April 2008 Grocery Challenge

candygirl

Just spent £6.45 on bread n stuff at Booths, so off to update my sig:j :j

bails

Teedy, I love your sig! " Dabbler in all things moneysaving Master of none " That's exactly how I feel too - love the fact that I'm learning all the time though!

Egon, I've not been a SAHM yet but I read somewhere recently that this could be seen as a positive rather than something to explain away. A lot of transferrrable skills are learnt which can be highlighted in your CV/at interview so why not just put exactly that and then show those skills in your covering letter etc. Just a thought, good luck.

Back to catching up...

curly_cabbage

Afternoon all
Been to Mr T's and topped up with fruit and veg. They had some nice fish reduced which are in the frezzer yum yum. I have updated my sig to show the £35 spent today. at work for the rest of the week so i hope to have the next 5 days as NSD's, only time will tell...................................

CC

bails

I LOVE THIS THREAD! Thanks everybody xx

I've made a list of things to do to help reduce our spends further and I'd like to try Asda home delivery (we don't have one near us). I thought I'd do a check through mysupermarket first - am I right in thinking I have to 'shop' through Tesco and then it compares with the other supermarkets? Our local is a Sains so it would be easier if I could do it through Sains first that's all. If anyone has understood what I mean, have a medal!

EDIT: oh okay, this time it's let me choose which supermarket, couldn't do that before! I'm bright me

frazzmunch

Being a good girl and have done an inventory of my freezer and cupboards...made a menu plan for the next month and a shopping list for each week....here is the menu plan for anyone who is interested - I have tried to show what i have/will have in my store cupboards and freezer so that you can get an idea of how i can do it for about £20-25 per week. This is for 3-4 adults:

Beef & pork curry and rice (I have a 25kg sack of rice..I buy in bulk. The beef is from a casserole we had over the weekend and the pork is from yesterdays joint)

Pork and apple bake with caramelized carrots ( diced cooked pork from joint, sliced apples and onion from store fried in butter and corn oil topped with leftover mashed potato and grated cheese baked in oven, carrots from store par boiled then cooked in corn oil, butter and demerara sugar from store until soft and fluid evaporated)

Spaghetti bolognese & salad (bolognese made with TVP mince from store, spaghetti from store, nuts and dried fruit for salad from store)

Polenta, black eye peas with roasted tomatoes, red peppers and red onions (all from store or freezer)

Homemade pizza (all from store)

Chilli, tortilla wraps, rice & salad (TVP chilli & rice from store)

Roast Sardinian Lamb, yorkshire puddings, carrots, cauliflower & broccoli with roast & mashed potatoes (all from fridge & freezer)

Sardinian pasta & salad (sauce from cooking lamb, pasta & salad from store)

Shepherds pie & vegetables (leftover lamb & potatoes, whatever veg available)

Tagine & cous cous (nuts, seeds, dried fruit & cous cous from store, remains of lamb, some butternut squash, sweet potatoes & tin tomatoes for tagine)

Sushi & salads (sushi ingredients from store)

Lentil and pasta mousakka (brown lentils, pasta, cheese, tomato sauce & white sauce from store)

Lemon & lime rice, falafels & salad (lemon, limes, stock, chick peas, herbs & salad from store)

Roast chicken, veg & potatoes

Chicken soup, homemade bread & salad (chicken & stock from roast, bread & salad from store)

Lentils & rice (lentils, rice & stock from store)

Cannellini beans cooked with sage, mediteranean style sage potatoes, veg (all from store)

Pasta & roasted tomato sauce & salad (both from store)

Lime, coconut & basil soup, homemade bread (tin of coconut milk, shallots, kaffir lime leaves, stock & bread ingredients from store)

Roast beef, yorkshire puddings & veg

Beef fajitas, salad & rice ( beef from roast, spices,rice & salad from store)

Beef & potato pie & veg (beef & potatoes from roast, oat pastry from store)

Millet & quinoa bake, blackeye peas and roasted peppers & salad (millet, quinoa, blackeye peas, onion, stock, roasted red peppers from store)

Pasta & red pepper sauce & salad (pasta, red peppers, balsamic vinegar & salad from store)

Chicken wrapped in ham with herb cheese filling, new potatoes & salad (soft cheese from store)

Vegetable soup & homemade bread (whatever veg is left in fridge & bread ingredients from store)

Salmon parcels, new potatoes & veg

Pasta with rosemary, garlic and white wine sauce (pasta, rosemary & garlic from store)

Hope thats of help to someone...definately is helping me!!

nessquic80

well ive been watching this thread now for ages and i can honestly say you guys have turned me. it all started last monday thinking what to do with all the vegs that i buy and end up throwing away, so i made a veg soup blended it all up and it was lush!! i did surprise myself:T . then i made a lemon maderia cake and hubby couldnt believe id made it, he really made my day when he said it was better than shop bought:D ! then HM chicken and veg lasagne then banana cake and yesterday bread rolls they werent so sucuessful ,a bit dense! all of the items metioned was what i already had in the cupboards so was really pleased with my self. This month i have spent approx £130 for two adults and one toddler so id like to join in wih GC and start on payday(thursday). heres wishing everyone good luck and will post again soon

bails

Well done Nessquic, it really is addictive once you get going! Thanks for posting your menu Frazzmunch (great name!), I'll be looking at that in detail for some new ideas.

I've just been on mysupermarket (having a play for next month) and I am struggling to put anything in my trolley as I keep thinking 'No, I can make that' :rotfl:See what you've done to me? Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou! :T:j How will I ever get enough stuff for an online order though?

SAVVYMUMMY_2

Hi everyone,:hello:
will update siggy in a mo.

So far, have spent total of £241.96, so have £58.04 until end of month(30th).(me, hubby, DS1, DS2)

This a BIG effort from me and BIG BIG BIG BIG THANKS to all of you:T , Considering last month and before I was spending £400+:eek: a month on my shopping, I think you all deserve a great big kiss :kisses: . I`ve learnt so much and hoping to cut back a bit more next month;), so keep up the good work with posting your ideas, bargin food finds, and great ms ideas etc.

MRSMCAWBER

HERB POPOVERS
Makes 12
per serving - 75 cals

preheat oven to 220c/425f/gas7
grease 12 small ramekins or popover tins

1. 3 eggs
2. 250ml skimmed milk
3. 2tbs butter -melted
4. 75g plain flour
5. 1/8tsp salt
6. 1 small sprig of fresh herbs of choice - chives, dill, parsley,

• using an electric mixer and beat the eggs until well blended, beat in milk and melted butter
• sift flour and salt , then beat into the egg mixture until well combined
• add the chopped herbs -about 2tbs
• half fill the cups
• bake for 25-30 mins -don't open the door whilst cooking
• serve hot

CHEESE POPOVERS.... 92CALS EACH

The same basic mix but omit the herbs and add 1/4tsp paprika and 6tbs fresh grated parmesan

oh and if you want the popovers drier -after 30 mins pierce with a knife and bake for a further 5 mins

MRSMCAWBER

HAM N TOMATO SCONE
MAKES 12
per serving - 113 cal - 2WW points

pre-heat oven to 200c/400f/gas 6
flour a large baking sheet

1. 225g sr flour
2. 1tsp dry mustard
3. 1tsp paprika-plus extra for sprinkling
4. 1/2tsp salt
5. 24g soft marge
6. 1tbs fresh snipped basil
7. 50g sundried tomatoes in oil - drained and chopped (bet you could use some tom puree instead )
8. 50g cooked ham chopped
9. 90-120 ml skimmed milk -plus extra for brushing

• sift flour, mustard, paprika and salt into a bowl
• rub in marge until breadcrumby
• stir in basil, tomatoes and ham and mix lightly
• pour in enough milk to form a soft dough
• turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface
• knead briefly and roll out to 8" x 6"
• cut into 2" squares and place on the baking sheet
• brush with milk and sprinkle over paprika
• bake for 12-15 mins