January 2021 Grocery Challenge

pamsdish

zafiro1984 said:

Suffolk_lass said:

Just edited my click and collect order and it is horrendous. Definitely a few things out of stock and fewer offers than normal.

I wonder if we will start to see Scottish Langoustines on UK fish stalls? If they can't export them to France quickly enough it would be nice to see them here, especially in East Anglia... Seems a shame to waste them!

I saw that wholesale prices had gone down by 40%.
I feel sorry for the fishermen losing so much but to be honest I would eat a lot more fish if it was cheaper as the cost is the only thing stopping me using it more often.

Passed that comment myself the other day, would love some langoustines, oysters, scallops to feature more in my diet.
£14.97 in A1d1, chicken for the wammal, mostly veg as freezer as still crammed, not helped though by picking up a pork joint 30% off, was planning pork this weekend anyway, and 4 packs of 30% off ham slices, can nibble those anytime.

Mrs_Cheshire

Florenceem said:

Just sat and done a 28 day meal plan for next month's money. Trying to make space in the freezer and of course spend as little as possible.

Would you be willing to share it, always looking for new ideas. 

Mrs_Cheshire

A couple of nsd's for me, meal plan and eating out of the freezer is going well this week. Good collection with 0lio last night, so have filled the space I had in the freezer and will use some of it in next weeks plan. I'm thinking about getting a chest freezer to replace the small 3 1/2 drawer one I currently have. Does anyone have a chest freezer, how do you keep it organised?

joedenise

@PipneyJane - you asked for the recipe for the butternut squash and aubergine curry.  Have to say we found it too mild so when I reheat the portion I froze I will be adding some garam masala and/or chilli flakes to increase the heat a bit!

Approx 600g prepared butternut squash
1 or 2 aubergine, chopped
400g tin chopped tomatoes
2-3 garlic cloves crushed (to your taste)
onion, chopped
tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander 
Fresh coriander to serve

Fry off the onions to soften, then add the crushed garlic and fry for a further minute of so.  Sprinkle the spices over and cook off to take off the rawness.  Add tinned tomatoes, squash and aubergine and cook until squash and aubergine are soft.

I served with rice but could equally serve with naan bread.

But as I said at the beginning there just isn't enough spice to my mind to actually call this a curry!

PipneyJane

joedenise said:

@PipneyJane - you asked for the recipe for the butternut squash and aubergine curry.  Have to say we found it too mild so when I reheat the portion I froze I will be adding some garam masala and/or chilli flakes to increase the heat a bit!

Approx 600g prepared butternut squash
1 or 2 aubergine, chopped
400g tin chopped tomatoes
2-3 garlic cloves crushed (to your taste)
onion, chopped
tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander 
Fresh coriander to serve

Fry off the onions to soften, then add the crushed garlic and fry for a further minute of so.  Sprinkle the spices over and cook off to take off the rawness.  Add tinned tomatoes, squash and aubergine and cook until squash and aubergine are soft.

I served with rice but could equally serve with naan bread.

But as I said at the beginning there just isn't enough spice to my mind to actually call this a curry!

Thanks @joedenise.  I am surprised that there was no chilli in it.  The cumin and coriander make me think that it's a Middle-Eastern dish, from somewhere in the Arab world.  Even then, most of those places would add chilli.

- Pip

thriftwizard

£58 spent at the market this morning, on fish, fresh fruit & veg, cheese & cream. This should see us well into next week; the only thing I can foresee us running out of is broccoli, as DD1 is currently eating it for breakfast, lunch & tea given half a chance!

Florenceem

Mrs_Cheshire said:

Florenceem said:

Just sat and done a 28 day meal plan for next month's money. Trying to make space in the freezer and of course spend as little as possible.

Would you be willing to share it, always looking for new ideas. 

Copied menu - will switch around if feel like it or get reduced items.

January 18 - Frikadellen – in fridge

January 19 – Meat Balls – FF

January 20 – Egg & Bacon Pie - FF

January 21 – Chicken Curry – chicken/naan bread in freezer + jar - stock

January 22 – Cheese & Onion Pasties - FF

January 23 - Stir Fry with Bockwurst- in freezer + noodles - stock

January 24 – Roast Chicken - BUY

January 25 – Chill Bratwurst - FF

January 26 – Rice Dish – veg bits use up + frankfurters - freezer

January 27 – Liver & Bacon Casserole - Make

January 28 – Sausage & Stuffing Pie - Make

January 29 – Quiche - Make

January 30 – Rex Pie - FF

January 31 – Chicken Dinner - FF

February 1 – Egg + HM Chips

February 2 – Frikadellen - FF

February 3 – TITH – Make – sausages in freezer

February 4 – Bean & Bacon Pasties - FF

February 5 – Pizza – make dough – yogurt in fridge

February 6 - Meat Balls - FF +

February 7 – Pasties – Make – Buy puff pastry

February 8 - Fish Pie – Make – fish in freezer

February 9 – Rex Pie – Make – pork mince in freezer

February 10 – HM Sausage Rolls – Make  BUY puff pastry + sausages

February 11 – Liver & Bacon Casserole – FF liver/bacon in freezer

February 12 – Quiche - FF

February 13 – Stir Fry with Frankfurters noodles – stock + frankfurters in freezer

February 14 – Sausage & Stuffing Pie - FF

 

Florenceem

We don't have a car. Have an As..  5 minutes walk away. Al.. is 10 minute walk - we shop there mostly - I take my shopping trolley with us. Occasionally visit H.  but that is a 20 minute bus journey - blessed to have bus passes. Nearest big Te... is a 25 minute walk for us - we do enjoy walking and don't miss having a car.

joedenise

PipneyJane said:

joedenise said:

@PipneyJane - you asked for the recipe for the butternut squash and aubergine curry.  Have to say we found it too mild so when I reheat the portion I froze I will be adding some garam masala and/or chilli flakes to increase the heat a bit!

Approx 600g prepared butternut squash
1 or 2 aubergine, chopped
400g tin chopped tomatoes
2-3 garlic cloves crushed (to your taste)
onion, chopped
tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander 
Fresh coriander to serve

Fry off the onions to soften, then add the crushed garlic and fry for a further minute of so.  Sprinkle the spices over and cook off to take off the rawness.  Add tinned tomatoes, squash and aubergine and cook until squash and aubergine are soft.

I served with rice but could equally serve with naan bread.

But as I said at the beginning there just isn't enough spice to my mind to actually call this a curry!

Thanks @joedenise.  I am surprised that there was no chilli in it.  The cumin and coriander make me think that it's a Middle-Eastern dish, from somewhere in the Arab world.  Even then, most of those places would add chilli.

- Pip

I think you're probably right.  But if it is a tagine I still think it would have had more spice to it!  My tangines and curries usually use more spice!  When I make a tagine usually I also add preserved lemons and semi dried apricots - this isn't a recipe I'll be using again if I'm honest!  Still until you've tried a new recipe you don't really know.

joedenise

Mrs_Cheshire said:

A couple of nsd's for me, meal plan and eating out of the freezer is going well this week. Good collection with 0lio last night, so have filled the space I had in the freezer and will use some of it in next weeks plan. I'm thinking about getting a chest freezer to replace the small 3 1/2 drawer one I currently have. Does anyone have a chest freezer, how do you keep it organised?

I've got a chest freezer and find it really difficult to organise if I'm honest.  I use some small baskets which I picked up in Mr Ts at the bottom which helps with keeping similar things together I also use lots of carrier bags to keep similar things together, eg chicken pieces in one bag, joints in another bag, sausages & burgers in another plus a bag of various bread products.  All the helps but constantly have to take bags out to get to stuff in the bottom of the freezer.

I'm actually considering going the opposite direction and replacing the big freezer with 2 x 3-4 drawer ones.

Have been shopping this morning and spent just under £20 which leaves me with £109.01 for the second half of the month so should be doable as I think I've got all the meat and fish for the month so it's really the fresh stuff to buy weekly.