January 2008 Grocery Challenge

TheBees

Hi all
Couldn't face going to Tesco Axminster this week especially after their lack of support for Hugh FW's campaign so I decided to support my local shops. Bought my meat in the butchers (asked for happy chickens!) and fruit and veg from the greengrocers. Then bought enough supplies for nearly 2 weeks of meals in the Co-op. (which I hate going into). Total spend was around £70 but if I'd gone to Tesco it would have been nearer £100.

Regarding the chicken thing, our plan is to buy our meat from the butchers (which we already do) but either have it less often or use it for a couple meals. An easy chicken pie can be made with leftover cooked chicken mixed with campbells condensed chicken soup. Yum.

Have spent the afternoon cooking a double batch of moussaka and tried Nigella Express recipe for coleslaw and warm potato salad - both delicious.

Anyway, good luck everyone
The Bees

mrsmortenharket

The Bees, thing is, it's a total mine field. The chicken in the soup won;t be from a happy chicken. It is a start though.

I watched Jamies prog last night & I always be organic eggs but was shocked at the disgusting liquid egg that goes in shops made stuff.

Luckily I cook from scratch most of the time!

Lisa

TheBees

It wasn't til I'd sent the post that I realised the kind of chickens in the soup may not be the happiest!
When I asked the butcher today if the chickens were happy he replied -
"they were happy, but they're not now - they're dead!". lol!
Anyone have an alternative recipe for chicken pie without using the nasty soup!?
When I told my Dad about all the cheap chickens left on the shelf in the Co-op he suggested going down there at closing time cos they'd be sold off cheap!! Ha ha!

Justamum

Well my meal plan went a bit out of the window this evening. I was planning on homemade pizza with homemade oven chips. Got the pizzas out of the freezer and was happily slicing potatoes into chips when the knife slipped and I nearly sliced the tip of my finger off!!! Went down to a friend who is a doctor and he said we should go to casualty, so spent a good hour there (plus the hour driving). Got back and had to just have the pizza (no chips which we will have tomorrow). Also the two loaves I had rising had gone a bit over so they are a bit mushroom shaped. I blame the flour - I've found the cheap Tescos bread flour to make quite a weak loaf so I might make it half and half with my normal flour and see how that goes.

JoJoB

TheBees wrote: »

Anyone have an alternative recipe for chicken pie without using the nasty soup!?

I would just add gravy and some cream to the chicken, perhaps adding some chopped tarragon for a really delish fragrant flavour, then top with pastry or potato.

affordmylife

Hi Everyone

Went to asda today for the first time this year. Updated sig below.

Im feeling confident so far. My cupboards are pretty full and i think we have what we need pretty much.

Im really enjoying making something out of nothing!!!!

meanmarie

Thanks for your kind remarks MrsMC and Rosieben....just get uptight every now and then, will be grand I am sure as I think that she is looking forward to taking the baby into her workmates to show her off...that is an 80 mile journey so she will not come back the same day so that could be what moves her out....

Have a good weekend

Marie

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there THEBEES

If you use your carcass to make stock.... then make a roux using equal quantities of butter or marge and flour, then use the stock to make the sauce (just like a basic white sauce -but with stock in place of milk) you will have a thick chickeny sauce...

I Then saute some mushrooms n onions off and mix it into the sauce with any chicken leftovers. I also add sweetcorn or peas sometimes, chunks of steamed carrot etc. I also add a bit of dried tarragon too sometimes.... oh and any leftover bits of ham etc..the variations are endless - ok im rambling now.
Hope that helps:D

bananakinz

singlemum wrote: »

Bought v.nice baking tray reduced fronm £7.99 to £1.99 unfortunatly doesn't fit in oven...lol so taking back ..

I had to do this :rotfl: nice to see I'm not the only one :rolleyes:

Mollymop5

Justamum wrote: »

Well my meal plan went a bit out of the window this evening. I was planning on homemade pizza with homemade oven chips. Got the pizzas out of the freezer and was happily slicing potatoes into chips when the knife slipped and I nearly sliced the tip of my finger off!!! Went down to a friend who is a doctor and he said we should go to casualty, so spent a good hour there (plus the hour driving). Got back and had to just have the pizza (no chips which we will have tomorrow). Also the two loaves I had rising had gone a bit over so they are a bit mushroom shaped. I blame the flour - I've found the cheap Tescos bread flour to make quite a weak loaf so I might make it half and half with my normal flour and see how that goes.

ooo nasty.Hope your finger gets better real soon