October 2020 Grocery Challenge

goldfinches

Sorry @Mrs_Cheshire can't help you there, never buy it 'cause I don't like it either.
Can I ask @Doom_and_Gloom what you do with patty pans please? I've only tried steaming them whole so far and the results were underwhelming so I didn't repeat the purchase. Would be glad to hear about tastier alternatives.
TIA, goldfinches.

Doom_and_Gloom

I've had them pan fried to add to a buddha bowl. They were cooked with a little oil and some garlic salt. That was nice.
I used one in a rissoto. It was a recipe that is aimed at the pressure cooker I have (pressure king pro 6L 20 in 1). It's lentil, barley and butternut squash risotto recipie. I used the pettypan squash instead of the butternut and instead of barley I used buckwheat to make it gluten free. That came out soo well and I was happy to be able to take it to work for lunch last week.
I had one stuffed aswell. Plenty of different ways to do this to do with taste.
There are loads of great ways to cook them. I'm really sad that it seems that this weeks one may be the last of the season for me.

Don't think I would have thought much of them just steamed either.

Doom_and_Gloom

Mrs_Cheshire said: I'm currently eating my way through the tinned soup. Does anyone do anything interesting with tins of spaghetti in tomato sauce, got loads but not keen on it as it is. 

Would it not work well in minestrone soup as the pasta and so help add to the sauce?
If not there is always spaghetti cowboy pie.

peb

Well, I spent £25 on the 1st October, Thursday being shopping day, I may need more bread on Wednesday unless I change the breakfast toast for cereal or porridge on one day.  However shopping list for Thursday currently is three tomatoes, mushrooms, fruit which is usually bananas and whatever is on offer at lidl together with a lettuce plus bread so happy all going to plan.

Suffolk_lass

Mrs_Cheshire said:

I'm currently eating my way through the tinned soup. Does anyone do anything interesting with tins of spaghetti in tomato sauce, got loads but not keen on it as it is. 

Spaghetti pie?

Pastry case in a flan dish (I blind bake so not soggy) then cook off some streaky bacon and onions (could add more veg if sneaky), mix in a tin of spaghetti, top with grated cheese and bake 25 minutes at 180c (Gas 4, 350f) until cheese going brown and pastry cooked. Good TV supper on its own or with a bit of salad

joedenise

Top up shop this morning at Mr Ts; the land of Ice and the local farm shop which included a sack of potatoes.  Spent just over £30 leaving me with

£200.42 for rest of month.  Shouldn't need too much when I do another shop later in the week, although I'm hoping I can actually get some small freezer ziplock bags from Mr Ts.  They haven't had any for ages now and have had to raid the motorhome for a few as I have run out completely indoors now.

PipneyJane

goldfinches said:

Sorry @Mrs_Cheshire can't help you there, never buy it 'cause I don't like it either.
Can I ask @Doom_and_Gloom what you do with patty pans please? I've only tried steaming them whole so far and the results were underwhelming so I didn't repeat the purchase. Would be glad to hear about tastier alternatives.
TIA, goldfinches.

I stir-fry thinly sliced patty-pan squash with other Chinese-style veggies - snow peas, carrot batons, etc - and dress it with a little soy sauce.  It works best with small ones.

- Pip

Smoosh

Mrs_Cheshire said:

Hi all, Could I be put down for £450 please, have increased the budget slightly to allow for half term week and youngest son's birthday. 

I've mostly done a meal plan for the month based on the meat/fish available in the freezer, so hopefully that will keep costs down. We've got plenty of bread/rolls in the freezer so will utilise those for lunches. I'm currently eating my way through the tinned soup. Does anyone do anything interesting with tins of spaghetti in tomato sauce, got loads but not keen on it as it is. 
We're managing well on 1 main shop and a small top up each week at the moment. Although I need to batch cook tomorrow to use the short dated mince Tosco sent yesterday and will freeze the sausages ( I complained and they refunded me). 

People always think I'm odd for this, but I put tinned spaghetti in stews and casseroles. 

goldfinches

Thankyou for the patty pan suggestions, do now appreciate how timid I was being just steaming them and am resolved to be more courageous in future. 
Had to spend £3.99 on a replacement loo brush today as old one was completely worn down. Then on to M*rks Food Hall and spent a grand total of £11.88 on top up groceries. Wonderfully some of my regular yoghurt was y/s so I bought 3 kilogrammes and am planning to try making labneh with 1 kg tomorrow. That leaves me at £165.58/£190 which I'm calling so far so good.
Night all, goldfinches.

Narola1976

Morning, a total of £70.14 spent so far. This leaves £79.86 left of the budget. So far so good. I am determined to stay on budget this month.