March 2008 Grocery Challenge

jackie_w

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick one, have been sooooo busy. Spent £10.50 in Lidl yesterday.

Im afraid I cant remember what I bought cos ive lost my receipt .

Feeling so unorganised these days because Im so busy at work. I kind of "concerned" incase I go over budget because, I havent done any meal planing, and Im not sure what is in my freezer & cupboards.
Im off tomorrow, so between catching up on here, and doing the housework, I will do an inventory of the freezer and cupboards and see what I have, and check the meal plan posts for ideas. TBH I dont think I actually have much in in the way of "proper food", I have a funny feeling its mostly chicken breasts and a couple of bags of stewing steak. Oh well,I will know fo sure tomorrow.

Jackie xx

mookybargirl

Hey everyone, I'm in the middle of making Mrsm's tortillas - sticky? sticky? I couldn't get them off my hands...... I need to roll them out in just over 5 mins, should be fun :rotfl:

MRSMCAWBER

Hi Mookybar

Sorry you are having problems..not sure what has happened .. not had that problem .. wonder if its the difference in flours..as they absorb different amounts..

weezl74

redsquirrel80 wrote: »

Hi Weezl, just wanted to say wow! at your total - you're feeding two people for what I'm trying to spend for one! I noticed from an earlier post that you average it out over three months which I think is a really good idea - any other tips? Where do you shop?

I know that it doesn't necessarily cost twice as much for two people as it does for one, but that is a fantastic achievement! :T

Hi, thanks for that! I think my 'stages of MSE OS detox' were like this

1. Worked out what we spent on food (£200-300 per month):mad:
2. Had a good old look at what things were easy, but quite costly (we used to get those already roasted chickens and a bag of salad, share it and maybe just get one sandwich out of the leftovers- cringe!) so that was £5 evening meal without pudding!:o
3. Had a look at what things were costly little rituals (tub of Ben and Jerry's ice cream whilst watching the apprentice on telly, £3.50 a week for a 12 week season!!!):rolleyes: Started making my own alternatives...
   
4. Thought about ways of trying the basic, cheap but filling foods from each culture, for loads of variety, but on a budget. (Dahl and rice from India, toad in the hole and onion gravy from the UK, penne and arrabiata sauce to go Italian...)
5. Took on the whole idea of batch cooking, and acquired an extra freezer to accomodate!:eek:
6. Looked even harder at what we spent and looked for alternatives (DH used to get through £3 of golden syrup on his porridge per month, I got my thinking cap on and have made a HM cinnamon syrup instead for 40p for the same amount!)
7. Kept looking on here to see what others do...
8. Started making my own bread by hand (18p a loaf)
9. HM sarnies with HM hummus or pate for lunches
   

Gradually (since september 08), have got it down to £45 a month for us both.:j

I love it here!

Hope some of my ideas help, and thanks for the compliment, made me smile!;)

Weezl x

bails

Thanks getting-sorted-sarah, I thought that was the answer but just wanted to check. Sadly not munching them as they're still an idea in my head at the mo My excuse is I had to go shopping :eek: and I'm thinking of other things to make at the same time

Spent £38.51 in Mr S and OH bought guinea pig food for £14.99 so budget has taken quite a hit today. Still, we're well stocked up, only thing we should need is veg - famous last words!!

Wow, Weezl, I've just checked out your sig, that's amazing! There are 2 of us (plus the pets) and our budget is £160 and I've not met it yet (Month 3). Thanks for the inspiration, maybe I do stand a chance one day Can I ask, do you eat meat?

curly_cabbage

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

Hello again everyone

Just had to pop back -as i have just made my first attempt at making bagels :j ...i altered the recipe to make poppy seed and onion

what can i say apart from NOM NOM NOM :rotfl: ... just had one for my tea..toasted with cream cheese :drool: ...... so i thought i had better come and share the recipe

bagels -makes 8

1. 1 cup warm water
2. 1 tbs soft butter
3. 1tsp sugar
4. 3tsp salt
5. 3 cups white bread flour
6. 1 1/2 tsp yeast..... i used 20g of fresh
7. 1tbs poppy seeds
8. 2 tbsp fried onions (the crispy ones in tubs for salads)

• tip the flour and salt into a large bowl and make a well in the centre
• mix the fresh yeast, sugar and water and pour into the well add the butter (if using dried yeast -tip into flour but don't add the salt until you are kneading in the seeds n onions;) )
• mix to form a soft dough
• tip in the onions and poppy seeds
• and knead to combine
• leave to prove until double in size
• cut into 8 pieces..mine were about 90g
• roll into a sausage -about 9" - form into a ring and pinch the edges together (I formed mine around a barts spice bottle to get even-ish sizes;) )
• place on a greased baking sheet -or on a silicone liner, cover loosely with oiled cling film or a split carrier bag and leave to prove for 20 mins
• bring a pan of water to the boil, pop 2-3 bagles into the pan and cook for 1 min -turning half way through...they do swell slightly
• lift out and gently shake to remove water
• place on silicone liner /oiled baking sheet and when all done place in a preheated oven -200c/400f/gas 6 and bake for about 15-20 mins (you can glaze -before baking if you like with 1 egg yolk and 1tbs water mixed)
• remove onto cooling rack and cool

Toasted they are stunning..so im super impressed. Now i know the shop ones are awful unless toasted -guess who had her 1st one straight out of the packet and wondered why they were so awful :rotfl: ..but i reckon these ones could be allright...

guess i might have to do some sultana and cinnamon or mixed spice ones next time

right best get them bagged up and into the freezer in the basement..out of my way and then i need to post the recipe over on the OS weightloss thread or i will be in trouble

Come on folks -who is going to be the first to try them ??? they really are simple..honest

Thanks for this recipe, i'm going to give it a go on Wednesday, and add this to my recipe folder largely holding your recipes Mrs Mc.

CC

MRSMCAWBER

curly_cabbage wrote: »

Thanks for this recipe, i'm going to give it a go on Wednesday, and add this to my recipe folder largely holding your recipes Mrs Mc.

CC

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: .... ooohh I have my own section in your folder ...

I am amazed that the bagels worked as they did... the bit about dropping the dough into the boiling water was what was bothering me...expected a right sloppy mess :rolleyes:
I had that 1 toasted with cream cheese for tea an im still full up :T ...eeeeee i like bread i do..
hope they work well for you... off in search of my next mission now

mumzyof2

well im about to put the bagels in the pan a bit small i find but kids did them lol. im waiting now on the dough for an hour for my iced buns

mumzyof2

mookybargirl wrote: »

Hey everyone, I'm in the middle of making Mrsm's tortillas - sticky? sticky? I couldn't get them off my hands...... I need to roll them out in just over 5 mins, should be fun :rotfl:

my dough was sticky too...i added A BIT MORE flour and then did best i could with them and stuck them in the freezer

bails

Mumzy, will you post the iced buns please? They're my fave, but at 50p a time...:eek:

I didn't buy any bread today, to force myself to start making my own. I am going to bake this week, I am going to bake this week, I am going to bake this week...:D