December 2017 Grocery Challenge

zafiro1984

Mrs_Cheshire wrote: »

sounds amazing, would love to drop in!:rotfl:
How do you make the sausage rolls?

Pork and Apple sausage rolls:- makes 24
one pack of 500gm ready made puff pastry
sausage meat or a pack of 8 pork sausages - If I can't get sausage meat I get the 96% pork meat sausages.
Take the skin off the sausages and add a small diced dessert apple to the meat, mix well.
Divide the pastry into quarters and roll out each quarter into a long rectangle.
Divide the sausage meat with apple into four and make a long sausage for each quarter.
Roll up and seal the edges with milk.
Use a knife and make slits along the top then brush with more milk.
Cut each long roll into 6
At this stage I open freeze them so they don't stick together, then pack in plastic bags

Apricot and chestnut rolls - same method as above but add less apple and 12 ready to eat apricots diced very small which have been brought to the boil in water, drained and then left to go cold plus about 8 cooked chestnuts also diced small.

I have also used the same method above but added some sage and onion stuffing to the sausage meat as another flavour.

I usually defrost before cooking them in a medium/hot oven until nice and golden. They have much more filling in them and are a lot juicier than shop bought ones.

schiff

Mrs_Cheshire wrote: »

Morning all,
I'm currently trying to reduce the amount of meat we're eating, I've started adding lentils or oats to mince when making cottage pie or bolagnese. I'm also only using 1 large chicken breast to go round 2 adults and 3 kids (age 8,6,2).
Does anyone had any other tips for reducing meat, don't mind trying a few veggie meals but hubby likes his meat so anything that tastes meaty even if there is a small amount in it.

Buy any cheap cut of beef, trim it of most of the fat, slow cook it with garlic, onions, lentils or chick peas and some curry powder (not paste which is dearer) and have it with couscous. Slow cooking gives it a great flavour and all the ingredient are cheap; it is also healthy. If you do a lot freeze some of it. Same with pork and chicken or turkey but for health reasons skin the poultry; and use thighs or legs instead of breast.

Another accompaniment: broccoli, red pepper, leek, scattered with black pepper, sea salt, coriander and turmeric powder, a splash of olive oil and water, and steamed in the microwave. Reheat with olive or rapeseed oil.

starting_again_in_the_sun

Happy December everyone!

Spent 23.70 in one shop and 18.64 in another, giving a total of 42.34.

Finding this challenge really helpful as I've realised we spend much more than I thought- one week in and 100€ down . Still optimistic though as we shouldn't need to buy much else this week and we have had to buy quite a lot of toiletries etc.

Tomorrow we are going to the big hypermarket so there will be some spends there but it will mostly be stocking up for Christmas.

adventureofmemories

I can't start this challenge until Tuesday as I get paid then and have made the shopping budget with my pay then.

My budget is same as last month,
£240 but it may be more as we've got his parents staying for Nye & we're both enjoying Christmas with my parents .

But hoping to find cheaper meal ideas and check out a few listed above to account for bigger purchases

Does anybody have a sinking fund for food shopping?

Merlin's_Beard

£28.47/£100 spent today, but stuff with an actual meal plan - hopefully get back on track with healthy eating this month!

BrassicWoman

First shop of the month, £20.45 in M&S with the sparks offer of £5 off £25.

I also have £4 off £30 at Tesco so may see if their laundry and dishwasher tabs are on offer.

I was eating far too many xmas goodies so the food bank got a load of fattening chocolate, biscuits, crisps and museli this morning as - also tins of veg and soup as you can't just donate sugar!! So my cupboards are looking more normal today.

My shop today was a bit healthier as I need to get more vitains in me! Grapes bananas, and I'll be making shallott/squash soup and garlic/lemon/courgette soup this weekend, nd have some wholemeal bread to have with that. Much healthier!

I also got some very fancy crackers with fruit and bits in them, some decent bread, lots of vegan yogurts, and a YS vegan jelly (much lower calorie than cake!) as well as some of their new veggie burger range (which I will have with smash, my guilt pleasure).

Might do Tesco on the way home from a night out tonight. The shops are getting really busy; I think shopping closer to midnight when they are empty is wise! I want to pick up their vegan nut roast for xmas day as well as some selection boxes for the office, too.

[Deleted User]

Can I be added for £80, to include all food, takeaways, etc. I have a separate entertainment budget and alcohol will be £20, plus there is the bulk buy fund, if needed, to dip into. I won't be spending Xmas at home, so not much extra needed and I'm very well stocked.

Highland_Fling

Don't know why but wasn't able to enlarge or change colour of text on my total. just produces this £250
Never mind even if I am not on list I will still aim for target.

Highland_Fling

Hey it worked. Yeah!
Total for Highland Fling £250

Doom_and_Gloom

Bought coffee and went over our bulk budget doing so. Doh. We both drink a lot of coffee.

Bulk - £49.16/£45. - £4.16.
OH - £1.52/£60. £58.48.
Me - £11.04/£50. £38.96.

£61.27/£155.
£93.28 left.