September 2025 Grocery Challenge

TheCheerleader

soontobeoap, when I make chicken stock I use a large carrot , 2 celery sticks and an onion all cut into chunks with a teaspoon of black peppercorns and a bay leaf. 

I put with the chicken carcass in enough water to cover, and bash with a rolling pin to break up slightly, bring to the boil and then simmer covered for 2-3 hours. Then strain over a colander. Hope this helps x

Suffolk_lass

mandco said:

Are we still using this thread or moving over to the September sticky thread?

I'm using this one. It was the first up, and not put up until 1st September. I might read the other one, but everyone's target totals have been updated here.

Suffolk_lass

Soontobeoap said:

Any tips on making the stock taste more flavoursome would be gratefully received.

I add salt, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce, to give a bit more flavour. I am one who adds salt to some cooking, so that it does not need adding on the plate (unless it is potato of some (any) sort).

I'm just processing another vat of tomato passata to use this winter instead of tinned tomatoes. Like Nonna does. These have chillies in with them so I must put a sticker on.

I've also made three jars of "courgette sauce" - a low carb instant sauce, I roasted the marrow-sized courgette sprinkled with salt, pepper, cumin, paprika and olive oil. Then I blitzed it and popped it in jars, warmed the jars to 115c in the oven (during the free electricity 2 hours) and screwed the tops on so they popped to seal. They are cheaper to store with no electricity! I am thinking of doing some large ones of courgette soup...

My purse is staying shut, hopefully until Thursday!

Soontobeoap

Thanks for your tips ladies. We are about to have the chicken pies tonight so wish me luck. 

Thanks @JingsMyBucket. Just realised that you are updating our totals.too. 

Edit :- the pies were amazing. Best I have ever made. Even got complimented by DH and they were virtually free! Success all round! 🙂

Suffolk_lass

@Soontobeoap - I have previously added the white fat that solidifies that you sometimes get with chicken, to my pastry - it makes it more short and it can't be the only fat - but I definitely don't mean the jelly

JingsMyBucket

Soontobeoap said:

Stock turned out well I think @JingsMyBucket. Along with the rasher of bacon that I found in the freezer I managed to get enough meat off to make 4 individual pies. Have kept some stock to make the sauce which I hope will add flavour and another pot has been frozen. So 2 meals made that I wouldn't normally have had.

@Soontobeoap I am genuinely, constantly amazed at your ability to make pies out of scraps of nothing. You're a champion pie maker!

JingsMyBucket

TheCheerleader said:

soontobeoap, when I make chicken stock I use a large carrot , 2 celery sticks and an onion all cut into chunks with a teaspoon of black peppercorns and a bay leaf. 

I put with the chicken carcass in enough water to cover, and bash with a rolling pin to break up slightly, bring to the boil and then simmer covered for 2-3 hours. Then strain over a colander. Hope this helps x

I agree with this advice. I also add a few sprigs of thyme and will squeeze a bit of lemon or add a bit of vinegar into the pot. The use of acid gets the extra marrow/goodness/flavour out of the bones. 

JingsMyBucket

We have a couple M & S spends to declare from last week. 

£5.20 on Thursday by Mr. Jings for coffee beans and a can of baked beans. He spent a lot more on alcohol but that was for my birthday celebrations so I’m leaving those off for now. 

£10.75 on Saturday by both of us for more coffee beans, custard, and strawberries. Mr. Jings spent the next 8 hours indulging in custard with strawberries or digestives. 😂

£165.24 / £300 spent. £134.76 remaining.  

We have lots of bits to use up in the fridge. Yesterday I roasted a pumpkin during the free 2 hours of electricity and I’ll turn that into pumpkin sage soup later this evening. That pumpkin along with other vegetables were given to us free by a friend of  Mr. Jings. We still have some free zucchini left in the fridge as well. I'll roast that up along with some pensioner tomatoes to make a vegetable tart as well. I also pulled some sausages out of the freezer. All these tonight will give us leftovers for lunch tomorrow. 

wishus

Need to catch up! Out of £150 budget, I've already spent £98.49 leaving just £51.51 for the rest of the month. 

Despite doing an eco shop to start, I've had to stock up on loo rolls and laundry stuff and then bought a bottle of wine to take to a dinner, so all that's been a bit of a dent. Plus I saw frickles in A*di and couldn't resist - battered pickles. They are weirdly moreish. Or moreishly weird. 

This means needs must I'm very careful with my meal plans to eke the food out as much as poss:

Monday: salmon roulade mashed swede, roast turnips, chard, carrots (from the eco-shop).
Tuesday: pasta with pistachio pesto, peas, mushrooms, walnuts, cheese.
Wednesday: Jerk chicken, rice and peas 
Thursday: bean burgers and wedges
Friday, Saturday - it's just me, so I will eat lentil dahl and rice, maybe make some roti.
Sunday: pork loin, mashed swede and boiled potatoes.

I will need to buy milk.
Hopefully I can get away without buying potatoes, lettuce, cucumber and coffee till next Sunday. That should mean £50 to last 15 days, which is doable.

TravelCrystal

@Soontobeoap I do much the same as @TheCheerleader. Loads of herbs, generally rosemary, bay leaf and thyme. Always carrot, onion and celery. I think celery is quite strong. If you reduce it down it is more flavourful. Always cook on the stove for a couple of hours wasting the gas. Don't know why I haven't put in the slow cooker like @PipneyJane
I will from now on, makes sense.

A couple of spends to report since last time.
Had to get bin liners in Asda on Saturday, a begrudged £1.54

Today whilst I was in town getting euros for the Grandchildren who are off to France, went in to M&S
A couple of bargains, YS Mince and YS chipolatas. £5.94
The weeks menu has now changed 

Lidl for the rest. Cheap white wine for tonight's Mushroom and cream cheese with spinach and tagliatelle, Fruit and veg, Double cream, 2 x milk, toothpaste. Gnocchi and toilet rim block £19.08

Total spend this week £32.50

Total so far £76.14/£350

T.C