer' week.

Also, I used to bake cakes in a haphazard fashion : ) but have decided to just bake for Sunday Tea, so it is a treat to look forward to - and healthier.

I have discovered that setting the table each day with a vintage tablecloth, and having the pot of tea and china cups ready etc, seems to make our mealtime more relaxing and enjoyable, especially with simple, home-cooked fare.

[Deleted User]

Bluegreen143 wrote: »

Flo - really feeling for you with the renovations - it'll be worth all the stress hopefully

Also loving the 'spiders' for tea :rotfl:

No spends today. Made cauliflower, chickpea and courgette korma (bit of a tongue-twister) and it's the first time we've managed to get the sauce tasting like a takeaway - it's a heavily tweaked version of the one in the takeaway secret.

Your dinner looks delicious!

MrsCautious

I've just ordered a Graze box for free from Top cashback and should get £1.01 for it, the box of snacks is supposed to be worth £3.87 and everywhere I seem to look at the moment there is a free offer, stressing card details are needed but you can cancel at any time, so my free box is supposed to be coming on Tuesday and I will cancel straight away. I've selected flapjacks, nuts, cakes, dried fruit type snacks. I wait with bated breath.

At the end of this month I'm going to tally up the value of freebies received, helping my grocery budget...I really ought to check out the freebies board.

Beginning to sound like an ad for Topcashback -- sorry about that - I have no connection.

But in the interests of balance I should say that years back I wrote some web copy for Clare Barry butchers online, whom a couple of people here have said are lovely -- I agree with that

lizalloareds

spends today
£1.50 Mr T
£1 Iceland

sheeppappar

I've had the graze boxes before on free offers + just cancelled as soon as the free one arrived- it was easy to do on their website and they didn't attempt to take any more payments... didn't think much of the boxes like but at least they were free!

spent £30 in aldi yesterday which should last over weekend and well into next week and payday is next fri -- well over budget now but we needed the stuff ... we are moving house at end of may / start june so there will be a lot of random tupperware surprises to empty the freezer and save money next month! xx