April 2008 Grocery Challenge

mandy_moo_1

turbo5019 wrote: »

I would like to join the may challenge how do I do that?

hi and welcome :wave:

if you have an idea in your head of what you spend each month, or week, just put that down as your budget. i get my money weekly, so i do it that way. then the idea is to shave a little off each month/week till you get to an amount you're comfortable with

and whatever you manage to save can go in your piggy bank towards whatever you're saving up for

you'll get loads of help on here, don't be afraid to ask....can't help you out with your fish tho, cos i've never made fishcakes

turbo5019

Thanks SAVVYMUMMY I'll give that a go tonight. When my husband comes back next week he'll wonder what has happend to me never cooked so much in my life!!!!!!!!

curly_cabbage

Afternoon all
Doing well this week today is my 3rd NSD in a row, main because i'm at work all week instead of the usual 3 days and try very hard to use up the frezzer ect. Don't get paid until the 31st this month but, i think that i'm going to try for £150 for next month but, we'll see.
Off to the gym for a swim and spa which is going to be lush.

CC

turbo5019

mandy_moo_1 wrote: »

hi and welcome :wave:

if you have an idea in your head of what you spend each month, or week, just put that down as your budget. i get my money weekly, so i do it that way. then the idea is to shave a little off each month/week till you get to an amount you're comfortable with

and whatever you manage to save can go in your piggy bank towards whatever you're saving up for

you'll get loads of help on here, don't be afraid to ask....can't help you out with your fish tho, cos i've never made fishcakes

Thanks
I think for the first month I'll go for £250 for may and see how I go I have been trying to stick to £50 a week and not done too bad.

Sarellie8

Hi All

Would really like to join for the May challenge please. Newbie and trying to ease myself in gently. My budget for 2 adults and 1 DD (7) £50 a week.

Good luck everyone!!!!

clair2305

welcome turbo5019 and sarellie8

Has a May challenge board been started yet?

SAVVYMUMMY_2

turbo5019 wrote: »

Thanks SAVVYMUMMY I'll give that a go tonight. When my husband comes back next week he'll wonder what has happend to me never cooked so much in my life!!!!!!!!

My hubbys the same, started the challenge beginning of this month and nearly all the meals and sweet things(biscuits/cakes) have been cooked from scratched. Only been having a bit of bother with the bread/rolls but hoping this has been sorted.

Kaz2904

I always make fish pie with the combination of fish. That was one of the whoopsies we did manage to get on Sunday.
I had been using Jamies recipe which uses eggs but with the price increase the eggs are out.
I use 2 small bits of fish, 2 big carrots cut to julienne, a few blocks of frozen spinach and a large onion or 2.
I then use a little tub of cream or make a white sauce.
Fry the onions with a little lemon juice and soften up the carrots. Add 1pt stock. Chuck in the spinach to thaw a little. Add the cream or small amount white sauce (1/4 pt should do) and stir together until mixed with the stock.
Let it reduce a bit you don't want it too runny.
Put it into 2 oven proof dishes and add the fish raw and cut into chunks (I use scissors it's easier!) If using eggs 1/4 them and add now. Give it a stir and top with mashed veg or potatoes.
You can add a little cheese too the sauce if you want but I like the lemon juice with some herbs.
Chuck it in the oven for a bit and serve.
Do think it's lovely but I never buy full price fish so have it with all sorts of combinations. You do only need a small amount of fish and just bulk out with loads of veggies.

My MIL makes hers with white sauce, white fish, prawns and a mash topping- I think she adds sweetcorn.

The rest of the quiche for tea tonight with cucmber and tomatoes. May have to do some sweetcorn and peas as we have no lettuce though cause I aint going shopping!

GFN123

Hello again

Just checking in as updated my sig & realised I am very close to target but still have 6 days left in April! I think I will scrape through it though as I'm at my OH's all weekend and have enough freezer food, cupboard essentials & veg left to make meals with next week.

I just wanted to say this challenge has been fab :cool: My previously monthly food spend sometimes totalled well over £300, for just 2.5 adults (OH stays every other weekend, he is not half a person!! :rotfl:) What I have noticed is I have begun to become much more creative, and more importantly, so much more conscious of what I buy, rather than just throwing anything I fancy into my trolley then getting home & having nothing suitable for dinner!

I just checked my bank balance & am nowhere near as overdrawn as I would normally be at this stage :T My payday is 15th of each month and I *think* I can clear my OD fairly soon if I lower my spend again for the following months.

Thanks for all the inspiration lovely MSE'ers

SAVVYMUMMY_2

Kaz2904 wrote: »

I always make fish pie with the combination of fish. That was one of the whoopsies we did manage to get on Sunday.
I had been using Jamies recipe which uses eggs but with the price increase the eggs are out.
I use 2 small bits of fish, 2 big carrots cut to julienne, a few blocks of frozen spinach and a large onion or 2.
I then use a little tub of cream or make a white sauce.
Fry the onions with a little lemon juice and soften up the carrots. Add 1pt stock. Chuck in the spinach to thaw a little. Add the cream or small amount white sauce (1/4 pt should do) and stir together until mixed with the stock.
Let it reduce a bit you don't want it too runny.
Put it into 2 oven proof dishes and add the fish raw and cut into chunks (I use scissors it's easier!) If using eggs 1/4 them and add now. Give it a stir and top with mashed veg or potatoes.
You can add a little cheese too the sauce if you want but I like the lemon juice with some herbs.
Chuck it in the oven for a bit and serve.
Do think it's lovely but I never buy full price fish so have it with all sorts of combinations. You do only need a small amount of fish and just bulk out with loads of veggies.

My MIL makes hers with white sauce, white fish, prawns and a mash topping- I think she adds sweetcorn.

The rest of the quiche for tea tonight with cucmber and tomatoes. May have to do some sweetcorn and peas as we have no lettuce though cause I aint going shopping!

This sounds YUMMMMMMY Kaz, I may have to try your recipe next month, if you don`t mind. I used to buy fish from our local harbour, but has become so expensive (like everything else!!), I stopped buying from there and buy frozen from local butcher. works out approx £1.50 for large piece of cod, compared to about the same size and double or more in price:eek: at the harbour.