January 2017 Grocery Challenge. NEW BEGINNINGS!

PennyGrabber

Coxy11, I'm so sorry.

elsiepac

WantToBeSE wrote: »

elsie, would these be any good? https://www.veganosity.com/savory-vegan-corn-and-pepper-breakfast-muffins/
I would imagine they'd be fine out of the fridge, but maybe place near an open window if you're concerned?

They sound and look great! But I don't have some of the dry ingredients annoyingly, as I do have corn, peppers, red onion and chillies!! Oh well, I'll try them another time, good find! (Although why do the Americans add so much sugar to everything?! 1/4 cup of maple syrup?! LOL)

iammumtoone wrote: »

Have you seen the flylady thread on here? I have joined that too this month.

2017 is going to be the year I sort myself out (house, food and mind) I am determined and must stick with it.

The only suggestions I can think of for breakfast are those breakfast biscuits you can get a huge selection but I don't know if any are vegan (I suspect not ) and they may not be classed as savory.

How about oat cakes and spread (can you get a tinned version of vegan pate substitute?)

I have seen the thread on here yes, but not joining yet as I have too much decluttering to do before joining in with detail cleaning! I feel the same about 2017, but I don't want to make it a resolution, hence starting now! Had great fun in Poundsretcher earlier buying a few new cleaning bits - rainbow microfibre clothes, mop, even a new loo brush for a treat LOL! New beginnings!! :rotfl:

NewShadow wrote: »

Do you have a kettle?

If so, Miso Soup - just add hot water and broken noodles, leave for a couple of minutes and enjoy

I also pan fry potato chunks with spices (nothing 'hot' but think bombay potatoes without the tomatoes - or use marigold bouillon/yeast for a salty savoury taste) and eat that cold - good for a couple of days without a fridge because you're not using any dairy but I would suggest keeping it in the coolest part of the room and not going beyond 48 hours.

You could also just go crudite - I'm thinking a handful of baby toms, carrot sticks, a bread roll and a tube of mushroom pate

Finally - make it your first stop when you're out and about - Everyone get's out in to the fresh air and finds a nice coffee shop for some toast?

Personally, having someone else cook me breakfast in the morning is the main highlight of going away

OOoh I like the miso soup idea, but not sure if there will be a kettle!

The potato idea sounds nice but I haven't got any (been running stocks down) so I'll save for another day!

Crudite is the best idea actually, not sure why it didn't occur to me, but I don't have any spreads or anything except one sad carrot to make crudites with lol

We will be going out, but I would be the only one eating and I don't really have the spare cash. That's also why I won't buy the breakfast in the hotel - they end up costing about a tenner and I would probably just have beans on toast if they cooked the tommies and mushies in butter. Very uneconomical for me! It would just be so much easier if it wasn't only me who wants breakfast tbh!!

Coxy11 wrote: »

Hello to you all - remember me?

I'm the thread rep who lists everyone's budgets on post #3 but unfortunately I haven't been able to post since the October challenge. My nephew took his own life six weeks ago and it has been very difficult to have any time for 'normal' activities during that time. We say goodbye to him tomorrow so things are settling down and I just wanted to make a new start to my duties on here by coming on and letting you know why I haven't been around.

Once DS2 has finished with the laptop I will get on and make a note of all your budgets. It's encouraging to see lots of newbies and returners to the thread - welcome to you all. Wishing you all luck with the challenge,

Coxy

Coxy, I'm so sorry to hear about your nephew, I can't imagine what a horrendous time you and your family must have been having, and I hope saying goodbye tomorrow will bring some peace.

___________

Small grocery spends for me of £1.64 on red onions and some fresh basil.

I'm going to make quinoa cakes first thing tomorrow morning to take with me to Plymouth, I have all the bits and I have made them before and they are yummy.
It's so hard, just thinking about it is making me stress a little as I'm quite set in my ways and like hot savoury oat or red lentil "porridge" for my breakfast usually! Oh well, it's two days, I'm sure I'll survive!

Here's the recipe for those interested - it's a fairly long ingredient list, but pretty much all standard store cupboard, and it's really just mixing them together, making into flat balls and baking!

http://ohsheglows.com/2014/08/13/crispy-quinoa-cakes-vegan-gluten-free-nut-free/

This is my last post till Sunday now, when I may end up doing a mini meal plan and shop for stuff to make some variation of Hoppin' John - traditional New Year stew usually involving a tomato base, black beans and greens, and spices... Here's a couple of nice recipes:

http://www.thugkitchen.com/hoppin_john
http://www.juliehasson.com/2013/11/one-dish-vegan-blog-tour-giveaway/
http://www.healthygirlskitchen.com/2012/01/cuban-black-beans-with-kale.html
http://www.connoisseurusveg.com/smoky-vegan-hoppin-john-with-chard/

It's worth trying a version of any of these as they are cheap, wholesome and filling - a great way to start the new year! I would always add greens. I'm likely going to make the Conoisseurus Veg version on New Years Day when I'm home as I've not tried it before.

Where there are American ingredients like peppers in adobe sauce, or fire roasted tinned tomatoes, or liquid smoke, it's really just the smokey flavour they are adding, so I'd recommend chucking in a load of smoked paprika! Personally I do have liquid smoke at home - I buy it off eBay, it lasts ages and makes stews, soups and chillies taste out of this world! Colgin is the brand I buy.

Hope everyone enjoys their new year celebrations, see you on the other side!

Plan:
21-27 Dec: £25 (actual £40.22)
28-3 Jan: £24.94 (actual tbc)
4-10 Jan: £24.94 (actual tbc)
11-17 Jan: £24.94 (actual tbc)
18-25 Jan: £24.94 (actual tbc)



Date.......Where.....Amount.....Remaining from £140 Budget
21 Dec.....T35c0.....£09.00.....£131.00 (Veggie Mains and Prepared Veg - lazy)
23 Dec.....T35c0.....£06.14.....£124.86 (Crisps, Nuts and Snacks for get together)
24 Dec.....H&B.......£03.88.....£120.98 (Mushroom Tofu Pate and Sandwich slices)
24 Dec.....T35c0.....£21.20.....£99.78 (Proper Grocery Shop and Toiletries)
29 Dec.....A1d1......£01.64.....£98.14 (Red Onions and Basil)

wishus

Hello, please may I join for £110? Thanks! See you in 2017!

candygirl

Spent £22 in Aldi on bread, cheeses, soft drinks, n nibbles for NYE Bargain :j

Cappella

Coxy - May I say how deeply sorry I am for your loss. This must be a very hard time for you, my thoughts are with you.

Coxy11

Morning all, thanks for all the love and support. We are leaving soon for the funeral.

I have updated the budgets list on page #3. Please check that you are there and that I've got your budget right! There were a lot of updates (obviously).

Wishing you all well with the challenge.
Coxy

Redshank

£77.77 of my £250 budget spent on Wednesday. Split between Aldi, Tesco and a local health food shop. Did include stocking up on toiletries (shampoo, toothpaste etc). Leaves me £172.23 for the next 4 weeks. Should be doable *optimistic*

On the plus side I only paid 0.94p for £50 worth of bulk cleaning supplies as I had a voucher after recommending ecotricity to a friend ages ago so I won't need to buy laundry liquid, soap and washing up liquid for a while :P

I think I have some sort of issue with the cupboards being empty....I have 13 tins of kidney beans in the cupboard (!) along with baked beans, tinned spaghetti, chickpeas (dried and tinned), different types of lentils, several different types of flour, different types of nuts etc etc etc.

oceanspirit

Didn't post on November and December threads however blew November's £95 budget and spent £136.32. December was better at £96.98.

Have plenty in as were going to cook meals for OH's family which didn't happen so going to use things up and just buy weekly vegbox when deliveries start again.

Am going to do things differently this year and will start with a budget of £90 a month (which includes £5 for foodbank) but any left over from each month will be carried forward into the next month.

So, please put me down for £90 for January.

barnez

May I join in please! I have to be very frugal this month, as I am playing catch up from December. I am going for £200, for myself, 1 grown up Daughter, teenage Son, 2 dogs and a cat. Just analysed my bank statement for last month and am horrified at how much I spend in the local supermarket and bakery for lunches, just because I got out of the habit of taking lunches to work. That will change! Tonight will be about doing an inventory of freezer, fridge and cupboards and then menu planning.

2sonmum

Thank you for the add. Thinking of you Coxy11 cannot imagine what you are going through.