January 2008 Grocery Challenge

rosieben

Mooloo wrote: »

Make it with the blender, or the baby blender, the longer that you grind, the smaller it becomes, so its cheaper, because its basically the same sugar, and they charge more for the process. Only problem with using the "baby blender" is icing sugar will fly everywhere. Best to use a closed lid blender. There are a lot of things like making butter and other basics I will dig it out and let you know whats there. Its been so long since I made the basics, I am not sure where i get them from.

Thanks for that Mooloo, and I'd be really interested in any other info :j

jpe20

Thanks Mooloo for the suggestion and the curry powder suggestion!! My attitude with the insurance is to use it for a major crisis!! Though I understand that freezer mishaps can run into many hundreds especially if you have one of those giant chest freezers!

Jools

Savvy_sewing

rosieben wrote: »

Thanks for that Mooloo, and I'd be really interested in any other info :j

Rosieben i think that I am a tiny bit under the influence of a very nice bottle of wine, that came in my reduced christmas hamper.But if my fingers have hit the right keys, it might be ledgible.
I make my own peanut butter, tomato sauce, barbecue sauce, mint jelly, herb vinegars, curry powders, (used to make curd cheese, yogurts, etc but havent bothered a bit lately)cos since I moved to oxford I havent found Rennet essence. But as I get older the time passes so quickly that Its tough to fit in. (all these grandchildren I suppose) If you want any ideas then just ask me, and i will do my best to give you the information.
I used to work in catering, and run a pub. I was doing the kitchen. so catering for large numbers was also a part of it all.

rosieben

Mooloo wrote: »

Rosieben i think that I am a tiny bit under the influence of a very nice bottle of wine, that came in my reduced christmas hamper.But if my fingers have hit the right keys, it might be ledgible.
I make my own peanut butter, tomato sauce, barbecue sauce, mint jelly, herb vinegars, curry powders, (used to make curd cheese, yogurts, etc but havent bothered a bit lately)cos since I moved to oxford I havent found Rennet essence. But as I get older the time passes so quickly that Its tough to fit in. (all these grandchildren I suppose) If you want any ideas then just ask me, and i will do my best to give you the information.
I used to work in catering, and run a pub. I was doing the kitchen. so catering for large numbers was also a part of it all.

Sounds like you could be a mine of information! I shall be picking your brains soon, but I'll let you enjoy your wine tonight!

Savvy_sewing

jpe20 wrote: »

Thanks Mooloo for the suggestion and the curry powder suggestion!! My attitude with the insurance is to use it for a major crisis!! Though I understand that freezer mishaps can run into many hundreds especially if you have one of those giant chest freezers!

Jools

Your welcome. If there is anything you think that I might be able to help you with, to get you through your challenge then I am happy to help. The one thing about having been in catering is that you look at eh overall cost per person. It really does make you look at things.
I cant profess to be a icon on things, but I have learned a lot from both the catering trade and the fact that I have been a single mum of 4 for the last 15 years. Needs must, etc etc:T
If you like bbq sauce, i have a good recipe I cansend you.xx so easy to make, and can spice up most meats. (if your not stewing, casseroling, or pressure cooking!

jpe20

Do people include booze amd household consumables in their grocery challenge spending figures?

Savvy_sewing

rosieben wrote: »

Sounds like you could be a mine of information! I shall be picking your brains soon, but I'll let you enjoy your wine tonight!

think the wine has definitely gone to my head. so late, and I usually am up around 6. to get my son to school. ( He has to cycle the 7miles now that my car has broken down) but tonight he is at a friends so i can sleep in. Well until one of the babies wakes up anyway. x

HariboJunkie

jpe20 wrote: »

Do people include booze amd household consumables in their grocery challenge spending figures?

I'm not including booze as I am not drinking at the moment so OH has been told that it's coming out of his budget (and we have plenty left from Christmas anyway.)

I've just put my spend so far in my sig which is better than the £70 to £100 I would usually spend. I have meal planned until the end of the month and have based it all on storcupboard and freezer stock. So far all I've had to buy is fruit, veg, milk, coffee and cat food. I've been sending OH if I need something like milk so that I resist temptaion and he has managed to pick up some amazing 10p bargains.

Tonight we had HM paninis with 10p panini rolls, bogof cheese, value tinned tom sauce and homegrown herbs and salami that we got in a hamper for Christmas. It tasted so much nicer knowing how cheap it was.
This challenge is forcing me to be creative again and I've dusted off some old cookery books looking for inspiration with all my ingredients.

Savvy_sewing

jpe20 wrote: »

Do people include booze amd household consumables in their grocery challenge spending figures?

The challenge is up to you, what ever you want to include, but most people include all the household item, and the cosmetic ones too. Basically all the things you normally put onyour supermarket shopl. the challenge is up to you. What ever you decide, is your personnal challenge. We are all just here to support each other, not to critisize.

its good luck to everyone, and hope that we all learn to handle our money no matter how great or small it may be.

The wine from the Tesco hamper has now got to me completely. I can no longer touch type at all!
Best I say good night. If you want some of those old recipes for the basics give me a pm or something and I will send them to you. Night night.

catherineblack

jpe20 wrote: »

After seeing the programs I am interested enough to at least try a free range chcicken and compare it like for like taste wise with an intensively farmed chicken. If there is a noticable difference then I will go free range anyway. If not I will sit and have another think about it though I already buy free range eggs so logic dictates I should buy free range chicken as long as it is sensibly priced.

I've been buying free-range chickens for a few months now and find they do taste better. There is much less fat in the stock/pan and though they are leaner I think they have more good quality tasting meat. I still find I can make a total of 4 meals from one free-range. And the stock is lovely in soups.
The cost is more, but not that much more. But as people have pointed out - it's hard to go free-range on a budget. I certainly cannot afford organic.
BTW, as pointed out on Hugh's Chicken Run tonight, the packaging can be misleading. Organic or corn fed doesn't always mean free-range. I've nearly picked up the wrong type many times!
I'm not a complete convert though - I still sometimes buy a pack of 'normal' chicken breasts if reduced. All the other meat I eat is not free-range. I find myself eating less and less meat these days. My friend is going to loan me the book Skinny B***h - apparently that will put me off meat....not sure what it's all about....

Hope you enjoy trying free-range!