March 2008 Grocery Challenge

saver03

This has been my first month of actually making sure I stick to a budget and write down all my grocery spending and it has really been quite :eek: I did what I thought would be the monthly shop in the first week and barely spent anything and then I just intended buying fresh when needed so I figured we would come in well under budget. But I have found myself just popping to Asda for hot x buns and spending £9 etc. I am actaully quite surprised how much I spend on topping up. I do need to be stricter as the freezer and cupboards are fit to bursting!

cookie9

Just back from Tesco where I stuck to my list apart from reduced priced muffins. Did go overbudget as needed vanila extract for baking but looking at it as a long time investment!
Now spent £33 so only £37 left. Just need to type up my menu planner now.

mark55man

morning everyone

just had Mr T pop round with the weeks groceries. thanks to MSE got a £12 voucher off so that was a bonus. up to £253 / £800 with 1/3 of the month gone.

eaten from the freezer most of this weekend using up stuff (yummy blueberry fool - even on the diet we are allowed (nay encouraged) to have a bit of cream. - so boiled up frozen blueberries (Mr T's 350g) with a little lemon juice and grated rind, then reduced it till it was not runny - then cooled it and stirred in 150ml double cream whipped until it was thick - then cooled for 60 minutes - mm mm it was nice

also and very sadly decided to knock having milk delivered - same milkie for 10 years - dead useful with babies and toddlers to know there was always milk in the morning, but now the kids are old enough to pop down the shop and we have t'internet coming every Sunday so we are ready for Monday. have decided its twice the price so has to go

KITTY_2-2

I haven't kept up with the thread over the last few days. DS has been out of sorts (only 6 days left in plaster - woohoo) and one of my cats had her kittens (5 gorgeous little bundles) so a very busy few days.

Hope GC is going well and we're all under budget

Due to the above reasons I have managed 2 (count them!) 2 NSD's. Definitely a first at my house so hopefully will stay on track. I do have to do a large shop at some point as the fridge and cupboards are like Mother Hubbard's. I'm going to investigate my supermarket today and look at the cash back sites. As I've never done either does anyone have any pointers? or is there a thread I should read??

Catch you later

kunekune

Made good start with avoiding the waste with my vege overload. Have put 2 bags of blanched carrots, 2 bags of blanched parsnips (for roasting) into freezer, also 1 bag of breadcrumbs, a cauliflower cheese and a cauliflower/carrot/broad bean/pasta in cheese sauce bake.

I still need to do something with -

2 packs of asparagus
3 large mushrooms
1 bulb fennel
5 older carrots
2 packs celery (!)
jerusalem artichoke
1 extra pack real tomatoes
1 big bag spinach
3 peppers

I'm thinking of doing a big batch of basic tomato sauce for adding to things, blanching and chopping the spinach to add to a lamb curry some time, and leaving the fennel, asparagus and mushrooms to use fresh. And jerusalem artichoke? Haven't got the foggiest. But for now I need to do some work-work, as mon-fri isn't enough to get caught up.

mumzyof2

betterlatethannever wrote: »

I made the most lovely carrot and coriander soup today.:D Must have cost me all of 90p to make and will do two adults two days lunches.

I've gone from being a total dud in the kitchen to being a goddess:j
Can't believe i spent years paying £2 + for fresh soup in the supermarket:o

How do you make your soup? I have loads of carrotts left..just dont know what corriander is LOL :rotfl:
May you post a methord/recipe?

betterlatethannever

Just made Twinks HM Hob nobs..god they're good:D but i have loads of mxture over (think i'm a little bit number dyslexic and mucked up the 8oz bit)..anyone successfully kept it in fridge for a few days and made fresh each day? or can it be frozen?

betterlatethannever

No prob Mumof2...:D

Here and HERE
I used the first recipe.

Coriander is lovely and used a lot in indian cusine, so if you like the quite strong flavour of a proper curry then use plenty, if not then less of the stuff.
I used half a packet of it at a copst of 80p a pack, but i also used some ground coriander.

Its a lovely, warming soup.

mumzyof2

betterlatethannever wrote: »

No prob Mumof2...:D

Here and HERE
I used the first recipe.

Coriander is lovely and used a lot in indian cusine, so if you like the quite strong flavour of a proper curry then use plenty, if not then less of the stuff.
I used half a packet of it at a copst of 80p a pack, but i also used some ground coriander.

Its a lovely, warming soup.

Thankyou very much. Where would i find corriander in the supermarket?

betterlatethannever

The ground coriander is in the herbs and spices bit. The fresh will usually be with the vegtables alongside some other fresh herbs. Sometimes its in a little pot and still growing or you can get it in a sealed plastic box (the cheaper alternative)