February 2020 Grocery Challenge

Herbyme

About padding out with lentils, I know what you mean Supersaver about the texture of red ones unless only a small amount. I find brown/green/Puy types can work better in certain dishes. They’re more visible but IMHO sometimes a nicer texture 

lantanna

£6 today on meat.  Dinner tonight is Pasta with veg that needs used up. Have ys garlic bread needs eaten to.  Feel like I’ve been less controlled this month so my goal until the 20th is to eat from the freezer.  

Mrs_Cheshire

Suffolk_lass said:

Mrs_Cheshire said:

PipneyJane said:

 I use 250g of mince for a meal for 4-5 adult sized portions.  I add grated carrots sometimes but the main bulking agent is aubergine pulp, which is pretty indistinguishable in the sauce. (Cut the end off of the aubergine, stab it 2-3 times and microwave for 10 minutes, then cut in half, scrape out the innards and chop.  Careful, it's hot!).  I'll also add a beef stock cube to bulk up the flavour.

HTH

- Pip

Thanks for the tip re. aubergine pulp, will give it a try. 

Red lentils are my go-to ingredient in anything with mince in - easy veggie swap and pads out mince for pennies in meat-based dishes

Suffolk_lass said:

Mrs_Cheshire said:

fairy3 said:

Hi all - just to report spends of £26.32 mainly in Morri's and Cwarp - good bargains and basics bought, nothing exotic. 
Mrs_Cheshire - I tend to use a 750g pack for around 8 meals and couple of lunches (big sports appetites) and bulk out with grated carrots and extra veg as stated but also have used a couple of Tbsp stuffing mix - no one has ever commented and it stretches the meat.
Just getting used to the new format - finding it a bit different and hate the blue.......

Thanks unfortunately my husband hates stuffing so would notice it if I added it to something else. 

I'm not liking the new format, multiple quotes doesn't work as it try to put the 2 separate quotes together in one box. Hopefully the team can make some changes to make it more user friendly! 

Yes it does, just press quote on the second or third one and they will all be at the bottom of the screen (and so does embedding the one before last if you set it in your profile preferences - I chose 2 layers but could have chosen more)

Seems to be working now, wasn't before. 
I've got some dried green lentils so may give those a try

candygirl

Can't sleep cos of leg pain, so I've been up making celery n leek soup, n lentil daal.I need to make the most of any energy I have, even though I'm so sore at the moment 

Islandmaid

Hope you feel better soon Candygirl x thanks for the prompt about dhal, I love it but always forget about it, will do some this week with HM flatbreads

Blowing a gale here, so not going out, duck confit for dinner with roasties, spiced red cabbage and sliced sprouts with chestnuts, ginger sponge and custard for pud  

supersaver1000

I love Dhal and I always have a mint/yoghurt side dish (spoon of mint sauce in a bit of natural yoghurt)  - really complements the spicy dhal.  But have you noticed how little mint some of the mint sauces have in them.  Aldi is one of the better ones about 25% I think, but I have seen some as low as 5%.  My mint in the garden is looking very sad.  And I must have a go at making the HM flatbreads, they sound delicious.

MrsSnowy

Hi,I've refound the grocery challenge,need to save or not waste money but can't even begin to work out a budget! Too much going on,and very variable as I'm supporting DD2s household as well. Just her and dogs.
A few years ago ,when mint was plentiful in the garden, I chopped up loads ,very finely,and made a condensed mint sauce.The sugar and vinegar have preserved it very well,when I need to use it ,just a few teaspoons in a small jug slackened with more vinegar and a small amount of hot water. Much less of an artificial taste than shop bought!
MrsS

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PipneyJane

Good morning All.

@elsiepac - We know how busy you can be.  A big hug to you.  I hope the stress at work eases soon.

@candygirl - hope the pain wears off and you feel better soon.

Two shops to report from yesterday.  We visited W8rose for a handful of items that can’t be found elsewhere at a decent price (their own-brand woolwash and black turtle beans), spending £10.48.  We splashed out on some of their chocolate-and-orange “angry” buns, too.  Yummy!  (And, no, I don’t think of them as Hot Crossed Buns.  They don’t taste the same as a Hot Crossed Bun should, but they’re crossed, so must be “angry” .)

Also visited the Farm Shop and spent £8.30 there on eggs, broccoli, onions and carrots.  The above brings our total for the month to £57.25/£130.20, leaving £72.95 for the remainder of February.

- Pip 

PS:  Has anyone figured out how to change the text colour?  I’ve already written to the Forum Team asking them to reinstate the digest emails.

Herbyme

Sorry I’m sure this has been answered but I can’t find it - how do I stop getting every post as an email?! And how do I see the time a previous post was made?

jasminesaver

Last week I spent £21.67/£25 which isn't a lot, but I did do a bit of snacking and buying my lunch in Greggs. Funnily enough, last week I was in Lidl and I bought a loaf of bread, but when I got home it wasn't in the bag! I looked everywhere but I must have left it in the shop! Unless someone stole it from the top of my bag, which seems unlikely. Just a weird thing to have happened really