September 2022 Grocery Challenge

Suffolk_lass

Crazycatlady2 said:

Greying_Pilgrim said:

Crazycatlady2 said:

N

Crazycatlady2 - I realise that this is a slightly daft question, but did your neighbour actually tell you what these were?  Because whilst I'm thinking the squash on the left is probably a butternut - and therefore the flesh would be dense, so good for use in curries and stews etc I'm not sure what the one on the right is?  But I am wondering if it is a spaghetti squash?  In which case the 'insides' are completely different to a conventional squash, and sort of 'string up' (hence the name), usually with baking.  I only ever got given one many years ago - and speaking entirely personally - couldn't really justify the cost of baking it at that point, and was seriously underwhelmed with the taste/texture so have never bothered with one again.  But a) it may not be, and b) other people do rate spaghetti squash, and may have fabbo recipes.  If it is a spagetti squash, you may have to cook it differently - if it's a 'conventional' squash, then recipes are pretty flexible and you can probably make curry/stew etc with that one too.  

Sorry for the daft question, I just looked at the pic and thought, "I wonder......"

Greying X

It’s not a daft question….they didn’t and don’t speak English so didn’t want to cause a fuss trying to ask via Google translate or look rude…plus I felt stupid for not knowing 😂

I asked 3 family members and got varying answers so was non the wiser…my mum said thin one was a marrow so I used some to make a cake. It small lovely cooking but had no taste but will get eaten 😂

the rest hasn’t been touched yet so no progress made 

I grow them. I believe they are both butternut squash. They will gradually turn yellow if you pop them on a windowsill. I have a collection, all shapes and sizes, still outdoors here. If you want to cook them before they fully ripen (after which they would keep over winter) then that is fine too. I would wash/wipe them both. Remove any of the rooty bit underneath and if either is damaged through the skin, use that first. 

Recipe ideas - optional peel (only really need to after the skin has thickened and turned the typical beige yellow colour), chop into 2-3 cm pieces - the middle strands and seeds could be discarded (or you could roast the seeds). There will be quite a lot. At this point I typically freeze what I am not going to use immediately. I spread out the cubes on a baking sheet and sprinkle with oil, salt, pepper (and chilli flakes) then roast them for 30 minutes with the oven on for something else. You want them so the edges are browning. They are a tasty accompaniment to a roast dinner, often a substitute for potato or parsnips here. I add the roasted veg to stews, soups or just serve as a side vegetable with chops, chicken or any meat. They are a complex carbohydrate with a pleasant sweet caramelised flavour. They especially go well in a mild curry with chick peas and onions.

Pic of some of my home-grown plus some small pumpkins I am ripening

El_Scot

Auti said:

El_Scot said:

Hi, I'm thinking of joining this challenge but just wondered if there's any other gluten free people in here to help give me a realistic idea for my food budget?

Right now my typical spend is around £85-90/wk for 2 people. The difficulty is, our gluten free requirements often dictate which brands we can buy and can make it hard to drop a rung on the brand ladder (e.g. we have to buy premium sausages because budget are never GF), so I need ideas for how to cut back.

GF and vegetarian and a food sensory driven child here. Tend to make cakes etc as cheaper and we both eat them. Bread is the thing I find hard so only have it sometimes. Eating nuts for protein and also bulking out Quorn mince (chilled) with kidney beans, veg and tinned tomatoes to portion up and freeze then can use as I want - can add flavourings to each portion as I reheat. I also like the tortilla chips as alternative to bread and also find Old El Paso either do gluten free versions or some kits naturally gluten free. Have you been on FB gluten free groups as they have lots of ideas and products they have found in supermarkets that are GF.

Do you tend to buy dried beans or tinned? I really struggle to find dried ones without a "May contain" warning, do you know where I can get some cheap ones?

Soontobeoap

@EI_Scott you will find loads of ideas on here for gluten and dairy free. I have 2 gluten free and dairy free grandsons who also can’t eat soya (severe allergies) and I am gluten and dairy intolerant so have to find a lot of free from things. I am away next week but after that I am hoping to experiment with pizza basis. Bread is the difficult one. So expensive and hard to make an appetising loaf. My daughter tried pizza pies this week for their lunch boxes. She also makes her own muffins.

as for budget, don’t aim to slice off too much to start with. We are all just trying to live better for less. Set your own targets. I have been on here since January and have only hit my target twice but I am gaining new ideas, bringing my budget down slowly and actually enjoying the process. It is good to feel in control of things. Although I struggle with monthly targets I think I will have shaved off around £400 from last years bills overall which isn’t bad for starters, especially in the current climate. I suggest you just try for £5.00 to £10.00 cheaper next month and make your own snacks and treats. I make a lovely oat biscuit that everybody loves.

hope you stick around. This a like minded group of very friendly people.

Suffolk_lass

Auti said:

El_Scot said:

Hi, I'm thinking of joining this challenge but just wondered if there's any other gluten free people in here to help give me a realistic idea for my food budget?

Right now my typical spend is around £85-90/wk for 2 people. The difficulty is, our gluten free requirements often dictate which brands we can buy and can make it hard to drop a rung on the brand ladder (e.g. we have to buy premium sausages because budget are never GF), so I need ideas for how to cut back.

GF and vegetarian and a food sensory driven child here. Tend to make cakes etc as cheaper and we both eat them. Bread is the thing I find hard so only have it sometimes. Eating nuts for protein and also bulking out Quorn mince (chilled) with kidney beans, veg and tinned tomatoes to portion up and freeze then can use as I want - can add flavourings to each portion as I reheat. I also like the tortilla chips as alternative to bread and also find Old El Paso either do gluten free versions or some kits naturally gluten free. Have you been on FB gluten free groups as they have lots of ideas and products they have found in supermarkets that are GF.

@LadyWithAPlan is also GF and I am sure she can offer you some advice

Auti

El_Scot said:

Auti said:

El_Scot said:

Hi, I'm thinking of joining this challenge but just wondered if there's any other gluten free people in here to help give me a realistic idea for my food budget?

Right now my typical spend is around £85-90/wk for 2 people. The difficulty is, our gluten free requirements often dictate which brands we can buy and can make it hard to drop a rung on the brand ladder (e.g. we have to buy premium sausages because budget are never GF), so I need ideas for how to cut back.

GF and vegetarian and a food sensory driven child here. Tend to make cakes etc as cheaper and we both eat them. Bread is the thing I find hard so only have it sometimes. Eating nuts for protein and also bulking out Quorn mince (chilled) with kidney beans, veg and tinned tomatoes to portion up and freeze then can use as I want - can add flavourings to each portion as I reheat. I also like the tortilla chips as alternative to bread and also find Old El Paso either do gluten free versions or some kits naturally gluten free. Have you been on FB gluten free groups as they have lots of ideas and products they have found in supermarkets that are GF.

Do you tend to buy dried beans or tinned? I really struggle to find dried ones without a "May contain" warning, do you know where I can get some cheap ones?

Always tinned - I am too scared of not cooking them enough and poisoning us both! Also dried can get old and tough and need lots of electric to boil ….. I know if you have a pressure cooker they cook quicker but am not safe with one of those! Just went to M and S and got some free from mince pies too see what the pastry was like and they are awesome and only £3

mumtoomany

Big spend to declare. £55.99 on dishwasher tablets. This is for 1000, from ebay. The last lot I got, only 500, was in November last year. Although we did get some free ones with the, new to us, dishwasher this year. Shouldn't need any more for a year or so. Total spends now to date are £2061.21/£2640. Hugs to all, mumtoomany.xxx

kayannie

@El_Scot. I have a  daughter who was diagnosed with coeliac over 50 years ago. I don't bake GF as often as I used to, but when I make sweet pastry, I use GF SR flour, but substitute 1 or 2 tablespoons of flour for sieved icing sugar, then put the pastry in fridge for about 30 mins before rolling out. I never put an egg in the pastry mix, just the flour, icing sugar, trex or cookeen (we're vege) & water. I never have a problem with the pastry breaking  when made this way.
However, I don't get on very well making GF bread. If I buy it, I find W@rburtons the best.
KA

Soontobeoap

Another afternoon turning mince into tasty meals. More bread crumbs in the meatballs and I have shrunk them a bit which has created another meal for 2 out of 1lb of mince. Also made a couple of lasagnas with very thin layers of meat ( thinner than my usual) and the addition of some grated carrot. The test will be when I put them in front of DH and see if he notices. 😋

Ginmonster

I'd hoped to leave it a few more days until hitting the shops but I needed some bits of veg so I went to Sainsbo and spent £10.80. As well as the veg I needed I also got pittas, tomato paste and I was happy to find an Eastern European brand of kefir at £1.60 a litre compared to £2.75 for the biotiful brand I've bought before. I also picked up a bag of their value brand pasta which was prominently displayed at the end of an aisle with a selection of their other value products as it was macaroni and that's the husband's favourite. I'm guessing they're trying to show their value credentials in these straightened times. I certainly can't ever remember seeing their low cost products shown off like that before, they're normally hidden in the bottom shelves!

Despite blowing most of the budget in the first week of the month I feel like I can still make it if I'm careful.

£165.94/£200

LadyWithAPlan

@EI_Scott  - (apologies for my long post for those who arent DF GF)   

Hi, I'm thinking of joining this challenge but just wondered if there's any other gluten free people in here to help give me a realistic idea for my food budget?

Right now my typical spend is around £85-90/wk for 2 people. The difficulty is, our gluten free requirements often dictate which brands we can buy and can make it hard to drop a rung on the brand ladder (e.g. we have to buy premium sausages because budget are never GF), so I need ideas for how to cut back.


I am GF and DF and have extended  family who are also severely allergic to soy, oranges etc (one even onions etc as she on the FODMAP diet) so it can be a nightmare when I cook for 6 with 2 lots of allergies
It is a pain as often reduced food and TGTG or Olio stuff is not GF.
My budget for one is £160/month plus £30 bulk a month and that is easy and I entertain at home in that as well.  

Having a bulk fund has been great for me - stocking up when GF stuff is on offer really helps.

I am getting some really great ideas for cutting my budget just being part of the Grocery Challenge -and motivation - so even if recipes or ideas are not GF it is often easy to make them so.
Thanks to Jackie O on here @London_1 she has got me to thinking on how expensive posh crisps are and now I have been making potato crisps thanks to @goldfinches
 recipe she gave me on here - using YS organic potatoes and they are super cheap and definitely GF as I cooked them myself. I have been using the microwave rather than deep frying them.

I have found some really good GF sausages in Lidl - often reduced and they are free range as well. More and more stores now have GF on their packaging for meatballs, burgers etc - I do think Lidl is better than Aldi for GF by far.

Also I have bought some GF oats in Poundland before so you just have to start looking - (they had a sale and I stocked up). I always look in the FREE section of places and if flour etc is reduced  I grab it.


Proper corn Tortilla flour - the Masa flour where they soak the corn with lime is GF and makes loads of tortillas - its expensive  to buy upfront but lasts forever and makes huge quantities of tortillas so great for wraps and mexican food rather than super expensive ones or El Paso. Plus you can freeze
https://www.mexgrocer.co.uk/food/masa-harina

In terms of GF  bread making I am just starting but my family has a new Panasonic bread maker I tried which has GF settings and the GF bread is amazing and easy and works out about £1.30 a medium size loaf . You literally put the ingredients in, stir once and 90 mins later out comes perfect GF risen bread! You do need to slice what you dont eat that day and freeze as it gets stale quick the next day but all the kids love it.
Plus you can use for GF breadcrumbs for meatballs/fishcakes etc.

The Panasonic  also does GF cake (though thats easy to do) - I tried a banana and apple and it does  GF pizza bases as well - but bread is where it really wins.
Of course you have to buy one - they £200 but I will get one myself anyway as given GF bread is normally over £3 then you break even pretty quickly. Plus it takes all the kneading etc time out - it is literally dump ingredients =- press the programme, stir once or twice then come back later and its perfect. I then slice and freeze.
https://www.panasonic.com/uk/consumer/home-appliances-learn/home-appliances/easy-gluten-free-baking-using-a-breadmaker.html

I tried the GF Doves seeded bread mix- lovely but expensive and mine didnt rise well  (did by hand not machine) but I was experimenting with cooking times.

I have a 6 in 1 pressure cooker  as I won one a few months ago - never had one before and was always scared but it has  changed my budget and my cooking. It is very safe to use and makes everything so quick too cook. I haven't used my oven since nor my slow cooker. The pressure makes soup stock super quick - chicken bones in 20 mins and just veg stock is 5 mins  which is great for a GF budget life plus beans in a few minutes. It also sautes.  I have also a halogen oven and that also really helped 

I make fabulous GF DF meatballs from pork, beef or turkey mince - with chopped herbs, mushrooms, onions GF oats, flaxseed to bind - I pressure cooker in batches for 5 mins then shallow fry or saute for a few and they are crispy, cheap, delicious and GF. 

nb Linseed/flaxseed is great for GF cooking as it holds things together and full of vitamin b - they sell it cheap in Aldi 

I batch cook a lot so freeze so I can grab healthy and quick GF food - as eating GF in restaurants or on the run as GF sandwiches/food  are  difficult, expensive or a hassle.

i am still cutting down my budget by £10  a month but apparently Asda do great and cheaper GF flour than the doves brand so I need to check that out. As always making stuff at home is much cheaper - I look at the cost of all the genius gf sausage rolls and GF DF pizzas - and even with GF ingredients being more you can still save a fortune and have fun experimenting.

Homemade oat bars or at flapjacks  for snacks are great as well. I eat very well and full of delicious healthy food - it does take a mindset of having to find time to cook in batches  but then the budget is much easier.

I have over the last few days been making GF and DF toad in the hole and inspired by @badmemory
and @Suffolk_lass a sweet version of the Yorkshire pudding batter as GF DF apple  toad in the hole so as a dessert. Both were delicious.
The GF version of yorkshire pudding batter is very easy, hard to get wrong and you dont feel like you are missing out.
The trick is to leave the batter in the fridge for at least an hour before cooking (GF seems to need that whether it is pastry or batter or cookie dough) and of course hot oil

There is a great Leon recipe for GF DF fried chicken using sparkling water.

Cornbread is also a great dish for GF - Leon cookbook has one using corn (so you can buy tins of corn when cheaper)  I turned into GF. but it can take ages.

Also I make amazing oat blueberry or oat lemon cookies - just google oat cookies and replace with GF ingredients. Blueberry muffins come out great with GF flour - using either frozen or fresh blueberries
Again shop bought gf df stuff is super expensive so home cooking, batch cooking and freezing helps.

kayannie said:

@El_Scot. I have a  daughter who was diagnosed with coeliac over 50 years ago. I don't bake GF as often as I used to, but when I make sweet pastry, I use GF SR flour, but substitute 1 or 2 tablespoons of flour for sieved icing sugar, then put the pastry in fridge for about 30 mins before rolling out. I never put an egg in the pastry mix, just the flour, icing sugar, trex or cookeen (we're vege) & water. I never have a problem with the pastry breaking  when made this way.
However, I don't get on very well making GF bread. If I buy it, I find W@rburtons the best.
KA

I will try the icing sugar  tip !

The Schar GF bread is delicious - that I can recommend but again £3.50 a pop.

NSD again so 10/16 - will need to get some food in morning as snacks as friend coming around but have taken some YS veggie sausages out freezer (will try my first  veggie toad in hole)  and may make some soup as well as have loads chicken stock in