November 2013 Grocery Challenge

cocoloco

Current total: £41.64 / £200

Had a lucky YS shop yesterday- popped into Sainsbugs 20 min before closing to get some cold/ flu tablets and really didn't expact any YS stuff- they usually dispose of it near to closing time.
I got lucky and got 4 Pukka PIes (our favourites) for 21p each and 3 WW chock minirolls (6pack) for 34p each and a large tub of chicken & sweetcorn pasta for 15p. Guess waht we are having for dinner tonight? Yep, you guessed right - Pukka PIes!

Yesterday we had chiclen pie (YS) from the freezer with mash & veg and when my OH complained that its pie again today I explained that 1. its steak and kidney pie 2. he can eat it or leave it !
Probably just going to have chips and peas/ sweetcorn with it- beats the regular take-away we used to have once uppon the time...

PrincessLou

When is the best time to go yellow sticker item shopping? I never have any luck....

marris

cocoloco wrote: »

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

My mounth is salivating at the thought of what godies maybe in the hamper...:rotfl: Can you please post a picture of it? TA

thanks, i will

marris

CountingPennies wrote: »

Congratulations Marris! :j

thank you!

zafiro1984

PrincessLou wrote: »

When is the best time to go yellow sticker item shopping? I never have any luck....

I asked the same question a couple of months ago and based on the replies this is what I do.
Go of an evening 7pm onwards especially if its throwing it down with rain or if there is a football match on TV.
It really depends on which supermarket it is you visit as different SM reduce their prices at different times.
It is really pot luck.

I'm still on track for staying within budget for this week May have to do a very small shop Saturday as we have someone here for lunch Monday and I need just a couple of things but it shouldn't take me over budget.

Florenceem

shiningfaery wrote: »

This is what I done....the basic mince recipe was courtesy of a cooking mag the rest was all my own.

Started with

500g Lamb mince
1 medium/large onion
1 400g tin chopped tomatoes
1 lamb stock cube (or beef if using beef mince)

Dice the onion as small as you like it and fry in some oil, add mince until nearly cooked through then add the stock cube and tinned tomatoes. Leave to simmer for 10 mins.

This gives you a base mince to do whatever you like with.I havent seasoned the base mince as I am going to season when I make into meals.
I am splitting the mixture for Shepards pie:

1/2 base mince from above
1 carrot diced
1 stick celery diced
1 clove garlic finely chopped
2 tbsp red lentils
1tsp salt
1/2 tsp cracked pepper
1tsp mixed herbs

Add carrots and celery to some oil and start cooking after 5 mins add garlic and lentils. Cook for 2 more mins then add mince, salt, pepper and herbs and a little water. Let simmer until lentils are cooked and add water if needed.
for the mash topping I simply boiled some potatoes and mashed with some milk and butter.

Then with rest decided to make a bolognese sauce

1 stick celery diced
1 clove garlic finely chopped
3 tbsp red lentils
1tbsp tomato puree
mushrooms (I added 3 large chesnut mushrooms sliced)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1tsp italian herbs
1 400g tin chopped tomatoes

start cooking the celery and mushrooms then add garlic and lentils, add tomato puree. Allow to cook for couple of mins. Add mince and herbs then chopped tomatoes, using the tin add 1/2 tin of water. Allow to simmer to desired thickness.

* I added lentils more for nutritional value than to bulk it out.
* I would also add bacon to the bolognese but didn't have any today.

I mixed some oats in the Shepherd's Pie mix last time I made it - couldn't tell.

lushlifesaver

Made the mistake of taking bf to ASDA to get milk, his birthday cake (no way I could have made one this year) and some Pepsi...90mins later and the grocery budget has 100% gone. Actually there is £0.01 left he does now have plenty of fizzy pop and chocolate though so can't ask for more and we have plenty of meal options as we got some tins of soup, stuff to make lasagnes (2 meals) and some new packet mixes to try.
I have plenty of quick meal for one options for whilst he's away too.

Particularly annoying as we will need wraps and ham, only £3.00 all together but that's not my point. He needs lunches on Tuesday next week and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the week after I think I may use bread from the freezer for Tuesday and then we do have some wraps in the freezer but the other pack (identical) didn't defrost well he will also need cereal bars/ jaffa cakes/ malt loaf for the tournament he's at week after next but he can buy those himself out of his athlete award!

Have told him I'm not buying anything except essentials until then.

Faete

I love mince - so versatile! I'm a big convert to turkey mince (BF has been told to watch his cholesterol so we've swapped out from beef mince). It makes an awesome chilli - I pad it out with loads of mushrooms - the huge value packs from Aldi, cheepy peppers, onions and bargain tinned kidney beans and tomatoes. Seasoned well with fresh chillis, balsamic vinegar, cumin and a good slosh of red wine - yummy!

Fae xx

laura_hoggle

First_Trouble wrote: »

May help but Tesco express stores tend to put extra money on top of each product sometimes up to 50p more than their bigger stores. At least I have noticed this in my local tesco express.

Thanks for that... Sadly our local Express is the only store which was open when we returned home on Sunday evening (opens til about 11pm on a Sunday I think) so it was all we could do! I normally find some really good YS bargains in there (have had 10p cheese with a month left on the date recently, and whole chickens for just over £1!) but sadly nothing that night

she_who_can_not_cook

2childmum wrote: »

bluemoo - thanks for the ideas for the tomato soup. I think it will all get used for lunch this time round but as DD will probably practise making it several times over the next few weeks I will make use of all those suggestions. I don't even like tomato soup that much!

Food Tech teacher shouted at all the new year 7s yesterday and make DD cry, cos they couldn't remember where everything was kept - it was only their second lesson and the last one was before half term. DH can't remember where everything is kept in our kitchen at home and we have lived here for 13 years!

My Other Half does not know what's in my freezer fridge or any cupboards. Left to himself he would starve or just have take outs