March 2008 Grocery Challenge

findingmyfeet

weezl74 - just been reading your meal list etc for the month, you do really great at it. thats my trouble NOT BEING ORGANISED . I will get there, I WILL...

Any way any chance of you posting the recipe for icecream ? My lot have always gone for HAAGEN DAAS and BEN/JERRys etc , absolute fortune and the refuse to control their portion sizes. ( a tub each usually!! ) Not any more. Help them lose a pound or two as well.
Thanks

findingmyfeet

hi ubamother - Most people include what they want and what suits their needs everyone is different. I include all groceries, toiletries and dog food. Going out eating, pub , take aways come from another budget (not that we get enough money to go very often.). Hope this helps, just state what you will include when you post your monthly amount and try sticking to it.

egon

icandream wrote: »

Sorry not to have checked in. We're pretty much on target, but cannot get the hang of NS days! Seem to spend a little each day. But we are doing okay. And this thread has definitely helped me on this track.
But, could I have some help, please.
I have 750 g of mince, just defrosting.
I haven't batch cooked before.
What should I do with it? I've got carrots, onions, celery, tins of toms, tom puree. I wanted to make some into meatballs as we all love those. But not sure what to do with the rest, and how to portion it out for a family of 5 so I stretch it. I can do this with small amounts, but 750 g seems a bit big to me.
I've also got half a jar of olive and tomato pasta topping in the fridge which is just about to go off. The kids didn't like it. Can I use it and disguise it a bit. I've also got half a tub of creme fraiche, which needs using up.
Can anyone help?

Hi ICD,

what about lasagne?! You can bulk it out with some red lentils.

Here a recipe:

You need:

2 gloves garlic, 400g Mince Meat, 1 onion, 1 carrot, 1 piece celeriac (or swede/ turnip), 2 tbsp tomatoe puree, a big drop of red wine, 2 tin tomatoes, oregano, basil, pepper, bechamelsauce (recipe below) same greated cheese and mozzarella and lasagne sheets

1. Grate garlic and put in pan with some oil. Add the mince meat and fry until brown. Chop the onion, carrot and celeriac (or whatever else you use) but not to small. Add to the mince meat and fry for another 5 minutes. Add the tomatoe puree and the red wine. Put the lid on and let it bubble on low heat for 8 - 10minutes.
2. Add the tin tomatoes. Season with the oregano, basil salt and pepper. Let it bubble away for another 10-15 minutes.
3. Put a little oil on the bottom of the lasagne dish. Alternate layers of lasagne sheets, then the lasagne mixture and bechamelsauce. Finish with the mozzarella and grated cheese.

Put the lasagne in the oven for 15 minutes at 180 - 200 degrees.

Bechamelsauce:

50g butter, 50g flour, small tub of cream, milk, salt, pepper, lemon juice worcestersauce and 50g parmesan.
1. Melt the butter in a pan. Add the flour. Mix the cream with enough milk to make 1/2 litre. add the mixture to the butter and flour, whilest constantly steering (You don't want any lumps). Bring to boil, then reduce heat to medium/low and cook for 6-8 minutes - steering a few times, until mixture thickens. Season with the salt, pepper, lemon juice and worcestersauce and add the parmesan.

Nicely served with some garlic bread and salad.
I've been known to add red lentils to make a bigger portion.

It is very easy to make. Just hope it doesn't sound to alien, as I just translated it from german to english (sometimes I do forget to translate properly and leave the german word in! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: )

HTH

Egon

mumofjusttwo

Right well didn't plan on spending any money today but have bought some quorn (out of stock with my Tesco order) and some turkey for DH.
Will adjust my signature again. Plan on doing that fruitcake and Easter too. Think I may be busy with cooking over Easter.

findingmyfeet

nice recipe egon , slightly different to mine so might try it for a change.

Does anyone know if you can freeze pasta bake. I know it doesnt take long to make but sometimes can't be bothered when i get in from a long day at work. if its ready in the freezer i wont be tempted to call for a ready meal or take away.

icandream

egon wrote: »

Hi ICD,

what about lasagne?! You can bulk it out with some red lentils.

Egon - that recipe sounds delicious. Thanks so much. :TI'll do that, but it will probably be on next month's budget, as I'm hoping to find a way to cook a couple more meals at least out of the mince I have. Otherwise I'm just not going to keep to my target (DH although supportive already thinks I've been too optimistic, and I'm determined to prove him wrong ). Usually I'll just cook enough for one meal, but I want to stretch it as far as I can.
I just don't understand what you all do with pre-cooking. do you cook up a whole big batch of, say bolognaise, and freeze it in small portions, then use it for different things? Or do you cook different things, and then freeze those. I'm just not sure how to make the mince go as far as I can. I don't really want to use it up in one go.

skintscotslass

icandream wrote: »

Sorry not to have checked in. We're pretty much on target, but cannot get the hang of NS days! Seem to spend a little each day. But we are doing okay. And this thread has definitely helped me on this track.
But, could I have some help, please.
I have 750 g of mince, just defrosting.
I haven't batch cooked before.
What should I do with it? I've got carrots, onions, celery, tins of toms, tom puree. I wanted to make some into meatballs as we all love those. But not sure what to do with the rest, and how to portion it out for a family of 5 so I stretch it. I can do this with small amounts, but 750 g seems a bit big to me.
I've also got half a jar of olive and tomato pasta topping in the fridge which is just about to go off. The kids didn't like it. Can I use it and disguise it a bit. I've also got half a tub of creme fraiche, which needs using up.
Can anyone help?

I'd mix the olive and tom with the creme fraiche and add some lemon juice. Serve with pasta

angelnikki

findingmyfeet wrote: »

Does anyone know if you can freeze pasta bake. I know it doesnt take long to make but sometimes can't be bothered when i get in from a long day at work. if its ready in the freezer i wont be tempted to call for a ready meal or take away.

You can freeze pasta bakes. Its best to undercook the pasta so it doesnt fall apart too much when you reheat it.
HTH
Nikki
x

Edit: Woohoo I've got my first star!!!:) :starmod:

mikeD

Hi folks.

Thanks mumsyof2 and LouisJ for the Hobnob recipe.

Did you all get the bad wind Yesterday :rolleyes:. We had a bit mostly Sunday night and Monday morning. I spent 3 years in Eglington (NW Ireland near Londonderry) in the 50's, and compared to what we used to get there, yesterdays weather here was just a breeze.

NSD today.

I've had to alter the last 3 months spends slightly as there was a small mathematical error that had crept in but it makes no difference to the overall total.

Must dash so Ta Ta for now.

Love the FM

mama67

TheBees wrote: »

Evening everybody

Here in the south west the wind has just started blowing but nothing to get excited about yet.

This weekend I spent money on lots of ingredients for baking, some fruit and milk. The freezers are full of food for 2 weeks of meals but I have noticed we are getting low on cat food, potatoes, eggs, cartons of drinks for packed lunches and penguin type bars. Will probably do a Lidl shop on Thursday if I can last that long.
I know it would be more cost effective to give the children bottles of drink which I fill up daily but I can't seem to find containers that don't leak all over their sandwiches. :mad: Any suggestions?

We have £109 cash plus £25 still in the bank which I didn't withdraw to last to the end of the month so I'm pretty sure we should manage the challenge this month.

:j We are all excited as we are about to book a skiing holiday over Christmas. We have never been away at Christmas before and will be doing it on a very tight budget! It will be a challenge buying each other small, inexpensive gifts that won't take up too much space in the car so I'm going to start buying when I see things.

Have a good week everyone. My personal challenge is to have a couple NSdays but i always seem to need something!!

TheBees

I buy a 12 pack of bottled water once a term and then use those bottle for the packups drink containers, both boys take a drink to school even though DS1 has lunch money.

I have found this to be fairly cost effective £2.99/12 (sometimes 2/£5) and it means first time of use they drink water, instead of squash.

I buy the highland spring which is 300ml bottles and just fit nicely into DS2 lunch bag, along with his sandwich box etc.

Have tried all sorts of drinks containers and had them leak into lucnh bags, school bags etc but this has been the best option.