April 2014 Grocery Challenge

cllola

Mrs_T_M wrote: »

Those all sound so good! Too bad my health trainer wants me to cut down on my carb intake...

Mrs TM are you allowed sweet potatoes? I think they are less carby and more healthy than normal potatoes?

Celeriac chips is another one, low carbs and if cooked in the oven with frylight and lots of seasoning are actuall quite nice.

You could batch cook cottage pies with carrot and swede mash?

Mrs_T_M

cllola wrote: »

Mrs TM are you allowed sweet potatoes? I think they are less carby and more healthy than normal potatoes?

Celeriac chips is another one, low carbs and if cooked in the oven with frylight and lots of seasoning are actuall quite nice.

You could batch cook cottage pies with carrot and swede mash?

The only way I'll eat sweet potatoes is drenched in butter and brown sugar, so probably not a viable option for me.

I don't eat many chips as it is, so I'm not too worried about replacing them. It's mostly pasta, rice, and homemade pizza that are de-railing me. The good thing is that for this week, I only have to monitor my intake of carbs. Don't have to worry with anything else, just carb count. After that though, I have to halve them!

I'd rather just eat the cottage pie 'insides' and not have a topping on them, which I sometimes do already.

I'm thinking about trying to use gram flour for a pizza base instead of wheat flour. Need to research it a bit first though. Even if I end up just cutting it up and stirring it in with toppings, that will be ok, so long as it tastes like pizza!

cinnamonpie

Mrs_T_M wrote: »

Those all sound so good! Too bad my health trainer wants me to cut down on my carb intake...

I have heard that cauliflower mash works well instead of potato. Never tried it myself though. And on a blog I follow I saw that you can make lasagne "sheets" by finely slicing a courgette lengthwise. Again, never tried it but found it quite intriguing.

I also second sweet potatoes, carrots and swede. These, and potatoes, have carbs but not all carbs are created equal in my mind.

cinnamonpie

Mrs_T_M wrote: »

The good thing is that for this week, I only have to monitor my intake of carbs. Don't have to worry with anything else, just carb count. After that though, I have to halve them!

Can't you just have LOADS of carbs this week so next week won't be so bad? :rotfl: Hahaha, not helping am I?

Mrs_T_M

cinnamonpie wrote: »

Can't you just have LOADS of carbs this week so next week won't be so bad? :rotfl: Hahaha, not helping am I?

Is it sad that I've already thought of that? :rotfl:

For anyone interested in my ice lolly idea, here are my supplies (there is strawberry in the photo, we ended up making a chocolate batch as well):



And here is how big the lolly moulds from poundworld are (tried to rotate the photo and it didn't work!):

cllola

Mrs_T_M wrote: »

The only way I'll eat sweet potatoes is drenched in butter and brown sugar, so probably not a viable option for me.

I don't eat many chips as it is, so I'm not too worried about replacing them. It's mostly pasta, rice, and homemade pizza that are de-railing me. The good thing is that for this week, I only have to monitor my intake of carbs. Don't have to worry with anything else, just carb count. After that though, I have to halve them!

I'd rather just eat the cottage pie 'insides' and not have a topping on them, which I sometimes do already.

I'm thinking about trying to use gram flour for a pizza base instead of wheat flour. Need to research it a bit first though. Even if I end up just cutting it up and stirring it in with toppings, that will be ok, so long as it tastes like pizza!

Ok - have you tried cauliflower rice? I hate cauliflower but love this stuff and carb free! :-D

http://ohmyveggies.com/how-to-make-cauliflower-rice/

Billie-jo

Mrs. T M - have you tried the Hairy bikers lasagne using leeks instead of lasagne sheets - its really nice. You split the leeks and open them out and use these where you would use the pasta. They just need a couple of minutes blanching in boiling water first.


First spends of the month today came to £27.09 and this included a large joint of lamb for Sunday and a pork loin for in the week. I do need some water chestnuts but couldn't find any today so will look tomorrow in Morrys.

Mrs_T_M

Billie-jo wrote: »

Mrs. T M - have you tried the Hairy bikers lasagne using leeks instead of lasagne sheets - its really nice. You split the leeks and open them out and use these where you would use the pasta. They just need a couple of minutes blanching in boiling water first.

I have and I love that recipe. I have that cook book as well, probably should glance through it again to see if there is anything in there that strikes my fancy that can help.

Coxy11

Hi all,

Couldn't use the broccoli last night as it had gone yellow so used frozen sweetcorn and frozen courgettes (from the garden last year).

Went to Tesco with DD as she wanted to get easter eggs for her 4 friends. I went too as otherwise she would've bought £5 eggs and spent £20 - she has no idea about how to stretch her pocket money. We found eggs at £3 or 2 for £5 which she got instead. Whilst there I got eggs for our nieces and nephews (different budget), some coffee and tassimo pods (second purse) and the onions I needed. Also got some custard tarts and pink and whites, plus DDs cereal bars. Total from GC was £4.49.

Went back to Tesco today as Iams dog food is half price and last night the shelf was empty :mad: Only one there today so got that plus mushrooms and parmesan for spag bol which DH and children will have later (I'm out for dinner). Total spent today £11.98.

Sorry for the ramble
Coxy

Laura_and_Eve

Hi I'm just starting this month's budgeting now. We'd like to budget £130 for the month please There's just the 2 of us! Not including pet food in this but will include stuff like loo roll / washing up liquid.