May 2022 Grocery Challenge

Bluegreen143

I used to do the recipe index a few years ago but I wasn’t the one to post the actual thread. Something to do with copying the posts over 🧐 not sure if it’s complicated or not! I think continuing to use this thread in the interim is a great idea. Hoping @elsiepac is OK.

Greying_Pilgrim

goldfinches said:

Also wondering if all is well with @elsiepac as I'd noticed that the June thread wasn't up yet. Perhaps we could simply continue using the May thread if it's too difficult to put up a new one.

I really popped over here to say that I spotted this podcast about 

10 things you need to know about pressure cooking

in an email from Olive magazine. I haven't listened to it myself but thought that it could be useful to others. If it turns out to be hopeless do say and I'll remove the link.

Morning May GC'rs

goldfinches I have just listened to this podcast, as although I've not really used my PC to it's full potential, I am an enthusiastic student of all matters culinary!

I would say that the premise of the podcast is primarily to push Catherine Phipp's new book - but she is CLEARLY a knowledgeable and competent PC user.  But it would be worth a listen if you don't currently have a PC and are considering a purchase of either a stove-top or electric multi-cooker.  For actual cooking tips, there are a couple at about 20-24 minutes (of a 32 minute cast).  Most of the talk is generalised, rather than specific 'how to'.  Personally, I found Catherine very knowledgeable and easy to listen to - I could not make that same comment about the podcast host......

It would be worth checking out the book - particularly if you are an omnivore.  Regrettably, our local library has neitehr of Catherine's books about PC cooking on their stock lists 🙁  I think the new book (hardback version) is c.£20 (obviously cheaper sources are available online).  

Thanks for posting greenfinches - it was definitely an interesting listen.

Greying X

pamsdish

£15.81 in M0rr1es, needed tonic water and at local hospital nearby for blood tests, got a lot of y.s. fish and a celeriac.

K9sandFelines

Had to buy Gochujang off myself from stores. So I've got just over a fiver to last til the 13th 🙃

ancientmum

Thank you Suffolklass for the advice about the yeast. I'll give it a try.

elsiepac

June Grocery Challenge Now Live!

I have asked for it to be Pinned as I can no longer do this!
And sorry it's late, I do usually try and do it about a week earlier than this!! I've scanned the last few pages for any budgets and I'm not seeing any so please tag me if you've already set your June budget and I'll update it over there.

mumtoomany

Last spend for this month. £4.17, DD3 brought six tubs of peanut butter and four packets of mini eggs for me from work. She knows a bargain when she sees one. Total for the year to date now stands at, £1157.90/£2640. Have now done an inventory for all three freezers. So much food! Made a start on emptying them tonight. Used up 4 kievs for the adults, with cauliflower cheese, mash and chard. The kids had chicken burgers on buns with salad, with snowflake shaped chips, and beans. Cleared some left over bits, but Took longer to prep and cook. Hugs to all, mumtoomany.xxx

Greying_Pilgrim

Good evening May GC'rs

NSD today, but May just seems to be sooooooooo long!  Tea was curry plate.  I had meant to dig a curry out of the freezer, but the remaining aubergine (29p cc price from MrT) decided to sulk at being kept in the fridge and had started to rot from the stalk end.  So I chopped that up with onions, garlic, ginger, a tin of chickpeas and 2 of my YS'd carrots.  I put in a tin of tomatoes, half a tin of water, some tomato puree, a dollop of Jalfrezi seasoning (HM), some methi leaves and S&P.  Popped the lid of the PC on and cooked for 4 minutes.  Voila.  Curry.  Not the most authentic of versions, but spicy (without heat, no chilli in it).  I de-frosted dhal and rice from the freezer and they were served with.  Yoghurt for dessert.  LG had dhal and rice and yoghurt to follow.

So, cheap and cheerful, kept to the meal plan, and inched a little closer to the end of the month (although I try to avoid wishing time away - we don't get enough of it as it is.....).

Onwards and upwards!

Greying X

MissRikkiC

@Greying_Pilgrim 4 minutes? Is that right to cook that curry in? I’m so intrigued if that’s the case. I finally have an induction plate for my old school freebie PC so going to try for back beans in that tomorrow! 

Greying_Pilgrim

MissRikkiC said:

@Greying_Pilgrim 4 minutes? Is that right to cook that curry in? I’m so intrigued if that’s the case. I finally have an induction plate for my old school freebie PC so going to try for back beans in that tomorrow! 

Seemed to work MissRikkiC.  The chickpeas were tinned (so cooked already).  I cut the carrots relatively small/thin.  Nothing was raw tasting/super crunchy - and lets face it, no-one wants to eat 'raw' aubergine......🤢  I do let the PC de-pressure naturally, but then the heat is off for that, so the actual time the PC was 'cooking' (I time on my moby) was 4 mins after it had come up to full pressure.  Beans don't usually take long, BUT I always choose to soak beans overnight - i do realise that you can do beans without soaking in a PC, but I just prefer that one extra step.  Most beans/chickpeas tend to take around the 8 minute mark to cook - as long as they are not too ancient.  I choose not to cook red kidney beans as I'm just to nervous about the toxins situation.  I would rather buy a tin, or do without if the price rockets. 

I do wonder - and remember, I'm most certainly no authority on cooking with PC's - if the type/age of PC may have a bearing on timings.  The author this morning alluded to it in the podcast, and in an episode of the Food Programme that she contributed to in 2019.  I think it might be the case that more 'modern' PC's can hold higher pressure and that leads to cooking at a higher (internal) temperature. My PC is something like 15 years old.

Listening to the podcast about PC's this morning, I was a little disconcerted to hear about the 'zero minute' chicken recipe.......... Even if I ate meat, I think I would be too 'chicken' [see wot I did there?] to try that cooking technique.......

Greying X