January 2024 Grocery Challenge

London_1

I have a pot full of chicken provencal in my slow cooker at the moment and my kitchen smells gorgeous. It will do around 4-5 portions at least for the freezer once cooked and cold .

 I have also made a couple of bowls of trifle, using up left over sponge cake and a jelly from the cupboard One smaller one to take to DDs tomorrow for our pudding after dinner, and one to go into my fridge to have during the week for pudding. My son-in-law isn't keen on puddings so I only make one for DD and myself.

I had a slice of my sis-in-laws Christmas cake she made for me, and its delicious, bless her she makes me a small one every year as I'm the only one who likes Christmas cake in my family.

 Right its time for a cuppa to warm up ,its a bit nippy today

 JackieO xx

 

thriftwizard

@Paspatur, I paid £7.50 for 4 smallish skinless, boneless fillets of fresh haddock. If we'd been elderly, that might have fed 4, but as I'm an active "senior" and DD2's a twenty-something, it just fed the 2 of us nicely. Sadly decent fish is becoming a rare treat now, but she's a pescatarian & I'm always mindful that she does need a sensible amount of protein - though lentils, cheese & home-laid eggs (mostly! Don't mention the moult...) do feature a fair bit in our kitchen. Normally I'll buy mackerel from the market fishmonger, who does source his from the coastal ports close to us, but he's only there every other week & this wasn't one of them. I'm not a fan of supermarket fish either. 

Crazycatlady2

I'm at £158 after Tesco and Iceland shop....plan is nothing except bread before next Saturday 

Paspatur

@thriftwizard thank you that sounds comparable to what I am paying
Sounds like about 1/2 a kilo you had and I am paying £16 a kilo but that is delivered to my door

thriftwizard

@Paspatur I doubt it was 500g - maybe 400? So you're getting better value, I think. We're a short stroll from either the market or the town centre where the fishmongers are, luckily, but home delivery would be lovely!

mrs_motivated

2nd shop of the month done and I’m coming in at £178/£400.

I’ve just  realised it’s a 5 week month for me so might struggle to stay within my 4 week budget but I’m going to give it my best. I’m away from Monday to Thursday, but the shop didn’t come in any cheaper as I’m going to stay with my daughter and new baby granddaughter so bought some things to batch cook and fill up her freezer to help her out on those evenings she is tired with looking after her newborn.  Mr M isn’t coming as he is at work, so also had to buy food for him…..so tomorrow I’m food prepping his dinners for the 4 days I’m away.

Soontobeoap

I am sick of the sight of bread! I dont eat it and Dh doesnt like small loaves. He also likrs it fresh. I have persuaded him into using it 2 more days on toast but still end up with roughly half a loaf left over each week. I am determined not to waste it but already have 2 bread and butter puddings in freezer, have made 2 bread puddings today and have loads of bread crumbs for cooking. Any other ideas will be great fully recieved. 🤣.

£1.10 spent on sultanas when DH was passing Sainsburys. Could kick myself as they are 20p cheaper in Aldi but the bread mountain needed them before shopbon Wednesday. 

joedenise

Could you just cut the loaves in half and freeze it?  Then get it out to defrost once the other half is almost gone.  He could then have fresh bread rather than toast for a day or two!

Soontobeoap

@Joedenise, I have tried that but he diesn
Doesn't like bread that has been frozen🤦‍♀️. I know! He thinks hes not a fussy eater! 

LadyWithAPlan

Soontobeoap said:

I am sick of the sight of bread! I dont eat it and Dh doesnt like small loaves. He also likrs it fresh. I have persuaded him into using it 2 more days on toast but still end up with roughly half a loaf left over each week. I am determined not to waste it but already have 2 bread and butter puddings in freezer, have made 2 bread puddings today and have loads of bread crumbs for cooking. Any other ideas will be great fully recieved. 🤣.

£1.10 spent on sultanas when DH was passing Sainsburys. Could kick myself as they are 20p cheaper in Aldi but the bread mountain needed them before shopbon Wednesday. 

You could make a ham and cheese bread pudding|?  as in here 
 or a savoury bread pudding with mushrooms and courgettes?
Or a strata? loads recipes - basically like a lasagna but using bread ... eg eggs, cheese, milk, day old bread - pop in oven
Croutons for a chicken side salad?  fried bread - yum...
Add bread cubes to a chicken casserole?  

I am saying all this as I finally have the breadmaker of my dreams (panasonic) as it does amazing GF white bread  and I have culinary dreams of what to do with excess GF bread..

@mrs_motivated how lovely of you.

@NeverendingDMP Can I suggest next month you track takeaways and also food out the house separately than main groceries  as I think you may find it useful in seeing where you have room to cut. 


Breadmaker finally on - GF brown bread in the mix 
I wanted to finally trial the brown bread in the Panasonic (tried white at my familys one and is always great) but this the first brown one and first time I am using my new bmaker.. drumroll! 
 I needed eggs, DF milk, yeast. I could not find yeast in  but managed to buy at Lid but then found mine in a jar at home....
So currently bread is on - 
Hoping the df milk works ok... I will report back.
Gf bread tends to go hard quick so I will have a slice or 2 fresh then pop in freezer sliced or try a strata in the morning with a couple slices... This will  be so useful for making GF sandwiches 

GROCERY - £34.92  today of which £5.20 bulk (olive oil, yeast) , £3.15 toilet rolls,  £26.57 Groceries
Grocery is £70.98/£175, bulk £7.19/£50

Popped to my local Mr Lid after the gym -
FR corn fed chicken, lots of greens and veg, apples, blueberries and satsumas.. ginger, dill, almonds - no crisps and no sweets.
I have my HellFresh arriving tomorrow so maybe I didnt need the chicken but as per my trip in Nov to the States having a lot of cooked chicken breast and sliced veg crudites ready in the fridge  really helps with eating well and healthy snacking..
I will see what time Hell Fresh arrives as sometimes it is v late so may roast chicken in morning as it also pads out the HF meals _ and I always do extra veg
This is my last paid order of HellFresh then have £34 credit I will use in Feb 
This week I have  coming (plus a free chocolate bar)

Veg and Lentil Shepherd's Pie - I will add some YS mince to this

Cajun BBQ Chicken Rice Bowl with Spinach, Cheese and Crispy Onions - I will serve with extra veg and probably extra chicken

Korean Style Gochujang Beef Fried Rice with Pak Choi and Peanuts - I like this  Gochujang sauce almost as much as the Chermoula spice.

Lunch today  
pork chops fried in coconut oil and nicely spiced, kale, spinach, mushrooms and broccoli - also fried up the brown rice  plus  a side of guac
Had a kale, blueberry vegan protein shake - am really off the dairy and  feel better, have stopped coughing  up stuff, scalp getting much better every day... I do know I should cut dairy out completely but its v hard when one travels and dines out, I am strict with the gluten  but DF and GF travelling is difficult no matter how much food I travel with
Dinner will be something fabulous on GF brown bread as it bakes - can hear the machine clicking away....  - I have a fried pork chop left  so I may make a pork, mustard, mushroom, tomato sandwich with DF butter