September 2017 Grocery Challenge

Cherry_Burton

Hi everyone,

I've been to ALDI to get the weekly shop, the total cost was £15.89. I have a guest staying overnight so I had to purchase more than usual

• Orangies
• Mushrooms
• Beer
• Milk
• Bread
• Fancy biscuits
• Eggs
• Washing liquid
• Pancakes
• Cola
• Bacon
• Yogurt
• Couscous

So far in September, I've spent £50.79 meaning that at 53.33% through the month I have spent 50.79% of my budget.

One thing I am really pleased about so far this month is that I haven't eaten a shop brought sandwich for lunch. I had got into the habit of buying them 4/5 times a week.

CB

minnie2

njk1012 wrote: »

I tend to go to the main supermarkets late on my way home from work and get the reduced gluten free bread and freeze it. Also Fultons freezer shop often have gluten free stuff much cheaper, they have battered fish and fish fingers in at the moment. I also go to Factory Foods about once a month they often have gluten free products that i buy in bulk (their stock changes every week though, so never know what will be in). They currently have GF sausage meat at 50p a pack and GF flour at 2 for £1.

Thank you!!
Ive never heard of those two shops will see if we have them im in norfolk.i cant get to supermarkets late after work as i have to pick up babies then cook and put them to bed :-( after hubby gets home im too tired to trek across city.

njk1012

I made meatballs tonight with sausage meat which was a variation of a traditional Greek recipe that was shared with me earlier in the year.

The original recipe if anyone would find it useful (sorry I'm not good with amounts I'm more a chuck it in kind of cook).

1 potato grated
2 carrots grated
2 small onions finely chopped or grated
I use the food processor for the above
1 pack of lamb mince 450/500g?
fresh or dried mint could possibly substitute with mint sauce?
salt and pepper (pinch of each)

Squeeze excess liquid from the grated vegetables and put with the rest of the ingredients in the food processor and blend till almost smooth. Roll in to small balls (aim for a little smaller than a golf ball) and deep fry (I've baked in the oven and this also works well).

The Greek lady I know makes a batch of these for all guests that arrive at her home and serves them with yogurt and mint sauce, but we usually have them as part of a main meal. As i was substituting the lamb for sausage meat tonight I changed the mint for sage which worked really well.

Minnie2- These should meet your dietary needs too and are very quick if using a food processor.

caronc

£21 this week so £63/£120 so far this month

njk1012

Another £6.42 today at factory foods for 2x GF sausage meat 6x GF Indian party platters 3x GF coconut granola 4x pasta sauces 2x oven dishes and 2x chocolate spread.

minnie2

What is a reasonable budget for 4 people well 2 adults and two very hungry children with dietary requirements ? I havent a clue.spent the day trying kondmaring my bedroom and ditched recents receipts. I dont know what i spent in first week of september i think it was around £44 that rings a bell in asda.then nothing as i was laid up with bad neck/back and since friday ive spent £8 home bargains £24 aldi and £3 asda.i am going to try living out of cupboards for few days and assessing situation.get back in swing of things.the kids are eating so much!!

NewShadow

Well my rent's just gone up by £75 so next month I'm going to need to rejoin this challenge.

Thought I'd post here to get into the habit and to start reading all of your successes to spur me on!

The next couple of weeks I think need to be doing an inventory of existing stocks, a realistic review of the budget, and getting out and cleaning those appliances I've not been using - like the slow cooker - to remind myself how they work.

One person, three cats, working 4 days a week with no allergies - should be easy enough.

Should be...

lynnejk

Evening all

Just a small spend of £4.14 for milk, bread etc. in Al*i.

We go on our holibobs on Tuesday, so didn't want to buy 'stuff' we wouldn't use up before that. I want to buy all fresh fridge foods when we return and I've plenty in the freezers and stocks for now.

Hope you all have a money-saving Monday and an enjoyable couple of weeks.
Lx

armchairexpert

Kept the weekly shop down to under $150 thanks to the big meat shop I did at Costco. Last night we had a whole salmon trout each, done on the barbecue and wolfed by the children. There's enough left over that I might attempt a fish pie for dinner tonight.

Rest of the week looks like this:

Fish pie
Quiche (spinach and feta and whatever else I have in the fridge)
Sausages and mash
Laksa w/ tofu and whatever leftover bits I have
Burgers and chips

I'm at $816/1050 with two weekly shops to go. Tight!

elsiepac

Hey all

Only one more "shopping day" left for me in this budget, but I'm not sure I'll need all that much stuff. Lucky as I'm very nearly at budget now. But have a full fridge, so not worried.

Tried a new recipe last night - it was really delicious so I'll share my version of it with you guys (I simplify things sometimes when I CBA or when I'm missing ingredients lol)

Curried Corn & Veggie Chowder

Ingredients
1 tsp oil
1 big onion
2 carrots
1 decent size red pepper (I used 1 small red and 1 small yellow)
4 cloves garlic
A thumb of ginger
1/4 tsp chilli flakes (optional)
1 tbsp curry powder
1 courgette
1 3/4 cups of sweetcorn
3 cups stock (750ml)
1/2 can of coconut milk
Juice of 1 lime

Method

• Chop all the veggies finely
• Saute the onion, carrot and pepper in the olive oil for a few minutes until the onion is translucent (I put the lid on the pot to steam it as then I need less oil, but use as much as you want!)
• Add the minced garlic and peeled and chopped or grated ginger, along with the chilli flakes
• Stir for a couple of minutes, then add the curry powder and the courgette along with the sweetcorn, and pour in the stock and the coconut milk
• Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes until your veggies are cooked through
• Using a hand blender, blend half the mixture (or take half out into a food processor)
• Mix well, stir in your lime juice and enjoy... you can top with coriander if you have some

Based on a recipe from Appetite for Reduction by Isa Chandra Moscovitz