April 2014 Grocery Challenge

lushlifesaver

NSD yesterday and today (small spend in Lidl but that's from my personal budget as it was snacks and treats for me and my dad)

Going to roughly plan the next Tescos shop (for the week after next) to see if there's enough to get it delivered. Bf has just the one camp this month which is four days so just me to feed those days.

A four day camp shouldn't be too bad,but bf has said to his mum not to come up unless I need her to as in May he is away for two weeks leaving me and the baby alone as his parents will be in Egypt at the same time - my parents don't live as close but I'm sure they will be up to keep me company/help out a little however I need to start developing my routine/methods for whilst bf is away.

Already thinking about the May GC budget as bf is away for that two week stint in Alabama and we are away (first time as a little family) for three nights (3.5 days) at the beginning of the month. I'm thinking I will either leave the budget as is and use it to stock up on a few bits...or I'll reduce it and use up as much of the freezer contents as I can to make space for new stuff.

Off to stock take and plan what we will need in the next shop...

lynnejk

kayester wrote: »

thanks for that!

Ok i was taking with OH yesterday, can I ask if anyone doesnt use supermarkets at all?

I live in a village, 5 mins walk away from my house we have a greengrocers (never used) butchers (used once!) coop and sainsburys which i barely walk in either.
I was thinking is it cheaper to go to the butchers/ green grocers daily rather than a weekly shop, and just buy other things in bulk and not weekly?
Advice would be welcomed.
Im 24 so only getting used to the spending and trying to save way of life. I imagine this was something done in the past but not sure if its worth while. We also need to eat more veg we only have it on a sunday!

Spag bol tonight

Oh you lucky thing. No veg shop here and butcher's is about 20 mins in the car. I would definitely use both. Try to go veg shop around Wed and Friday when stock will be quite fresh and make friends with the staff Ask what's in season and then usually cheapest and at it's prime and go for it. Same with the butcher. After a couple of weeks you will find they start getting to know you and both are a fund of knowledge - give you ideas what to do with stuff - or just look things up on internet.
I add chopped peppers/onions/mushrooms to things like spag bol. Easy to add beans/lentils/veg to most things and have salad with or before main dish. Fruit is good for puds. Soon adds up
Good luck and if you need advice just ask on here as most people happy to help

Frizzle wrote: »

Just had the pie for tea. OMG! I can't believe something so great can come from leftovers. I will be making this after every roast chicken. Now, my only dilemma... What can I make from half a pack of puff pastry?

Left-overs are great for giving you a chance to try new things eh
One of those kind of flat bakes with pizza type toppings.
If you having a stew/casserole tomorrow - some pastry triangles to go with it.
Large vol-u-vents to fill with ??? whatever else you have (coronation chicken ?)

Had NSD today. Melon to start, HM carrot/parsnip/leek spiced soup with added butterbeans and LO chopped lamb, followed by LO apple crumble and yog.

Hope you all have a terrific Tuesday
Lx

SarahB1989_2

Spend of £7.02 today for milk, coffee and lunches, plus some YS hot cross buns as a treat.

Florenceem

Frizzle wrote: »

Just had the pie for tea. OMG! I can't believe something so great can come from leftovers. I will be making this after every roast chicken. Now, my only dilemma... What can I make from half a pack of puff pastry?

Can't you freeze the pastry? Or make a pie for the freezer.

Florenceem

Spend of 46p on bananas today.
We had HM Casserole & Dumplings - FF + roast potatoes & parsnip for dinner.
I cooked a Devonshire In and Out Apple pudding as well.

[Deleted User]

I have been given a weekly supply of carrots until summer, and have run out of interesting ways to use them. Does anyone have any ideas or can point me towards a website that features them? They are from a market gardener so are very fresh, but are the ones that don't look good enough to sell, ie split, too large or too small. I really don't want them to go to waste.
Thanks
Jennie

K9sandFelines

kiwiblue wrote: »

I have been given a weekly supply of carrots until summer, and have run out of interesting ways to use them. Does anyone have any ideas or can point me towards a website that features them? They are from a market gardener so are very fresh, but are the ones that don't look good enough to sell, ie split, too large or too small. I really don't want them to go to waste.
Thanks
Jennie

carrot cake or carrot and coriander soup, coleslaw?

K9sandFelines

Had a good few spends today, as was off to the pictures; so went into HB for the first time in ages, and got treats for the film, two Ferrero Rocher filled bunnies, treats for weekend and toiletries and crisps. About £25 of crap.
Then spent about £8 in MrM on two YS baguettes, milkshakes and four packets of quorn sandwich meat. Also bought full price tuna and and something else. Thought receipts were in purse, so i will update once I come across them.

charlies_tribe

Just updating sig after todays shop. Total so far £289/600.
Need some yoghurts and bread for lunchboxes but that should be all this week.

Billie-jo

NSD again today and I have emptied the ironing basket so a productive day. Remembered to freeze the lamb that was left over and there is enough for 6 more meals.
Tonight we had SW sweet & sour pork & noodles. It made quite a large amount. I tasted the sauce before I added it and wasn't too keen on it so made another one up which was nice. We both enjoyed it but its not something that mum would eat so she had a fish in sauce with a few potatoes and peas which she did herself. I take her meals down often but not every night just so as she keeps her hand in a little bit. She is not a great cook and neither does she like cooking - only does plain and simple. Apart from that she would only ever eat peas and carrots if I didn't do her other veg!!!