May 2014 Grocery Challenge

Mrs_T_M

£57.99 spent so far.

Just discovered that I've been charged 3x for a pack of grapes I bought reduced yesterday! Called Morrisons and they are expecting me tomorrow and will refund the difference, so no problem there, just a bit unexpected is all.

Figured out earlier today that each cup of coffee (how I fix it, sugar + milk) costs 16p and is 148 calories! Doesn't sound like much, but when I compare coke (branded), the same amount only costs 12p and is 96 calories! Whoops! :eek:

Guess I figured out one of the main reasons I'm not losing weight.

Mrs_T_M

Decided to post a few of my spice and other recipes and a dry/cooked beans yield list. Hopefully they can help someone!

Dried beans amount : Cooked beans amount
(just as a guide, a typical tin contains a touch less than 2 cups!)
1 cup black beans : 2 cups cooked
1 cup black eyed peas : 2 1/2 cups cooked
1 cup haricot beans : 2 1/2 cups cooked
1 cup kidney or cannellini beans : 2 3/4 cups cooked
1 cup lentils : 2 1/2 cups
2 cups large lima beans (butter beans) : 2 1/2 cups cooked
1 cup small lima beans : 2 cups cooked
1 cup split peas : 2 1/2 cups cooked
1 cup pinto beans : 2 1/2 cups cooked
1 cup chickpeas (garbanzo beans) : 3 cups cooked

Fajita seasoning
(2 tbsp mix = 1 packet = enough for 1-2 pounds meat + veggies)
1 tbsp cornflour
2 tsp chilli powder (or to taste)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp paprika
3/4 tsp chicken or vegetable bullion/broth granules (or 3/4 of a cube)
1/2 tsp onion granules
1/4 tsp garlic granules
1/4 tsp ground cumin

Gluten free 'cream of' soup mix
4 cups dried milk
1 1/2 cups cornflour
1/2 cup instant chicken or vegetable bullion (broth granules)
4 tsp dried onion flakes
2 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp ground black pepper

For 1 can soup, measure 1/3 cup of the mix and add to 1 cup water. Heat over medium-low in a saucepan until it starts to thicken.

Garlic/onion salt
3 tbsp table salt
1 tbsp garlic granules OR onion granules

Salt free taco seasoning
1 tbsp mild chilli powder
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp garlic granules
1/4 tsp onion granules
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (or to taste)

Mild chilli powder
2 tbsp paprika
2 tsp oregano
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1 1/2 tsp garlic granules
3/4 tsp onion granules
up to 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (more = hotter chilli powder)

Homemade brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tbsp molasses OR black treacle

Mix until well blended (it takes a little while). For dark brown sugar, use two tbsp molasses or black treacle.

Nearly KFC chicken
2 cups flour (can be gluten free)
2 tbsp baking powder
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
4 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp sugar

Dampen and coat chicken in this mix. Either deep fry until done, pan fry until done, or bake at 190C for 40-45 minutes, or until done.

Applesauce banana bread
This is the most requested dessert recipe in our house!
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
4 medium bananas
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups plain flour

Preheat oven to 170C. Mash bananas in a bowl and add applesauce, cinnamon, and sugar. Add bicarbonate of soda and baking powder to the flour, then add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix well, just until everything is moist. Lightly grease a loaf pan (or use a silicone one) and place batter into pan. Bake for 60 minutes.

Homemade baking powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tsp cream of tartar
If you won't be using this immediately, add 1 tsp cornflour to prevent caking. **This is the equivalent of single acting baking powder. If a recipe calls for double acting, this recipe will not work!

I also make my own applesauce and can it. Peel and chop enough apples to fill a crock on a slow cooker nearly full. Add 1/2 to 1 cup water and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Let cool a bit, then mash with a potato masher or run it through a blender in batches. If you want to can it to preserve for later, do research on water bath canning!

franby64

Hi

Please can you put me down for £500 for May. I know it's high but DS is home... Having a total keeps me counting and I'll definitely be trying to come in under .

Mystikia

Hi everyone, hope you are all having a wonderful start to May

I'd love to join the party again for May, so can I be put down for £180 please

My month starts today & runs to 31st. As I came under for April, I'm going to try reducing the budget & see how we go. Meat stocks are a little low though, so that will need replenished. As always, budget is for me, fussy OH & two very fussy cats & includes all food, drink, cat stuff, toiletries, cleaning & household items.

Wishing everyone a very successful month

Mrs_T_M

Anyone have any good recommendations for blenders? I can't afford too much, but our[SIZE=-1][FONT=arial,verdana,geneva,lucida] [/FONT][/SIZE]£10 one has finally given up, even after I took it apart! Blades are definitely stuck.

I'd love to have a glass jug, but plastic works too, the main thing is that it's able to make smoothies and pulverise ice! I love making smoothies with ys fruit, but I barely eat fruit otherwise.

Thanks in advance!
[FONT=arial,verdana,geneva,lucida][SIZE=-1] [/SIZE][/FONT]

joedenise

Mrs_T_M wrote: »

Decided to post a few of my spice and other recipes and a dry/cooked beans yield list. Hopefully they can help someone!

Thank you so much for such a useful list. I'm never sure about the yield of dried beans so usually do 100g of dried which seems to be the equivalent for 2-3 portions, depending on what goes with it.

I think I'll be using this list quite a bit.

Denise

SternMusik

Mrs_T_M wrote: »

Anyone have any good recommendations for blenders? I can't afford too much, but our£10 one has finally given up, even after I took it apart! Blades are definitely stuck.

I'd love to have a glass jug, but plastic works too, the main thing is that it's able to make smoothies and pulverise ice! I love making smoothies with ys fruit, but I barely eat fruit otherwise.

Thanks in advance!

Sorry, can't help with the blender. (Mine was £50 a few years ago and is giving up the ghost so I won't recommend that one.) But can I ask what "ys" stands for? (Sorry, it's probably a stupid question. I'm new to this board.)

Mrs_T_M

joedenise wrote: »

Thank you so much for such a useful list. I'm never sure about the yield of dried beans so usually do 100g of dried which seems to be the equivalent for 2-3 portions, depending on what goes with it.

I think I'll be using this list quite a bit.

Denise

I can never remember how much each makes either, and that goes for how much rice makes too! I have a rice yield chart around here somewhere, just don't remember which book I wrote it in!

SternMusik wrote: »

Sorry, can't help with the blender. (Mine was £50 a few years ago and is giving up the ghost so I won't recommend that one.) But can I ask what "ys" stands for? (Sorry, it's probably a stupid question. I'm new to this board.)

YS = yellow stickered, marked down, clearance priced, etc.

We all have to start learning somewhere, so there's no such thing as stupid questions here!

SternMusik

Mrs_T_M wrote: »

YS = yellow stickered, marked down, clearance priced, etc.

We all have to start learning somewhere, so there's no such thing as stupid questions here!

Thanks a lot, that makes sense

While I am on here, what can I do with a bunch of bananas that are going brown? (I don't like eating them brown.) Any ideas?

bmma

thanks MRs - T - M for the bean ratio, have printed off and will put on kitchen wall-no excuse now not to use the load of beans in stock cupboard
spends today £13.22p + £ 7.22p - £20.82p/£250.00p