December 2013 Grocery Challenge

mooomin

tessie_bear wrote: »

moomin have you a cheeky recipe for that soup you could share ? thankyou
tessa

Lazy pea and ham soup

Ingredients:

Onion (if you're organised, I often don't have any in!)
500g bag of yellow split peas (soaked for around 24 hours first)
Gammon shank (soaked for around 24 hours)
Vegetable stock cubes

• Finely chop the onion and fry in the bottom of a large soup pan until translucent.
• Add the gammon shank with around 2 kettles full of boiling water and two stock cubes.
• Boil for around an hour.
• Add the split peas, drained of water.
• Keep on the boil for about another 40 minutes.
• Remove the shank from the soup (leave the peas bubbling away) and cut the meat off. Add back in to the soup, although you can keep some small chunks to one side.
• Take the soup off the heat and blend using a stick blender, adding small bits of ham if you've kept some to one side.

It's probably not the most traditional way to make soup, especially as I normally forget the onion, but it makes a lovely stick-to-your-ribs winter soup and it's so filling we often use it as dinner rather than lunch! As the water evaporates a bit overnight, it ends up being watered down and so lasts for longer than it appears.

I get unsmoked gammon shanks from Morrisons as I am never around when my local butcher is open. You get them from the butcher counter there for £1.99 and you can normally get a packet of split peas for around 80p.

Flat_Eric

I feel bad as I have a food shop coming today but I could if I'm being honest have waited until next week/after payday rather than buying the shopping courtesy of my overdraft.

For December, I would like to set a budget of £450.00

Most of my shops in November were unplanned with no shopping list in hand which meant I bought things I didn't really need or want and meant my grocery spends were far too high.

Hopefully I can do better this month.

want2Bfrugal

Hi Everyone,

Please put me down for £265 from Dec1 to 31st

I will be coming in under budget in the Nov challenge :T and as it is Christmas I decided to keep the same budget figure. Will begin reducing in the new year.

Rachiedabbler70

Would really appreciate if I could join please. It must take a lot of time setting this up each month so grateful to those who work so hard.


For December my budget is £360 - 1 adult, 2 teens and 1 rabbit.


Budget to include petrol, going out, clothes and all food. Also includes 7 people Christmas day.

Florenceem

My 4 week December GC starts tomorrow. Going to stick at £100. I already have a few Christmas bits that have been bought with a usual shop.

fairy3

Hi all

Am finishing off the November challenge but wanted to 'pledge' my intentions for December which will start on Sunday the 1st until 31st, my budget will be £200 for all groceries,food, lunches along with Christmas fare for four adults and a dog :eek:

Going to find my lentil recipes........

F x

kbl

I also would really appreciate if I could join this month please. This will be a practice run of my willpower and budgeting skills for 2015, as it's going to be a very tight year. For December my budget is €600 - 2 adults, 3 teens and 3 dogs. This figure is to include diesel, alcohol, toiletries, cleaning supplies and all food including xmas dinner (thankfully just the five of us). Also has to accommodate my 18 yo son's weight lifting diet (for now)

b_girl

Hi everyone!
I'm rejoining this thread as our grocery shop has been spiralling out of control and I need to sort it quickly. I'm leaving my job at the end of term to set up as a childminder so things will be tighter than ever while things get going.

Our budget for this month is going to be £150 for myself, dh, dd (9 months), cat and 2 rabbits. Including pet food, cleaning items, loo roll etc. only thing it won't include is dd's milk powder.

Going to watch the thread closely to get some ideas and tips

Coxy11

Hi everyone,

Budgets updated to here

Welcome to:
Rachiedabbler70, kbl, moneysavingmomma, cat4772 DebtFree2012 and Lola76

Coxy

BlueMoo

:wave: Hi to everyone who is joining.

Right, have prepared my Plan of Action for the SM tonight. Got my shopping list at the ready so I won't be tempted to steer off for all those Xmas chocs/sweets etc.

Want to buy some stuff for coronation chicken, but this is not vital so I shall see how the rest of my shop pans out and add if under budget.

I do however need to get inspiration for a starter/dessert, as I am having a dinner party so fingers crossed...

No need now to get lots of stuff for Christmas as am going to the in-laws. Have already purchased some wine and champagne, and all I need to bring over is an apple pie and roast potatoes. Have some pastry in the freezer, so just need to buy some apples and potatoes which shouldn't be more than a fiver.

Budget has been updated to account for this lesser spend.

COXY - Can I please change budget to £105