March 2008 Grocery Challenge

mumzyof2

Thanks poohbear, yes mine went thick also and it tasted great, i used the tesco value oats too and they are very cheap, was first time i had done it with oats also, very impressed and kids (aged 2 and 3) ate it all up

dinx1972

I have failed yet again on my grocery challenge for this month :mad: :embarasse :doh: . No matter how hard I try I just cannot do it . For the sake of my DMP I need to get a better grip of this. Can somebody help me. I have tried meal plans (although not brave enough to post them), and I have recently started freezing milk for the week to stop the constant local shop £20 pint of milk, and it has helped, BUT Mr T still has me well and truly hooked.

I think I need beating with a large stick:rotfl: .

chimp_choker

savingfortravel wrote: »

Today I spent £6.09

• Popped into Farm Foods-Linda McCartney Lasagnes were 35p each-picked up 3-

If Linda Mac made them won't they be a bit minger by now?? :rotfl:

Alan

Cleosmum

Got my last shop of march today and my total for the month is £202.35 which I am very impressed with, as my month is normally 4 weeks and I have managed a whole calendar month :beer:

chimp_choker

dinx1972 wrote: »

I have failed yet again on my grocery challenge for this month :mad: :embarasse :doh: . No matter how hard I try I just cannot do it . For the sake of my DMP I need to get a better grip of this. Can somebody help me. I have tried meal plans (although not brave enough to post them), and I have recently started freezing milk for the week to stop the constant local shop £20 pint of milk, and it has helped, BUT Mr T still has me well and truly hooked.

I think I need beating with a large stick:rotfl: .

What is your budget, how many for and how long ? any special diets, disabillities etc.
How do you do your meal plans?? do you do batch cooking ( all weeks meals in one day and freeze etc) or daily cooking? I think you will need to post at least a few of your meal plans, say for one week and then these can be picked to the bones for you..... ( on a roll or what).
As a glimmer of hope here's a hypothetical idea of what I do.

I cook a chicken on sunday, use breasts for dinner then cold pickings off the bones for tea with mayo in sandwhiches. Pick the bones later that evening and give to dog. Cook the bones up with an onion, 2 carrots and some herbs. Strain and cool. this is my stock for 3 days so i'll put it in 3 containers and freeze. If we don't have the sarnies at tea then it's same on monday lunch but with some hot curry powder mixed in for me dinner.
Alternativly if I'm cooking one chicken then I may cook 2 and disect the second for making a few pies, chicken and veg, chicken and mushroom etc or chicken curry. If you have little ones dip chunks of chicken in flour, egg then bread crumbs and freeze. chicken nuggets without the colourings. I make my own white sauces but buy pastry. I like batch cooking but my neck and back problems limit this a lot but still get through it. Milk is watered down 25% get friendly with local shops. buy a big bag of spuds , like the 25 kg ones for about £2.50 - £5.00 ask for a bag of carrots for the horses ( or rabbits). These are generally the nob ends of broken carrots that are bagged up to feed horses and cost about £1.50 for 20 kg. Absolutly the same carrots as you buy off the shelf but they are broken in half. I share mine with a neighbour and he gives me the odd rabbit ( it's chicken really... at least the wife thinks it's chicken)
There is no rule that says you HAVE to shop at Mr T's, Mr S's or anywhere else but Asda is on the whole 35% cheaper for me in any given week... Also I put £25 on a christmas card each month. That stops there so that if i'm out of money ... which I frequently am and have no food I have this back up. If I don't use it ( hah such grand idea's) then it's there for next month.
Then you have mince and pork etc, vegetable dishes, rice dishes, home made cleaning products etc... home made bags .... (no not the wives) saving money on gym by walking home with shopping groe your own on an allotment or in tubs on your balcony of the 14th floor high rise.....
Hope this helps but re read the top and post some info.

Chimpy alan

Kaz2904

So eaten up with one serving left over. DS tucked in and seemed to like it. He ate all of it. DH took loads more from the pan and then moaned about it having parsnips in (he didn't notice the porridge oats). DD didn't hear us calling her for tea until it was nearly all gone so hers was a bit cold. She has finally finished it having taken 1/2 an hour.
They've had hot X buns for pud and I had a banana muffin. DS decided he doesn't like the banana ones (he doesn't usually tbh) and DH won't even try it.
So now I know what to do with them- bags of 2!
DH said he didn't want me to experiment with spag bol- hmm I'll show him!
I thought it was loverly!

savingfortravel

Chimp Choker
You could be right!!!!!!!!!! No they're fine.

Mrs Mcawber-Thanks. Not sure if I declared my final total for March-it is £55.45.
Thanks
SFT

Moniker

Have just done my first 'big 'shop for April and it came in less than expected so that was a good start! I have updated my signature.

Re the discussion about mince: I usually buy the 250gm buy 2 for £4 packs from Sainsbury's and divide these in 2 before freezing. When I want to make a shepherd's pie or something I use one 125gm pack and throw in a handful of lentils and 'extend' it that way. I did this last week and used a large chopped carrot, half an onion, and made two shepherd's pies - each serving 2 people. I though that I might have stretched it too far but there was plenty and my DH doesn't even notice that he's getting the 'economy' version! I use tinned tomatoes and frozen peas to make a variation which is 'savoury'mince - topped with a scone mix to make a cobbler - very tasty.

I am addicted at the moment to my steamer - I bought a 3 tier stainless steel one in the January sale at Woolies for £9 (half price!) and I love it. I usually do potatoes in the bottom and three or four other veg in the two other tiers - they taste great this way and i save electricity by only using one ring of the hob.

Well done to all of you - especially those who have kicked the weed! MikeD- I would have thought that to a seasoned money saver like you the prospect of saving all that money would have been motivation enough!

Keep up the good work!

love Moniker

lilmisskitkat

Well i've completely failed at this months challenge Have no idea how much i've spent but i'm guessing around the £240 mark out of out £200 budget. I've been feeling really down recently and i have let things slide which has made me feel worse as i've felt like i've had no control over anything

Anyway, tomorrow is a new month for me, will try for £200 again and try to stick to it this time. I've got my meal plan for the next week and shopping list ready for tomorrow, i'm going to both Asda and Tescos to make the most of whos got what on offer etc. After visiting Aldi earlier in the month and finding some really good stuff i've decided to also do a shop there every 6 weeks or so to stock up on the items i like

Fingers crossed! Good luck everyone

Kate xxx

jackie_w

cheerfulness4 wrote: »

I've got to get into making HM fishcakes Jackiew -care to share how you make them? I prefer the tried and tested ones.;) I used to have a Delia Smith recipe but the book got ruined annoyingly.
.

Hi Cheerfulness recipe for fishcakes as follows:

1lb fish (I used haddock but you can use anything really)
1lb potatoes
2-3 tblsp milk (warmed)
2 eggs
2tblsp parsley
plain flour
4oz breadcrumbs
olive oil

Cook fish in a pan with sufficient water to cover. Bring to boil, then lower heat and poach gently for 15 - 20 mins. The cool, drain the fish and flake to makre sure all bones have been removed.

Cook potatoes and then mash with the warm milk.

Beat eggs

Mix fish with the mashed pots, parsley, and just enough of the beaten egg to hold it together.

Shape the mixture (with floured hands) into 8 cakes. Brush them with the remaining egg, and coat in breadcrumbs. Chill for about 30 mins or until ready to cook.

Heat oil in frying pan and shallow fry the fish cakes for about 5 mins on each side or until crispy and golden OR to bake in the oven, brush with a little olive oil and cook for 15 - 20 mins until hot or golden brown. 200C/400F/GM 6.

My kids love them.

Jackie xx