January Grocery Challenge 2015

girlsmum

Problem with trying to have too many NSD is when you get up in the morning for a cup of tea and the milk is off ...must go shopping later for milk. also need a few store cupboard ingredients like tinned tomatoes, and rice I have a list with 6 things on and i intend to only buy those 6 things. I will be baking at the weekend so the girls have something nice in their packed lunches

redmel1621

cw18 wrote: »

I do jackets in my combi - no way would I use a main oven for 1 or 2 potatoes, so I'd never have them at home without that!

I very, very rarely turn my main oven on - and if I do want to use it I have to find another home for a variety of pans and baking trays

I figure that my combi used as a convential over has to use less power than my main oven.... it warms up in half the time, and only has about half the capacity to keep warm. It's fine for just two of us (and almost half the time it's just me), and is one thing I wouldn't give up having had one for 13 years now.

When my last one gave out on me a lot of people (family & friends) tried to convince me to just get a cheap microwave, but I so rarely use it as a micro (other than morning porridge or reheating the second half of a packet soup, both of which could be done in a pan fairly easily) that it was another combi or nothing. And I've not regretted the expense

I have had my combi micro for at least 9 years and still don't know how to work it properly! I just tend to use it as a microwave for heating things like beans lol.

I would be doing 6 potatoes, 4 large and 2 medium. I don't know if it would cook them if I put it on the 'spud' setting.. I also don't know what type of dish I am meant to use. Are normal plates ok if using the 'oven' type setting??

Kahra

Happy Friday everyone!

Had a NSD yesterday, but went out today and spent £15.35 on basics like milk, cheese, bread, etc. Planning to bake some bread and make more soup later - wild times on Friday night

natlie

After internet shop is delivered Saturday I will have spent £350.77 of £400 but should have enough food except bread and milk to last until the end of the month - fingers crossed

Solstice_3

lynnejk wrote: »

The amount of white vinegar you use shouldn't cause any problems.

You put half and half soda crystals and washing powder in the drawer as it is a cleaning aid.
Lx

Thanks When you say half and half do you mean half of the washing powder I would normally use so 2 scoops instead of 4? Sorry just want to make sure I get it right

Wicked Lady will add your post with the recipe link and amendments to the index

Shopping update:

Yesterday DH bought back the bread - £0.94
Today a small shop with a little help from my toddler - £12.02

I've set up a "staples" shopping list on the online grocery shop I use each month and I'm going to use it as a guide for the big items I buy each month to make shopping easier.

I might have a quick look at approved before I buy this time to make sure there aren't any good deals there, not that I ever find them when I look - bad timing I guess.

Hoping for a few NSDs over the weekend, at least one!

Bobarella

Today is NSD 8 of 18. Tommorow I will do a small shop to cover the weekend & if I see any YS bargains will stock up for the week ahead.

cw18

redmel1621 wrote: »

I have had my combi micro for at least 9 years and still don't know how to work it properly! I just tend to use it as a microwave for heating things like beans lol.

I would be doing 6 potatoes, 4 large and 2 medium. I don't know if it would cook them if I put it on the 'spud' setting.. I also don't know what type of dish I am meant to use. Are normal plates ok if using the 'oven' type setting??

If you're using it as a normal oven rather than in combi mode, then you can use any dishes you'd use in your main oven

On combi I'd stick to things that will work in a microwave and a normal oven - so for me that's glass dishes and a couple of 'pot' (ceramic?) ones. Metal wouldn't get anywhere near it as you can't use them in a microwave, and neither would plastic as you can't use them in a normal oven. Silicone would probably be OK though (as long as it doesn't have a metal rim like some of the more recent cake trays/tins I've seen), as I've used that in both before now. I know my manual has a comprehensive list of what can/can't be used for each type of cooking in the applicance.

The only combi setting I've ever used is the pre-prgrammed one for jacket potatoes. Oddly, the instructions for that specifically say to use the round metal rack on the round metal tray that sits on the glass turntable - but they must be made of a very specific metal, 'cos I accidentally put in the rack from my old combi and it started to spark :eek: It works best with even sized spuds, so you'd be better using a 5th large and cutting it in half after cooking rather than 2 smalls. My manual says a minimum total weight of 200g and maximum of 1500g, so it depends on how large you mean by 'large' and what your machine can cope with. It also recommends each potato should be 200-250g, so it would take 6 of those (but mine are invariably bigger than the 250g 'cos I like my carbs, and it seems to cope with up to 350g if I keep an eye on it ).

Best thing (as always) is to have a read of the manual If you haven't still got it, then you can probably download it from the internet - which is something I seem to end up doing with [strike]most[/strike] all of my applicances. Many of them (even discontinued models) are available on manufacturer sites.

redmel1621

cw18 wrote: »

If you're using it as a normal oven rather than in combi mode, then you can use any dishes you'd use in your main oven

On combi I'd stick to things that will work in a microwave and a normal oven - so for me that's glass dishes and a couple of 'pot' (ceramic?) ones. Metal wouldn't get anywhere near it as you can't use them in a microwave, and neither would plastic as you can't use them in a normal oven. Silicone would probably be OK though (as long as it doesn't have a metal rim like some of the more recent cake trays/tins I've seen), as I've used that in both before now. I know my manual has a comprehensive list of what can/can't be used for each type of cooking in the applicance.

The only combi setting I've ever used is the pre-prgrammed one for jacket potatoes. Oddly, the instructions for that specifically say to use the round metal rack on the round metal tray that sits on the glass turntable - but they must be made of a very specific metal, 'cos I accidentally put in the rack from my old combi and it started to spark :eek: It works best with even sized spuds, so you'd be better using a 5th large and cutting it in half after cooking rather than 2 smalls. My manual says a minimum total weight of 200g and maximum of 1500g, so it depends on how large you mean by 'large' and what your machine can cope with. It also recommends each potato should be 200-250g, so it would take 6 of those (but mine are invariably bigger than the 250g 'cos I like my carbs, and it seems to cope with up to 350g if I keep an eye on it ).

Best thing (as always) is to have a read of the manual If you haven't still got it, then you can probably download it from the internet - which is something I seem to end up doing with [strike]most[/strike] all of my applicances. Many of them (even discontinued models) are available on manufacturer sites.

I will have to look around for some round 'ovenware' as all mine seems to be rectangular or square. I have a few low round metal grills from various appliances so I am probably best not try to guess which came with the microwave lol.

Thank you for your reply and I will try and locate the online manual

scotmumof3

NSD for me today.It's snowing here quite heavily so I ain't going out. Dinner for tonight is planned and lunch and dinner for next couple of days. All I really need is washing liquid for the clothes so I will get that tomorrow.
Hope you are all well:)

lynnejk

Solstice_3 wrote: »

Thanks When you say half and half do you mean half of the washing powder I would normally use so 2 scoops instead of 4? Sorry just want to make sure I get it right

Yes basically. I find most of our washing is fine on one scoop of powder and one scoop of soda. Dirtier stuff and towels get one and a half of each. DH work clothes, which get v dirty, get one and a half each and two scoops of fabric stain remover. I just buy a cheap sort from £shop or F Foods If you like smelly clothes you can add a little condensed type fabric softener or, even better, essential oils but go lightly, to your vinegar rinse. HTH

redmel1621 wrote: »

I will have to look around for some round 'ovenware' as all mine seems to be rectangular or square. I have a few low round metal grills from various appliances so I am probably best not try to guess which came with the microwave lol.
Thank you for your reply and I will try and locate the online manual

You can use the square of rectangular ones okay so long as the turntable still goes round - ie it's not too big for the interior


Another NSD here today :j


Hope you all having a great Friday
Lx