February 2014 Grocery Challenge

icontinuetodream

ikesmummy wrote: »

Still holding on to the hope that I may come in within budget this month but if I do it's going to be only just, pretty happy with how I have done on for my first go at this challenge a think I was spending closer to £400 a month prior to giving this a go and pretty sure it was even more some months.

We have cut down on the amount of meat we eat more to do with health than budget but would like to use more beans/lentils than I currently do. I have chickpeas, salad bean mix and butter beans all in the cupboard but other than the butter beans (which I use for lovely butter bean stew) not really sure what to do with the others - any ideas??

I also have Quinoa which I was assuming I would just be used in place of couscous or rice - do other people use it more creatively? Would like to have March's meal plan drafted by the end of the week, it worked well having the whole month planned for February, think we have stuck to it 95%, swapped a couple of days and had to drop a couple of things off it where unexpected plans made timings impossible but haven't had to resort to a single take away

Have loved how supportive and friendly this post has been my first month so think you may all be stuck with me!!

try these links for ideas (hoping these work as don't really do technology!!):

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3571159

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1451243

Lentils are one of the staples in our house.....any colour will do - I normally fry off onion and garlic, add the lentils, stir until coat in the oil, add stock (I use marigold veg/vegan bouillon) and cook for 20-30 mins depending on the type of lentil.....I generally serve this with rice, chutney and raita if I have used red lentils, or with salad and salsas if I use green/brown or puy...also really great as a side dish with meat if you want....

Chickpeas are incredibly versatile and deffo one of my favourites! I love chickpea and potato casserole; hommous; spinach and chickpeas; chickpeas in tomato based sauce with pasta or as a filling for lasagne/cannelloni; smash up with garlic, pesto and olive oil and spread on char-grilled slices of aubergine then roll; cook some with black olives, capers, porcini and sun-dried tomatoes and serve with salad and new potatoes....nomnom!!;)

Quinoa, I use as a base for Buddha bowls - I like Moroccan flavours so tend to cook it in vegan stock to which I add ginger and cinnamon; when it's almost cooked, I then add things like almonds, pumpkin seeds, dried apricots, dried dates, pulses etc.....dish into a bowl, whack in some spinach leaves or greens of some description, drizzle with dressing and chop an avocado on top of it all....you can totally change the flavours of this by using different herbs/spices/additions so it works out to be a really useful dish!!

HTH

mouche

Haven't been posting for a few days but have updated my signature. Not much bought for this week - total must be less than £20 and that includes a pack of stewing lamb from the local butcher. We will need some more bits this weekend but I'm pretty confident we'll pull through wih some to spare - then again that's what I thought this time last week and we barely squeaked through!

cashsaver

Hi everyone..
just updated my signature..... haven't been around much but checking in and reading all your posts where I can.
Think this month is too long for the budget I have ...lol x
At least watching my pennies is definitely making me spend less than previously and making me cook from scratch.

Keep going everyone.

debbiedeejay

Afternoon everyone

Again been really busy - life just gets in the way

Anyway have bought from a local CS shop a very pretty tin with a spitfire on the front - am going to use it as my holding tin of my weekly shopping receipts so I can then tot it up once a week.

Thought the Spitfire was a apt picture as it will help me to keep focused on my war on keeping pounds in my pocket!

Anyway last Fridays trip to mozzies came to £37.21.

DD2 has withdrawn recently from uni and has returned home. This included her bringing back all the food she had and now my cupboards look like a students paradise of noodles,pasta,jars of sauce of various curries and italian based sauces and plenty of qu0rn stuff in freezer .

So no need to buy any them for a long time me thinks .

So this weeks trip will hopefully be just for fresh stuff.
Fingers crossed:o

Off to update totals

ikesmummy

icontinuetodream wrote: »

try these links for ideas (hoping these work as don't really do technology!!):

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3571159

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1451243

Lentils are one of the staples in our house.....any colour will do - I normally fry off onion and garlic, add the lentils, stir until coat in the oil, add stock (I use marigold veg/vegan bouillon) and cook for 20-30 mins depending on the type of lentil.....I generally serve this with rice, chutney and raita if I have used red lentils, or with salad and salsas if I use green/brown or puy...also really great as a side dish with meat if you want....

Chickpeas are incredibly versatile and deffo one of my favourites! I love chickpea and potato casserole; hommous; spinach and chickpeas; chickpeas in tomato based sauce with pasta or as a filling for lasagne/cannelloni; smash up with garlic, pesto and olive oil and spread on char-grilled slices of aubergine then roll; cook some with black olives, capers, porcini and sun-dried tomatoes and serve with salad and new potatoes....nomnom!!;)

Quinoa, I use as a base for Buddha bowls - I like Moroccan flavours so tend to cook it in vegan stock to which I add ginger and cinnamon; when it's almost cooked, I then add things like almonds, pumpkin seeds, dried apricots, dried dates, pulses etc.....dish into a bowl, whack in some spinach leaves or greens of some description, drizzle with dressing and chop an avocado on top of it all....you can totally change the flavours of this by using different herbs/spices/additions so it works out to be a really useful dish!!

HTH

Thank you so much for the links and ideas. I am having to start gradually as my boys (8&4) will baulk if I am too radical. I was a vegetarian for 16 years before I started craving meat during my first pregnancy and although I wouldn't want to give up meat completely I have switched to Quorn mince and vegetarian sausages and am excited to start introducing some more meat free meals.

K9sandFelines

NSD today and a £1.39 spend in Asd* yesterday.

islandhoppa

3 NSD's here, hoping for 2 more then will be moving onto my March budget, I've cut it fine this month but very pleased as cupboards are certainly not bare

marris

NSD here. just had my gammon dinner. loads left.

Islandmaid

£5 today - £4 at £land on new reading glasses, 2 x loaf tins and walnut whips for DS2 and a pound on icecream from maccy d,s for DS2 - well its all he,s asked for this half term......

Ladyluck1

£8.32 in coop.
Had to get crisps, ham, grapes, ice cream and also got some YS pies for £51p each and a YS butter chicken for 82p
I think I'm going to come in under budget as pay day Friday