April 2008 Grocery Challenge

Sunnyday

funkyfunkymonkey wrote: »

I'm gutted I just stocked up on Tesco's pink salmon for 80p per tin - in preparation for trying fishcakes in this month's challenge.

FFM

I`ve not made them before but the tuna ones are on the meal planner for later this week and salmon ones for next week now, i`m looking forward to trying them but i find that salmons just too expensive normally.
I plan on making toast for the breadcrumbs and my mouths watering already.
SD

MRSMCAWBER

Hi Lingojingo

Yep...just added you to the list

in-it-to-win-it_4

Hi can I please join the challenge. It would be my first one.

Could I have a budget of £180 for 2 adults, 2 children, 2 dogs and 2 cats please. So far this month I have spent £40.30, and have done the weekly shop today although I do still have booze to buy.

Thanks.

Bobbykins

Good evening fellow GC-ers.

As Mrs M has done such a sterling job of putting everyones final totals on the March thread (thanks Mrs M:T :T :T ), I thought I would have a look at some of the figures.
(I can't help it, it's the statistician in me , too many years in the wrong job!) - I usually do this each month, just for my own interest, but I thought some of you might be interested in the results (actually, I've just realised what a saddo this makes me......sorry if I'm boring you already :rolleyes: )

Anyway, for those who may be interested..........

204 people registered for March.
68 people have declared totals so far.

Of the 68 who've declared, 38 beat their budget, 1 was exactly on budget (and 29 overspent, oops).

For the 38 who beat their challenge, the original budgets totalled £7,865 and €400 and the total "save" was £805.58 and €13 :T :T :T :T - well done everyone!

Right, having bored you all to death, I'll get my coat shall I?

Night all

Bobby

Cleosmum

ifonlyitwaseasier wrote: »

i have a question, should i count cough medicine out of my budget or can i claim it as a necessary expense, cos if mine gets any worse OH and i will not get much sleep. :-(

Tesco do Bells Bronchial Balsam for 85p a bottle, same as Covonia, works wonders on my coughs.

miss_saver_3

Girl_least_likely_to wrote: »

Hi there

My DD is 2 1/2 and eats pretty much everything I give her. I cook huge batches of spag bol, veg risotto, shepherds pie and chilli (very mild), portion up and freeze them. I bulk all of them up with loads of veg (grated carrot, courgette, mushrooms, sweetcorn, peppers) so there is probably more veg than meat. I only need to zap them in the microwave and cook some pasta or rice. DD loves them all

That's great thanks very much. May I be a bit cheekier and ask what your recipes are for risotto and chilli (I have never cooked those before). I have done spag bol and shepherds pie. What is the best thing to freeze them in? Also how long do they keep for? And 1 last question - (promise for now at least ) can I use forzen mince, cook it all up and the refreeze and reheat? Thank you very much in advance!

Also thanks to mumsyof2 - I will do that when I next make up a soup. Is that the same for all soups? Or are there ones I cannot freeze? Also as above how long do they keep for?

I promise I will try and stop with all the questions!

Jen
xx

egon

Hi all,

I am off for another shop in Lidl tomorrow. Will only buy fresh stuff.

I started to try and empty the freezer for a good defrost. Not much choice now, as the freezer is on its last leg. I have to go out and buy a new one tomorrow. It isn't totally gone yet. It still seem to hold on.... just......

Egon

MrDT

I've been bulking out my meals with loads of veg for a few weeks now, not as an exercise in watching the pennies, more as an exercise in 'I need to get at least five fruit and veg in a day'... Had a proper go at bulking out to watch the pennies this evening - added oats to my el cheapo minced beef and a zillion veg curry, was expecting a total disaster (wasn't sure if the oats suggestions were a joke to start off!) but you know what, it tasted pretty good!

I have loads of food in, and shouldn't need to shop at all for a couple of weeks, but some of the recipes on these forums are too tempting...

I have all the bits for the veggie glamorgan sausages, so that's no problem can have a go at them without spending, but I'm thinking I might need to buy some pastry so I can try making pasties at the same time Cheese and onion pasties sound so much better than cheese and onion potato bake! Is pastry difficult to make? Am I better off buying ready made? I assume the answer will be buy a packet as this is the old style board and everyone else seems to be buying the packets!!

A recipe by kimbi15 on the Jamie thread has really tempted me too. I think I need to make me a 'giant jaffa cake' err cake Priced all the ingredients and it comes to £1.29 for the whole cake, so I'll be treating myself to that soon:D (I'm really gonna miss that gym membership )

NannyOgg

boredofbeingathome wrote: »

I have done this in the past. Chop up beef into smaller pieces, and add mushrooms, onion, carrots and a stock cube and water to cover. I usually do this in a pan-but you can do in oven or slow cooker. Bring to boil, then simmer for about an hour. I then cheat and add a bit of gravy powder to thicken add colour- also season to taste. Boil potatoes and mash. You can have peas or other veg with it and pour over top. scrummy.
I have also done in oven with dumplings or made into a pie, and served with veg. It just depends on the amount of time you have. BOB XX

Thanks for this - no prizes for guessing what we're having for tea tomorrow then :T

MrT order came yesterday; total spend (after returns) is £98.94 :eek: Also had to buy lunch at work today because I didn't have time to make and take ... I WILL try harder, I promise! Have spent just over half my budget, but my kitchen is fit to burst following yesterday's delivery so I can't see us going hungry anytime soon!

And I'm finishing work early on Friday so I'll be spending most of the weekend meal planning and working my way through all the recipes I've been collecting here - I've been doing as someone else mentioned and pasting them into Word as I go along

Will also take advantage of OH's absence on Friday afternoon to try the oat and lentils trick on the mince - what the eye doesn't see...

'night all
xx

Telute

Was hoping for a no-spend day until i remembered i owed a friend a mountain of cream eggs. Since they're a part payment on some books he's getting for me they don't technically come out of the grocery budget but it was still annoying.

Mr DT

Is pastry difficult to make? Am I better off buying ready made?

Standard shortcrust pastry is easy to make, puff pastry is difficult. I'd say buy the stuff if you want puff pastry and make it if you don't. Although my mum would say make them both but grandad used to be a baker and she likes showing off.