Lunch Log Challenge 2008

redsquirrel80

Well done Maz! I treated myself to a really nice noodle salad that local shop sells today, have tried to recreate it myself but it's just not quite the same. Anyway, I was thinking the other day that if I can keep it under a fiver a week I'd be very happy.. so need to do a bit better next week!!

Mon 11th - 30p
Tue 12th - £2
Wed 13th - 30p
Thu 14th - 15p
Fri 16th - £3.09

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Total for week - £5.84
Total for year so far - £29.13

incesticde

Maz3374 wrote: »

Hi all, i have been so good this week!

I haven't bought a single shop lunch this week!!

Hooray!!!!!!! Hooray!!!!!!! Hooray!!!!!!!

Can you tell i'm feeling rather chuffed!

Damn fine job mazza!
:T
Well done you

debt_free_me

I was really hungry - I bought chips for lunch - £1.10 and I got a multipack of crisps (15 for the price of 10) for 1.58

fletch3163

Hey All

Friday again!! Where does time go. Does anyone remember panicking about CHRISTMAS? Me too!

Monday - £2.30 - baguette with Egg mayo salad
Tuesday -£0.50 - HM mac & cheese (leftovers and a cake from Greggs, hence 50p
Wednesday - £0 - Boiled egg sarnies, crisps and water (Diet coke from last week all finished:mad: )
Thursday - £0 - leftover risotto and veg. The things I do to save a buck
Friday -£1 - ciabatta with ham (from home), bottle of Irn Bru (£1)

lindsaygalaxy

Help All, I need your support!

Over the last few weeks I have failed miserably and brought lnch virtually EVERY DAY!

So, this week im that determind not to spend anything i may even not take any money to work with me. The alternative is to come home at lunchtime, but then I would be spending extra on petrol.

This week, im going to combine my weekly meal plan with my lunch time plan. Off to search the cupboards and freezer and will be back later to update you all with my weekly plan!

fletch3163

.............. LINDSAYGALAXY CLAP CLAP CLAP.............

We're with you............. come on now!!

Are you applying the PPP PPPP (Prior Pre Planning Prevents P*$$ Poor Performance?

For me after just one week of seeing how much money I DIDN'T spend blew my mind! Every day, without thinking, I'd give some sandwich shop c£4 of my hard earned money. Now I'm almost miser-like in my approach (only ready salted left in the multi-pack but it'll have to do).

I used to give DS £2 for lunch and me c£4 for lunch. No more! Now he gets sandwiches, I get sandwiches (or leftovers), multi pack crisps and drink. I'm actually quite lucky cos I don't bore easily and I prefer quantity over quality. Stems from my early years of not having I think (and the fact that I'm now a non smoker).

So, we're in the same boat, all of us. You can do this. Don't give anyone else your money, it's YOURS

lindsaygalaxy

Evening All

I have done my plan and here is how it goes ( I am only at work til thursday then away for the weekend). I get really hungry at work. Im not taking any drinks in as im trying to drink 6 glasses of water a day.

Monday - Tomato and Basil Soup + bread
Tuesday - Leftover Shepherds Pie
Wednesday - Pasta with chicken/tomato based sauce
Thursday - Leftover Chilli Con carne with Jacket potato

Snacks - Snacks - crisps, carrot sticks/cucumber + soft cheese, mousse, crackers with soft cheese/pate, toast.

Will keep you updated. With going away at the weekend trying not to spend any money all week at all so staying in during my lunch breaks!

hypno06

Here's hoping everyone has a good (and cheap) week!!

:T

fletch3163

HELP! I've eaten one of my sandwiches.

incesticde

Maz3374 wrote: »

i'm not inspired by my sarnie either Bobba.... chin up!

Incesticide - recipe for crispy duck would be good!

Ok this recipe is based on :

http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/popular-cuisines/chinese/peking-duck-rice-paper-rolls-recipe_p_1.html

and I've modified it slightly based on experience

Get your duck ideally two days before you want to eat... then...
1. Give it a good clean with water, remove the giblets and let it dry.
2. In order to get a proper crispy skin you need to separate the skin from the meat... there are two ways to do this :
(a) Place the duck (breast side up) on a rack and place that all on a roasting tray or such, then get your kettle full of water and get it boiling. Then pour the boiling water (gently!) over the duck, make sure you get all the duck poured with water. You will see the skin rise from the meat... If it's not completely done repeat! Dry completely (pat down with kitchen roll)
(b) My preferred method : Get a foot pump (used for air beds etc..) and clean the nozzle thoroughly with water/washing up liquid and use that! See : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6VduVArHP4 for more details! this method is the best one IMO

2. Mix

* 7 tbsp runny honey
* 3 tbsp dark soy sauce
* 4 tbsp Chinese five-spice powder
* 2 tbsp brown sugar

In a heavy bowl until you get a thick glaze, save five heaped tablespoons for later in another bowl, Cover that bowl and chuck it in the fridge.

Get a brush and brush the duck all over the front , legs, wings and even inside. Don't worry about the turning the duck over.

Now wait for 10-15 minutes until the glaze is dry enough to be able to touch and not get your finger wet. Repeat this process until you have about 2 spoons of glaze left (three times)...

then here comes the messy part : cover your fingers in the glaze and slip them between the skin and meat and spread the glaze all around the inside of the duck, massage it into the meat, all the little edges and crevices, legs and all). Treat yourself to a tipple of your choice after doing this to reward yourself (remember to wash hands!)

Cover the duck with kitchen foil securely and chuck it in the fridge for at least 24 hrs, ideally 48.

3. (Two and a half hours before eat time, 2 days after steps 1+2)
Take the duck out of the fridge, remove the foil and just leave it to warm up to room temp (takes about 30 mins). also remove the leftover glaze at the same time.
Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan180°C/gas 6
Place the duck breast side up on the rack, Fill the opening of the duck (carefully) with boiling water from a kettle until the opening is full (this will steam through and help the skin get crispy, if you haven't pre-warmed the oven this step is pointless)
place the duck carefully into the oven for 40-45 mins (do not open door!)
After this time, take the duck out and carefully turn it over (watch out for spitting fat and of course the heat of the damn thing).
Place back in tray breast side down , and brush it with the remaining glaze , a nice thick coating all over the visble parts of the duck.
place in oven again for 30 -35 mins

after this time remove from the oven , cover with foil (cover well, ensure no air can get out) and leave it alone for 30 mins to rest. It will carry on cooking in it's own juices giving a fantastic flavor

4. You can either make your own peking duck sauce or buy some, the method given in the first link is the best. Buying is easier!

5. Pancakes are available from any supermarket, crispy duck pancakes are what you need. Don't worry about premium brands etc and it's just flour and water!

6. Prepare your cucumbers (de-seed and cut into thick strips ) and onions (trim head and tails).

7. Cutting the duck... this is an art and i'm not even going to pretend I am any good at it yet... You need to remove all the skin first (which should be nice and crispy by now)
then the meat. Try http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt4w23xihGI fors some pointers.

8. Build them up and eat!

Next day for lunch you'll need one bag with the duck and skin, one bag for you cucumbers and onions , one bag for your pancakes and a small tub of the peking duck sauce,
At the microwave :Get the duck nice and hot , warm the pancakes (sealed bag, blasts of 15 seconds on medium until they are very warm to the touch)
Head back to your desk and build them up and eat. Remeber to enjoy the envious looks from your work colleagues as the smell of crispy duck wafts through your office :cool:, offer some to the people you like / fancy if you're feeling generous :cool:

Cost : Duck will set you back about 7/8 quid, the pancakes less than 2 pounds.