January 2014 Grocery Challenge

flyinggiraffe_2

I just spent £7.83 on a pizza, some dip and dessert. I really fancied takeaway but decided to buy it from mands so is cheaper than I would have paid.

sharronej

Bluegreen143 wrote: »

Agreed! I wouldn't follow it for a whole week as I think the meals are quite pricey, especially if you don't have all the ingredients in. BUT I will make some of the recipes as I do like his stuff.

Kayester - that's strange your chicken went so dry, has never happened to me. I freeze leftover chicken until needed though so it isn't sitting about in the fridge for too long. It can also help to freeze/refridgerate it in some kind of sauce to moisten it up, whether just leftover gravy or if I was making e.g. a curry with it, I might try to make the curry the same day as the roast then freeze/fridge the whole thing so the chicken is in the sauce in whole time it's being stored. HTH

It is strange that your chicken went so dry - what a shame, all that time and effort!


Years ago when I was on SMP with my now almost 18yr old my Mum bought me a book from the then Shopping Giant and I have to say it's amazing - I still use it now and have bought copies for numerous friends and family members. It's based on traditional British Foods and has some recipes in that I wouldn't touch lol such as Partridges in Piquant Sauce but I have found this book invaluable over the years - mine is totally dog eared with brown pages these day, the back cover has fell off but it's the most treasured item in my kitchen.


Tonight we had Toad in the Hole which cost around 50p a portion!


It's on Amaz0n for a penny at the moment!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Recipes-Budget-Meals-Wendy-James/dp/1851526064/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389206957&sr=8-1&keywords=500+recipes+for+budget+meals

MrsCautious

I haven't recorded any spends on groceries since the weekend -- that may sound a funny way of putting it but I did a mystery shop last night and I am counting the items I bought as covered by the fee and reimbursement, I do suspect this may be veering towards cheating a little but it makes sense to me. I chose frozen chicken fillets, fish fingers and a Weight Watchers ready meal of lasagne, It came to £6.73.

Today I have had my lunch in a sm cafe as a mystery shop, I've had a cereal bar for tea with an orange! I cooked my girls fish fingers, mashed potato, peas, carrots and parsley sauce.

Was very proud of myself yesterday, conjuring up prawn curry, naan bread, rice, Bombay potatoes and onion bhajis when my daughters' friend came for tea, none of this was made from scratch but it was all ready in 20 mins and I was knackered after work when I started it, the bhajis and the potatoes were YS, the rice was Basics and the prawns, naan and sauce were on offer.

If you had told me some time ago I'd be saving money like that, I'm not sure I would have believed you, but I am so pleased to have adapted.

marris

NSD again.sticking to my mealplan.so far so good.

CH27

NSD achieved

islandhoppa

another NSD today, this proves how well meal planning works as I did a big shop last week but would still usually have to nip out for more "bits" or things I fancy and I haven't had to at all yet. Must make an effort every month to do the same

Taranaman

Still not spent anything on groceries since New Years Day.

Feeling smug. Off to update my signature.

Mrs-s_4

£2.80 for Mondays bread and butter, NSD yesterday and today's tesco shop was £80.81! Did get a 40 wash persil in that for £5 and nappies, shouldn't need anything now for a week, except bread at the weekend. Stocked up on lunchbox stuff for DS1 too show shouldn't need much next week. Also came through the post this morning a £15 off £60 shop for tesco so will make use of that next week! Will update sig now.

Florenceem

£1 spent on milk today.
No photo tonight - I have asked Mr F for new camera batteries - no joy so far.
I went to take photos tonight - camera did not want to know.
Told Mr F - the thread won't be happy with him.
We had Black Pudding + LO fried off roast potatoes + chestnut mushrooms + baked beans + buttered toast + tomato + poached egg for dinner.

happytails

Was a nsd until I needed paracetamol and realised we are nearly out of formula doh!!! Sent dh out to get cheap paracetamol and 3 ready mixed formula cartons as the local shop doesn't do the powder and if he goes to morrisons god knows what else he will buy lol

Will update when I see receipt x