March 2014 Grocery Challenge

Ches

Congratulations Bluegreen your photos are stunning.

Didn't go shopping today after all so we had to have frozen peas with our sausage toad, roast potatoes and onion gravy for tonights dinner but we must go tomorrow, no excuses.

lynnejk

Bluegreen - your pictures are gorgeous. What a handsome couple you both make and may I wish you a long and happy married life.


Newthrift - my DH is an HGV driver as well and we nearly always have a proper HM cooked dinner. I think it's important to have what YOU feel is right for the two of you.

lushlifesaver wrote: »

Mil coming round to do my highlights and paint the bathroom ceiling so it possibly depends on what time she wants to come

If I paint any ceilings I tend to get free highlights at the same time :rotfl:


Had another NSD today. I made a pasta bake with the smoked haddock which I enjoyed but DH wasn't keen so won't cook again.


Hope you all have a terrific Tuesday
Lx

newthrift

busymumofthreeplusdog / mrscautious & lynnejk thank you all for your advice my OH isn't a big fish fan (fish fingers, scampi & breaded cod is as close as I can get him, but will bare in mind prawn stir fry for a couple of months time when he goes away for weekend on a stag do as that sounds nice.
Will have a look at some veggie recipes too as I do think I could include one a week as this would be good for us & could make sure I do soup a little more regular! I sometimes think we have a little too much beef in a week - he loves beef - so will now go in search on veggie recipes!!!

Thanks for input

smokies

Morning all,


Hope you all had a good weekend, went off the rails a little bit, and have gone over my budget - not looking on this as a failure but as a learning curve, and going to tighten up a bit as its just over a week will pay day....... enjoyed looking and double checking what I am spending on food shopping.


Have a great day xxxx

Anzac_Biscuit

Bluegreen, thanks for posting photos of your wedding! You look beautiful, and very happy. Wishing you a long and happy life together.

NSD for me today (hurray!) As expected I've gone well over my budget for this month but I'll be starting next month with a very well stocked pantry I think, so that should work out in the end. Not planning to buy much at all for the next two weeks

cinnamonpie

Congratulations, bluegreen! You both look stunning and so happy. All the best for married life!

Newthrift, you have already received some great advice. I second soups and would also suggest to make meat more of a "side" than the main idea of a meal. Pulses are a cheap way to bulk out meaty dishes.

I went to Aldi yesterday and spent £23.83. Again, I had my calculator app open and tallied it all up as I went along. At the end it was higher than I had wanted it to be but I lacked the discipline to put stuff back on the shelves I now only have £11.25 left for the rest of the month. I have food in a done my menu plan but it doesn't sound like a lot. I have a lot of fruit and veg in too. I keep it in the garage where it is cool and dark and lasts longer.

Thanks for your good wishes regarding the interview on Friday. It went well. It was more of a chat anyway and I think I made a good impression. I haven't heard back from them though, which is a bit worrying but not uncommon. I have also got two more interviews next week! :eek: I have already started to have nightmares.... aaaargh! I wish I was a lot cooler than I really am and not worry so much.

Franigan

Morning!

Cinnamonpie fingers crossed for the last and the next interviews!!!!

I had a very good weekend: NSD Friday, Saturday, Sunday! :j
Got invited for dinner by Pil on Friday and Sunday and Family do on Saturday!

I was supposed to go shopping on Sunday but decided not to. I thoroughly cleaned the house, did the lawn and washed my car, instead. Did I really need to go to the shop??? NO.

Eventually, went to Aldi last night:

Cat food: £6.77
General Food: £ 4.29
Fruit/Veg: £ 3.33
Total: £ 14.39 (Sig updated)

Doing better than I thought!

Have a good day everyone!!

malamay

Booked a local vegetable box for today, and the meat delivery I arranged last month is coming today as well. Veg is £6, and lasts us upwards of 2 weeks although this box is an assortment of leftovers - normally £10, but not as much variety I think. Either way, we'll get through it.

Meat cost me £12 for: 1 x 1.2kg Beef Sirloin Sirloin End Joint, 2 x 900g Boneless Pork Loin Joints, 1kg Chicken Drumsticks, 12 Pork & Leek Sausages (ave 908g), 1kg Lean Steak Mince, 1 x 1.8kg Unsmoked Gammon Joint. I had a voucher and cash back, and don't think I could replicate this again!

Now, if someone brought me a bottle of milk, there'd be no need to go to the shops. *Off to look at milk n more*

charlies_tribe

Mrs_T_M wrote: »

Have you ever tried a 'pour on crust'? That's what my mom uses instead of pastry.

It's in cup measures, so sorry!

Pour on crust - for all sorts of meat/veggie pies!
1 1/2 cups self raising flour
1 1/2 cups buttermilk (or regular milk with a splash of lemon juice or vinegar for the twang)
2 oz/~60g butter, melted
dash of onion granules
dash of salt
dash of ground black pepper

Mix all ingredients together. Assemble pie. Pour crust on top, bake at 200C for 45 minutes - 1 hour or until crust has slightly risen and has turned golden brown.

Hope that helps! I use this one because it's way easier than fiddling with pastry, even bought pastry, plus it's less clean up and quicker.

I haven't really joined this challenge yet. Done a few in the past, but with the getting pregnant, losing the baby at 20 weeks pregnant, and pouring myself into making money through surveys and such online, I have lost the plot with saving money on groceries. I'm keeping up with everything this month and I'll make a goal to stay under when the next month starts (the 25th or earlier, depending on when DH gets paid).

Thank you. Didn't get back on the computer so didn't see your post. We went with mash on top in the end but will give this a go next time.


Shopping yesterday and spent £77 and dd had £10 on her dinner card. Will update sig. DH on nights so should have a few NSD.

Frugalsod

I hoped for some bargains last night only got a half price paella for one. I needed some cheese for the cauliflower cheese I am making tomorrow, so in the end spend £3.55 so still doing well for the month. Food stocks are going down slowly with the YS items, and I still have £15 of my float left.