April 2015 Grocery Challenge

MelBell2015

My month finished yesterday so very happy we came in under budget! Off to the May thread! It's amazing what a difference a bit of focus makes! Thanks everyone!!!

K9sandFelines

Been a bit missing in action. Booked a few days off for my birthday and plus normal days which I don't work, equals a week off. Unfortunately, despite having loads of plans to sort stuff out in the house, I've ended up with this cold and cough virus, so done zilch apart from make a space for a new (to me)chest freezer. I think with todays shopping delivery, bits of YS I have bought for the freezers, half-term and two birthdays during this month, I will be slightly over. Possibly one more online shop left next week this time with Asd*... depending on what I've managed to pick up through the week from local Morris*ns and C*-*p.

I want to cut down on carbs with main meals, so will get cauli from market on Saturday or Wednesday as only 49p compared to T. Value of 89p online. Will make cauli rice.

I will have to bump up next month's allowance until I have sorted freezer. The freezer that came with the house (integrated) hasn't defrosted yet after a day of keeping the door open. Cannot access a plug or switch to turn off, so may need to get out the big guns to complete the job.I will have seven drawers and a chest freezer eventually.

My girls will want more iced drinks if weather stays nice so need to cover those extras too. Might even be able to finally invest in an ice cream maker now I have the freezer space.

cw18

K9sandFelines wrote: »

The freezer that came with the house (integrated) hasn't defrosted yet after a day of keeping the door open. Cannot access a plug or switch to turn off, so may need to get out the big guns to complete the job.

Unless it was a botched DIY job, there must be a switch somewhere for safety reasons. The switch for mine is on the opposite wall (on a bank of switches which includes washer, drier and dish washer - though the last isn't actually connected to anything as I don't have one of those). Failing that, is it on it's own fuse that you could pull? Having the door open while it's still running will be costing you a fortune in electricity :eek:

Frizzle_2

cw18 wrote: »

Found on h0tdealsuk

No £5 off voucher today (is that the end of them, I wonder?) but there is an 8-page pull-out containing 10 individual money-off vouchers.

50% Off Premium Washing Up Liquid - Now 39p
50% Off Mamia Apples,Carrots,Parsnips 120g - Now 29p
50% Off Mamia Just Apples 5X90g - Now 89p
30% Off Scotch Eggs - Now 43p
30% Off Spreadable Butter - Now £1.04p
30% Off Ham Joint Roasted/Breaded - Now £2.09p
30% Off Roast Chicken Drumsticks or Thighs - Now £1.39p
30% Off Specially Selected 4 Quarter Pounders Now £1.39p
30% Off Meat free Burgers - Now £1.04
30% Off Premium Fabric Conditioner - Now 90p

Thank you for posting this. I think I will give it a miss this month then. I normally only buy the paper for the £5 voucher and then use the vouchers if they are applicable. There is only one or two things this month that i would actually buy. (I still have three washing up liquids from the last voucher for those!!) as we are hoping to move in the next six weeks I don't really want to be buying too much so will try and hold off going shopping until Sunday!!

joedenise

K9sandFelines wrote: »

I will have to bump up next month's allowance until I have sorted freezer. The freezer that came with the house (integrated) hasn't defrosted yet after a day of keeping the door open. Cannot access a plug or switch to turn off, so may need to get out the big guns to complete the job.I will have seven drawers and a chest freezer eventually.

K9 - have you got a steamer or could you borrow one? I always use mine when I defrost either of my freezers. I can do the small chest freezer in less than half hour and the upright in about 40 minutes. The upright takes longer because of having to take all the drawers out and put them back!

Didn't spend too much today - a total of £17.09 between Mr Ts & Icel*nd. Also got back a £2.15 voucher for next shop in Mr Ts - somewhere must have really cheap veg as that was mainly what I'd bought!

Total for month so far is £156.25/£250 so doing OK as only another week until end of month.

Denise

Billie-jo

Spent £17.91 today in A1di. Very busy today and loads of shelf filling going on so aisles were difficult to get around.


1 x pork chop - cut into small chunks (the meat weighed 90g)
35g x left over ham - cut into small chunks
35g x cooked left over broccoli
65g x mushrooms - chopped
40 x gram grated cheese
5 fl oz milk
1-2 tsp corn flour slaked with water or milk
Hand full bread crumbs mixed with 10 gram grated cheese.

Gently fry the onions frying pan without adding any colour, add the mushroom and cook for another minute or two. Tip into a bowl and add the chopped cooked pork and broccoli.
In same frying pan now add the chopped pork and cook. Then add to the bowl containing the other ingredients and mix.
In a small saucepan heat the milk and add the grated cheese, stir until cheese melts then add enough of the corn flour mix to thicken the sauce. (Should be fairly thick)
Once done add to the meat & veg mix and mix together. Season if necessary. Put into pie dish or foil containers then sprinkle on top the breadcrumbs and cheese mix.
Cook in oven until hot all the way through and the top is golden and bubbling.
This made us 3 individual pies or you could do one bigger one. Ours were frozen after adding the breadcrumb topping and before putting in the oven.

You could add a couple of rashers bacon cut into small pieces if you had some and you can change the veg to what you have left - ie green beans, carrots, peas or sweet corn.

lynnejk

K9sandFelines wrote: »

The freezer that came with the house (integrated) hasn't defrosted yet after a day of keeping the door open. Cannot access a plug or switch to turn off, so may need to get out the big guns to complete the job.I will have seven drawers and a chest freezer eventually.

I think there must be a switch somewhere. Have you looked in nearby cupboards etc. Mine are all on one wall - I had to label them so I didn't switch off the wrong one after a disaster in the first month :rotfl:


I turn mine off and pour a kettle full of boiling water into a washing up bowl and stand it in the bottom, shutting the door. If you go back and check every 30 mins or so, replacing boiling water as necessary and removing loosened ice, it doesn't take long. It works just as well with a chest freezer.


Don't forget to put an old towel on the floor in front to soak up any spillage.


HTH Lx

scotmumof3

K9 hope you feel better soon
NSD for me today so nothing to add to my total :j
I made bean chilli and rice for dinner from the Jack Monroe cookbook and it was totally delicious. Even DS2 who won't eat anything veggie ate it and asked for more . RESULT !!!

claireh280

Hi everyone, So I've spent £314 out of my £350. Trouble is that I've overspent in other areas of my budget so I don't actually have the difference to spend on food anyway! I am really pleased my food is under budget, but I am cross with myself for going crazy elsewhere.

I took my last £12 in cash yesterday to Aldi to grab some essentials. We only have to get to the 27th so we will be fine with the food we have in and in the freezer. I am hoping next month to be a bit more balanced in all areas.

There were so many points this month when we were hungry and tried and almost gave up and headed for the takeaway, but we didn't. There were some pretty unimaginative meals - oven chips, baked beans and bread and butter last night! But I feel like we've made a big shift in how we shop and what we spend on food. Thanks everyone.

lynnejk

Hiya everyone


Managed another NSD today :j


We had liver, bacon, grilled toms, baked beans, mash and onion gravy for dinner and it was LUSH


Hope you all have a fabulous Friday
Lx