Living out of my store cupboard & freezer, how little can I spend to feed my family?

[Deleted User]

Just had a big bowl og HM carrot and coriander soup.I took the boys to MaccyD's for their lunch as a treat for them, but I am not keen on fast food, so I had brought some soup from home to have when we got back here. The boys had some freebie coupons for Maccyds so their lunch wasn't that expensive. Just about to take Henry to the Orthodontist shortly for his check up appointment. My diiner tonight that I dug out of the freezer will be a chicken breast with salad in a wrap with a strawberry yogurt for pudding. No cash spent today apart from the boys lunch which came from the treats jar and not my food purse :):)

Just popped in to say Henry had his braces removed this afternoon, and he is one very happy young man, bless him,he can't stop smiling now. They have been in for two years and he was getting to where he wouldn't have his photo taken because he got embarrassed by them. Now he has a big beaming Tom Cruise smile :):)

milasavesmoney

Had plans for a pasta bake but, as it was only me eating, I rummaged around in the fridge and had sliced salami with loads of veggies salad with a drizzle of olive oil. I am a happily stuffed woman. Quick and easy.

Spendless

How is everyone doing? I didn't feel up to posting it before but I said a few pages back my work had dried up at the end of last year. On Easter Saturday I had a letter telling me that due to a restructure I am no longer required, so that's it. I expected it but part of me thought maybe I was wrong.:(

So now I am at home, and I need to make savings whilst I work out when to job search. My DS is weeks away from finishing school but having to stay behind several nights in order to bring work up to scratch, part of it is down to him, the latest is down to a mess-up with the examination board. In addition I have a DD who attends several out of school classes and a husband who works away overnight each week with no set pattern to it. It's finding something that fits in, when I also live in an area of high unemployment.

Anyway......I picked up a good tip on a recent thread about how to know if your clothes will line dry or not. If your garden path is dry/drying then so will the clothes. I have been doing this ever since with fantastic success rate. :j Previously I have always considered it too damp and flat up here to get much success with line drying between Oct-April. I know this isn't related to food shopping, but it is relevant to keeping costs down.

On the food front, I have just made a hot dog german potato salad, using a couple of leftover hotdogs, some boiled potatoes and almost the end of the gherkins. I detest gherkins apart from in this recipe, so after another batch the jar can go. :j. I am also letting some pasta cool and then going to mix it with a cooked diced chicken breast and some mayo. The kids have bolognaise in the slow cooker for their tea with garlic bread but later as I'm out if they get the munchies there's something for them to eat. I am going out for a meal with a friend tonight, meeting her from work. I have a 2for1 voucher so we'll only poy for half of one meal each plus drinks. Currently considering is it more cost effective to drive and have a soft drink or catch the train and share a bottle.

[Deleted User]

Am gonna try n not buy too much for a week, as first time back on grocery challenge in a long while and want to stick to it, so need to start delving into stores. I really do need to buy some bread and filler for my boy though. Will do a mini shop Friday.

Anne_Marie_2

Spendless wrote: »

I am going out for a meal with a friend tonight, meeting her from work. I have a 2for1 voucher so we'll only poy for half of one meal each plus drinks. Currently considering is it more cost effective to drive and have a soft drink or catch the train and share a bottle.

Sorry about your job Spendless, hopefully something will come along soon for you.
Regarding the drive or train.....get the train and share a bottle. Sounds as if you could be doing with a little pick me up just now.

milasavesmoney

Quinoa salad tonight with drained, rinsed beans (these happen to be black beans), cubed celery, bell, carrot, green onion...corn I took off the cob (lingering and hiding in the bottom of my freezer) lemon juice (I prefer lime but had a lemon) salt & pepper, garlic powder and onion powder and enough cooked quinoa to make it all work nicely. I have sometimes added other things such as cubed ham, chiles, tomatoes, zucchini (corgettes) etc. basically whatever you have on hand.

Where is Miss Moo? We miss you woman!!!

Soworried

I've had a use it up baking session. I've made a tray of flap jacks using up some rye flakes dated March 2013 & some flaxseed dated Nov 2013 and used up an open jar of honey.

I made a quiche adding soya flour and flax seeds to the pastry.

Then I made a sausage and stuffing plait using up some apple stuffing mix that was hanging around in the cupboard.

Still 2 jars of normal honey and a jar of chilli honey to use up :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

That's great soworried - I am really wanting to stick to the challenge this month, I need to be doing stuff like that, but I really don't. Im going to make some wraps later rather than buy them - just flour and water - never made them before - you have inspired me.

HOWMUCH

Sorry Spendless re the job and it sucks when you're in an high unemployment area. I went to work for the NHS back in 1992 mainly for security as I was the main wage earner and spent 23 years with them.
I've made cherry tomato chutney this week and oven dried tomatoes in garlic and oil. Roasted a kilo and ahalf if parsnips and they are in the freezer to be either eaten as they are, or mashed or soup. I was lucky to get 2kilo toms for 24p and the parsnips were 8p YS.
I've still got loads if jacket potatoes and new potatoes and red and white onions from the Easter special veg supermarket war. I only got 1 Savoy cabbage left so I've topped up with broccoli from super 6 and carrots. That's the weekend veg sorted and some of the cabbage will be bubble and squeek next week. x

Anne_Marie_2

Soworried wrote: »

I've had a use it up baking session. I've made a tray of flap jacks using up some rye flakes dated March 2013 & some flaxseed dated Nov 2013 and used up an open jar of honey.

I made a quiche adding soya flour and flax seeds to the pastry.

Then I made a sausage and stuffing plait using up some apple stuffing mix that was hanging around in the cupboard.

Still 2 jars of normal honey and a jar of chilli honey to use up :rotfl:

Didn't even know you could get chilli honey. That sounds definitely something to use to marinade meat to me.

When making pastry for quiche, I often add some oatmeal (porridge oats) in place of some of the flour.
Vaguely remember a recipe that I used years ago, which involved oatmeal and melted butter to make a quiche base, so no pastry making involved, pressing it into the quiche tin, and allowing it to set a bit before filling. (Sort of like a cheesecake base). Think that is where I got the idea to add oatmeal for making pastry.

Flaxseed is very good, but you need to grind it first to get the benefits. I've been grinding it and adding a little to various things, but never thought to add to pastry. Thanks for the tip.