March 2008 Grocery Challenge

mookybargirl

£38.95 left of my £160 budget now to get me to the end of the month :shocked:

Now, it's not all my fault. The supermarkets are just putting things on offer things I buy all the time to tempt me in and it's working. :rotfl:

I've found a great little Somerfield locally that I stumbled across while looking out for offers last month. As it's a bit out of the way, it doesn't get the usual after work shoppers, so if I pop in about 6pm, there's lots of yellow stickers to be had. It's becoming a real favourite and as I've said before, I have a 10% discount card for Mr M, so only offers or money off coupons tempt me elsewhere. Picked up 8 good quality sausages for 58p and 2 rump steaks for £1.20 this week. Very pleased.

I had a small disaster yesterday, as whipped up a half batch of 6 white choc and raspberry muffins, but forgot to half the eggs so they didn't turn out well. I knew the mixture wasn't quite right so chucked in some extra flour before putting on the oven, but I couldn't work out what went wrong until the penny dropped this morning when I woke up. Must have been dreaming about muffins. I'll make another 6 later with just the 1 egg. :rolleyes:

Just remembered that I forgot to defrost the sausages for bangers and mash tonight. I'm sure I can rustle up something else. Better get my thinking cap on.

Hope everyone's doing ok in their challenge.

skintscotslass

Well done MrsM!! Have you updated your BMI? How exciting to get below 36!!!!

Aw (((Keiss))) hope you feel better soon xx

candygirl

I'm gonna have a NSD today, got loads in cupboards and freezer:j :j My SIL's Mum's said I can have her hardly used breadmaker so fingers crossed I will be saving bit more soon:D

weemissy

Morning everyone
The rain has stopped at last :j, may get clothes half dried - take that back there are some dark clouds in the horizon. Don't really get a chance to post in the am - but having a day at home :j, so a NSD planned - unless the fish van turns up. Going to catch up with house work and make meatballs - came in to look for recipe for tortillas and meatballs - thanks MrsM et al - going to pad these out and weigh! and also found recipe for caramel shortbread - thanks. Went my grocery shop yesterday, £25 in MrT - lurpack butter 500g half price - bought 5 packs, bought 6 cravendale still 2 for £2- in the freezer, 2 packs organic pork mince (meatballs) - on special, some fruit and veg, cooked meat - on special. Then went to lidl and got eggs, cheese, rice, pasta, apples, yoghurt, toilet rolls - £15. This leaves me with £30 until the 1st April, have all my meals (and more) in and planned but will still have to buy more fruit, veg, yoghurt, 2 birthday cakes and a chinese take away for DD's 4th birthday (her choice - thankfully she doesn't yet realise there are chinese restaurants). Hopefully I will manage and am going to try and have more NSD. Here is the recipe I use for ham and cheese muffins - they are great for snacks, packed lunches, storing and freezing. Tana Ramsey family kitchen cookbook - don't have the book, I downloaded the recipe from ITV 'goodmorning' website a few years ago
10 1/2 oz SR flour
1/2 tsp mustard powder
1/2 tsp paprika
3oz butter
6 slices honey roast ham - chopped
6 1/2 oz mature chedder cheese
1 egg beaten
9fl oz milk
grated parmesan to sprinkle on top
makes 12. sieve flour mustard and papriak into large bowl, rub in butter until breadcrumbs, add ham and cheese, stir in egg and milk. spoon into muffin cases, sprinkle with parmesan, bake for 20mins on 190/375/GM5
I only use parmesan if I've got some in, I also just use whatever chedder I have in. When I did use mature chedder I reduced the amount as the muffins were too cheesy for us.

Have a good day

patentgirl

nykmedia thanks for inspiration will try them later got some puff pastry on offer which I want to use tonight any other snacks anyone from bits of puff pastry left
mookybargirl have you the recipe for those raspberry and white choc muffins sounds yummy with eggs of course!
weemissy thanks for ham and cheese muffins will try them later hoping to have a mammoth baking session after work today as I finish at 3

mumzyof2

Girl_least_likely_to wrote: »

I think this soup looks lovely too. I have one question though. Creamed tomatoes? Is this just a regular can of toms, or passata, or cream of tom soup?

Sorry if I'm being thick .

I think you put the tomatoes through a sieve, to get rid of all the skin...i think im right. maybe someone could tell us if they know?

MrsBartolozzi

Thanks for your recipe MrsMcawber, the tortillas were a hit!! I had to make two batches, as DS1 came home from school just as I finished the first set and wanted to check if they were edible:rolleyes: (quality control:cool: he claims)
Anyway he scoffed two leaving only 6 for tea!
Well I needed the second batch anyway as I used up all the leftover chicken from a roast, added to some 59p packs of peppers from Aldi and ended up with 14 enchiladas - which means 4 are now in my overstuffed freezer for later. And I am to make these tortillas every week from now on I am told:p.
My shopping budget is going ok too, for now - I say that as I always end up spending more towards the end of the month.
£65.31 to add to my total. I have £104.69 left, and we are halfish way through.

on the upside I won't need to hit the shops til sun evening to get fresh stuff and bread for the packed lunches:T .
Good luck everyone on your challenges.
MrsB.

curly_cabbage

Morning all
Done all my house work, done the banking, caught up with this thread and washing drying on the line instead of he tumble drier or radiators. Life's good.
MRS Mc Well done on you loss and NSD's pretty good going:T .

Today is my 5 NSD i'll have to go to the shops tomorrow to top up, but that should be it.

CC

mumzyof2

when you all say a NSD is that just no spend on grocries? Or you bought say some cigs but because its not in grocery then you still had a msd as you bought no food. if you get me?

mumzyof2

nopot2pin wrote: »

Tis no problem at all

Will just post it here... Just incase anyone else fancies the sound of it.

Baked Bean Soup

450g / 1 lb pork sausages
2tbsp sunflower/olive oil
1 large onion
900ml / 1 and half pints of veg stock (from a cube is ok)
400g / 14oz can of baked beans
2 tsp Wocestershire sauce
Salt and pepper to season

1. Grill the sausages until lightly browned and cooked through. Leave to cool, enough to cut into small pieces.

2. Heat oil in a large pan. Add the onion, and cook for about 5 minutes until softened, and lightly browned... Add the cut up sausages.

3. Pour the stock into the pan. Add the beans, Worcester sauce... season to taste and bring to the boil.

4. Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes until heated through.


After typing this up... I have realised why I found this bizarre:eek:

I dont eat meat...so when I made it, it didnt have any sausages in it....
No wonder it felt like something was missing.

Hope its ok for your kids mumzy

Thankyou very much, I dont have any worcestershire sauce tho and dont want to buy it as il never use it for anything else