October 2013 Grocery Challenge

zafiro1984

XSpender wrote: »

£2.70 spent last night on some bacon to make Hunter's Chicken. Will be a treat for breakfasts at the weekend as well.

Maybe a silly question but what is Hunter's chicken - I've never heard of it?

I'm looking for ways of stretching the meat componant of a meal, just out of interest what tricks do use to add to a 'meat dish' to make it go further so it still looks like the meat componant of a meal.
My DH is very old fashioned definately a meat and two veg man. Unfortunately, he is allergic to tomatoes and doesn't like pasta or rice. He likes any sort of meat (in the past he has tried kangaroo, ostrich and snake amongst other things).
However, he likes pies, casseroles, potato topped things, he is quite happy with the cheaper cuts of meat although he wouldn't say no to steak.
Any ideas!!! - it would help me with my budget

Ladyluck1

Another NSD today....
Trying to clear the fridge a bit as moving house Sunday!!
I expect I'll go over this month just because I'll need to stock back up again

2childmum

zafiro1984 wrote: »

Maybe a silly question but what is Hunter's chicken - I've never heard of it?

I'm looking for ways of stretching the meat componant of a meal, just out of interest what tricks do use to add to a 'meat dish' to make it go further so it still looks like the meat componant of a meal.
My DH is very old fashioned definately a meat and two veg man. Unfortunately, he is allergic to tomatoes and doesn't like pasta or rice. He likes any sort of meat (in the past he has tried kangaroo, ostrich and snake amongst other things).
However, he likes pies, casseroles, potato topped things, he is quite happy with the cheaper cuts of meat although he wouldn't say no to steak.
Any ideas!!! - it would help me with my budget

I find red lentils help - eg I have a recipe for shepherd's pie which is half lentils and half meat (so I make 2 out of a pack of mince) and nobody seems to notice - I think the colour helps, plus they mush down nicely. Any sort of pulses in casseroles works, but it depends how hidden you want to make it, plus lots of different veg can spread out the meat. I know some people are good at slicing roast meat very thinly but my DH and DS would notice they weren't getting so much meat, so that doesn't work for me.

My baking morning was a bit of a disaster. I decided on oat and banana cookies but they didn't spread out at all so look like very mini rock cakes gone wrong, and tasted pretty gone wrong too - a bit chewy and not sweet enough. I think DS will eat them - but he eats most things when he's hungry. I found a recipe for apple and cinnamon muffins, but the texture was very strange and so we ate those with custard for pudding - my husband's comment was 'well they fill you up' which was the nicest thing he could think of! Also found a recipe for cider apple cake which has cheese in so I made that and it looks great but tastes of almost nothing! I've frozen 2/3 of it as we are away over the weekend (and the 'cookies' need eating up) and I'm sure it will be ok in my son's snack box for school. So three recipes, and entire morning baking, and nothing nice to show for it.

Still, it got me out of housework.

Cambs85

zafiro1984 wrote: »

Maybe a silly question but what is Hunter's chicken - I've never heard of it?

Oh my goodness, get ready to adjust your dinner plans for on of the tastiest dinners ever!! Hunter's chicken, is chicken wrapped in a rasher of bacon topped with barbecue chicken and grated/ slice of mature cheese. Normally served in pubs with chips

she_who_can_not_cook

Billie-jo wrote: »

Spent £16.17 in Ald! this morning but there was a couple of things on my list that were out of stock. Juice was one but cant think what the other was, will get them at the weekend along with some fruit & veg.
Tea we had meat, potato and mushroom pie with carrots and broccoli and there is one portion left for lunch tomorrow.

Could we have the recipe for the pie please it looks lovely

trulymadlyhannah

Please can i join? (again) My target for October (to 23rd) is £190 This is to feed 2 adults and 1 pre-schooler, 1 toddler and 1 baby.... We have already done a big farmfo0d shop and are trying to use the "10 day shop" method which is working really well! We have £32 to spend on our last 10 day shop which will be quite tight! Hopefully this forum and my blog will keep me motivated!

Billie-jo

she_who_can_not_cook wrote: »

Could we have the recipe for the pie please it looks lovely

Thank you but no recipe as such.

I just cut up some chuck steak, a sliced onion and then put it into a saucepan with water and pepper and stock cube then cook it slowly for how ever long it takes to get soft. Then add some potato chunks and mushrooms until potatoes are done. Drain but reserve the stock then put into a dish with just a small amount of stock and top with pastry. Cook in oven till done.
Pastry is just hit and miss with me :rotfl: (this one was ok) so what ever works for you. With the left over stock make gravy.

NSD today and for tea we had some lo chilli out of the freezer which was HOT!

Peggybabcot

My Pepsi addiction had to be catered for and as mr s are charging £1.98 a bottle I wasn't about to buy it there yesterday even with 20% staff discount at the mo so I popped to lidl this morning and that with 2 fruit loaves (I like it toasted for breakfast) later I spent a further £9.50 in there. Someone posted previously that knowing you're going to have to declare any spends on this thread meant they were less inclined to make rash purchases and I have to say I agree. Lidl had a lot of their Christmas goodies in, both sweet and savoury, and whilst I browsed I didn't waiver as it wasn't on my list. Yay me! I made a loaf of bread again today (we haven't bought any bread for a few weeks now so really getting into bread baking) as well as a chocolate ganache birthday cake for my friend's little boy, a chicken, bacon and pasta bake (Maggi packet mix for the first time and it was lovely) using last night's leftover chicken and some mr s basic bacon lardons. I also whizzed up a steamed jam sponge and custard for pud so been a busy girl today. Everywhere needs a darned good vacuum mind you but hey you can't do everything and there's always tomorrow Off to update sig now. Hope you're all doing well, can't believe it's October already x

zafiro1984

2childmum wrote: »

I find red lentils help - eg I have a recipe for shepherd's pie which is half lentils and half meat (so I make 2 out of a pack of mince) and nobody seems to notice - I think the colour helps, plus they mush down nicely. Any sort of pulses in casseroles works, but it depends how hidden you want to make it, plus lots of different veg can spread out the meat. I know some people are good at slicing roast meat very thinly but my DH and DS would notice they weren't getting so much meat, so that doesn't work for me..

Thanks, lentils should help. I have some red lentils in stock as I use them in soup. Maybe I'll try adding a few at first to see if he notices before working up to a reasonable amount

Cambs85 - Thanks for Hunter's Chicken. I do sometimes wrap chicken in bacon but I've never put cheese over the top, will try it. I also sometimes wrap sausages in bacon and make a version of 'toad in the hole'

lynnejk

zafiro1984 wrote: »

I'm looking for ways of stretching the meat componant of a meal, just out of interest what tricks do use to add to a 'meat dish' to make it go further so it still looks like the meat componant of a meal.

Have you tried the Qu*rn mince trick posted ?last month (sorry can't remember poster). Mix in with ordinary mince gradually increasing % as you go along.:money:

I also add tins of mixed beans, peppers, carrots and onions chopped really small to mince and stew/pie type dishes. Good trick to get smallies eating more veg too.

If it's 'bare' meat I often put mash and roast pots on plate, add Yorkshire and an extra veg and a little less meat doesn't get noticed.:rotfl:

Being busy certainly saves money - no time to go shopping HAHA so another NSD

Have to shop tomorrow though
L.