March 2008 Grocery Challenge

mookybargirl

Wow - this has moved so fast. I'm only on page 7 (long pages though) but have a LOT to catch up on.

Thanks to savingfortravel for posting about aldi's pasta as grudge paying the £2.20 ish at Asda or Mr T's for the same bag that cost £1 only a few months ago.

I'm doing ok. I've found a Somerfield nearby, which I'm really pleased about as they have some really good offers. I get 10% off at Mr M as my mum works there but I still shop everywhere depending on what's on offer

Spend so far is £59.12....

fallen_angel_shelley

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

Hi shelley

Yes, as long as it was frozen raw, has then been cooked -you can freeze it again... i must have smaller balls than you...i got 25 out of mine :rotfl: ..and thats without adding any carrot..mine were about 20g each..yes -im sad enough to weigh them

Hi BabyMother..will go and add you to the list..and good luck for this month

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
i didn't weigh mine maybe next time i will make them smaller. i will my ex-OH if he will store them in hie frezzer for me

icandream

fallen_angel_shelley wrote: »

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
i didn't weigh mine maybe next time i will make them smaller. i will my ex-OH if he will store them in hie frezzer for me

I have just laughed so much... me too has made meatballs for tonight. Just! I've made 19 and I just had to rush downstairs to weigh one: 40 g!!!!! MrsM, I am obviously making mine too large, as I cannot see how with 5 of us we'll have any left over. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:Have you measured the diameter? But I have frozen them when I have any left over after cooking, and they've always been fine.
Felt good today, as went to Asda, and usually spend a fortune, but it came in under £50, thanks to the words of this thread ringing in my ears. I bulked out the rest of the meatball mince (only had 500 g) with carrot, celery, red lentils, and onion, and chick peas, and cooked it up, so that's another meal sorted for tomorrow. And spotted a recipe for tarka dahl somewhere on the forum, so planning to use up my red lentils in a store cupboard recipe - that really will be a cheap meal.
It's great to hear all your updates everyone. Keep them coming. :T

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there

Not sure of the diameter..I'm not quite that bad -yet ....

I make them smaller so they cook quicker and as im still in the midst of losing weight its a psycological thing... I roll the tortillas out really thinly and so -because it is bigger i only have 1 -even though there is the same amount of dough -my mind sees the size and is happy , especially when i cut them in 2 -so my mind thinks its got more;) ... and when i put the meatballs in i even cut them in half so the filling goes right to the edges :rotfl:
My mix was

400g minced turkey
50g fresh breadcrumbs
1 red onion -finely chopped
1tsp -cumin seeds -bashed in the pestle n mortar
1/2tsp ground corriander and seasoning..

next time im grating carrot in there too

hubby had 3 tortillas yesterday..but next time 2 will do he reckons..so i will be able to get 3 meals out of that mix next time -once i have added grated carrot ..might try adding a bit of sausage meat too for a change...have some balls of it in the freezer from sausage making ..

shelovestobuystuff

Just placed my monthly shopping order ,used a £10 off code and went via ushopucare for 5% cashback too(last order didnt appear to track so we will see if this one works).
The list below is my monthly shopping order for 3 adults(DS is 17) and one little un.2 big dogs too but plenty of food left and will have to buy another 17kg bag of dry dog food in 2 weeks time.
4 Tesco Value 2pk Baguette £1.76
2 Value Apples Polybag £1.72
1 Value Bananas 1.25kg £0.81
1 Tesco Cauliflower Each £0.68
2 Tesco Broccoli 300g £0.88
1 Tesco Cabbage Green Each £0.37
6 Tesco Parsnips Loose Class 1 £1.14
2 Tesco Carrots 1 Kg Pack Class 1 £0.62
1 King Edward Potatoes 2.5kg Pack £0.69
1 Finest Free Range Corn Fed Whole Chicken 1-2.4kg £3.58
1 Tesco Swedish Style Meatballs 350g £1.77
1 Pilgrims Choice Vintage Extra Mature 400g £1.84
1 Tesco Blue Stilton 220g £1.57
2 Petit Filous Ff Strawberry Raspberry 6pk 360g £3.16
1 Tesco Free Range Eggs Medium Box Of 6 £1.28
2 Tesco Value Twingarlic Baguette 340g £1.68
1 Quorn Mince 350g £2.00
2 Tesco 2 Garlic & Corriander Naan 320g £1.98
2 Tesco Value Milk Chocolate Digestives 300g £0.54
2 Tesco Value Jaffa Cakes 24pk £1.16
2 Tesco Value Cookies Chocolate Flavoured Chips 600g £1.66
2 Tesco Value Ginger Nuts 300g £0.56
2 Tesco Value Digestive Biscuits 400g £0.44
4 Colmans Casserole Mix Sausage 40g £2.76
1 Tesco Mild Curry Sauce 715g £1.05
1 Miscellaneous Granulated Sugar 1kg Packet £0.79
6 Tesco Value Baked Beans In Tomt/Sauce 420g £1.20
2 Batchelors Golden Savoury Rice 120g £1.04
8 Tesco Original Pasta Sauce Jar 500g £3.68
1 Tesco Value Mixed Carrots Cauliflower & Broccoli 1kg £0.94
2 Tesco 20 Thick Pork Sausages 1kg £2.56
1 Tesco Meat Free 4 Nut Cutlets 350g £1.69
1 Tesco Meat Free Cauliflower Chsegrills 397g £1.64
3 Tesco Pure Apple Juice 4x1 Litre £8.94
4 Tesco Pure Orange Juice Smooth 4x1 Litre £11.92
1 Tesco Value Wash Up Liquid 1 Ltr £0.13
2 Tesco Value Toilet Tissue 12 Roll 2400 Sht £2.24
2 Bob Martin Primecuts Premium Ham Bone £3.98
Guide price£76.45
Service charge£5.99
Subtotal£82.44
Savings:eCoupon - £10 off your groceries- £10.00
(so £72.44 minus reductions)

Still have reductions to come off the final bill so will add totals to signature tomorrow.

I have loads of pasta left from last month and still have to buy a beef joint(I like to pick those myself)
some butter and coke for hubby.
Already spent £10 in poundland on cleaning stuff,coffee,3 tins tomato soup and 2 tins of custard(I cant make it)
and yesterday hubby bought all the sandwich fillings,cold cuts,bread,milk,crisps,some fruit and dinner for yesterday and today total £25.05.
I may have to buy another chicken later in the month as I dont think the free range one will stretch to 4 or 5 meals like the usual massive ones I buy.

Looks like just over £100 total so far but will put actual total in sig once I check the tesco shopping total tomorrow with the reductions off.

scotsaver

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

Hi shelley

Yes, as long as it was frozen raw, has then been cooked -you can freeze it again... i must have smaller balls than you...i got 25 out of mine :rotfl: ..and thats without adding any carrot..mine were about 20g each..yes -im sad enough to weigh them

Hi BabyMother..will go and add you to the list..and good luck for this month

MRSMCAWBER - thanks for adding me onto list too. Can't believe how quickly this thread grows, not been logging on as much as spending more time in the kitchen.:rotfl: Could you please copy out your recipe for MEATBALLS and suggest how many I should be able to make from the quantity so that I know how many I can cook that night and how many I can freeze. Many thanks.

Spent most of today in the kitchen, made a Mince Pie thingy from a recipe book that I forgot I had, been digging them all out recently as determined to stick to the budget and use what I have in. Also made a potato bake from scratch, just sliced potatoes, diced onions in between and stock and milk poured in and knobs of butter on top - had it before and it was lovely(even if I do say so myself:rotfl: ). Also got carrots and cabbage sliced up ready to go in the steamer. Got some rolls rising on a tray at the moment to go in the oven before I head off to the School. Even got the table laid so feeling pleased with myself that I am so far ahead.

Keep up the good work everyone, MRSMCAWBER can't wait for the meatballs recipe and shall pencil that in for one day next week - someone mentioned bulking them out with lentils, would I have to cook them first before adding - hope you don't mind all the questions but from what I've read on here you look like someone who cooks a lot and knows what you are talking about.;)

scotsaver

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

Hi there

Not sure of the diameter..I'm not quite that bad -yet ....

I make them smaller so they cook quicker and as im still in the midst of losing weight its a psycological thing... I roll the tortillas out really thinly and so -because it is bigger i only have 1 -even though there is the same amount of dough -my mind sees the size and is happy , especially when i cut them in 2 -so my mind thinks its got more;) ... and when i put the meatballs in i even cut them in half so the filling goes right to the edges :rotfl:
My mix was

400g minced turkey
50g fresh breadcrumbs
1 red onion -finely chopped
1tsp -cumin seeds -bashed in the pestle n mortar
1/2tsp ground corriander and seasoning..

next time im grating carrot in there too

hubby had 3 tortillas yesterday..but next time 2 will do he reckons..so i will be able to get 3 meals out of that mix next time -once i have added grated carrot ..might try adding a bit of sausage meat too for a change...have some balls of it in the freezer from sausage making ..

Just realised that you have posted this while I was typing my reply!! You must be a mind reader.:T Shall quickly write this down and decide what day we are having these next week.:D

curly_cabbage

mrs_moneyspinner wrote: »

Hi I am at the adding up receipts stage during March and am using cash and not cards as I think it will be easier to take control ... I will be asking to join the challenge in April but will be visiting this thread regularly - good luck everyone - I am following your examples

I have been doing the challenger for a couple of months but, this month i have chossen to only use cash for the food shooping and so far this week it seems to be helping, as i'm sure you'll agree using debit/credit cards is like getting all the shopping for free but. knowing you only have so much cash on you really slows you down while shopping too no impulse buying.....:j

Good luck with your challenger

CC

icandream

scotsaver wrote: »

Keep up the good work everyone, MRSMCAWBER can't wait for the meatballs recipe and shall pencil that in for one day next week - someone mentioned bulking them out with lentils, would I have to cook them first before adding.;)

I bulk it out with red lentils a little - I boiled them for 10 mins before adding. Don't know whether this is necesssary or not, but I've always done it. It works a treat, and stretches the mince: I can't quite believe how much I've got out of the 450 g packet.

MRSMCAWBER: thanks so much for your meatball recipe.:A Sounds yummy, and will try that one. Mine are based on beef mince, so it will be a change. And your reasoning sounds spot on. I think my portion control is the next thing I will look at. But one step at a time! :T

MRSMCAWBER

scotsaver wrote: »

Just realised that you have posted this while I was typing my reply!! You must be a mind reader.:T Shall quickly write this down and decide what day we are having these next week.:D

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Hi scotsaver...

I do cook a lot, I love cooking... just wish there was more than me n hubby to cook for....thats why i love xmas n things -i can really go to town then :j
Not sure that I know what im talkin about though lol

I love sliced potatoes and onions done in the oven too :T ..i use a lamb stock cube mmmm hubby likes it with corned beef in a layer through the middle..but i like it as it is, with fresh bread when i was a kid mum used to do it and put bacon or sausage on the top for the last 20 mins or so, so that the juices soaked into the potatoes ...

Curly cabbage. i only use cash too, it seems more REAL that way..with the debit card -i just don't notice it -until its too late :eek:

Icandream... im going to have a go at beef meat balls.. we just had turkey as i got it whoopsed..and i think turkey can be really bland..so i had a trial run and hubby loved them straight away :eek: ..so i have stuck with it.. must have a go at some different ones.... keeping my eye out on here for al those yummy recipes i keep spotting...

right off i go... need to tackle the pasta dough...wish me luck