July 2014 Grocery Challenge

x_raphael_xx

Gracie_1827 wrote: »

Just seen this on the Freebie forum...free food :j. Innocent veg pot
http://www.innocentdrinks.co.uk/vegpotofgold

Sorry, we're clean out of coupons.

lynnejk

Hiya everyone :hello:

Just spent £3.80 in MnS on baby chestnut mushrooms, YS superfood salad and YS berry pack. They have started putting all YS stuff on a trolley by the tills so it was a bit of a (polite) bun-fight. Preferred when they left stuff on shelves when reduced as easier to browse. Spent (I think) £4.50 in Morry yesterday. Will check when get home from work later and update siggie.

Trust you all enjoying the summer sunshine. It seems easier to stay off the 'stodge' when it's nice and warm eh

Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday
Lx

Ryuu

Another update and I'm not going to make it (most likely)...

During last few trips to markets, I spent another CZK295, making my total spending CZK686/1000. The only option how I might make it, is to make pasta all the time... But even then, it doesn't sound optimistic...

Might go for sweet tomato sauce with pasta for the rest of the month... (Czech recipe - good and tasty, but not too healthy...)

VickyV

Had a NSD (13/15) today and a little spend of £2.16 yesterday on 3 packs of YS posh butter - I'm fairly sure butter doesn't go off! I did buy some other bits but from a different budget so total of £201.22/£300 spent.

The butter will go in cake, flapjacks, pies and biccies :j (even though I'm trying not to eat naughties:()! Just noticed a very out of date siggy. off to sort!

Vicky x

lynnejk

VickyV wrote: »

Had a NSD (13/15) today and a little spend of £2.16 yesterday on 3 packs of YS posh butter - I'm fairly sure butter doesn't go off!
Vicky x

Butter will go off but you can freeze it for up to 6 months. Cut into usable chunks and wrap well as it adsorbs flavours from other stuff. Defrost as needed

Ryuu wrote: »

Might go for sweet tomato sauce with pasta for the rest of the month... (Czech recipe - good and tasty, but not too healthy...)

Could we have the recipe please as love pasta dishes


Have checked and my 2 spends came to exactly £8 so have updated my siggie


Lx

gyinnit

So 16 days in and I've spent £162.39.

Had £4.49 refund from asda for fruit that wasn't really good.
Used my £5 morrisons voucher, which covered all the fruit I needed for 2 weeks! Had an unexpected shop for a BBQ in the first weekend.

I did a big shop (£62) last week and made up about 10 batches of frozen meals - spag bol/ chilli mainly.

Took me a few days to work out whether to include 'eating out' meals in my budget but decided not to include them. I am however including the occasions where I've bought lunch because I was too lazy or didn't have enough time to make lunch. I've been good on that front, because I remembered to take into work yoghurt, crisps and fruit, but forgot the sandwiches. So have been going to Boots to get the £1 chicken mayo ones.

The only thing I will need to last the end of the month now is milk and fresh fruit I think. We are staying away this weekend and next weekend with friends so will just be weekdays. I think I should be OK. Have had 8 NSDs so far, today will also be NSD so will make 9. I'm enjoying this first grocery challenge!

Off to update my signature now.

Ryuu

lynnejk wrote: »

Could we have the recipe please as love pasta dishes

Lx

Sure, but it's exactly how it sounds like (my simplified variant)

I use wok (for the volume I make is good enough), but feel free to make it in a pot... I can't really say precise amounts, since I make it every time a little bit different. Also it's dependent on your tastes and the stuff you buy.

1. On medium heat add butter to the wok, then add finely chopped onion (small/medium one, I like the sweetness of onions so I use little more :-)). Add small volume of olive oil.
2. When the onion is getting gold, add a bit of salt, ground black pepper, 2-3 allspice berries, 2-3 juniper berries, 2-3 black pepper berries. (had to search for translations of allspice and juniper - had no idea how they were called in English :-D)
3. Add teaspoon of sugar, let it melt.
4. Add tomato puree (key ingredient) and stir. // I use Italian one
5. Add 1-2 bay leaves.
6. Add beef stock (either from cube or self-made) to increase flavour and reduce thickness (in WCS, use water)
7. Taste, if it seems a little bitter to your taste (some Tomato Puree that are sold here are really bitter), add sugar in small steps and always taste it, so you don't over do it. (another reason why I use more onions = they are really sweet)
8. Let it boil on low heat for a few minutes so it thickens up a bit. EDIT: Remove berries and bay leaf from the pan, so you don't accidentally eat it :-).

This sauce can be served with dumplings or pasta (traditionally macaroni, but penne and similar are also common)

As a protein, it mostly goes with beef (often prepared separately in pressure cooker).



Btw: found a really great picture of types of pasta :-D
charmingitaly.com/different-types-of-pasta/

just_the_two_of_us

Quick update. £1.49 in Sains local last night on bics - naughty naughty but first for 11 weeks! and reduced blueberries - 30p!

Been to do big shop in Al*i and spent £17.85 - mainly fruit and veg but 2 lots cott cheese 2 lots cold meats, 2 x 4pts milk as well and 4 breaded haddock. Apricots down to 59p and ready to eat - delicious!!!! Sig updated

cw18

About to update sig - £1.49 from last A1di shop (now I've worked out what the entry on the receipt is for) and £5 for a spice hamper I ordered on-line yesterday.

Florenceem

I have been awol - my pension is every four weeks so I am ready for GC August. I am declaring for July at £70.70 16/28 NSD.