November 2013 Grocery Challenge

meg72

Soworried wrote: »

Some great meal ideas on the last few pages:j

I spent £7.25 in the last two days on odds and ends mainly snacks. I am going to slow cook a large joint of beef today, any ideas for the left overs? I really could do with it stretching to a second meal for the four of us

My signature is updated.

My favourite (and lazy) 2nd meal with roast beef is cold sliced beef with chips and pickled onions.

CountingPennies

meg72 wrote: »

My favourite (and lazy) 2nd meal with roast beef is cold sliced beef with chips and pickled onions.

Ohhh firm favourite of mine too! Along with pork sandwich, chips and stuffing

Soworried

zafiro1984 wrote: »

Great ideas over the last few pages, makes good reading to see how everyone stretches their meat to go just that little bit further. Also interesting that some types of meat are more versitile than others. I usually wait until one of the SM have a half price offer on gammon and then stock up. No one at the moment seems to have any half price offers, just when I've run out.

It has been a great read, it is good to get new ideas when your stuck like I was. Now I wish I was having the wraps tonight
I'll copy in the casserole recipe we are having first in case people might like to try it.

I have just put it in the slow cooker as Asian style beef casserole. A large joint of beef, 3 different coloured peppers, spring and white onions and broccoli, garlic and ginger and celery. Then I added 200ml of beef stock with a good dash dash of soy sauce and a pinch of chilli flakes.

BlueMoo

CP - Yes, potatoes have gone up in price by at least 25p. As we are only 2 of us I can't buy the big family bags either as a)couldn't eat them all b)couldn't store them all.

How about chopping the potatoes up and putting it all in a BIG pie and then only serve veg on the side.

Or if you want to have potatoes on the sdie, how about introducing a bit of swede/butternut squash/carrots into the mash to make the potatoes stretch further? A great way to get some extra 'invisible' veg to your meal too and it shouldn't change the taste too dramatically.

[Deleted User]

I have been having a good look at the recipie index at the start of the thread. There is soooo much useful info there I really need to set aside and evening to have a proper look throough.

Decided on the follwing for meals over the next week:

Baked potatoes with HM Colesalw (from recipie index, the coleslaw sound fab)

Spanish omelette with bacon/gamon bits, salad and paprika wedges (thanks Bluemoo for this idea)

HM Mousakka with salad and left over HM coleslaw or stir fried cabbage

HM Carrot and Corriander soup (got the carrots yesterday in Lidl at 50p per kilo)

Bacon and veg risotto (from recipie index, sounds lovely)

Slow cooker rice pudding (from recipie index, I love rice pudding)

I have never used risotto rice before. Can anyone recommend which one to buy? What is the difference between normal rice and risotto rice? And what is the difference bewteen risotto rice and Arborio risotto rice? Sorry for all the questions, I haven't got a clue which one to buy!!

2childmum

Spend of £14.61 in Mr T today. including dairy free cereal bars to take to court next week to keep me going!

Love all the ideas for stretching meat - haven't had gammon in ages and the kids really like it so I shall have to add that to the meal plan at some time this month!

We are up to our eyes in tomato soup at the moment. I had a load of toms in the fridge and DD has to make tomato soup at some point this term - she had to choose a recipe from the jaimie oliver at home website and will have to cook it on her own at school later in the term. The toms weren't going to last until she has time to have a go at home so I thought I would have a go at the recipe myself. Glad I did - it only needed about half the stock and is still pretty runny! Can't fit soup in the freezer so we will have to eat it for lunch the next few days!

CountingPennies

BlueMoo wrote: »

CP - Yes, potatoes have gone up in price by at least 25p. As we are only 2 of us I can't buy the big family bags either as a)couldn't eat them all b)couldn't store them all.

How about chopping the potatoes up and putting it all in a BIG pie and then only serve veg on the side.

Or if you want to have potatoes on the sdie, how about introducing a bit of swede/butternut squash/carrots into the mash to make the potatoes stretch further? A great way to get some extra 'invisible' veg to your meal too and it shouldn't change the taste too dramatically.

Thanks for the tips. Gonna put the potatoes in the pie and serve with veg

CP xx

BlueMoo

Allie23 - Do use Arborio rice. It has a slightly 'plumper' texture (sorry I can't really describe it) making for a much better risotto. If you are in a pinch, use normal rice, but I wouldn't personally recommend this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arborio_rice

"When cooked, the rounded grains are firm, creamy, and chewy, due to its higher amylopectin starch content;[1] thus, it has a starchy taste but blends well with other flavours. It is used to make risotto"


For the bacon and veg risotto - how about stirring in a bit of blue/goat's cheese and using spinach as the veg?

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No problems CP. HTH.

*****

2childmum - How about using the tomato soup as a base for stews/pies/or even sauces. You can add more thickness by adding flour/cream cheese/extra tomatoes (fresh or tinned is fine).
For example, make a pasta salad to take to lunch - have our soup but add some cream cheese and extra tomatoes - add some roasted peppers/aubergine/courgette and sprnkle in basil (either fresh or dried). Mix in some parmesan as it cools Then take to work. You can either have cold with some leafy salad, or have warm with a roll.

poppycracker

went and did my very small Mr T shop today, and *only got what I went in for* £10.38.

This is my meal plan for the week:

Thurs - BBQ chicken with potatoes and mixed veg
Fri - sausage and mash
Sat - HM tuna risotto
Sun - curried chicken, rice and veg
Mon - salmon fillet, tatties and veg
Tues - fish and HM chips
Wed - sausage casserole

shiningfaery

So I am gearing up to cook some freezer meals and make sure I use all the food i just bought and was wondering is cooked rice freezable?

I am considering making briyani style lunches and would only work if I can freeze them has anyone frozen rice and if so how did you do it?